Apart from making me feel that I’m doing something worthwhile, my Friday afternoon shifts have proved to be a wonderful distraction from my day job. I have a full on, intense role running a business within a large, multinational IT consulting firm. In today’s ‘always on’, 24/7 world, it seems impossible to switch off and ignore calls, emails or messages from clients and colleagues across the globe. Well, you certainly can’t do any of that when you are behind the wheel of a van! Despite the mental concentration required when driving, and the physical nature of loading and unloading the goods, my shifts are a relative oasis of calm. I am totally focused on the task in hand and it’s great to be transported into an entirely different world with a different set of issues and concerns... even if it’s just for a few hours.
And, of course, there is the social aspect of interacting with my fellow volunteers. I’ve met a variety of interesting people during my time at Felix, - each with their own unique story - but it is, also, the familiarity of a regular co-driver (in my case, the lovely Janet), regular clients and route that makes shifts so enjoyable.
