Stiff Upper Lip . . .

Three members of Gridstop staff got treated to a day out on Sunday. With compliments from our wonderful Courier firm, Global Freight Solutions, they were taken to see the Cowdary Park Polo. It was The Final of the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship - what ever that means. I'm not a polo fan, myself, and haven't the faintest idea what goes on, but both our Ebay Guru, Alison, and Equestrian Leader, Lisa, are. Andrew just poodled along for the hell of it, I'm sure . . . or it was the lure of free champagne.

But imagine their delight when our GFS account manager offered them places to go. Of course, Polo is a rather posh sport, and the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup, I assume, would be of no exception. Instantly they were faced with the dilemma of what to wear - being female, it's a huge decision. But they soon decided and off they went.

However, I soon heard of horror stories about tights being purchased from Tesco's on the way, and being squeezed into in the back of the car whilst our Spiritual Guide, aka Andrew, deliberately swerved back and forth. I was instantly filled with visions of women screaming, men laughing and denying everything, and legs flailing about everywhere. Oh yes, our crew fit in rather well with the posh ambiance. They done us proud!

But on a serious note, they did. The trip worked on the relationship between us and our couriers. Just like our team bonding days with our warehouse staff, it brought us together, allowing us to work more efficiently, and in the end providing you, the customer, with a much better level of service. There was a hidden motive behind them gallivanting off, and it couldn't have been all fun, what with all that champagne they had to force themselves to drink, to smile and laugh, and look as if they were enjoying themselves. All in the aid of trying to give you a better shopping experience.

It must have been a huge sacrifice for them, and my sympathy goes out to them . . .

But at least they learned a valuable lesson: Never attempt to put on tights in the back of a moving car. You're asking for trouble . . .

D. Ilott

Cybercheckout

Gridstop Ltd

Driving Miss Daisy . . .

Well, my time is drawing ever closer. For those who have no idea what is going on, allow me to enlighten you. I take my driving test next week, and I'm not scared one little bit . . . honest.

I feel proud of where I am today. Just think, a little while back I didn't even know how to start a car, and now I almost own a full UK driving licence - that's if I pass. If I don't then it's just not meant to be at the moment and I'll hold my head in shame. It's a big step for me, a huge achievement. For most of the staff here it's old-school and boring, but I'm chuffed every time I park the car straight! I can't help it! I'm a proud person.

However, when I first started taking lessons, I wasn't technically a stranger to the `rules of the road`. Most of it is down to common sense, but being part of a family with a long line of lorry drivers, you do tend to pick things up quickly. Having stowed away in their cabs numerous times to go off gallivanting around the country, I've seen some pretty funny things on our good ol' British highways, and let me tell you, there are more than a few idiots out there.

I respect lorry drivers. I know most of you huff at them, and with reason, but without them everything would technically come to a stand still. Who would deliver all the goods to businesses around the country, and then who would ship the items that you buy off the Internet to your door?

But there's one thing I've learnt through all this - you don't mess with these boys! They're a driving-force among their own, and it's clearly obvious that they're bigger than you. With the immense driving power behind them, you'll only end up worse off. And who knows, one day I may be in control of a forty-foot Volvo Globetrotter. That'll definitely be a day to give up driving altogether . . .

Keep on trucking . . .

D. Ilott

Cybercheckout

Office v's Warehouse . . .

More shenanigans . . .

We had another team building day on Sunday, only this time our warehouse people from up north were involved too. Seeing as they are based roughly a hundred miles away in a warehouse jam packed with our products, we don't get to see them very often. They are lovely people up there, and because most of the business happens down here, sometimes I feel our warehouse staff are somewhat over-looked and under-appreciated.

Of course they're not. Far from it! We appreciate the work they do for us very much, and it can't be easy putting up with the amount of stress and hassle we throw their way. Cybercheckout couldn't be if it were not for them. And we also appreciate what they did for us this weekend.

We went `narrow boating` on the Amazon Rivers of Leicester, and a good time was had all round. There was food and drink (perhaps a bit too much drink), and two narrow boats full of Cybercheckout crew, terrorizing the canals. Luckily no one fell in, although there were a few near misses (shame). Our plan was, if anyone did fall in then we would leave them and pick them up on our way back - if they survived the wilds of the Leicester waters, that was. We saw all sorts lurking in the depth below the boat. We saw fish, birds, crocodiles, sharks, Moby Dick's whale, and some even claimed they saw the Loch Ness Monster - or maybe that was just evidence of too much drink . . . `hiccup` . . .

But anyway, the aim of the day was to get to know each other a bit more personally, to develop relations between office and warehouse staff, and to put faces to the voices we hear over the phone. By doing this we will work much better with each other, strengthening the team that we've built, and thus being able to provide you, the customer, a much higher level of service.

If I remember rightly, I think it was a success . . . Hiccup . . .

D. Ilott

Cybercheckout