“Inside this place, it’s been fun. It’s been a lot of fun. I really like it here. I’ve learnt a lot, especially off Graham. He’s been a good mentor and the workshop is the place I enjoy the most. I love working with wood, doing different things. I learnt to use different machinery. It’s gives me a purpose, a challenge to do things. I’ve got quite a bad OCD complex, so I guess I’m always striving for perfection.
LandWorks Highlights… I think it’s just the relaxed welcoming atmosphere. Yeah, there is a certain amount of pressure to get things done, but it’s not like do this, do that. Like a proper boss would say you’re slacking, do this. There’s none of that. It’s just kind of relaxing. So, if you can’t get it done … the only pressure I get is from myself. But it’s just a calm relaxed atmosphere. Everyone gets on. There’s no petty arguments or anything. Everyone’s nice. I don’t think I’ve heard a cross word from anyone about anyone and they don’t judge on what you have done. They don’t even judge you on what you will be or who you or what you are. It’s not an environment I used to work in, definitely not. Where I used to work, there was a lot of just nit-picking, judgement, but I haven’t seen that here at all. It’s unique and I like it. I like it a lot. Just going out delivering and getting wood from Travis Perkins and stuff like that, it’s just … the variety, I really enjoy it. Going out and delivering things and doing things for customers, it’s just nice. It’s very of the day. Like they say, variety is the spice of life, and I enjoy doing it.
Lowlights can be certain topics of conversation around the camp-fire. It’s only because of my upcoming situation. When the people start talking about different prisons and that is just … according to my solicitor it is on the cards and it’s just I don’t want to hear this. So, I think people need to be more aware of their audience and certain things you can say to certain people. You can’t really say shut-up, I don’t want to talk about it because people are who they are and a lot of people here have been inside, and talking about the different jails and how they work differently, which one’s better than another one, did you know him, blah, blah, blah, what block was he on, that kind of thing, it’s the kind of thing they can talk about but I can’t really say can you not talk about this please because they want to talk about it. I’ve just to learn to step away, just find a quiet place and not hear it. It just puts me on edge. It’s equally not fair of me to say no, stop talking about it.
…This place has taught me to be a darn sight more social because usually I don’t like going outside. I don’t like crowded places, especially places like supermarkets and things like that… Here, I’ve learnt to tolerate different people and different types of people and people’s behaviours, but the general public… Being here has just taught me to be … it’s more sort of social around here … just chatting and just making jokes.
I know it sounds bad, but I do like winding Steve up because he’s too nice. No-one’s seen him lose his rag. He’s always laughing and joking. I’m just like trying to bring him down to my level, just once. I don’t do it malicious. He knows I’m joking. He picks a bunch of us up from Morrisons. We have a laugh in the van.
Yeah, it’s a good crowd. I actually like the people here. I wouldn’t call them friends because friends are people you hang out with outside of work. These people are workplace associates, but they’re nice people and I get on with them fine and I enjoy them, I enjoy hanging around them and being around them.
I think if you ask other people here whether I’ve changed, they might have an opinion about it. I think I’ve changed for the better, not for the worse, but I think sometimes I just get down because of this whole situation. I do get a bit grumpy sometimes, but when I’m not thinking about it, I’m quite jolly and happy, but I don’t show it, even my face doesn’t show it.”
A window into LandWorks 