How often do you get presented with a serious problem and have the means to quickly and simply fix it?
Never.
It just doesn’t happen in my experience. It’s always a process. A series of token gestures. Often as not a well intentioned disaster.
I was presented with the problem of Nathan (my nephew), stuck in a £5.60 p/h job, the meagre proceeds of which (save the housekeeping he volunteered to give his mam) he was spending entirely on getting wasted to tolerate the job. He was taking home between £100 -£150 p/w. Unpaid extra hours, flat rate for overtime, fucking disgrace. He was going to get a bike off his mate so I gave him a jacket and such. Then his mate’s bike got nicked.
The solution seemed clear, if Nath was willing to clean his act up, we’d lend him the money to get a bike so he could get a better job.
I say “if”, without emphasis in that sentence. When I was in that situation I simply couldn’t have quit. I would have preferred to have lost a limb. It was my whole life.
The fact that Nathan gave up the same day that Lisa (my sister) put the offer to him I find nothing short of staggering.
Honestly.
Stunning.
Anyway, he immediately got his shit together. So I tracked down a decent learner bike, and we lent him the money to buy it.
He put in for his Compulsory Basic Training, and completed it last Thursday, I went out for a ride with him to get his confidence up, and that was that.
He is a biker.
Phase one completed.
Being a methodical sort he was waiting until he was legal before applying for jobs. I put in an application form for him for in the warehouse, order picking, at my works. Then I noticed the actual job was being advertised online so I recommended he applied online as well. Yesterday they told him he had an interview today, (Tuesday). I had a surprise day off so I went with him for a ride, to show him the way.
He passed the interview and the drugs and alcohol test, his induction is on Monday!
4 days of training in health and safety, driving a LLOP (Low Level Order Picker), stacking pallets, that sort of thing, then crack on.
More money on basic, with lots of extras on top, better job, better conditions, a real full time job, with a pay rise at the end of the 6 month probation.
He’s got a bike. And within a week, a decent job!
Phase two completed.
My work here is done.
That was easy.
How I like my good deeds; quick, easy, and involving motorbikes.
Bloody good effort, Nathan.
Right,
later,
St Buck of the Blessed Bike.