Brollies, bangers and other British customs

I’ve been in the UK for a full twelve months…

They say time flies when you’re having fun. Well, I must be having a blast because the last year has disappeared in a blur.

This month marks my one-year anniversary since taking the reins as Managing Director at Trellidor UK. That’s right, it’s been a full 12 months since my wife and I traded the South African sunshine for the great British… drizzle. A whole?year. Gone! Just like that.

And, as one does when reaching a major milestone, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons learned and the unexpected surprises that have come with this new chapter…

Let’s start with the weather. I know I’ve joked about it before, but just when I think I’ve finally adjusted to the climate, Mother Nature decides to throw in a surprise snowstorm or an apocalyptic downpour!

Yesterday, for example, I unexpectedly found myself scraping ice off the car whilst the temperature gauge smugly flashed ‘-3°C.’ You’d think I would be used to sub-zero temperatures by now. Well, I am not (note to self: invest in a decent pair of thermal gloves before I lose all feeling in my fingers!).

Later that same day I spoke to my lovely daughter who is back home in South Africa. “It’s 36 degrees here,” she chirped. Thanks for that, Pia!

The questionable weather aside, there have been plenty of positive adjustments. One of the most striking differences I’ve observed? Walking. Here in the UK, children actually walk to school. This seemingly simple yet profound aspect of daily life still catches my attention and brings a smile to my face every morning. In South Africa, walking to school is virtually unheard of. The reality of high crime rates means parents drive their kids everywhere, making independent commuting a rare privilege.

In fact, since moving here, one of my favourite pastimes has been walking our dog, Elly, down to the local pub. A place I happen to have grown rather fond of…

Obviously, we have pubs in South Africa, but they don’t have quite the same rustic charm. They’re certainly not somewhere you visit on a weekly (or in my uncle’s case, daily!) basis to unwind at the end of the working week. Naturally, this was a British custom I was more than happy to embrace!

So yes, our local pub – The Bell – has become the venue of choice for a new weekly father-son tradition. Whilst my wife and dozens of other women bounce around on trampolines in the name of fitness, we grab some dinner at the pub (bangers and mash or another quintessentially British dish of course!) and put the world to rights over a pint.

When my son is actually here, that is. He’s constantly on the move – jetting off here, there and everywhere. And when he’s not abroad, he’s usually busy planning his next trip. I sometimes think our house has become a convenient layover for his European escapades! Ha! Only joking Riley…

When he is at home, he seems to have embraced the role of our in-house chef with gusto. Over the past 12 months, he’s treated us to a variety of culinary delights – although judging by his shopping habits, his cooking philosophy appears to be: “If it’s not on the shelf at M&S, it simply doesn’t exist!”

Other things that still surprise me? Deliveries left on doorsteps. That would never happen in South Africa. But to be fair, with most properties surrounded by electric gates and high walls, couriers can’t get within 50 feet of a front door even if they tried!

Work-wise, the last year has been a whirlwind. When I started as Managing Director at Trellidor UK, one of the first things I did was to attend Retail Risk – London. Having only recently arrived in the UK, the conference was a fantastic opportunity to meet so many industry professionals under one roof.

I’ll be back at Retail Risk – London in a few weeks’ time and I’m interested to see how much has changed. Plus, I’m looking forward to catching up with the industry contacts I’ve made over the last 12 months (a special shout-out to my friends at All-Tag and Advantage One!) and, of course, making new ones too. So if you’re attending, be sure to come and say hello.

This time around, Trellidor will also be taking part in the new Immersion Zone. If you’re not aware of this latest addition to the conference (where have you been!?!), it’s essentially a full-scale replica store where actors stage real-life scenarios, from armed robberies to activist sit-ins. It’s a great chance to see our shutters and grilles in action and ask any questions.

So, one year down. And what a year it’s been.

As for year two? Bring it on. Although if the Spring sunshine could hurry up I’d be most grateful!