Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Doug Holloway on October 06, 2012, 04:03:39 pm

Title: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: Doug Holloway on October 06, 2012, 04:03:39 pm
Hi Guys

Did a job foir a lovely old man, 89, blind and in a warden controlled home.

He had messed on his carpet and the staff would not enter while it was in this condition. Went round yesterday afternoon.

After a few minutes he said he would need to visit the bathroom and that smell which all who have had children would recognise, permeated the room.

Off he went on his frame and then the call, can you help me.

To cut a long story short I basically changed his underwear, he was most apologetic and extremely grateful, I couldn't leave him in the state he was in.

Finished the job and went home with a really good feeling of having done something really useful for once.

Got a call from his son today offering more thanks but strangely it was my pleasure.

My previous job was for another old couple, he was 90 and ex RAF. I mentioned I went to the RAF club in Picaddily once a year for a Pathfinders Lodge meeting and she said , Ken was a Pathfinder.

These guys were the bravest of the brave and Ken survived over 40 missions. He showed me his log book and DFC. He was humble and unassuming.

So yesterday was a humbling experience for me but very rewarding.

Cheers

Doug


Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: Simon Gerrard on October 06, 2012, 05:24:52 pm
Doug,
Hats off to you mate.

Simon
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: james roffey on October 06, 2012, 05:27:42 pm
Well done Doug i can understand exactly what you mean i once had a call from a guy who's elderly and blind mother had  a stomach upset and had soiled pretty much all around this flat, the son lived many miles away and
 i could tell from the tone of his voice he sounded upset and helpless i went straight round and sorted it out, he phoned me later that day he was so grateful, and like you Doug it made me feel good about myself one of the good things about this job sometimes it can  be very rewarding.
But i agree you went beyond that this time but it was a thoroughly decent thing to do.
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: Robert Watson on October 06, 2012, 06:09:30 pm
Isn't it peculiar how you feel better doing for others more so than for yourself.

Buddhists rock
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: Andrew Briscoe on October 06, 2012, 06:27:14 pm
Nice one Doug, would of done the same, then bollocked his care workers.
They have a duty of care over him and should lose their job for not taking better care of him.

I did a clean up in a guys flat who had mental health problems, basically living in poop for 2 years with cat shat and all sorts lying around, his care worker was severly repromanded for his poor treatment, and her office joined his flat, disgraceful.
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: The Great One on October 06, 2012, 06:31:39 pm
Isn't it peculiar how you feel better doing for others more so than for yourself.

Buddhists rock


What has being a Buddhist got to do with it, why not do just do it?

Can any of us feel good for doing it without there being a higher purpose or for some posthumous reward when we are dead?

Martin 8)
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: james roffey on October 06, 2012, 06:49:20 pm
For me religion had no bearing on helping others, you shouldn't help other because of some "reward" you perceive
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: Completeclean on October 06, 2012, 06:54:04 pm
 Fair play to you Doug,you're a gentleman.

  Desi
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: Doug Holloway on October 06, 2012, 07:05:14 pm
Hi Guys

Your kind words are appreciated but I'm sure most would have done the same.

Working with the public can be frustrating at times but beats working in a souless office. I go up to the City quite a lot and for all the money people look pretty miserable.

Cheers

Doug

Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: Robert Watson on October 06, 2012, 07:33:54 pm
Sigh. Martin chill, you know what I mean. If you want to take it any further, have a word with Tosh.  ;)
James , Is there such a thing as doing a good turn with no reward?
Do you not feel good when you do, is that not a reward.
Anyway I,m not getting in to this  ;D, I`m of for a few beers.
Have a good one.  :D
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: Paul Moss on October 06, 2012, 07:56:13 pm
Good one Doug 8) your a top man

Can you nip around here quick though cos i think i just shat me pants
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: james roffey on October 06, 2012, 08:03:14 pm
Robert, Good point what i meant though was the reward is it just makes you feel good about yourself i suppose don't know why just does.
Maybe part of it is being appreciated, would you feel good if they did not acknowledge your good deed ?
 We are getting philosophical tonight  ;D
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: The Great One on October 07, 2012, 09:10:17 am
Sigh. Martin chill, you know what I mean. If you want to take it any further, have a word with Tosh.  ;)
James , Is there such a thing as doing a good turn with no reward?
Do you not feel good when you do, is that not a reward.
Anyway I,m not getting in to this  ;D, I`m of for a few beers.
Have a good one.  :D


I'm always chilled.

