Don't Worry, Be Happy

Welcome to the Now and Z/Yen silly season special. As promised last time, we are cutting back on those "assignments sold" and "stars hired" items, so this issue is packed with fun news. We’re not even going to bother to tell you about Marie Logan joining us from Grosvenor Estates. We are also not going to write about the interesting new assignments upon which Z/Yen teams are beavering away and Marie is cutting her teeth.

The Sound Of Leather On Willow

Z/Yen defied all the spread bets by coming a close second in a cricket competition in late July, against Barnardo’s, at Fairlop. Z/Yen highlights included Jane Beazley taking a wicket, Michael Mainelli scoring 16 runs "baseball style", Michel Einhorn pulling a hamstring and a stunning undefeated partnership of 36 runs in three overs between Ian Harris and Nigel Moore.

None of these stunts were enough to prevent Barnardo’s from deservedly winning by 23 runs. Unlike our good friends at Barnardo’s, Z/Yen took the obvious precaution of bringing some children along with us, only one of whom succeeded in getting a black eye trying to retrieve the ball. It was an amazing summer evening, which showed the weather characteristics of spring, autumn and winter during the two hours of play. The weather improved once we retired to the sports centre for beer and cake. Watch out for the next similar event; it was a smashing evening.

Rolling On The River

Many Z/Yen clients, prospects and Z/Yen partners have "left a good job in the City" early this summer to join us on the sailing barge Lady Daphne to find out more about Z/Yen in convivial circumstances. A highlight has been the Z/Yen quiz that has questions ranging from the mundane to the fiendish. Another highlight has been our uncanny knack of avoiding the rain and finding the sun (which has taken some doing in June/July this year).

This knack might help us with our assignment on weather risk; another item we are not going to write up in our silly season special. Any Now and Z/Yen reader who has not yet had the "Z/Yen Lady Daphne" experience should feel free to call Linda Cook and book themselves a passage.