Jacob Gifford Head
@giffordhead.co.uk
Barrister & mediator.
Things I like: legal history & legal oddities; music & musical instruments; Mesopotamian history; & Portuguese wine and Port.
My professional website is: http://www.giffordhead.co.uk
Please email rather than DM!
Forgive typos.
Things I like: legal history & legal oddities; music & musical instruments; Mesopotamian history; & Portuguese wine and Port.
My professional website is: http://www.giffordhead.co.uk
Please email rather than DM!
Forgive typos.
I'm vaguely interested in the costs identified in this article. It sets out that 'Stays in the carriage start at $80,000 for a one-night journey'. Is it possible to buy a path for a one-night journey across Europe for this sum or are you going to be shunting forward and back over a commuter line?
JR once tagged trains with graffiti. Now he’s responsible for one of the most luxurious carriages in the world | CNN
A playground for the slow travel elite, starting at $80,000 a night, the “L’Observatoire” suite aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is train travel, but not as you know it.
edition.cnn.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:45 PM
I'm vaguely interested in the costs identified in this article. It sets out that 'Stays in the carriage start at $80,000 for a one-night journey'. Is it possible to buy a path for a one-night journey across Europe for this sum or are you going to be shunting forward and back over a commuter line?
A last-minute grab before I left the house, one of the fun things about this (otherwise excellent) Croft 2000 is that it claims "Est. 1678".
In the 22 years since it was bottled, Croft has pushed its "founded" date back to 1588!
In the 22 years since it was bottled, Croft has pushed its "founded" date back to 1588!
December 26, 2025 at 9:02 PM
A last-minute grab before I left the house, one of the fun things about this (otherwise excellent) Croft 2000 is that it claims "Est. 1678".
In the 22 years since it was bottled, Croft has pushed its "founded" date back to 1588!
In the 22 years since it was bottled, Croft has pushed its "founded" date back to 1588!
I remain disappointed by the boxing day sales. Surely by 2025, one should be able to find, say, some Quinta do Noval Nacional 2007 with 75% off. Or maybe a half-price contrabass sarrusophone?
December 26, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I remain disappointed by the boxing day sales. Surely by 2025, one should be able to find, say, some Quinta do Noval Nacional 2007 with 75% off. Or maybe a half-price contrabass sarrusophone?
I think the Ashmolean wins a prize for the least helpful museum website for Boxing day.
Apparently, it is "Open Every Day" without even the "Plan Your Visit" page confirming that that isn't true 🙄
ashmolean.org
Apparently, it is "Open Every Day" without even the "Plan Your Visit" page confirming that that isn't true 🙄
ashmolean.org
Welcome
Admission free. Discover half a million years of art and archaeology, from Egyptian mummies to modern art, at the University of Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum.
ashmolean.org
December 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM
I think the Ashmolean wins a prize for the least helpful museum website for Boxing day.
Apparently, it is "Open Every Day" without even the "Plan Your Visit" page confirming that that isn't true 🙄
ashmolean.org
Apparently, it is "Open Every Day" without even the "Plan Your Visit" page confirming that that isn't true 🙄
ashmolean.org
Something which often bothers me about these historic recipes being remade today is that modern Port is not the same as Port was in 1723. I think an 18th Century Port would have been dry and probably unfortified, like a modern Douro table wine.
December 24, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Something which often bothers me about these historic recipes being remade today is that modern Port is not the same as Port was in 1723. I think an 18th Century Port would have been dry and probably unfortified, like a modern Douro table wine.
Platform 1 at Lowestoft? That's going to upset all the rail pedants.
December 24, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Platform 1 at Lowestoft? That's going to upset all the rail pedants.
Lots of interesting answers to this but very little commentary about the fact that, in the UK, you can marry anyone you like, in any circumstance you choose, as long as you can persuade Parliament to permit it.
Hence, e.g., the George Donald Evans and Deborah Jane Evans (Marriage Enabling) Act 1987
Hence, e.g., the George Donald Evans and Deborah Jane Evans (Marriage Enabling) Act 1987
December 24, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Lots of interesting answers to this but very little commentary about the fact that, in the UK, you can marry anyone you like, in any circumstance you choose, as long as you can persuade Parliament to permit it.
Hence, e.g., the George Donald Evans and Deborah Jane Evans (Marriage Enabling) Act 1987
Hence, e.g., the George Donald Evans and Deborah Jane Evans (Marriage Enabling) Act 1987
This is one of my favourite pieces of art dug up in Mesopotamia, mostly because it is one of the really good depictions of someone playing a stringed instrument. I think they were mass produced with the clay being pushed into a mould. Hence the deep relief.
