Following Lord Bracadale's resignation as chair, all senior and junior counsel working on the Sheku Bayoh inquiry have now resigned. The question now must be, can the whole process be rescued?

Freemen on the land (or at least, their pseudo-legal arguments) reach the Sheriff Appeal Court. A Dundee man who didn't pay his mortgage tried to persuade the court he wasn't liable for his debt as a "living man." It went... about as well as you'd expect. www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/hzyppz...

Though it might explain the - one feels implicitly somewhat barbed - section in the recusal decision describing private communication about the work of the inquiry between the Solicitor General and Lord Bracadale.

Altogether, another excellent week of food in the south of France, including plenty of tasty underwater specimens, from gilt-head bream and turbot sauvage to some lovely local oysters from the Étang de Thau.

The spoot, the spoot, the bonny spoot.

No columns from me for the next fortnight. I've gone fishin' (in a sense).

On the assisted dying debate in Westminster, one thing I haven't seen highlighted is how the votes from Scottish MPs broke down, particularly given the slim majority in favour. While SNP MPs abstained on the English proposals, Scottish Labour MPs voted strongly (63%) against.

On behalf of all academics with oodles of online marking to do over the next week, I think I speak for all of us when I say: this speight of fine weather is a personal attack.

The Tickell family schnauzer was in characteristically enterprising spirits, despite the fourteen years the wee man now has behind him.

In Court of Session, historic child abuse victim wins £670,000 case against Roman Catholic Diocese of Galloway who contested the extent of his loss which was attributable to the actions of the priest involved. Word of caution: the detail is fairly graphic. www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/uakktv...

I know Alison's loss will remain the dominant memory of 2024 for me, but that renewed sense of life's contingency was a spur this year to go out, visit new places and return to familiar ones, and of course - eat interesting things.

Off out for a stroll.

🎀 Merry Christmas, everyone!

📈 Latest development from the second-largest litigation crowdfunder in Scottish legal history. Wildcat Haven CIC to seek permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court. The prospect of which seems v unlikely, given the narrow legal issues raised by the case. www.crowdjustice.com/case/wildcats/