SOUTH WEST LONDON — It’s a beautiful day. I have already cleaned the fridge and had two cups of half tea, half-sugar. It’s a wonder I can sit still at all.

I turn forty-three a little later today. And the long expected mid-life crisis has still not shown itself. I look at guys like me in sports cars and only see the bald-spot.

Something I am mercilessly still without. My hair’s so think I could sell it for wigs. But I did wake up this morning to find that one whole side of my head — the east side — has gone almost completely white. I am sure it is the shock of the last year.

In 2008-2009 I set up a new business.

That will be the punchline for a joke in the future.

There’s a great deal to be learned in any country that I have lived when you set up a new business. The key thing is that the odds are stacked against you. They say that if you want to own a yacht it would be cheaper and more fun to stand in a cold shower and tear up £100 notes. In my experience if you want to start a new business it would be easier and safer to stand in the middle of a packed Wembley stadium and scream “Let’s go Germany! Let’s go!”

Nonetheless, Able and How is a brilliant proposition. No one else offers the same services. Our clients are fabulous and the future can still be bright. Our consulting is so fundamental to the success of big businesses that all we need to do is get to talk to more of them.

So amidst the vague chatter of an improving economy, with the world’s biggest car manufacturer declaring bankruptcy, and still seemingly everything stacked against a start-up business, we will persist.

I just received a text message from my barber shop, wishing me a happy birthday. With that kind of support, who wouldn’t want to succeed?

It’s my birthday and I’ll keep trying if I want to!

/df