How do you tune (or modulate) an instrument in ancient Babylonia?
Fragmentary instructions have survived that tell you how to go from one mode to another on a 9-stringed musical instrument called a sammû
Fragmentary instructions have survived that tell you how to go from one mode to another on a 9-stringed musical instrument called a sammû
December 23, 2025 at 8:59 AM
This is one of my favourite pieces of art dug up in Mesopotamia, mostly because it is one of the really good depictions of someone playing a stringed instrument. I think they were mass produced with the clay being pushed into a mould. Hence the deep relief.
I remember on Twitter complaining about British lawyers redacting by turning the background black. Fine if you're printing the documents out. Less so if you PDF them! That was 5 years ago. Obviously should have told the US DoJ, too...
Ok. Now had a chance to check and, well, at least some docs do appear to be straight up classic redaction fail. And there are some *interesting* bits here.
www.justice.gov/multimedia/C...
www.justice.gov/multimedia/C...
December 23, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I remember on Twitter complaining about British lawyers redacting by turning the background black. Fine if you're printing the documents out. Less so if you PDF them! That was 5 years ago. Obviously should have told the US DoJ, too...
I'm doing better at drinking more sherry this year because even if I don't like it as much as Port, it is so outrageously underpriced that we should take advantage. This Manzanilla by Antonio Barbadillo is just gorgeous. So dry & salty that it is like a Martini in a bottle.
December 22, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I'm doing better at drinking more sherry this year because even if I don't like it as much as Port, it is so outrageously underpriced that we should take advantage. This Manzanilla by Antonio Barbadillo is just gorgeous. So dry & salty that it is like a Martini in a bottle.
The combination of the Winter Solstice with almost a New Moon is pretty grim in terms of excessive darkness. I hope all those amateur astrologers are enjoying it!
December 22, 2025 at 5:55 PM
The combination of the Winter Solstice with almost a New Moon is pretty grim in terms of excessive darkness. I hope all those amateur astrologers are enjoying it!
This is wholly unsurprising but absolutely appalling. This is like concluding a coin always lands on heads because every time it lands on tails you discard the result.
And, I am afraid, yet again, this is a symptom of volunteer Magistrates just not getting it.
And, I am afraid, yet again, this is a symptom of volunteer Magistrates just not getting it.
December 22, 2025 at 10:23 AM
This is wholly unsurprising but absolutely appalling. This is like concluding a coin always lands on heads because every time it lands on tails you discard the result.
And, I am afraid, yet again, this is a symptom of volunteer Magistrates just not getting it.
And, I am afraid, yet again, this is a symptom of volunteer Magistrates just not getting it.
I think the 8th night only coincidences with the Winter Solstice infrequently. But it is quite nice when it does.
December 21, 2025 at 8:56 PM
I think the 8th night only coincidences with the Winter Solstice infrequently. But it is quite nice when it does.
I think it is often not appreciated that the legal systems in Mesopotamia went far beyond criminal law or setting out remedies for basic torts into dealing with many issues that arise today. The formalised methods of adoption are one. But there are many others such as shipping & inheritance.
This cracked clay tablet from the 1800s BCE preserves the moment a baby named Ili-awīli was adopted from his mother Ayartum and her husband by another couple.
People adopted for many reasons in ancient Mesopotamia — desire for a baby, need for an heir, adopting child from a previous marriage, etc.
People adopted for many reasons in ancient Mesopotamia — desire for a baby, need for an heir, adopting child from a previous marriage, etc.
December 21, 2025 at 10:09 AM
I think it is often not appreciated that the legal systems in Mesopotamia went far beyond criminal law or setting out remedies for basic torts into dealing with many issues that arise today. The formalised methods of adoption are one. But there are many others such as shipping & inheritance.
A fun criminal law exam paper would consist of the second photograph and the word "discuss."
From the days when a tin of Quality Street actually meant something.
Bomb squad called to quiet cul-de-sac after man finds grenade in chocolate tin
A man who pulled a grenade from an old chocolate tin bringing drama to a sleepy lane on the city outskirts was unfazed by his discovery.
www.edp24.co.uk
December 20, 2025 at 9:33 PM
A fun criminal law exam paper would consist of the second photograph and the word "discuss."
At last! Festive season entertainment for the masses!
