DITCH THE A LISTERS - ITS THE Z GENERATION WHO HAVE MY VOTE

I visited Shoreditch today. I don't go there a lot as it's too close to the Financial sector for comfort, but Brick Lane is wonderful. The creativity, the atmosphere and there's an overriding feeling of hope. I believe it comes from the Z generation. Their energy overwhelms the cynicism and suffocating neurosis of the Milennials and the cloying narcissism and arrogant mean spiritedness of the boomers (over generalising here I realise - there are exceptions).
        According to the 'experts' the Z generation allegedly don't drink, worry too much and care about the environment.  They are authentic and self aware, and questioning, while the boomers are plausible, financially functional (wealthiest generation) - but not authentic - indeed not many of them know who they are, having been brought up to want to be something they are not (better, stronger, thinner, wealthier) and suffer from the imposter syndrome because they are, not because they think they are. The X generation are boring and take themselves too seriously. I don't know what the Ys are.
      Generation Zers like animals more than people and are fussy about the people they like. They think their parents screwed up and are screwing up the planet, and realise the internet lies, how and why the marketeers and media manipulate and sift the good stuff from the bad.  They mistrust establishment so rather than whinge, create ones of their own. They love travel because they know they learn from the experience -not because they are told they will. I like them and in my working week I meet quite a few of them. So I was looking forward to my visit to Shoreditch this weekend although I didn't expect to see many of them at the festival I was due to attend.
         I visited the Craft Beer Rising festival, in its sixth year I believe, which I thought would be full of tired looking fifty somethings.  It did have, to be fair, its fair share of said age group, trying to look younger with demin jackets, knocking on mid life crisis, amongst the 30 somethings.  I was struck by the creativity of the labels, the art graffiti on the walls, the variety of beers, ciders, with intriguing names (big hug, tempted, mother chucker, tiny rebel, brutal brewing), some whimsical, (serious pig, mad squirrel - sort of imagine brand company saying put an animal together with an emotion you wouldn't associate them with.  I'm thinking horny chipmunk - although there probably is one of those already).   Others just odd. One company even put up the negative comments about their brand.  Forest Road Brewery had three in bright yellow print on a banner above their stand 'utter utter pathetic assholes' - was they about the beer or about the people who brew it?'  Any way, I was impressed.
         There were pub snacks with a twist.  Maple smoked salmon, scotch eggs with beetroot falafel (v good) as well as other unexpected ingredients (black pudding, chorizo, tikka curry - Nicholson's - try look them up www.nicholsonshandmade.co.uk.  They come from Southwold, and having looked don't think they are ex bankers but genuine chefs.
         There was live music and DJs (The Cuban brothers) and people were watching the rugby (England lost allegedly - bad second half).  There were quite a few foodie stalls, selling lobster and salmon kebabs and there was even a barber (very good idea - hair cut, beer, venison burger and boogie.)  Brilliant multi tasking.  I spoke to quite a few of the sellers. Pickled eggs are in fashion, and there's lots of flavours, but they wouldn't give me a taster, I would have to eat a whole one.   So I didn't.  I spoke to the Piper Crisps girls (Chorizo,  pale ale , Jalapeño and dill flavours.. as well as sea salt and cider vinegar) who told me the audience are either old (50 +) or late twenties - so Milennials and boomers.  Don't know where the X generation were, and the Zs were drinking non alcoholic mixing with the vegans and with their families, surrogate or otherwise.  Whatever, this event was fun.
        I sensed there was a lot of money there amongst the punters and the stall holders. The stall holders all told me the cost of having a stand was twice that of a similar event 'up north', but that this wasn't about selling product - just about brand awareness.  The level of wealth present perhaps due to the venue being so close to both the IT district as well as financial district.
        I also got the feeling there were a lot of people there with second careers. The 50 somethings were those who had had a first career, made money and were investing in something else.  Albeit as a sleeping partner, and were drinking the profits and hiding under the much more interesting story of the creatives were they had invested in.
         It wasn't just beers. There was a lot of cider companies and some mixers (Fever tree had surprisingly quite a small stand).  As I walked round I remembered one of my first boyfriends who loved craft beer.  He was crazy about it, and I felt he would have approved.
         Truman Brewery makes a lovely venue. I have visited there before for another excellent festival - the Balance festival - which was a tad more yogi, pilates, and well being orientated, but no less colourful.  Again, very young audience, but full of hope, energy and so much creativity.  The art at the craft fair - the graffiti on the posters, the beer and cider bottles, was sort of Banksy meets Studio Gibli.
          I had seen a lot of it before - everything is cyclical after all, but I have nothing but admiration for this Z generation.
          I love the fact they speak up for themselves.  I loved the fact the school children marched saying the government should be focusing on eco issues and not Brexit.  They should be pouring money into preserving our planet and not their jobs and their parties. I have the pleasure and privilege of teaching some of them yoga each week and they are incredible.
         Forget the royals, the young and the old ones, and any of those celebrities who hold themselves up as role models - the sportsmen, the singers, the actors, the business people. We learn more from our children than they do from us, and I feel the real role models worth following are the Z listers.  Not the A listers.  I'll drink to that.