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Favourite bassist? The answer is obvious...

171

There’s a mad aspect to this. In a case from 1946 called Re Parrott, Mr Justice Vaisey rather surprised everyone by holding that if you had been christened English law did not permit you to change your Christian name.

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Also, to deal with the obvious point head-on: I think there are certain subtleties which can be missed when looking at this sort of announcement & comparing the make-up of High Court Bench to the general population, the Bar in general or anything else. Forgive the thread...

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 23/09/2026

In addition to the obvious point about diversity which others have made, I notice that only one of them, HHJ Lickley KC, is currently a salaried Judge. I'd hoped that the "glass ceiling" between the Circuit & Distict Benches, the Tribunals and the High Court might have been broken by now.

4112

I like Quevedo: a newish independent Port shipper up in the Douro Superior by São João da Pesqueira. They do change their range constantly, so I think this "Claudia's Reserve" (named after the winemaker) is no longer made. A pity since this is excellent and was only about £10-15.

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 23/09/2026

I have no real understanding of the dynamics of film funding but £3.5K to close off a picturesque street in Oxford for a day seems, well, quite cheap?

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 22/09/2026

This is good news, I wondered through there earlier this year and in addition to this wonderful space being empty (as always!), I was really shocked at how poor condition it was in. Let's hope they make something useful from it. Maybe some sculpture, for example?

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 22/09/2026

I don't really have strong views as to whether this decision is right &, if so, the law should be changed. However, I do think there are a few points that have missed from much of the discussion I have read here. Firstly, it is becoming increasingly common that complaints about lawyers ...

282

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 21/09/2026

From this morning's liturgy: a thought for BlueSky. (I'm not entirely convinced it is a genuine quotation from Rabbi Nachman rather than being a assembly of various thoughts, but let us not worry too much about that!)

Remember that life is short, and that with every passing day you
are nearer to the end of your life. How can you waste your time
on petty quarrels and family discords? Restrain your anger; hold
your temper in check, and enjoy peace with everyone.
Nachman of Bratslav

270

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 21/09/2026

I don't have much hope for this. Successive governments have never taken court infrastructure seriously. For example youth courts are still mostly in adult magistrates' courts—wholly inappropriate. Brand new family courts are office conversions without the separated facilities needed in abuse cases.

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 20/09/2026

The traditional liturgy for Yom Kippur starts with Kol Nidre—a formal legal ceremony for obtaining dispensation from vows. The declaration, in Aramaic, has a particularly striking melody and in some progressive synagogues the fantasia on it by Bruch is played as a mediation instead.

youtube.com

Gary Karr - Kol Nidrei (Max Bruch) for Double Bass

YouTube video by DC Music School

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 20/09/2026

I have never quite settled on a salutation for the Day of Atonement. G’mar Chatimah Tovah—May you be sealed for a Good Year—has rather fatalistic overtones to my ear. "Well over the fast" is rather excluding to those who do not. And a "Meaningful Yom Kippur" feels like a terrible compromise.

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 19/09/2026

Not Jeff's point but I thought this diagram is helpful for explaining why I have never really enjoyed the craft beer scene: too much jumping between unrelated styles as they become trendy at the expense of classics.

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 19/09/2026

This is an interesting article about changing wine tastes but one thing that really jumps out to me, even from behind the paywall, is the shape and size of that wine glass compared to the wafer-thin balloon shapes you'd get in a similar pic today.

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 18/09/2026

Ok...I like musical instruments & I also like wine, so I do have some views on the article. (Though I have no opinion whatsoever this work was written with AI or not.) Firstly, I am afraid to say that it is a massive, huge cliché to compare things to a Stradivarius as a quick search would show.

“The vineyardis like a Stradivarius: it’s value lies in how it is played”. Aubert Dr Villaine, co-owner of Romanee-Conti

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 17/09/2026

Some more sake. This is a Junmai Daiginjo from Tamanohikari (who claim to have revived Junmai—sake made without the addition of alcohol—in 1964). Daiginjo is the highest grade: here half the rice is milled away before use & the rice is an heirloom variety: Wataribune.

