I could write a post today about Boris (sort of) resigning and the resulting political turmoil. However, that situation is moving at a million miles an hour and the post will probably be out of date by the time I have finished writing it.
Suffice to say that the Buckingham Gate Investment Committee is in regular communication with our investment partners and we will be considering the implications for client portfolios, however, for the time being, the markets seem pretty content with an end to the circus surrounding Westminster in recent weeks.
I am going to write instead today about Richard.
(There is a financial planning message in here I promise, you will just have to look carefully for it!)
I am not quite sure what his role is, however, Richard works in the McDonalds at Liverpool Street station – I am going to assume he is their ‘front-of-house’. I often pop in on the way back home to pick up a bottle of water and, if I am heading back later in the evening, I will admit to picking up a McFlurry – one of my guilty pleasures.
The reason I write about Richard is that he makes everyone in the building smile. You see, Richard has taken it upon himself to set up a one-man karaoke show in the Mcdonald’s branch. The last time I visited, he was doing a rendition of Robbie Williams’ song Angels.
I don’t really know why he started doing it, but I do know it seems to universally make people happy. He has set up an Instagram channel for those of you who wish to find out more and I was intrigued to check this out.
Upon further investigation, it seems that Richard has become somewhat of a global sensation with his burgers and fries karaoke show with followers and coverage from all over the world. What’s more, it turns out that he is using his newfound fame to raise money for charity:
https://www.newsweek.com/mcdonalds-worker-singing-delights-internet-london-1711321?mc_cid=8d7b0e149d&mc_eid=7f7824dd37
I really admire the sense of creativity on display here. I am sure there is nothing in the McDonalds rulebook that says that you are allowed a singing front-of-house, however, in this case, bureaucracy seems to have taken a step aside and common sense has prevailed.
Of course there is no reason not to allow Richard to do his thing – he is making people happy, pleasing customers, creating free publicity and raising funds for charity – what’s not to like – however I am sure there are a ton of businesses that would not allow such things because “the computer says no”.
I have noticed a collective sense of fatigue with Covid, lockdowns, disruptions, strikes, government shenanigans, cost of living (the list goes on) and increasingly in my observations as I go about my daily business, these frustrations seem to be getting taken out on other innocent people.
So, my final thought for today is that perhaps we need more people like Richard. Doing things to make people happy, just because he can, and doing some good in the process.