Celebrate any time of the year with #AlbanBerg's #Wozzeck...on ICE! 'Weh! Weh! ich wasche mich mit Blut! Das Wasser ist Blut...'
December 20, 2025 at 8:34 PM
At last! Festive season entertainment for the masses!
I suppose you can rely on a conservation department in a library to produce elaborate paper decorations each year!
❄️ Deck the Conservation Studio with paper snowflakes! ❄️
✂️Sharon from the Conservation Department has been busy making these beautiful paper decorations.
🎼 Music is by the very talented UL choir.
✂️Sharon from the Conservation Department has been busy making these beautiful paper decorations.
🎼 Music is by the very talented UL choir.
December 20, 2025 at 9:17 AM
I suppose you can rely on a conservation department in a library to produce elaborate paper decorations each year!
Something that interests me about law in America is the areas in which it went off in a wildly different direction. For example this discussion of standing to bring a challenge to the renaming of the Kennedy Center. The English courts would allow almost anyone to do it.
December 20, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Something that interests me about law in America is the areas in which it went off in a wildly different direction. For example this discussion of standing to bring a challenge to the renaming of the Kennedy Center. The English courts would allow almost anyone to do it.
The judgment in a recent case of mine has just been published. WLP Trading v Albalous [2025] EWHC 3357 (Ch) was an appeal concerning the assessment of damages following a wrongful eviction where the Defendant was subject to a debaring order.
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
December 19, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The judgment in a recent case of mine has just been published. WLP Trading v Albalous [2025] EWHC 3357 (Ch) was an appeal concerning the assessment of damages following a wrongful eviction where the Defendant was subject to a debaring order.
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
It would be interesting to run this as a lawyer. I sometimes surprise myself with just how many words I have to write for pleadings, skeleton arguments, position statements etc. etc.
And of course the percentage which is just wasted (e.g. the skeleton for a case that settles etc. etc.)
And of course the percentage which is just wasted (e.g. the skeleton for a case that settles etc. etc.)
Crunching some numbers:
I published 34,252 words in 2025 across my commissioned articles and newsletters.
These came from roughly half a million words in my notes, research, and drafts.
That's about 15 words written for every 1 word published.
I published 34,252 words in 2025 across my commissioned articles and newsletters.
These came from roughly half a million words in my notes, research, and drafts.
That's about 15 words written for every 1 word published.
December 16, 2025 at 5:46 PM
It would be interesting to run this as a lawyer. I sometimes surprise myself with just how many words I have to write for pleadings, skeleton arguments, position statements etc. etc.
And of course the percentage which is just wasted (e.g. the skeleton for a case that settles etc. etc.)
And of course the percentage which is just wasted (e.g. the skeleton for a case that settles etc. etc.)
Asked to help out by covering for a colleague, I get a rare and terrifying outing into the 10 minute residential possession list. It's funny how hearings like this can be scarier than an appeal or trial...
At least I caught myself before asking for "the usual compulsory order"!
At least I caught myself before asking for "the usual compulsory order"!
December 15, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Asked to help out by covering for a colleague, I get a rare and terrifying outing into the 10 minute residential possession list. It's funny how hearings like this can be scarier than an appeal or trial...
At least I caught myself before asking for "the usual compulsory order"!
At least I caught myself before asking for "the usual compulsory order"!
The first night of Hannukah really emphasises that the main split in Judaism is not between the Ashkenazim and Sephardim; Orthodox and Progressive; or the even the school of Shemmai and Hillel.
Rather it is whether you put aluminium foil under your Hannukiah or not.
Rather it is whether you put aluminium foil under your Hannukiah or not.
December 15, 2025 at 9:35 AM
The first night of Hannukah really emphasises that the main split in Judaism is not between the Ashkenazim and Sephardim; Orthodox and Progressive; or the even the school of Shemmai and Hillel.
Rather it is whether you put aluminium foil under your Hannukiah or not.
Rather it is whether you put aluminium foil under your Hannukiah or not.
One more photograph before I quit with the Judaica! This is very much not traditional, and is a 7- rather than 9-branch menorah but I enjoy lighting it at this time of the year.
December 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
One more photograph before I quit with the Judaica! This is very much not traditional, and is a 7- rather than 9-branch menorah but I enjoy lighting it at this time of the year.
I wish all my followers and mutuals a happy hannukah.
December 14, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I wish all my followers and mutuals a happy hannukah.
Tempted to troll you all by lighting this tonight.
December 14, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Tempted to troll you all by lighting this tonight.