Pic of the bottle wirh a blue label with a gold horizontal slash and a decorated wine glass.

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 17/09/2026

I think we have discussed this before, but I think the law about this is quite interesting. At what point should a coroner not hold an investigation due to the passage of time? When Lindow Man’s body was found, it was left to archaeologists. Would that still be lawful today?

bbc.co.uk

Bishop Auckland baby garroted and hidden beneath floor - coroner

The boy was found beneath floorboards in a 1910 paper with twine around his neck, an inquest hears.

5195

Some building works mean my kitchen is in disarray. I thought some sake might restore the calm. This by Hakkaisan. It's a Tokubetsu Honjozo which is towards the lower end of the premium sakes. Slightly chilled it is really robust. A huge kick of alcohol. One for drinking with food, I think.

The tiny 180ml bottle with a label in Japanese next to a carafe and sake class in spotted frosted glasses

3102

We need to invent some traditions to go with this... Drive your sheep across the St Peter’s Bridge, Maidstone? In the case of a regiment, march through Dover with your bayonets fixed [...and burn it to the ground]?

130

Employment Rights Act 1996

Incidentally, one of numerous changes under the Employment Rights Act 2025 is to make this practice explicitly unlawful in most circumstances (with exceptions), although these provisions are not yet in force. I have read they may come in early next year. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/1...

legislation.gov.uk

An Act to consolidate enactments relating to employment rights.

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Thomas More Chambers @thomasmorechambers.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The article refers to a “standard maximum” payout of £260,000. In a world where a compensatory award for unfair dismissal remains capped (at about £124K), aren’t all of these sums far in excess of what anyone could realistically expect to recover?

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Reposted by Jacob Gifford Head

Following the closure of the government’s consultation on cohabitation reforms, Jacob Gifford Head, Barrister and Mediator @giffordhead.co.uk, uses his family courts experience to explain how the proposed reforms could protect many vulnerable people. todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk/cohabitation...

todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk

Cohabitation law reform: a mad idea, the devil and the vulnerable - Today's Family Lawyer

Cohabitation law reform: a mad idea, the devil and the vulnerable: Following the closure of the government's consultation on cohabitation reform, opponents of the proposals have shared concerns that i...

022

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 13/09/2026

Shall we discuss the Bar Council's dress code again and its definition of "Business Dress".

In general, business attire means smart professional office wear. This will usually
mean a dark, dark grey or dark blue suit with tie or similarly coloured jacket and
either skirt or trousers, but this is not prescriptive. Counsel may wear clothing as
appropriate to their gender identity

470

Although it is mentioned only a few times, this is a good example of how vital the Human Rights Act and ECHR are to the family court. (I think having an example which is not involving administrative law or immigration is always quite helpful.)

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 13/09/2026

Although the comments are, inevitably, from people waxing lyrical about the bistros they have been to on holiday with their set menus of food unobtainable in the UK for less than the price of a Greggs' sandwich (🙄), it strikes me that this is basically the same problem that we have with pubs.

theguardian.com

The battle to save the dying heart of rural France: the village bistro

Once central to rural life, cafe-bistros are closing in the face of depopulation and falling alcohol consumption, but campaigners are seeking new ways forward

2100

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 12/09/2026

This is a very good article, though I am always slightly bothered by the conflation of using period instruments and historically informed performance practice (eg the fast tempis & no vibrato he mentions). These are different things & you can do one without the other.

251

As the sun begins to set on 5786, I would like to wish all of my lovely followers a Happy New Year. Shabbat Shalom & Shana Tova. Have a peaceful Shabbat and a sweet New Year. 🍎🍏🍯

10442

This one is so bad that I am afraid it made me laugh. The Platonic form of court maladministration!

Express Solicitors recently had a claim listed for trial, followed by two applications that the ‘system’ wrongly listed as trials instead of interlocutory hearings.

When an erroneous deadline for the hearing fee wasn’t met, the DCP automatically struck out the entire claim. It took two months to undo the damage caused and the claim has been delayed by a further six months as the original trial date was lost.

