Remote working, resilience and a breakdown in France

At Surevine, we champion remote working. But sometimes, life throws challenges your way that test just how “remote” you can be while staying connected. This was precisely my experience during a recent family holiday.

It all started on Saturday, September 28th, 2024. My wife, daughter, two dogs, and I were returning home after a two-week break in Spain, towing a caravan through France en route to our ferry. That’s when our van broke down just south of Bourges.

We were recovered to a local garage in La Chapelle-Saint-Ursin, but what followed was a lesson in resilience and problem-solving. Despite arranging European breakdown cover beforehand, we were told it wasn’t active. With no immediate options to repair the van, the recovery driver kindly dropped us at a nearby campsite to wait for Monday.

A Remote Worker’s Setup

Monday morning began not in an office but on a campsite Wi-Fi connection, joining the daily team stand-up from our caravan. I explained the situation to the team: I’d be working remotely while juggling the logistics of van repair and planning our journey home.

By Monday afternoon, the garage confirmed the worst — our van needed a new engine. With two dogs and a caravan to consider, flying home wasn’t an option. I spent Monday and Tuesday morning working from the campsite while arranging with a friend to borrow their car. Tuesday afternoon turned into a multi-modal working day: I travelled by train from Bourges to Paris, caught the Eurostar to London, and then returned home by train, all while staying connected to work.

The Journey Back

I set off in the borrowed car early Wednesday morning to return to France. The daily stand-up that day came live from the car as I waited to board the ferry. Onboard, ferry Wi-Fi kept me connected for meetings as I crossed the Channel. By Wednesday night, I was back at the campsite, ready to tow our caravan home the next day.

Thursday was another long day on the road, but even then, I joined a senior leadership team call from a motorway service area, much to everyone’s surprise. After a final sprint to Calais, we returned to the UK late that night. Friday felt like a luxury — I worked the entire day from the comfort of my home office.

The Final Chapter

The following week was a welcome chance to focus entirely on work while arranging how to bring the van home. After organising a transporter and meeting EU driving regulations, I made a final trip back to France the following weekend, this time with my father-in-law. The van was successfully recovered, and by Wednesday, everything (and everyone) was back home.

Lessons in Flexibility

This experience underlined for me how flexible and supportive Surevine is as an organisation. There was no expectation for me to work during this chaotic time, but I felt compelled to help, particularly as we were preparing for an ISO27001 audit. Remote working enabled me to stay connected and contribute, turning what could have been an isolating experience into a collaborative one.

Each meeting became a guessing game for colleagues — “Where’s Stu?” — which brought a bit of humour to an otherwise challenging situation.

Ultimately, all costs were reimbursed after raising a successful complaint with my insurance provider. And despite everything, we’re already planning to return to the same Spanish campsite next year.

Here’s hoping the next trip will be smoother!