Blogs: Richard's job log: 8

Richard currently works in a Birmingham law firm, after completing a contemporary history degree. He’s thinking about a paralegal career, but also has media ambitions.

After carrying out some quite extensive research I can confirm that it is no longer ‘the most wonderful time of the year’. I am going to say this quietly for fear of upsetting people but I think it is January.

January. The very word feels as depressing and listless as the greying winter weather which will eventually devour us all. ‘January’ of course, as we all know, is a Latin word meaning cold, skint and on a diet and I think this year the real meaning on the word will ring true. In short, January is the least wonderful time of the year and if it could get a shift on and becomes February rather quickly I think we would all be pretty grateful.

In the mean time though I suppose we ought to get on with 2011. In many ways I suppose that 2011 will be a momentous year for the country, as the VAT rises (at the same rate as the rising levels of bin bags in the streets) and unemployment sky rockets. Cities full of people will no doubt rise up and overthrow the Coalition in an Orwellian/Animal Farm type of way, but until that happens we will all be able to forget our troubles for a few fleeting moments because there is a Royal Wedding to look forward to!

Prince etc will be marrying Kate something or other later on this year so things aren’t all that bad now are they? Unless you are unemployed obviously, or you have contracted the plague from that mound of uncollected bin bags outside your house. If either of those things has happened to you then you probably don’t give two hoots about some rich people getting married.

In a similar vein, I have my own wedding to look forward to/try and finance this year, and from what I know about weddings it would appear that they can be a touch expensive. The chances of the UK tax payer contributing towards my wedding as well are admittedly slim (although if you do want to chip in there will be a collection coming round), so I would quite like to find a new, more financially rewarding job.

Therefore I can state, that after spending most of my Christmas break sat in front of my television watching Mad Men I would quite like to be Don Draper. For the handful of people on Earth that are yet to see the show, Don Draper is the handsome, smooth talking, well dressed (and very well paid) advertising executive. An average day for Don consist of looking a bit annoyed, drinking copious amounts of scotch and being generally brilliant at his job. Anyone know where I apply for a fictional job in the past?