NO DIRTY NAPPIES, I’M OFF TO THE MATCH
HIGH-profile dads have been dominating the newsstands recently, with David Cameron introducing baby Florence to the press (right) and father-of-three Nick Clegg proposing changes to the UK’s paternity leave rules.
Hot on the heels of the trend, Prospect magazine has today published an article on the struggle to achieve a work-dad balance, with some fascinating insights into the parenting styles of the UK’s working fathers.
Most interesting is M&C Saatchi founding director David Kershaw, a self-confessed “creature of selfish habit” who married late after spending the 1980s leading the “somewhat debauched existence” of a classic ad man. Fast-forward several years and he’s is ready to settle down – but not without caveats.
Kershaw explains how a contract was agreed with his wife for how the couple would approach their “breeding programme”, with three explicit conditions.
The clauses exempted Kershaw from nappy changing, night duties, and having to stop spending time playing golf or watching his beloved Arsenal. Naturally, it also required his wife to give up work.
Terms agreed, the couple happily procreated, with Kershaw continuing his hands-off approach as their children grew up, acting as “a sharer of treats rather than a constant figure of responsibility”.
While The Capitalist is a firm believer in an each-to-their-own philosophy, Clegg should be careful to look elsewhere for his paternity-leave poster boy.
RUGBY’S NEW MASCOTS
There’ll be something for everyone at One New Change tonight, when Irish London players Delon Armitage and David Paice will share the shopping centre’s atrium with an up-and-coming band – though thankfully not at the same time.
Ahead of the Exile’s derby against Harlequins on Saturday, Armitage and Paice will be answering questions – which fans can submit in advance on Facebook or twitter – and there’ll also be giveaways of tickets for the popular clash.
For those not so into the rugby, alternative entertainment will be on offer in the form of “hotly-tipped” girl band FunFair (us neither). Taking cross marketing to a whole new level London Irish have signed a deal for the band to play at every one of their home games this season and will be kicking off the event with a live performance.
So when you hear the strains of the club’s anthem – The Boys Are Back In Town – drifting out across the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, you’ll know who they’re singing about.
STRICTLY BOARDROOM
Ousted Healthcare Locums vice-chair Kate Bleasdale (left) has had a tumultuous month, but The Capitalist is hoping that being investigated for accountancy irregularities at her own firm won’t stop the reportedly jovial ex-nurse from maintaining her party spirit.
Word has spread that an entertaining YouTube video of the former executive vice chairman dancing to Abba has been taken offline recently and The Capitalist is keen to view the forbidden footage: consider this a call for submissions.
We have to say that the report of the video does jog the memory: it was not too long ago that Bleasdale was accepting a business award at a dinner in Old Billingsgate Market. Shunning the usual speech, she decided instead on a peculiar little jig on-stage. Alas, the merry chairwoman is “finally facing her Waterloo”.