... or Retirement is so relaxing
- Museum day today, it’s raining and I didn’t set the alarm, so overslept. Find we’ve run out of tea bags. A hurried breakfast, then re-thread a broken shoelace.
- I drive off in a cold car. Radio Cornwall promises “Some light rain later” as the windscreen wipers flail from side to side at full speed.
- At the Norway Inn a Police sign diverts all traffic to Falmouth via the back roads to Penryn and the traffic lights at Draceana Avenue are not operating.
- The Maritime Car Park is almost full of vehicles bearing Cornwall Council stickers (must be a Conference) and I find my umbrella is still at home.
- The Duty Manager is in a panic (panic? a Duty Manager? Never! - Ed) because none of the displays will switch on (and no Maintenance staff on duty today).
- No doubt the Five rostered Volunteers will carry the load with a smile, but at 0955 two incoming phone calls change all that to Three rostered Volunteers.
- My radio has no Roster sheet for Three people, and we all arrive in Lookout together. The toss of a coin lets me remain there, gazing at Flushing through the rain until I have to radio the DM about a screen being down, whilst trying to stop a young boy from wrenching the telescope through 360 degrees.
- A quick check in Nav. Station locates all the Council delegates playing on the children’s moving tideway, although none of the units will move more than three inches (DM advised).
- At 1045 I find Waterfront busy. The Volunteer is tearing out his hair because one yacht has been “dunked” by a child and Console 3 isn’t working at all. The Token Machine is only paying out Jackpots and one boy has enough tokens to last the morning. I take over, & notice a youth standing in the Small Boat Pool as his mate takes his picture – I speak to both in dulcet tones that they seem to understand!
- By 1130 Main Hall is beckoning – but it’s Coffee Break. The café cannot produce my usual cup of Espresso as the power has gone off. A Coke is no real substitute, although cheaper.
- A red-faced ex-Naval visitor appears at my table & demands to know where we are displaying the sailing dinghy donated by his father. I refer him to the Library (then realize it’s closed today)
- I return to Main Hall just in time to see the DM completing the re-inflation of the life raft, but hide in Cornwall until he’s finished - and I see the Naval visitor stomping away from the Library doors, muttering.
- A family is having a picnic in the Sail Loft and I advise them politely what to do with their sandwiches.
- The rain has stopped briefly but the next Crabbing Session is not until 1400 – so the morning shift is saved!! The first excuse to smile today!!!! At 1340 a relief arrives in the Cornwall Gallery, apologizing profusely for being unable to find me, and I sign off.
- A passing Cornish shower (or Thunderstorm as we Dorset folk call them) accompanies me to the car park and I head for home, my uniform shirt steaming with the heat in the car.
- Despite the rain, the two farm tractors ahead of me from Treluswell to Devoran are making at least 18 mph. I arrive home at 14 25 for a late lunch and find the Postman has delivered a large Visa Bill, my Telephone account - and my car needs re-taxing.
- I love being a Gallery Volunteer – far less stressful than working for a living!!
- Museum day today, it’s raining and I didn’t set the alarm, so overslept. Find we’ve run out of tea bags. A hurried breakfast, then re-thread a broken shoelace.
- I drive off in a cold car. Radio Cornwall promises “Some light rain later” as the windscreen wipers flail from side to side at full speed.
- At the Norway Inn a Police sign diverts all traffic to Falmouth via the back roads to Penryn and the traffic lights at Draceana Avenue are not operating.
- The Maritime Car Park is almost full of vehicles bearing Cornwall Council stickers (must be a Conference) and I find my umbrella is still at home.
- The Duty Manager is in a panic (panic? a Duty Manager? Never! - Ed) because none of the displays will switch on (and no Maintenance staff on duty today).
- No doubt the Five rostered Volunteers will carry the load with a smile, but at 0955 two incoming phone calls change all that to Three rostered Volunteers.
- My radio has no Roster sheet for Three people, and we all arrive in Lookout together. The toss of a coin lets me remain there, gazing at Flushing through the rain until I have to radio the DM about a screen being down, whilst trying to stop a young boy from wrenching the telescope through 360 degrees.
- A quick check in Nav. Station locates all the Council delegates playing on the children’s moving tideway, although none of the units will move more than three inches (DM advised).
- At 1045 I find Waterfront busy. The Volunteer is tearing out his hair because one yacht has been “dunked” by a child and Console 3 isn’t working at all. The Token Machine is only paying out Jackpots and one boy has enough tokens to last the morning. I take over, & notice a youth standing in the Small Boat Pool as his mate takes his picture – I speak to both in dulcet tones that they seem to understand!
- By 1130 Main Hall is beckoning – but it’s Coffee Break. The café cannot produce my usual cup of Espresso as the power has gone off. A Coke is no real substitute, although cheaper.
- A red-faced ex-Naval visitor appears at my table & demands to know where we are displaying the sailing dinghy donated by his father. I refer him to the Library (then realize it’s closed today)
- I return to Main Hall just in time to see the DM completing the re-inflation of the life raft, but hide in Cornwall until he’s finished - and I see the Naval visitor stomping away from the Library doors, muttering.
- A family is having a picnic in the Sail Loft and I advise them politely what to do with their sandwiches.
- The rain has stopped briefly but the next Crabbing Session is not until 1400 – so the morning shift is saved!! The first excuse to smile today!!!! At 1340 a relief arrives in the Cornwall Gallery, apologizing profusely for being unable to find me, and I sign off.
- A passing Cornish shower (or Thunderstorm as we Dorset folk call them) accompanies me to the car park and I head for home, my uniform shirt steaming with the heat in the car.
- Despite the rain, the two farm tractors ahead of me from Treluswell to Devoran are making at least 18 mph. I arrive home at 14 25 for a late lunch and find the Postman has delivered a large Visa Bill, my Telephone account - and my car needs re-taxing.
- I love being a Gallery Volunteer – far less stressful than working for a living!!
