Meet the Team - Fran

It has been a little while since we last caught up with Fran, so we thought it was time for a quick reintroduction.

Fran is part of our Customer Care team here at PalletOnline, helping customers with any questions that come with sending pallets.

Away from work, Fran is into Lord of the Rings, crime thrillers, country music, gaming and a strong appreciation for shepherd’s pie.

Here’s what she had to say.

Hi Fran! Since your last Meet the Team blog, how has your role at PalletOnline changed or evolved?

My role has stayed pretty much the same since my last Meet the Team blog, but there is always plenty going on in Customer Care to keep me busy.

I still help customers with their bookings, delivery queries and general pallet questions, whether that is checking collection details, helping with tracking or answering the classic “just making sure…” questions.

So, while my role itself has not really changed, no two days are ever exactly the same.

In your last blog, you said your dream Christmas would either be somewhere hot or somewhere snowy like Lapland or Finland. If you could choose your dream destination now, where would you go and why?

My dream destination now would be New Zealand.

I would love to visit Hobbiton because I am a big Lord of the Rings fan, so seeing that in real life would be amazing. I would also love to go whale watching while I was there.

There is actually a very loose plan to make this happen in 2028, so fingers crossed it goes from a “maybe one day” trip to an actual booked holiday.

Hobbiton and whale watching? Strong itinerary. No notes.

What’s something people are usually surprised to learn about you?

People are usually surprised to learn that I used to be a competitive swimmer.

I started club swimming when I was around 6 years old and carried on until I was about 18, so it was a big part of my life for a long time.

It is not something that tends to come up in everyday conversation now, but it definitely surprises people when I mention it.

What does your ideal day off look like?

My ideal day off would start with a big lie in, because that is always a good start.

Then I would spend time with family or friends, go out for some nice food and finish the day by watching a good film.

Nothing too chaotic, just a relaxed day with good company, good food and no alarms.

A lie in, food and a film. Finally, an achievable life goal.

Is there anything you’ve recently started enjoying, or would like to make more time for?

I have gone in and out of reading over the years, but over the last year or so I have really got back into it and I’m loving it.

I especially enjoy a good crime thriller. I recently read And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie and thought it was amazing.

I would definitely like to keep making more time for reading, especially when I find a book that I do not want to put down.

What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet?

I have always liked the idea of learning an instrument.

I am not sure exactly which one I would choose, but it is something I have thought about trying. The only problem is finding the time and motivation to actually get started.

It is one of those things that sounds great in theory, but then real life gets in the way a bit.

The dream: learning an instrument. The reality: needing the motivation to learn an instrument.

What kind of music, films, TV shows, books, or podcasts do you usually enjoy?

Don’t judge, but I love country music.

I like old-school artists like Johnny Cash, but I also enjoy current artists like Zach Bryan. Give me a country playlist and I will be happy.

When it comes to films and TV shows, I will try pretty much anything unless it is horror. My favourite film would have to be Lord of the Rings, the complete trilogy, and my favourite TV show would either be Lost or Money Heist.

They are all very different, but I think that sums up my taste quite well.

What’s one recommendation you always give people, whether it’s a series, film, book, podcast, or place to visit?

I will tell anyone who listens to me to try Money Heist.

I just think it is incredible and always recommend it when people are looking for something new to watch.

You can find it on Netflix, so there is really no excuse.

Consider this Fran’s official reminder to watch Money Heist.

What’s your ultimate comfort meal?

It would have to be my mum’s shepherd’s pie.

There is nothing better than that to make me feel all warm and cosy. It is proper comfort food and always feels like the kind of meal you want when you need something familiar and homely.

Some meals just hit differently, and that is definitely one of them.

What would you like people to know about the real Fran outside of work?

I think I mentioned this last time, but Fran outside of work loves gaming.

I’m not streaming at the moment, unfortunately, but I am still playing games and still enjoying it.

Outside of work, I am usually happiest spending time gaming, reading, watching a good series or film, listening to country music or making very loose plans for future trips.

So really, the real Fran outside of work is a mix of games, books, good TV, Lord of the Rings and probably a country playlist in the background.

A calm exterior, but probably a full side quest happening in her head.

It has been lovely getting to reintroduce Fran and finding out a little more about the team at PalletOnline.

Whether she is helping customers, recommending Money Heist, reading a crime thriller or dreaming of a trip to New Zealand, Fran brings plenty of personality to PalletOnline.

And if anyone needs a country playlist recommendation, you now know who to ask.