Farewell, I’ll miss you

Jul 10 2009 Nicholas Craig, The Journal

THIS is the big one. After eight years of weekly columns in The Journal, hail or shine, this is my final regular appearance. I’ll miss the chance to air grievances or praise regional successes.

I’ll miss the feedback from readers and I’ll miss the many conversations which formed the basis for columns over the years.

The columns have helped my blood pressure cope with the idiocies of business life, such as call centres, mobile phones, junk email, office parties, text messaging (or txt spk) and meaningless business jargon. The frustrations have all been cathartically cauterised as a result.

To restore balance we have looked at the fantastic cultural offerings in the region, and the occasional mistakes such as the unwalkable, disposable bamboo bridge that gracelessly straddled the Tyne for three days. We’ve raved about visitor attractions from The Alnwick Garden to Beamish, rural tourism, Tall Ships, Theatre Royal and Tyneside Cinema revamps. The region is rich in talent and imagination. The proof is there in both culture and business.

During the eight years of this column, the North East has seen cheap flights multiply, centres of excellence emerge, the City of Culture bid lost and building schemes transform the look of our cities. The effects of 9/11, globalisation and the recession have all reverberated through our economy, and the North-South divide has rattled on regardless of MPs’ promises or passionate advertising campaigns. And we’ve discussed them all.

My own passions – the country and cities of China in particular – have been indulged. The Beijing Olympics have come and gone but the effect of that extraordinary investment will last for decades – opening up China to an admiring if sceptical world audience. It was a treat to witness the preparations and the result of all that work on an exhilarating, exhausting city. I am continuing to work with Chinese businesses and regional companies wishing to trade with China – a growing sector in the North East.

Visits to China have been business-led – visits elsewhere have mainly followed the cricket. Having to relate in my column the experiences of travelling to Sri Lanka, India, Antigua and Australia have kept the tunnel vision induced by two sets of wickets at bay – temporarily.

When I was first asked to write this column I was told that any aspect of business-related life was fair game as long as it didn’t focus solely on law. I’ve managed to remain legal while celebrating and commiserating with the ups and downs of our multi-faceted business community.

Recurring themes such as transport problems, talent retention and the abiding need for entrepreneurs and apprentices in the region reared their heads a few times. They are all priorities, all need funding and none has quick fix solutions.

In 416 columns we have covered most aspects of life. Having the oxygen of The Journal’s business pages to praise those people and organisations that deserve it and take to task those who do not is a privilege I have appreciated enormously.

There has never been a week in which it has been difficult to decide on a topic – the North East is chock-full of life and interest – enough to keep columns written and read for decades to come. Thanks for all your feedback, questions, comments and quips from 2001 to 2009. It has been an illuminating, enjoyable eight years.

Nicholas Craig, Watson Burton law firm