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.
A leaflet arrives inviting comments on the local authority's Local Plan.
It starts:
"We all understand that new homes need to be built to accommodate the UK's growing population. But at a local area..."
There is absolutely no indication as to has commissioned it. What cowardly NIMBYism is this?
It starts:
"We all understand that new homes need to be built to accommodate the UK's growing population. But at a local area..."
There is absolutely no indication as to has commissioned it. What cowardly NIMBYism is this?
November 25, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A leaflet arrives inviting comments on the local authority's Local Plan.
It starts:
"We all understand that new homes need to be built to accommodate the UK's growing population. But at a local area..."
There is absolutely no indication as to has commissioned it. What cowardly NIMBYism is this?
It starts:
"We all understand that new homes need to be built to accommodate the UK's growing population. But at a local area..."
There is absolutely no indication as to has commissioned it. What cowardly NIMBYism is this?
Thinking about generative AI, I was wondering if there has been any discussion as to what the impact of it is on artists who used computers before they were fashionable? For example, in music, Xenakis experimented with computer-aided algorithms back in the 60s, resulting in intricate, complex music.
Iannis Xenakis - ST/10-1, 080262 (Audio + Full Score)
YouTube video by Ryan Power
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Thinking about generative AI, I was wondering if there has been any discussion as to what the impact of it is on artists who used computers before they were fashionable? For example, in music, Xenakis experimented with computer-aided algorithms back in the 60s, resulting in intricate, complex music.
Some days you just want to drink good Port. And my criteria for good Port is pretty much the Graham's style: well balanced fruit, acidity, sugar and tannins. Nothing fancy, just very good.
This is their 2nd label from Quinta dos Malvedos. It's always excellent value for vintage port.
This is their 2nd label from Quinta dos Malvedos. It's always excellent value for vintage port.
November 24, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Some days you just want to drink good Port. And my criteria for good Port is pretty much the Graham's style: well balanced fruit, acidity, sugar and tannins. Nothing fancy, just very good.
This is their 2nd label from Quinta dos Malvedos. It's always excellent value for vintage port.
This is their 2nd label from Quinta dos Malvedos. It's always excellent value for vintage port.
The pic is of the Torquay Pavilion which is a wonderful building, perfectly suited to the Torquay seafront. It is such a shame that it is dilapidated and really deserves better. (Also, Oldway Mansion, a few miles away, for that matter.)
📣 Do you live in the SOUTH WEST? We need your nominations for our Top Ten Endangered Buildings list 2026! Email us about your local threatened, dilapidated and neglected Victorian and Edwardian buildings. 🧵
Read more here: bit.ly/4hybqrc
📷 Morgan Ellis Leah
Read more here: bit.ly/4hybqrc
📷 Morgan Ellis Leah
November 24, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The pic is of the Torquay Pavilion which is a wonderful building, perfectly suited to the Torquay seafront. It is such a shame that it is dilapidated and really deserves better. (Also, Oldway Mansion, a few miles away, for that matter.)
Worth noting that this is a continuation of a very, very ancient discipline. Although back in 1815 BCE—when someone was asked to draw this one up—they went far beyond 12 when studying multipliers.
November 24, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Worth noting that this is a continuation of a very, very ancient discipline. Although back in 1815 BCE—when someone was asked to draw this one up—they went far beyond 12 when studying multipliers.
If we are doing old videos of Christmas Parties may I direct you all to Slaughter and May in 1981?
For those of us who weren't around at the time, it is remarkable just how far law (especially Big Law) has changed in the last 45 years from the lack of women solicitors to the piles of paper.
For those of us who weren't around at the time, it is remarkable just how far law (especially Big Law) has changed in the last 45 years from the lack of women solicitors to the piles of paper.
November 23, 2025 at 9:46 PM
If we are doing old videos of Christmas Parties may I direct you all to Slaughter and May in 1981?
For those of us who weren't around at the time, it is remarkable just how far law (especially Big Law) has changed in the last 45 years from the lack of women solicitors to the piles of paper.
For those of us who weren't around at the time, it is remarkable just how far law (especially Big Law) has changed in the last 45 years from the lack of women solicitors to the piles of paper.
The main reason I love the Horniman museum is its collection of musical instruments, particularly wind instruments, which is one of the best in the country.
Some highlights of today’s visit.
(Sorry for the terrible photographs: I’ve been failing to take good photographs in this room for 20 years!)
Some highlights of today’s visit.
(Sorry for the terrible photographs: I’ve been failing to take good photographs in this room for 20 years!)
November 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
The main reason I love the Horniman museum is its collection of musical instruments, particularly wind instruments, which is one of the best in the country.
Some highlights of today’s visit.
(Sorry for the terrible photographs: I’ve been failing to take good photographs in this room for 20 years!)
Some highlights of today’s visit.
(Sorry for the terrible photographs: I’ve been failing to take good photographs in this room for 20 years!)
A trip to one of my favourite places this afternoon: the Horniman Museum in South London.
I love everything about this place, starting with the beautiful tower, designed by Charles Harrison Townsend.
Apparently Horninan's office was in the room with the circular window above the arch.
I love everything about this place, starting with the beautiful tower, designed by Charles Harrison Townsend.
Apparently Horninan's office was in the room with the circular window above the arch.
November 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A trip to one of my favourite places this afternoon: the Horniman Museum in South London.
I love everything about this place, starting with the beautiful tower, designed by Charles Harrison Townsend.
