I distinctly remember you saying to me, when I was south of 50, that old people should fook off and die and make room for the youth.  You were angrier then.

I thought you were older to be fair to me.

Scary stuff 

jan moir will be along in a minute to overall the coroner from the safety of the Daily Mail office

Taking a shite load of drink and drugs is a natural way to die 

But yes, men should take better care of themselves (particularly those over 40). Reduce stress, increase exercise, reduce drinking etc 

I feel no obligation to be fair to you to be fair to me.

It was the first time I thought "Am I old?" and the first time someone actually said hey you, old guy, fu ck off.  

Since then I have encountered endless stuff. Of course, that's because I am getting older (spoiler: we all are). 

I really don't like the tendency in this country / these countries to say gtfoutttahere when you are just about rising to your most valuable in terms of life accrued.  That's one of the things, among many, that we really do get wrong.  In our lawyer world we charge more per hour for experience, until that level of experience becomes something that is hard to get your head around and then it's hey, old man, away wi' ya.

There is an age - and I was very busy during it - when you think you know it all and are finally in charge. And that's the time when you think the ones ahead are frustrating carcasses. You effectively demand the right to make your own mistakes in your own name. Then you do so. Shortly after that you realise that the ones ahead of you could be quite useful in terms of judgement and advice. But human nature is what it is. 

Agree entirely in principle except there were some real bed blockers around the table back when I had the inclination. They overstayed and ruined it for everyone. But obvs experiences vary and it all worked out for the best, so hey ho.

"Since then I have encountered endless stuff. Of course, that's because I am getting older (spoiler: we all are). "

Not Paul Cattermole (whoever he is)

Muttley I wouldn't worry pal - Clergs partner is over 50 

Some people get more handsome with age 

Agree entirely in principle except there were some real bed blockers around the table back when I had the inclination.

that's exactly how it goes.  Perhaps many are blockers who should go. But there is some massive demand for turnover and then, in my experience, a business suddenly thins down and the ones in charge all of a sudden are uncoached, unmentored owners. The accrued corporate knowledge or judgement of human nature has all fled or been pushed and suddenly these people are thrilled to be in charge but quietly accept that they have very little contextual resource. They are doomed to make avoidable slips and trips. It costs the business (naive employment decisions, aggressive and intolerant leadership messaging - don't get me wrong, I've made these mistakes too). The trick is to break this restart cycle by having people in the business who can say "yeah, I didn't get that right then. if I was doing it again I'd xyz" and then we move forward.

They do this in the US of course. Because there’s so much more effing cash in law there they can afford to pay the old guys experienced partners to stick around in a paid capacity.

if they then spend time helping relationships between their organisation and the board/execs who the young partners always feel they cant get to, then this is a win surely. 

A neighbour of mine worked for Shell. He took early retirement under encouragement from Shell aged 55. After 2 years he couldn't stand it and went back to work for a few more years. Now he is retired and enjoying it. I respect his advice. We talked about this recently. 

You seem to be taking this sad news very personally Muttly.

Paul's gettin' down on the floor?

There ain’t no harty like an S Club harty