Gourds and gratitude

The week seems to be simultaneously flying by and dragging along like a lame horse. I can't quite believe it's Thursday already, even though it also feels like Saturday is a lifetime away. I suppose I could say the same thing about 2023 as a whole, but I've bored you enough over the years with my musings on time passing and how weird it is, so I'll shut up about that now.

I managed to find a local farmer who is happy to donate us 50 more large pumpkins, and is happy to deliver them today, and is happy to bring his tractor and trailer onsite, and is even happy to let the visiting children sit on the back of his trailer for some photos! I may have said unpleasant things about farmers in the past - often with good reason, to be fair - but Gerald of Moore's Farm is an absolute gentleman and I can't wait to meet him and shake him by the hand. And now we can let the families who were disappointed on Monday after we ran out of pumpkins come back in and have a go at the activity this afternoon.
Colette, the member of staff who I mentioned yesterday, was so happy to agree to run the workshop again, and then burst into tears when I told her we're going to find a way to keep her on right through the Winter. See, originally we had extended her zero hours contract to the end of this week, so we could have her here to help for Hallowe'en half-term. Then we were going to let her go until Easter next year, then bring her back to do the Children's Club again throughout the busier months. But she is just so damn good at what she does, and so damn good with children, that I don't want to risk her going off and finding 'a proper job' during the Winter that will mean we lose her. So I've managed to persuade Gavin to free up funds for a part-time position for the next six months or so, so we can keep her on staff. There's loads she can help out with, and we'll be doing special Christmas open days for the local folk to come in and enjoy, and she's perfect to be involved in those.
I told her this morning and I must be honest, I was worried she might turn us down, but she was so happy she was shaking. She said later that when I asked her to pop in and see me in my office, she thought I was going to fire her for not ordering enough pumpkins or something!
So, anyway, I have managed to manage someone in a good way, and made them very happy, and that doesn't happen often so I am very, very content right now.

RC 26-10-23