Editor's Column - tradespeople are the happiest workers, with florists, chefs and plumbers

HOW many of you can honestly say that you haven’t thought about giving up your desk job for something more hands-on? Or dreamed about setting up that little hotel in the Tuscan hills? It is a common misconception that high-earning jobs give the greatest career satisfaction. In fact, according to a recent study carried out by UK body City & Guilds, tradespeople are the happiest workers, with florists, chefs and plumbers among the most satisfied.

One of the reasons why high-flyers decide to jack it all in is to spend more time with their families. It’s all too easy for work to take priority over private life – a habit that can be hard to break. In this issue of The Maritime Advocate we find out if the popular perception that lawyers neglect the ‘life’ part of the work/life balance is really true. We talk to Vivian Ang about how she manages to juggle life as one of the world’s pre-eminent insurance and reinsurance lawyers and a mother of three. And we chat to young maritime lawyers around the world about how they cope with finding the right balance between their careers and their busy social lives.

Elsewhere in this issue we find out about the HNS Convention 1996 and what it means for charterers, shipowners, P&I clubs and ports. We hear from Michael Davies about some of the common pitfalls when using the UN Convention on the International Sale of Goods (CISG), and take a closer look at ship registration and arrest in Australia, the Netherlands, Moldova and Denmark.

So next time you’re thinking about giving it all up to become a gardener, or taking some time out to take up tai chi, just make sure you void all those media jobs. Apparently we’re among the least satisfied. Now where did I put that beginner’s guide to flower arranging?