Thursday, 19 May 2016

Volunteer, volunteer

Was gonna post about the work for the dole after working a few days but because of being sick here and there I haven't really racked up that many days. To this day it has been 4 weeks since I started but after the first day I was sick that week and the week after. Went in the following Tuesday but they sent me home because was getting a running nose. Then this Tuesday I had to see the doctor for my old elbow injury. Finally managed a full day today. So up to date I have done 3 full days and an half day over 4 weeks ... but I've done a lot apparently ...

For those who don't know they've placed me in an opt shop in Kew so not too hard to get to. The hours ain't bad either because I usually need to start at 9 other places they've sent me but here it's 9:30 and I still end at 5. They're pretty free with the timing (not that I turn up late or anything) but instead of having lunch I leave half hour early. However most people there were half dayers so I meet different people during the day. Everyone I've met there are women but I've heard some men volunteer on some days. They make fun of that fact but I'm used to it working in childcare. I do need to wear an apron for this place though (no I don't usually wear that hat). First day I trammed in. Tram line pretty much goes straight down. Takes half an hour because it's peak hour traffic. Found out we have a car park area for opt shop so I've driven there since. Takes half an hour from my house so lose less time and I don't need to walk. Also good because I can load stuff from the opt shop in my car ... I'll get on that later. So not too bad location wise.

Yeah that hat ... and that face ...
So the work there ... very subjective I say. What I mean is is there's work but it's like you choose what you pick up sort of thing. Nothing is very clear cut. Pricing things is pretty vague. We have to price it so we make money for the charity but we don't want to price it so hardly anyone will consider buying it. And thing is the donations range in conditions from brand new to unsellable. I'm kind of terrible without some sort of structure. At times you'll see me standing around not knowing what to do. I mozzy around looking for something I might have a clue what to do with. But apparently I'm a great help when it comes to tasks I'm allocated because I get them done quick.

Childcare Centre
Opt Shop

Organizing wall peg things ... looks pretty
 Okay quick list of some of these set tasks I've done. First one is ... shredding ... Somehow this job always come to me. Had to do this at the childcare centre I was working in last year ... I'll post photos side by side. They had these sitting around since November last year. Second, counting puzzle pieces ... okay I only did a few of these because I was given this task when I was sick. However I heard the last guy quit because he had to count pieces for one puzzle ... well I didn't quit. okay so the real second is bag sorting. They have these big bags which they fill with stuff to store like summer stuff which we don't put out in the winter. Well they were all shoved in a big bag and some of the big bags were way to big to fill and carry so had to throw out. Seeing the state of the bags just shoved together I thought I'd divide the bags into their various sizes. Was much appreciated. And the third most recently finished task was measuring fabrics. They get like a tonne of fabrics. They had a wall high draw system overflowing with fabrics. Told them I didn't know how much fabric was worth but they just said I needed to measure and sort through them because no one was doing it. Took me one and a half days to get it all measured and sorted. Some of the fabric weighed heaps and some were 6 metres long!?! and I had like minimal work space so I had to fold it many times just to measure it ... Some were both heavy and long. Eventually it was all done. By the way the picture is one of 4 boxed I sorted through not including fabric which had to be thrown out because of stains or cuts. But finally the wall was reduced to 4 well organized draw of measured fabric. Hope I don't have to do that again any time soon. The boss says I've been a big help doing the stuff no one does ... Yeah great. Don't know what I'm going to do next.

So about loading my car ... it's just a few things. I mean I always liked opt shopping but being in the back you find things that don't find their way to the front for different reasons. I got myself some goodies that I've been happily using. You find all sort of things you wouldn't think would be at an opt shop. 

Really should control myself, I already have a lot of gadgets and stuff in my rooms ... 


Awww sitting in the back all by himself
Pretty but no I didn't get it

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