When she set off on her Saturday triathlon training a couple of weeks ago the BattleAxe had no idea it would be the subject of her next KBN musings.
The training involved a run through the “stunning” Yorkshire countryside. Unfortunately, that description turned out to be rather closer to the mark than anticipated. A serious reaction to the flowering oil seed rape, which decorated the run route gave the BattleAxe a not-so-funny turn.
Suffice it to say that one significant positive was the tender and very effective ministrations of the ambulance crew (who she would like to thank profusely for their swift and successful actions) and the second was the very grateful fact that the very yellow fields concerned were within a short ambulance ride of Pinderfields hospital.
Thankfully, by the time that the Chief Elf arrived, flustered and concerned, the ambulance team and the medics had the BattleAxe up on her feet, jogging on the spot and waving her rolling pin like a good’un.
Once home and relaxing, she announced the need for a recuperative cuppa. One of the BattleAxe’s other foibles is that her tea contains milk of the almond, not the cow and, to the Chief Elf’s horror, there was none to be found in the BattleAxe’s fridge!
Although it is easier to source almond milk these days, the Chief Elf realised to his dismay that the supermarket near BattleAxe Towers was closed and he might have to drive to the outskirts of Huddersfield to get to the hypermarket which might (fingers crossed) have some in stock.
Thankfully, he was able to only travel as far as the conveniently located local shop as they had the good sense to be both open and to have stock of the correct white liquid - almond milk unsweetened of course! so the Chief Elf was able to return just in time as the kettle came to the boil thus avoiding the flying rolling pin.
These experiences set the BattleAxe thinking about the value for all businesses of having the right resources in the right place for their customers.
“Isn’t it strange” she said, “that just when supermarket chains are recognising that they need a local presence – even if only carrying a fraction of their hypermarket stocklines – that the NHS and other public sector bodies are going the other way?”
“Well,” the Chief Elf ventured, “isn’t that all about having centres of excellence?”
“Yes, I suppose you could see it that way,” replied the BattleAxe. But when you have to travel too far to access the excellence or really only need the basics doesn’t it lose some of its value? I mean, if you had gone to town to get milk I’d have lost all interest in waiting and I’d have had a black coffee by the time you got back!”
She paused “The ambulance arrived quickly and we were close enough to the hospital that, had it been a drastic situation with the need for blue flashing lights, I would have got access to nearby medical care pronto. This afternoon, luckily for us, and mainly you! I only needed the basics so there really was no need for the hypermarket trek.
”The moral of the story? You need to have the right resources in the right place for your customers whether you’re a business or a public service!”
