Sorting out begins

Being Monday, it's time for a picture from the Lady Haig Poppy factory in Edinburgh.

The boxes have begun to return from the kind volunteers who collect for the appeal. Money goes in one direction (a secure one, that is) and the boxes of remaining poppies have to be sorted out. Where possible, stuff is saved for next year to be re-used. Sometimes it's not possible to save stuff though; as an example, more than a few boxes smell of beer (likely the ones from pubs) or coffee. Mostly, they're battered or rain stained and flattened ready to be recycled. The good ones get their contents refreshed and go on a shelf ready for re-use. Poppies (and pins) get sorted out, too. Damaged poppies removed and good ones sorted into big boxes ready to make up more collectors boxes for next year.

It's very boring, but it's a task which needs to be done and there's a satisfaction in seeing the piles of boxes reducing over the course of a day. Mind you, when a van comes in from an area organiser and the store fills right up again during the day, it can be a bit demoralising. However, I'm content to do it because I know the work of the Poppy Appeal can and does make a difference.