I was working again today at well known outdoor centre, which has a massive store of equipment, that every morning I work there I usually have to pick up some piece of equipment, map, rope, GPS, you name it and they have it. Now for the client there are very few rules, just treat the kit with respect and hand it in at the end of the week.
However for instructors there is a long list of rules, some written, some not so. It is often a balancing act to try and keep on one side of the obedience line, whilst at the same time trying to speed up your day in stores by sneaking behind and steel a few ropes, help yourself to rock boots, and generally trying to think you are being helpful, when in fact you are a probably being a pain in the arse.
I am unsure what i had done, maybe I put a wire back in the wrong place on the rack i handed in yesterday, perhaps I hadn’t coiled the rope properly? Whatever I had done, I had obviously upset the applecart, as I went in for a pile of Tal Y Fan maps and a group shelter the storeman, we’ll call him Bob to hide his identity, ask how many were in my group “Six Thanks Bob”.
Now there was no sign of a smirk on his face anywhere, not like when another instructor from another centre stitch me up with a couple of lets just call them challenged individuals. As he told me who I was working with he was rolling round the floor laughing, so I kind of knew what was coming. Bob was absolutely blank, not a micro expression flashed anywhere as he handed me the group shelter.
If he had seen my group try and get into the shelter he would have wet himself, picture a cartoon character that has been squashed inside a wine glass, now imagine seven people in a group shelter not made for seven people. I didn’t work very well at all to be honest, we bailed out one by one until only two were left, and they only stayed in there because they couldn’t find there way out.
So I walked back into the store and Bob asked how my day was, “Great, How many people was that group shelter you gave me meant for?”
“4 to 6, looks more like four!”
Anyway I will coil the rope properly nest time, rack my wire in size order, and bring my own map and group shelter next time!