I won’t sugarcoat it; these past few weeks have been a nightmare for CILEX Fellows. They feel disillusioned and let down by our regulator, which is quite genuinely attempting to gaslight its members into saying they have never given the advice that litigation by supervision was possible. CILEX Fellows clearly hold evidence that proves CILEX was giving out such advice, and the regulator doubles down…
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” George Owell’s 1984
Whilst I am fortunate not to be in that position, the number of worried, upset and stressed fellow CILEX Fellows who have been in contact with me and discussed their concerns makes me thing about how stressed everyone probably is right now.
I also saw how supportive every CILEX Fellow has been of each other and other members of the legal industry. Whilst the few will use this to continue to make derogatory comments about CILEX, I have seen the vast majority support CILEX Fellows…. Thank you to those who have. To those employers who have reassured their CILEX Fellows and those who have immediately taken steps to assist in CILEX Fellows obtaining practice rights.
I wish I could do more, but beyond the advice already shared, there isn’t much. Instead, I decided to write a quick post with a simple method for making comforting food that anyone can enjoy — a healthier, hearty recipe for pancakes. These are real fluffy American pancakes, not crepes.
Years ago, I used this recipe, which “syn free” is the reference to Weight Watchers syns, used to help indicate better food types.
Ingredients
The ingredients can be halved. However, as I am due to go on a long dog walk and I want as much energy as possible, I am going to use the full recipe:-
- 80 grams of porridge oats (use Ready Brek if you don’t want to stand around bending; they are already reduced to the perfect size)
- 4 eggs
- 95 grams of fat free yoghurt (6 tablespoons)
- 20 grams of granulated sweetener (1.5 tablespoons)
- 10 grams of vanilla essence (2 teaspoons)
- 5 grams of baking power (1 teaspoons)
Method
The porridge oats need to be blended to the extent that they are less like oats and more like sawdust. This is why Ready Brek, whilst being a brand name and being brand prices, takes a lot of the stress away. If you are going to go for store brands, make sure they are finely blended.
Add all the ingredients into a bowl and mix until you get a smooth batter. That’s literally what it says, haha. The recipe suggests letting it sit for 10-15 minutes to thicken. I’ve sometimes prepared it 1-2 hours ahead, covered the bowl with cling film, and kept it in the fridge. When you’re ready to cook, just let it warm up to near room temperature.
This is why I am recommending it. Really simple, easy to make. The sweetener and vanilla essence adds the flavour.
Once the mixture is ready to be used, have the pan on a medium heat (too hot will cause it to burn). I use a soup spoon to get the portion sizes correct. Multiple smaller pancakes are better for structural integrity. I also use the back of the spoon to carefully spread the batter evenly. When you can safely move the pancake on the pan, you can toss the pancake to do the other side (or be sensible and use the spatula to turn it over).
Really straightforward and very tasty. You won’t believe they were made from Ready Brek oats.
Information
AJH Advocacy Limited, a Limited Company which is regulated by the Bar Standards Boards (entity number 190758), ceases trading on the 12th January 2026.
From the 12th January 2026 and onwards, Alec Hancock will practice as a Barrister at Magdalen Chambers in Exeter. For instructions on matters on or after 12th January 2026, please contact Magdalen Chambers via clerks@magdalenchambers.co.uk or by telephone on 01392 285 200.