Mr Lee, international man of mystery, is back… with tales of Worzel Gummidge, dodgy sat nav and the CAT transfer market

I’m back! It’s been quite a few months since I last posted a blog so apologies to everyone who has been in a state of suspense since last November!

Now that the painful wait is finally over, the BIG question on everyone’s lips is: just what has Mr. Lee, international man of mystery, been up to?

 Well I can exclusively reveal that there has rarely been a dull moment, with my fair share of fun road trips visiting CAT’s wonderful clients up and down the UK.

One particular trip sticks in my memory – a trip into the beautiful countryside of Worcestershire to see White Foot Forward. I am a country boy at heart and love a good adventure, but on this occasion things took a slightly sinister twist when my sat nav decided to navigate me through the rolling hills of the deepest Worcestershire wilderness!

I have heard some horror stories about sat navs but nothing quite prepared me for this 1 hour detour… some would say I might have been slightly delirious with tiredness and hunger when I saw Worzel Gummidge and his farmer friends chilling out in the straw field…

To the other extreme, I also paid a visit to the Euro Car Parts Empire in Wembley. In contrast to my earlier adventure, it is a very industrial area nestled beside the imposing Wembley Stadium, which dominates the local Skyline. I was so impressed with ECP, I could see a snapshot to why they are so successful in what they do by just walking around the warehouse.

Back at the office and there has been plenty of activity in the “Haymarket transfer market” between Autosport and CAT magazine.

As most of you will know, we have made a new signing: David Harris (formerly Autosport) has joined the CAT dream team and Jim Foster has gone in the reverse direction to Autosport.

We are sad to lose Jim as he kick-started the new commercial dynamic of CAT and drove our online capabilities. But I’m really pleased to welcome David to the team. He is already bringing lots of fresh and unique ideas to CAT and taking the brand to a whole new level (I don’t think I can forgive him for supporting Cambridge Utd, though!).

So goodbye to Jim, hello to David and now I also have to say a sad goodbye to the legend that is Karen “Lobby” Reilly, who is moving on to a new challenge within Haymarket.

She has been an absolute dream to work alongside and seriously knows her stuff about the aftermarket. I will particularly miss her constant cackling laugh, her make-believe marriage with Valentino Rossi and her lush meatball pasta!

The good news is that there has been a new signing for the CAT All Stars – we’re about to welcome an internal appointment from within Haymarket, someone who is seriously keen to embrace the challenge of the aftermarket!

Our new “Galactico” will be unveiled very soon… watch this space!

So the months really have rattled by, and as we now enter October, it sadly signals the end of the summer for most people. It has definitely been one to remember for me. I have enjoyed an amazing season back home for my club team but also captaining the Haymarket Cricket team to 4th place in our local Twenty20 league!

Having historically never finished above bottom place, this is a MASSIVE achievement and testament to some great team spirit and banter we’ve had throughout the season.

We don’t need any cruel reminders that the British winter is looming large, but it does provide me with an irreplaceable void in my life – and that is cricket. Well, that is until I depart for Australia and the Ashes 3rd Test Match in Perth, where you will catch me dressed as Batman and singing some Barmy Army songs!