Blog 79 - TUPE

Blog 79 - TUPE

October 2025

Unfortunately, as much as I have tried to keep this blog about my journey into writing, the real world has inevitably snuck in once or twice. And today is no exception. Today I’m not going to ramble on about the dread of a blank page or the sheer, unadulterated joy of finding the perfect synonym. Nope. Today, my friends, we’re diving into a topic that, for a seasoned night owl like me, sounds vaguely like a mythical creature or a particularly smelly brand of cheese: TUPE.
Yes, you read that right. TUPE. It’s a new word in my vocabulary, and like any good writer, I’m dissecting it, turning it over in my mind, and trying to make sense of its strange, slightly alarming, but ultimately rather fascinating implications.
So, what exactly is this TUPE thing? According to Google, TUPE is the acronym for Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment), a set of UK laws that protect employees' rights when a business or part of a business changes ownership. It is pronounced "two-pee" or "too-pee", like the number 2 followed by the letter 'p'.
Apparently, it’s a legal mechanism that means my beloved, dimly lit, highly important role as a night security officer has been… well, “sold on” to another company. Imagine if your favourite worn-out armchair suddenly announced it was being transferred to a new owner. You’d still be sitting in it, but with a different set of upholstery rules. I think that’s kind of how being TUPE’d is going to feel.
Now, if you are like me, the process conjures up images of corporate jargon, stern meetings, and the faint whiff of dread. Change, even when it’s not exactly a dramatic life upheaval, is still… change. It’s like switching from your trusty old fountain pen to a brand-new gel rollerball. It still writes, but the whole feel of it is different.
Luckily, as a writer, my brain is wired to find the narrative, the story, even in the mundane. So, I see this whole TUPE situation as a story waiting to be told! It’s a plot twist I didn’t see coming, a character introduction from an unexpected corner of the corporate universe.
Okay, so how am I going to process this? First, let’s talk about the word itself. TUPE. It's got a certain… oomph to it, don't you think? It’s not a soft, gentle word like “whisper” or “breeze.” It’s got a bit of a thud, a solidness. Like when you drop a heavy book on your foot. Not ideal, but it makes you pay attention. And I am paying attention.
As a night security officer, my life is a tapestry of shadows, silence, and the occasional thrilling rustle of a rogue plastic bag caught in the wind. My nights are spent keeping the real world safe, in a practical, lock-checking, alarm-monitoring kind of way, and my downtime is spent dreaming up mythical worlds and crafting compelling characters. It’s this contrast that fuels my creativity. The quiet stillness of the night allows my thoughts to expand, to explore, to run wild.

I’ve spent countless hours walking the same route, learning every creak of the rollercoasters, every hum of the machinery. I’ve become intimately familiar with the quiet rhythm of a sleeping theme park. It’s a predictable, comforting existence. And predictability, for a writer who thrives on crafting surprising plot points, it can sometimes feel a little… repetitive.
So, perhaps this TUPE is not a threat, but an opportunity. A chance to inject some fresh narrative into my nightly vigil. Perhaps the new company will bring new protocols, new challenges, maybe even a new coffee machine, one that produces hot coffee and not luke-warm sludge. Who knows? A writer can dream, right?
The key, I’m learning, is to approach this TUPE adventure with the same spirit of curiosity as I did when I started writing, rather than with a sense of trepidation. Instead of dwelling on the potential awkwardness of meeting new colleagues or learning new systems, I can focus on the possibilities. It’s like being handed a new prompt for a story. What new perspectives will I encounter? What unexpected dramas might unfold now the night has a slightly different backdrop?
My role, at its core, remains the same: to be vigilant, to be reliable, to be the watchful guardian of the night, the only thing that’s changing is the company name on my paycheck. So even though it’s a little strange, a little confusing, and if I’m honest a little scary, it’s undeniably a part of the grand, unfolding story of my life, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. As a writer, I wouldn’t want it any other way. So why should the part of me that’s a Night Security Officer?
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some new employee onboarding forms to ponder and a new, slightly intimidating, but ultimately exciting, chapter to begin. The night owl’s coop might be changing, but the night owl himself is ready to spread his wings and see what new horizons this adventure has to offer. Wish me luck!