You can get 5% off any purchase over £200 at A&E Leisure using discount code ‘ovdiary05‘ at the checkout!
Welcome to todays diary entry! I’ve been putting this one off—not because I didn’t want to write it, but because I wasn’t quite sure where to begin. March wasn’t just a month. It was a mission. A marathon. A blur. A series of early mornings, late nights, quick coffees, long lists, and a constant hum of pressure. And now, standing here in April, it feels like I’ve just climbed out of the other side of a storm.
If I had to sum March up in a single sentence, it would probably be: absolutely relentless—but unbelievably rewarding.
We started with the in-store show—our first big sales push of the year and the first test of how strong the season could be. There was the usual anxiety in the run-up: “What if no one comes? What if the weather’s bad? What if we’ve over-prepped?” But we absolutely smashed it. The turnout was better than expected, the takings were five times higher than a normal weekend, and it gave us that rare mix of relief and momentum.
That weekend really set the tone. It said: right, let’s go. And go we did.
If you enjoy this then YOU WILL LOVE THESE!!
– Will the Motorhome Market Crash in 2025? The Harsh Reality
– Will the Caravan Market Crash in 2025? Shocking Truth Revealed
– Top Picks for 12v TV in 2024: Find Your Perfect Match for Your Motorhome, Campervan, or Caravan
– Motorhome Habitation Checks: The UK Legal Requirement Myth Busted
– A and E Leisure Discount Codes: What they don’t want you to know!
From there, we barrelled straight into prep for Blakemere. I don’t think we realised at the time just how big that show was going to become. The planning alone could’ve been a full-time job—plotting the field, organising who was pitching where, coordinating with reps, arranging deliveries, packing vans.
It felt endless. And all of that was running alongside keeping the shop going, onboarding a brand-new team member, and launching a completely new backend system for processing sales and stock. In hindsight, it was complete madness. But somehow, we kept the wheels on.
Then came Blakemere itself.
Last update on 2025-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Looking back, I honestly think it might be the most ambitious thing we’ve ever done. A huge field transformed into a fully functioning awning and accessories show. Over 50 awnings and tents, four pop-up shops, multiple manufacturers on site, and a full team of our own staff camped up and living out of motorhomes. It was brilliant—but exhausting. From sunrise to way past sunset, we were either setting up, selling, packing, or just trying to keep our heads above water.
But it worked. The buzz was incredible, the customers came, the orders came, and we even managed to make the new system work… eventually. We sold air suspension kits, cleared awnings, and brought something completely new to our customers. It felt special. We pulled it off. And as knackered as we were, we were proud.
And then came the pack-down.
No one ever warns you about the aftermath. There’s the thrill of the show, sure—but then you’re left with vans full of gear, a shop that looks like it’s been burgled, and a warehouse bursting at the seams. Getting the shop back into shape has been one of the hardest parts. We went from having it look the best it ever had… to possibly the worst.
That stings. We were chasing our tails, tripping over demo stock, trying to find space that didn’t exist, and all while the emails kept coming in and customers kept walking through the door. At times, I felt genuinely embarrassed. You want to welcome people into a tidy, inspiring retail space—not a dumping ground after a festival.
Personally, March has been just as intense. I turned 37. Not a massive milestone, but a chance to reflect. This time last year, I was celebrating in the Moroccan desert. This year, I was serving customers in the cold UK spring and dreaming of paella over a campfire. I started running again—slow at first, just trying to move—but found a bit of peace in it. I set small goals and smashed them. Sub-40k. Then sub-35k. Then, unbelievably, sub-30. That’s not just a physical win—it’s been a mental lifeline.
Exercise became my anchor. My headspace improved. I slept better. I felt more in control—even when everything else felt chaotic. And that’s important, because there were days where I seriously questioned whether I was doing enough, or even doing it right. I’m my own harshest critic, always have been. But in March, that voice in my head was loud. And tired.
Lisa’s been incredible, holding the fort at home with Rory, managing her own work and still supporting me when I came back from a 14-hour day looking like I’d been dragged through a hedge backwards. The team, too, dug deep. Even when they were learning the new system on the fly, sleeping in vans, or freezing in fields, they just cracked on. That kind of commitment isn’t lost on me. I couldn’t have done it without them.
And the numbers? Well—March turned out to be one of our best months ever. Not just in revenue, but in spirit. In grit. In growth. It’s easy to get wrapped up in spreadsheets, sales targets, and system reports. But what we achieved this month goes beyond numbers. We built something, together. Something people turned up for. Something that mattered.
So here I am, deep into April, still knackered, still overwhelmed—but full of gratitude.
March, you were one for the books.
And now… back to it.
Did you know that you can also catch us on YouTube!
We always recommend RIPE Motorhome and Caravan Insurance get your discount here!!
We regularly use Brittany Ferries to get to Europe and the UK, get the best price here!!
