So as many of the people know I work for Homebase. The DIY and Garden specialist hardware giant with many stores around the country. You have probably visited one in your lifetime, or maybe on the of the Texas stores before Homebase acquired them ages ago (Just after the Sainsbury's era)
So my job, or I should say now that I am being made redundant, so I will say that its one of many jobs in my lifetime. So at the moment in the snow torn time of January we are lucky enough to be working in the Garden Centre. Our Garden Centre's normally contain simple things like plants and fencing, gravel, stones and Fencing. But this story, this blog post is about Compost.
So like I was saying before my old job used to consist of us as a team of 3 to 4 people, going into a tired old store. and either 1 of the 3.
1. New Store - Empty store, build and fill racking. Open
2. Refit - Take an old store, and give it a sexy new up to date look.
3. Downsize.
Downsize is what we were doing in this store in the lovely town of Northampton. Where we take the size of a store, condense down ranges, Re configure racking, sometimes rebuild places and then stick say a Argos next door.
So at this current time I am in my hotel room sporting a nice damage arm and leg. Why? Do listen.
So where we have compost in some garden centres we have these boards behind. They are like a bit of fencing. Think of a 'n'. These allow us to attache a point of sale frame so we can display the nice colourful POS of the description and price for the customers (and yours) lovely beautiful eyes. So there I was, I was working late into the evening. past a standard 8-5 shift which everyone seems to do these days. and I had all my tools. A cordless drill and the frames, screws etc to attach them too the sodden wet wooden frame. Now take notice to those words there. Wet being the one that springs to mind.
So with my acrobatic skills I was jumping up onto the compost pallets and kneeling on top as I attached these frames to the board. I have done it hundreds of times before so nothing too big.
I then got a phone call from my cousin Mark. As the Garden Centre was closed and I was the only one out there I decided to take the call. I can't remember much of what was said, but I am sure it was the usual crap that spews from our traps about all kinds. This is where the story takes a devastating twist (for me at least)
So whilst on my phone and holding a cordless worx 14.4 volt power tool I attempted to jump up on, this pallet.
The one with the 3 for £12 is the one I am referring too. I dunno how it happened, but I believe I tried to hop up with my knee. I suddenly slipped. Next thing I know I am falling backwards. Panic sets in as with both my hands holding something I can't do anything I fall back and hit the concrete floor like a sack of shit. The air leaves my body, my phone fly's off and the drill case cracks with the sudden impact. I start rolling round, writhing in pain, I know I managed to avoid hitting my head but I am in excruciating pain. Really bad!
Whilst I lay there, remember I was on my phone. Mark at the other end is wondering what the fuck is going on. I actually start to make my way crawling to my phone, my left arm in massive pain I clutch to my chest, dragging myself like an undead warrior. I get to my phone and roll on my back
"Leroy? Leroy?"
I answer back, he asks what the hell just happened. With and exhale I quickly tell him I "stacked it" Being my cousin, that is hilarious. This is the same guy who to get out of work and go home to an empty house so he could have sex, threw himself off a ladder to be sent home!
I hang up after a while I must of laid on that cold floor on my back for a good 20 minutes. The thing there was as I was out there alone, and the Garden Centre was shut to the public, how long until I would of been found? I was working late so I was the only one of my team there. What if it had been worse and I had smashed my head open? It did concern me a little at that point.
So as I clambered to my feet I took the next lot of pictures of the dirt from the floor which ended up on my new clean Homebase Yellow jacket, as well as the floor which I met on my journey. I love documenting things. I always regret not taking pictures etc so I thought it would be a funny story to tell.
So there we have it. Another day in the life of Lee Sanders. A fun yet interesting turn of events like typical.
Lets hope everybody remembers the day of The Compost Mountain Tragedy :(