I would talk to toshy about but I'd be here for weeks! ;D

Yeah, when we do something that helps other then of course we feel good about it, helped 2 older ladies in the street yesterday, they were looking for the Brighton lanes and I could see they were struggling with it, so I approached them and helped, It felt nice to help them, they felt good and probably ended up having a better day as they were able to get there quicker and I'm not expected a reward for it when I 'pop my clogs'.

Martin 8)
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: david@zap-clean on October 07, 2012, 09:26:01 am
Working with the public can be frustrating at times but beats working in a souless office. I go up to the City quite a lot and for all the money people look pretty miserable.
Cheers
Doug

Thumbs up to that  :)
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: benny d on October 07, 2012, 10:01:24 am
Well done Doug.
I would shake you hand...But....  ;D
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: james roffey on October 07, 2012, 03:25:11 pm
Working with the public can be frustrating at times but beats working in a souless office. I go up to the City quite a lot and for all the money people look pretty miserable.
Cheers
Doug

Thumbs up to that  :)


Never a truer word said.
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: Paul Redden Countryfresh on October 07, 2012, 03:29:47 pm
And who know's we won't be in the same position one day.  :o
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: wynne jones on October 07, 2012, 06:15:43 pm
Nice one Doug.

 
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: AJB on October 08, 2012, 12:20:07 am
I've had several incidents, one old customer fell from
the toilet getting back into his wheelchair, i'd like to think
everyone would help in these situations. My feelings always
are
There but for the grace of god go I.
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: Jim_77 on October 08, 2012, 01:00:36 am
Hats off to you Doug - I think you're wrong though.... not everyone would do the same, sadly.

Having had an elderly Grandmother who needed a fair bit of TLC in the last part of her life, I know first hand how challenging it can be to put everything else aside and just help someone no matter how unpleasant or inconvenient to us it might be.

She had a bungalow with integral garage, where the boiler was situated... an ideal free heated store room for kit & chemicals!  This meant I was round there a lot, and quite a few times was the first family member available for emergencies, which she had a a number of!

Bless her, she fell and hit her head one day and the first thing she did was grab a newspaper to stop her Axminster carpet getting bloodied because I'd only cleaned it a couple of weeks previous!!

Those of us who are of at least reasonable mental & physical condition really struggle to imagine what it is like to be truly helpless.
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: AshWhite on October 08, 2012, 08:05:28 am
Those of us who are of at least reasonable mental & physical condition really struggle to imagine what it is like to be truly helpless.

I'm not sure about that, Jim - plenty on here have seen you after 3 pints..
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: The Great One on October 08, 2012, 09:41:58 am
Hats off to you Doug - I think you're wrong though.... not everyone would do the same, sadly.

Having had an elderly Grandmother who needed a fair bit of TLC in the last part of her life, I know first hand how challenging it can be to put everything else aside and just help someone no matter how unpleasant or inconvenient to us it might be.

She had a bungalow with integral garage, where the boiler was situated... an ideal free heated store room for kit & chemicals!  This meant I was round there a lot, and quite a few times was the first family member available for emergencies, which she had a a number of!

Bless her, she fell and hit her head one day and the first thing she did was grab a newspaper to stop her Axminster carpet getting bloodied because I'd only cleaned it a couple of weeks previous!!

Those of us who are of at least reasonable mental & physical condition really struggle to imagine what it is like to be truly helpless.

Sadly a lot of us will probably end up the same way, not being able to do things for ourselves, things we just take for granted now, hard to imagine sometimes  :-\

Martin 8)
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: Jim_77 on October 08, 2012, 04:38:37 pm
Ash ;D  It takes at least 5 pints!!
Title: Re: Beyond the call of duty
Post by: wynne jones on October 09, 2012, 09:33:26 pm
We look at some other societies and consider them backward yet these are usually the ones that consider caring for their extended family a duty. We bung them in care homes and visit when I schedules allow. (well some do anyway)