Day in the Life: Orla Cobb

As pandemic restrictions begin to ease, we speak to the team about the highs and lows of lockdown and what life looks like now. Orla Cobb, Business Development Manager at BDH Tullford gives us the lowdown on her day.

7:00

My alarm goes off around 7. And when I say alarm, I mean my 4-year-old son, Jack. He comes in and wakes me and my husband at the same time every day!

7:05

I get out of bed and get Jack washed and dressed before I do anything else. If I don’t he’ll get stuck into other things and won’t get dressed until much later in the day. Paul and I balance caring for Jack while we get ourselves ready.

7:45

Breakfast time. We sit and eat together and discuss our plans for the day. Things are starting to feel more normal now and my family has got into a good routine with work.

8:30

I drive Jack to nursery. He’s back there for a couple of days a week, which makes juggling child care and my job easier. Like many parents around the world, I found the first few weeks of lockdown stressful. Managing childcare and my work was a juggling act, but the directors at BDH Tullford have been really flexible and supportive during this time. 

9:00

When I get back from nursery, I sit down at my desk (well, dining table!). I work part-time, so the first thing I do is check my emails and catch up on anything I might have missed. I also take a few minutes to check my notes to see if I’m waiting to hear from anyone. 

When that’s done, I have a clearer idea of what needs to be done and put together my to-do list. 

Read more: Q&A with Adrian Kingsland

9:30

Before moving on, I call James Fox, a director at BDH Tullford. Together, we run through my plan for the day. He’ll let me know if there’s anything else that needs doing and any other priorities.

10:00 

I focus on my to-do list and start by responding to urgent emails. Wherever possible, I call on the phone. It feels more friendly than sending an email.

During lockdown, I had quite a few video calls, which was interesting with a small child! Thankfully people have been really understanding when Jack appears on a call, or wants to talk to me. So many people are in a similar situation, so they understand the challenges of juggling work and childcare. 

12:30

I normally take a break around midday to have some lunch and a stretch. Over the past few weeks, I’ve discovered I need to take a break from my screen and move around. It’s so easy to stay at your desk when you’re at home!

13:00

During the afternoon, I check in on projects that are already underway. I’ll make calls to the studio and the factory to get an update on current client projects and make sure they’re progressing smoothly.

During the lockdown, we started manufacturing social distancing signs and PPE to help businesses adapt to the new normal. We also developed ice-cream cone carriers, which are a really simple but effective idea for ice cream manufacturers. I’m really pleased with both of these projects and we’ve had a great response from our customers. 

16.30

I tend to wrap up work between 4 and 5 and collect Jack from nursery. I tie up loose ends a bit later in the evening if I need more time.  

17:00

As soon as we get back home, I start cooking Jack’s dinner and he tells me about his day at nursery. He’s always so full of energy and positivity – it’s infectious. My husband has been working longer hours recently, so we tend to eat later in the evening, when Jack’s gone to bed.

18:00

Jack and I take some time to play after dinner. A couple of weeks ago we went to the beach in the evening, so we could make the most of the weather. We got there around 6.30 and we played on the sand for a couple of hours. It’s one of the things I love about living in Norfolk; I’m never too far from the coast. 

Read more: What is a Shelf Talker?

19:00

Once he’s burned off some energy, Paul and I start putting Jack to bed. This normally takes around an hour, depending on how tired he is!

20:00

My husband and I have dinner together and catch up on our days, before settling down to chill out and unwind in front of the TV. I really enjoyed This is Us – but it made me cry every time! Ozark and Schitt’s Creek mix things up a bit if I need something a bit different.

22:00

I always aim to be in bed by 10, but it creeps back on some evenings, especially when I need a bit more chill out time.