151

Trivially, I was surprised at how low the octane levels were on the pumps in this stock image. (The nearest place to me sells it at 95 and 99). This led me to this interesting blog post. Apparently America uses two (!) different systems from the Rest of the World. aircooledbug.co.uk/usa-versus-u...

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 10/09/2026

Next door there are some building works. This has made be ponder the following: why do builders conventionally work from 8am to 4pm whereas office workers work from 9am to 5pm? I guess for builders it's maximise daylight in the winter? But why then don't we all do that?

681

Super interesting article which reinforces how many top wine regions are accidents of history. (As an aside: the problems with trade with Spain should be balanced against the advantages of trade with Portugal through Vila Nova de Gaia to understand why Port exists as it does today.)

090

Reposted by Jacob Gifford Head

The Autistic Rabbi(nical Student) | Mati [he/they] @autisticrabbi.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Rosh Hashana is tomorrow. It gives us the hope to believe that people can change - and for the better. It reminds us that change will happen no matter what - and not always for the better. May we all merit for the former. Give grace to those around you. Believe that people can grow. Shana Tova

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 10/09/2026

This biggest jump scare on this one is the following twaddle in the Terms and Conditions. I'm amazed that anyone actually engages with this "Modern Method of Auction" nonsense and doesn't just tell the vendors, estate agents and auctioneers to get stuffed.

Fees & Charges Explained
This property is for sale by the Modern Method of Auction, meaning the buyer and seller are to complete within 56 days (the "Reservation Period"). Interested parties’ personal data will be shared with the Auctioneer (Iamsold).
If considering buying with a mortgage, inspect and consider the property carefully with your lender before bidding.
A Buyer Information Pack is provided. The buyer will pay £349.00 including VAT for this pack which you must view before bidding.
The buyer signs a Reservation Agreement and makes payment of a non-refundable Reservation Fee of 4.50% of the purchase price including VAT, subject to a minimum of £9,600.00 including VAT. This is paid to reserve the property to the buyer during the Reservation Period and is paid in addition to the purchase price. This is considered within calculations for Stamp Duty Land Tax.
Services may be recommended by the Agent or Auctioneer in which they will receive payment from the service provider if the service is taken. Payment varies but will be no more than £450.00. These services are optional
Reservation Fee Applies

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 09/09/2026

I am not unsympathetic to this complaint about how the courts approach financial remedy cases but the difficulty is knowing how and why to draw the parameters, especially when, as here, the financial remedy proceedings are concluded at a point where the abuse remains an allegation.

161

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 09/09/2026

This is very sensible advice. Even if the law is not changed, you cannot assume that if you live with someone & strictly separate your finances there will always be a bright line between them. Perhaps more so than for a married couple planning is required: there are a number of traps.

120

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 09/09/2026

On a day like today, where every man and his dog has a view about Jewish identity; the rôle of the United Synagogue’s Chief Rabbi; going to synagogue over the Yamim Norai'm; & what should be an Anglo-Jewish response to what is happening in Israel, I am very glad this only comes up occasionally.

191

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 08/09/2026

Since the closest I have ever got to a maritime criminal law practice was appearing at Thames Magistrates’ Court can I ask anyone who knows whether the King’s Harbour Masters have powers of prosecution and, either way, how often people are prosecuted for failing to comply with their directions?

693

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 08/09/2026

Seriously, Bar Council, are we actually jumping on the back of this bandwagon to the extent of spamming members with this sort of thing? I guess all the policies on climate change were just intended to be warm words? www.barcouncil.org.uk/policy-repre...

More than half of the Bar are using AI at least once a week.

The data from LexisNexis latest AI report also showed that AI use across the legal profession rose to 94% this year, up from 61% last year and just 11% in 2023.

Want to understand how you can adopt AI into your practice?

Get practical tips in our ‘The IT Crowd: 10 ways to get ahead with AI’ session at this year’s Bar Conference on Saturday 14 November. You will understand:

Where you can use AI as a tool to enhance your practice
Considerations when choosing AI tools to support your work
How to mitigate the risks and limitations

Book your ticket