2022: A Game of Two Halves ...

Without wanting to sound preposterously privileged, we normally spend Christmas in the French Alps. (OK, I accept, that is preposterously privileged, all I can say is that it wasn't always thus and nothing came without a lot of hard work).

This time last year, we arrived here having moved heaven and earth to change our travel plans when Macron closed the borders to the British because we were a diseased people and he didn't want to run the risk of our germs spreading to France. People reminded him that this was actually a global pandemic, which had been going on for some time, but this didn't seem to matter. (His decision was in no way connected to the fact that he was due to face a presidential election in a few months time and was not looking too popular in the polls).

Can you believe it's only a year since we were banned from "abroad", forced to show our vaccine passes everywhere we went and carried grubby face masks in the pocket of every coat we owned?

A year ago, Boris was still prime minister, steadfastly refusing to acknowledge he had ever made a mistake about anything, considering any disagreeable matter "closed" and confident that his 80 seat majority would see him through. No one had heard of Sue Grey; Meghan and Harry were planning a quiet life abroad; the diplomats told us not to worry about Russia invading Ukraine; the Bank of England base rate was 0.25%; and inflation was running at about 5%.

What a year. When you look at those headlines, you could be forgiven for thinking this was a year of tremendous change. And in some ways, it was. But in other ways, things are wearily - or perhaps comfortably - familiar.

Politicians Stick to the Script

As it turned out, Macron didn't need to worry about the presidential elections. For some years now, the republicans and socialists in France have failed to get their act together in terms of what they are about and therefore who should lead them. Marine Le Pen & her crew did admittedly faire peur aux chevals but she was never going to win. Plus ca change.

And despite the Tories having three attempts at prime minister this year, and some wildly different economic policies, I'm not sure they have any clearer vision at the end of the year than when they started. Which is a shame since the economic situation is definitely looking more precarious: clear vision would be welcomed. Their proposed solution is to raise taxes and deregulate financial services (think they missed the crypto crisis). Oh, and we're still planning on sending refugees to Rwanda.

I did harbour some hope that the Labour Party might step in to the void with something a bit more compelling. But no. In a move that I find utterly incomprehensible, the person Kier Starmer turned to to help craft his vision for a new Britain was that hugely respected, unbelievably successful, former prime minister, Gordon Brown. The one who never won an election.

Kier/Gordon's big ideas? Reform the house of lords and charge VAT on private school fees. That'll deliver on our energy crisis/climate change/educational attainment/economic growth goals.

Brothers in Arms

William and Harry. They've had a big fall out. It's all over the news, as though somehow its newsworthy. It isn't. Brothers are always falling out. Cain and Abel, Liam and Noel, Kendall and Roman. I'm not giving it any more air space.

Striking Out

The strikes across the NHS, on the other hand, are definitely newsworthy. These are the people who literally put their lives on the line during the pandemic. Unlike those who supplied PPE in great haste and at great prices, the nurses, ambulance drivers, paramedics, cleaners, care workers did their jobs with dedication and with no thought to their financial reward.

Refusing to come to the table to negotiate on pay is unacceptable.

Brexit Is Not Done

Remember during the summer, when Sunak and his supporters pointed out the folly of Liz Truss's policies, saying they would be a disaster? He was proved right very quickly.

Well, let me let you in to an open secret. The people who said Brexit would be an economic disaster were also correct. It's just no-one wants to admit it. Apart from the British Chambers of Commerce who recently reported that the vast majority of members are "banging their heads against a brick wall" over improving trade with the EU.

Even Jacob Rees Mogg, former minister for trying to find something that is better as a result of Brexit, has failed to identify a single benefit thus far.

Sports Report

It was a game of two halves. England (women) won. England (men) did not.

Energy is the New Tech

You heard it here first. For a long time, the Tech sector has been the place to look for innovation, lucrative jobs, interesting developments and for progress that would move society and the economy forwards.

However, what was once a sector full of start ups, disrupters and innovators, is now dominated by behemoths and things don't look quite so exciting any more. I just read that the Tech Giants are ditching office space in London and the EU in response to the downturn.

In happier news, though, and despite a lack of a clear strategy from the Government, the folks in the energy sector are innovating like crazy. In the last few weeks I've been approached (via the Reignite Academy) by four companies working in the renewable energy sector who are growing fast and who now need to recruit their own in house lawyers as a result.

We are so enthused by the demand and by the response of our candidates to the opportunity to work in this sector that we are officially opening an in house lawyer desk next year. (There won't actually be a desk, it will just be us doing what we do but for in house roles, but no-one needs to know that).

Strategic Advice

When we were thinking about doing more in house recruitment, possibly focusing on interim and contract role, I asked a very experienced General Counsel to do some research for us to see what the competition was like and whether there might be space.

The conclusion? It's a very busy market (not good news for us) but in many cases the candidate experience is "a bit shite". We try very hard not to be shite. In fact, we try very hard to put candidates at the centre. This will be our strategy. Don't be shite. Be nice.

Get out more

This is the other part of my strategy. It has been stymied a bit by the rail strikes but I'm sticking with it. Meeting people, having coffee, doing things in person, maybe even having a bash to celebrate our 4th birthday party. 2023 bring it on.

Listen of the Year. Newscast. I'm a news addict and I love their slightly irreverent but wholly believable style.

Watch of the Year Bad Sisters, written by and starring Sharon Horgan. Brilliant.

Read of the Year: Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead, closely followed by Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason. Both on the Women's Prize list, though neither won. Shortlist was magnificent. Well done those judges.

Sad loss: I lost my dad this year, as you know. Which was sad but also magnificent. he was 83, lived a meaningful life and touched many people. His after party will go down in history. I was sad, though, to hear of the death, this week, of Terry Hall. Ghost Town is - and always has been - on my desert island discs list.

Such an iconic and important song. Enjoy