Long Weekend – Sandra 40

 

[For back story go here: Story so far at 30 Nov 2020 and more recent Sandra episodes especially this one.]

[Other back story through in-links.]

Bed was nice. Bed was warm. Bed was soft and even the laptop seemed to enjoy being perched on a range of folded blankets, snug and comfortable, stockaded against the rain and the wind and the pandemic that battered against her bedroom window. 

Checking through her diary Sandra realised she had no deliveries scheduled, which made the day close to perfect. Everything she wanted was already in the house and she realised with a small amount of joy that there was absolutely no reason for her to get out of bed. Apart from food and drink, of course, but with all her luxury items now stocked up across the side board in the kitchen and the coffee maker constantly primed, any excursions from her current habitat would be quick, easy, calm and enjoyable.

There was a work email in front of her which she felt she should probably do something about, but there again with things how they were she could be forgiven for putting it off, choosing to do it when she felt inspired. Instead she put her headphones on and listened to one of her calming meditative podcasts, determined to remain mindful rather than drifting off.

When she woke it was nearly lunch time. She felt refreshed and not at all guilty for her use of the morning. Now, she decided, now she would address the work email from David. Now, after she’d sorted out a cup of coffee and a couple of chocolate truffles.

She came back from the kitchen via a long soak in the bath and by now she felt ready to engage with the work in hand. Just to make sure she leafed through one of the new lifestyle magazines she’d subscribed to this year, and half an hour later she opened the email. She need only appraise it, she thought. No need to actually do anything with it right now.

‘What Epstein's Transport and Logistics Means’ read the document.

Sandra paused to make herself another cup of coffee and arrange a couple of luxury millionaire shortbreads on a plate.

We are:

• A family company
• Considerate
• Conscientious
• Efficient
• Driven(!)
• Reliable

People want to work with us and give us their transport projects because we always know how to deliver the best service in the best way. We understand the sector, we are friendly and supportive always and we never let our customers down.

Sandra was skeptical. This was all very well, but right now how might this play out? How could a company that essentially drove lorries up and down the country, and beyond when possible, actually show itself to be a family company, conscientious or even “Driven(!)”?

‘This is too bland,’ she wrote back. ‘What evidence is there of being considerate, conscientious etc.etc. You’re a family company because it’s family owned but what else does that mean? Do you have family friendly policies? Are you supporting everyone’s family right now or just the drivers and hoping everyone else is OK? Are you efficient for your own benefit or others? How can you be reliable when there is so much other stuff going on that could derail you? Why would I, a paying customer, choose you over, say Eddie Stobart?

‘You say you’re conscientious – again give me an example. How green are your vehicles, how much pollution are you churning out, are you helping your customers think more environmentally friendly? Are you planting trees? What kind of trees? Do you like trees? Do you prefer shrubs? Where do you stand on cut flowers? Giving or receiving? 

‘Your idea of ‘driven’ almost states the obvious, but it isn’t quite right. You are driving, not driven and a phrase like ‘Epstein’s Transport and Logistics are Driven’ either should be need to be said or suggests you’re being driven by someone else which I’m guessing isn’t a good look.’

She didn’t look back over what she’d written. It was stream of consciousness and it was over and done with. If people didn’t like what she thought or said then they shouldn’t ask her for her opinion. Or they shouldn’t send her things she would have an opinion on. She couldn’t help it if people were wrong about everything and anything. They needed to learn and if it was a difficult lesson to learn so be it.

Later that afternoon she received another email from David. Having waded through his text, the main message which Sandra could draw from it was a straight-forward question. Do you still actually want to work for us?

It was a question which David admitted came partly from her reference to Eddie Stobart. They were not Eddie Stobart nor wanted to be. They didn’t like the image. The high profile family friendly image, thought Sandra.

And then she also realised David has asked her a question she couldn’t really answer.

But now it was going to be the weekend and she wouldn’t need to answer the question anyway. She’d made it safely through another week one way or another. She kicked back, flicked on the latest retro music track that had captured her ear and waited for the next day.