Feel the fear, back yourself, take a leap, don't boil the ocean ...

I had a friend to stay this week. Let's call him Richard (mainly because that's his name). He's a "been there, seen it, done it" sort of chap, in the nicest possible way. You mention Iraq & he tells you about his time in Basra, talk about law firms & he'll tell you how he loved working at Clifford Chance, bump into a Norwegian & he makes small talk in the language, drag out your cycling gear & he'll pontificate on how it's not quite as elegant as the kit he designed for Team Sky. He's not even exaggerating.

(You'd think he'd be the perfect pub quiz companion but when we tried him out he couldn't answer the question "Which band was comprised of Robbie, Gary, Mark, Jason and Howard?", though that's a different story for another day).

Of all the people I know, he has probably had the most "non-linear" career.

Coincidentally, we also ran a panel event at Reignite Academy this week where four fabulous women talked about how they had returned to legal careers after breaks of 4, 8, 10 and 12 years. In the meantime, they'd done all sorts of things - retrained as a teacher, moved to Hong Kong, run a business, raised children - and whilst they all talk about being absolutely petrified when they first started, they were all buzzing with positivity about being back in the saddle.

Their advice to others? "Don't over think it", "Leap before you look", "Just have a go, see where it leads", "Back yourself"

We're in month one of the new business year and I'm inclined to take this advice on board myself. Got me thinking about who else might value these wise words.

French Chefs

Apparently, Macron has decided that French chefs are not as merveilleux as they used to be, so he's concocted a plan to send them abroad to learn their craft.

I just hope none of them come to Hackney. Frankly, I'm getting a little bit tired of being asked "Do you understand the concept of our restaurant?" followed by an instruction that our party of four should order at least seven of the "sharing plates" per person. So that, despite individual dishes costing a reasonable sounding 10.5 (note, never ￡10.50 - they don't want to remind you it's money we're talking about here), you end up spending at least 70 (￡70.00) per person.

And that's before you add the "wild farmed" focaccia (please point me in the direction of a farm growing wild focaccia - or is it the farm that's wild?) and 50 (￡50.00) for a bottle of CLOUDY wine.

I HATE CLOUDY WINE. I PARTICULARLY HATE CLOUDY ORANGE WINE.

And please don't tell me that organic wine does not give you a hangover. I'm living proof that this is bunkum.

French chefs, with your posh white table cloths & boring old prix fixe, menu de jour. Courage! Soutenez vous!

Anthem for Youth - You're Not Doomed*

(* For those who didn't study the First World War poets, Wilfred Owen's masterpiece recreated in full at the end).

I somehow seem to have acquired a bunch of new subscribers under the age of 25 and so I was perturbed, on their behalf, by headlines talking about the "death of the grad scheme" - some being cancelled, others not delivering on the promised training experience.

The demise of grad schemes has probably been exaggerated but my advice would be not to worry too much. They're not for everyone. They're definitely not the only way to find work and they come with a big risk that you end up stuck in a role that pays you a decent amount of money, which increases steadily year after year, until one day you look up and you're 55, facing retirement and have never really enjoyed what you do.

Take heed of my panel's advice. Do something, learn something, meet people. People of any age are five times more likely to find their next role through their network - connections, people they know - than through a job advert. Bear this in mind and don't worry about your first step being 100% perfect. Just make sure it's a step in the right direction: and one that is going to help you meet the type of people that are going to be able to help you out with the next step.

Other than that, I'm not sure what else to say. Except this:

• Learn to drive
• Pay into a pension
• Use your vote. You never know, one day you may be able to reverse that awful referendum decision. Though for that to happen some of you are probably also going to have to go into politics.

Finally, remember. You literally are the future. Most countries in Europe have an ageing population and declining birth rates. We need you. Little wonder the EU is actively talking about relaxing visa rules to allow under 30s to live, work and travel between the EU and the UK. It's not because they feel sorry for you missing out on your gap year travel experience, it's because you're IN DEMAND.

https://inews.co.uk/news/world/brexit-travel-eu-visa-3014015

Why We Love You

Realise that I spend an awful lot of time extolling the virtues of having an "older" woman on the team. Just to balance things out and before I return to type, here's a quick list of things we value about "young" folk.

• You're properly good with technology. Who needs a help desk with an under 25 in the vicinity.
• Vinted. (Other second hand channels do exist too). You've opened our eyes to the joys of recycling clothes. I can't really, hand on heart, say this one has saved lots of money because I'm pretty sure, net net, I end up spending the same overall but I feel better about it.
• Tik Tok and Instagram. You do them so we don't have to. That's how come we no longer have to use cook books to find recipes or newspaper columns to read restaurant reviews.
• Trainers/sneakers. Used to think they were for running. Never had more than two pairs in my wardrobe. Now, thanks to your influence, I have little else by way of footwear. And I know I can rely on you to tell me when things have moved on.
• You take much better photos than us. We come from a world where you took a photo, sent the film off to be developed and had to wait at least a week to see the results. Little wonder most of us were (and are) pretty crap. You, on the other hand, well, you know all about filters and the like.
• MAFSAU

The News Bit

• Tories delivered. We always knew they would. Angela Rayner stole the limelight for only 3 minutes before another Tory MP did something far far worse. (By the way, did you read the bit about his previous misdemeanour with a Brazilian illegal immigrant leading to him becoming a trade envoy for South America?? Had to read that twice).
• SNP also don't want to be left out - Nicola's husband arrested for embezzlement. She knew nothing. Never noticed the big fat camper van parked on the drive. ]
• Swiss women took the country's government to court for missing climate change commitments and won! Interesting times ahead.
• "Spring" now lasts until ... well, not sure when.
• We still don't know the date of the election. Limbo. Disgraceful

The Cultural Slot

I'm playing (this is a new one!). NY Times Connections. Brilliant. Free. Have a go.

I'm reading: Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang. I abandoned her debut novel, Babel, but not before I'd already bought the hardcover of this. Totally different, easier read, about plagiarism in the age of social media. It's good.

Not reading: Liz Truss's memoirs.

I'm watching: Blue Lights. Why did no-one point this out to me before? Am now fully caught up on the first series and just started series 2. It's not Happy Valley (peerless) but neither is it Line of Duty (far fetched).

I'm listening to: Caught You & Yours by mistake last week and heard Marcia Kilgore (11th April) on a series called Gap Finders, talking about her experience setting up and then selling various businesses, including Fit Flop, Soap and Glory and now Beauty Pie. Really interesting and inspirational.

I'm off to: watch the London Marathon

*Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?

??????—?Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

??????Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons.

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;?

??????Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

??????And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?

??????Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes

Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.

??????The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;

Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,

And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.