As a diverse group of volunteers from varied backgrounds - we all have differing amounts of time we can give to the charity.
Working 5 or 6 days a week and being part of a work standby rota restricts me to a few windows a month. My last shift was on bank holiday Sunday and was busy with 4 trips competed ( enjoyed every minute ) Keen to get another one in prior to our summer holiday, I planned to combine the Thursday evening Open Meeting and an early morning photo shoot on the Friday with the Thursday NightShift on the South Bike ( Plan A )
The day started as any other with a 6:30hrs alarm and in to work for 8:00hrs Meetings all morning allowed me to ‘mulitask’ with my iPad and free up the afternoon. I am lucky that I have flexibility at work and was back home in the sunshine by 14:00hrs, Unfortunately a few frantic phone calls and the laptop was back out and I was working till 17:00hrs Tea with the family & dishes done it was off the pick the bike up from Monkton to be at the Open Meeting for 19:00hrs ( Plan A ).
As so often happens, plans were about to change. Halfway there Control rang and requested a pickup of Blood from Barrack Road at 19:00hrs and taken to Darlington Memorial. No problems, a quick (but complete) check of the bike and I was at the Blood Bank for 19:00hrs. Crack this run off and I will catch the end of the meeting ( Plan B ). A great run to down the A1, temperature 17 degrees, bike running very well - I could so easy keep going until I hit the South of France, but not sure Richard would be impressed. Looking at the temperature I cast my mind back to the Cumbria Runs over the winter, -2 degrees over the top and visor freezing , cars and drivers are a great addition to the team!
Loads of bikers out in Darlington, plenty of nods and a few thumbs up – always good to see. Blood dropped off 'within the hour' and I’m off to the Open Meeting. Correction – one phone call later and I’m heading for South Tyneside Hospital ( Plan C ). Traffic very light and was picking up samples at the Path Lab 45 mins later. A short run to the QE in Gateshead and job complete, alas too late for the meeting ( maybe the next one ! )
Time to head for home- only to be clocked by the Police, ( Nice Tweet from Durham Police that is )
“Great to see @NorthumbriaBB rider out in #Derwentside tonight, great riding & providing a valuable service for free?#nationalvolunteersweek”
Nice to see that were are being noticed in a positive light... ( with ' great riding' I may add ! )
Home - fill in the job recorder and drink a nice cup of tea ( x2 'JP style' )
Off to chance a sleep at 23:00hrs only to be woken by the phone at 02:30hrs. My work this time not NBB – so a quick half hour on the laptop, sorted and sneak back the to bed.
Up at 6am to take the bike to the Angel of the North for a photo shoot with Ross and Alan Owain on camera ) to wish a group of cyclists ‘bon-voyage’ on their ride to London to raise funds for the group.
Photos and chat over, bike refuelled ready for Phillipa on Saturday and parked up in its snug corner at Monkton.
Quick change – and it’s off to work we go !
All in all – not as Plan ( A or B ) , but a good shift and hopefully made a difference.
Working full time should not put anyone off volunteering, it just presents a few extra challenges
#MakeADifference