Apparently Horninan's office was in the room with the circular window above the arch.
I love everything about this place, starting with the beautiful tower, designed by Charles Harrison Townsend.
Apparently Horninan's office was in the room with the circular window above the arch.
This is loads of fun*. Highly recommended.
[* Assuming you are into this sort of typography!]
[* Assuming you are into this sort of typography!]
November 21, 2025 at 2:16 PM
This is loads of fun*. Highly recommended.
[* Assuming you are into this sort of typography!]
[* Assuming you are into this sort of typography!]
An advert arrives form the London Type Foundry which includes this rather fun typeface.
Trying to work out whether I could find a place for it in my work...
londontype.co.uk/fonts/ldn-bl...
Trying to work out whether I could find a place for it in my work...
londontype.co.uk/fonts/ldn-bl...
November 21, 2025 at 11:49 AM
An advert arrives form the London Type Foundry which includes this rather fun typeface.
Trying to work out whether I could find a place for it in my work...
londontype.co.uk/fonts/ldn-bl...
Trying to work out whether I could find a place for it in my work...
londontype.co.uk/fonts/ldn-bl...
Really enjoyable seminar last night at @thomasmorechambers.bsky.social on Asset Protection in Financial Remedy Proceedings with my colleagues.
It gave me a chance to talk about all sorts of tools from the Chancery Division we can deploy in the Family Court to protect and recover assets!
It gave me a chance to talk about all sorts of tools from the Chancery Division we can deploy in the Family Court to protect and recover assets!
November 21, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Really enjoyable seminar last night at @thomasmorechambers.bsky.social on Asset Protection in Financial Remedy Proceedings with my colleagues.
It gave me a chance to talk about all sorts of tools from the Chancery Division we can deploy in the Family Court to protect and recover assets!
It gave me a chance to talk about all sorts of tools from the Chancery Division we can deploy in the Family Court to protect and recover assets!
Reposted by Jacob Gifford Head
Clever advertising image, in an evil, cancerous, sort of way ... #WillsTobacco
November 19, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Clever advertising image, in an evil, cancerous, sort of way ... #WillsTobacco
Noticeable age divide between those who make notes by hand and those who prefer to poke away at their tablets, c.725BCE.
November 19, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Noticeable age divide between those who make notes by hand and those who prefer to poke away at their tablets, c.725BCE.
I realised recently I'd fallen off Gardiner Houlgate's mail list. Which is probably a good thing since I've had respite from eg trying to work out what I could sell to raise the cash to buy this 1820s serpent offered in their December sale...
November 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I realised recently I'd fallen off Gardiner Houlgate's mail list. Which is probably a good thing since I've had respite from eg trying to work out what I could sell to raise the cash to buy this 1820s serpent offered in their December sale...
This was lots of fun! We had a really interesting discussion about Non Contentious Dispute Resolution and private FDRs. Plus some excellent pizza!
Sarah Lucy Cooper, Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk and Sam Frost gave an interesting and insightful seminar to Boyes Turner and Blanchards Law in Reading on:
Overseas properties – getting it right on divorce
Conduct – current law and practice
Private FDRs – law, procedure and tactics
Overseas properties – getting it right on divorce
Conduct – current law and practice
Private FDRs – law, procedure and tactics
November 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
This was lots of fun! We had a really interesting discussion about Non Contentious Dispute Resolution and private FDRs. Plus some excellent pizza!
This is a good offer. I still live in hope that one day Pevsner will also be able in digitally. Imagine how great it would be to be able browse a digital map and click on buildings to read their descriptions.
Also a bit sad that they don’t offer a “complete set” bundle, having seen OS do that!
Also a bit sad that they don’t offer a “complete set” bundle, having seen OS do that!
In case anyone hasn't seen this, the offer includes ALL the Pevsner 'Buildings of England' series. 50% off with the code 'FIFTY' at checkout.
Pevsners: yalebooks.co.uk/pevsner-arch...
Pevsners: yalebooks.co.uk/pevsner-arch...
November 17, 2025 at 3:37 PM
This is a good offer. I still live in hope that one day Pevsner will also be able in digitally. Imagine how great it would be to be able browse a digital map and click on buildings to read their descriptions.
Also a bit sad that they don’t offer a “complete set” bundle, having seen OS do that!
Also a bit sad that they don’t offer a “complete set” bundle, having seen OS do that!
Something that really strikes me about this* reporting is how the Parish Council was only fined £100 but also ordered to pay £130,000 in costs. There really ought to be a proportionality test in the Magistrates' courts, together with a process for proper detailed assessment.
[* last week's news.]
[* last week's news.]
Council fined over lengthy Chapel-en-le-Frith play area legal fight
The five-year long legal battle started with noise complaints over a park games area.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Something that really strikes me about this* reporting is how the Parish Council was only fined £100 but also ordered to pay £130,000 in costs. There really ought to be a proportionality test in the Magistrates' courts, together with a process for proper detailed assessment.
[* last week's news.]
[* last week's news.]
I volunteered to assemble a flat pack chest of drawers this evening, not realising it was held together by 163 screws! Oddly they were all JIS screws. Made it feel like I was working on a vintage Japanese synthesiser or something... Wonder what sort of design process resulted in that choice.
November 16, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I volunteered to assemble a flat pack chest of drawers this evening, not realising it was held together by 163 screws! Oddly they were all JIS screws. Made it feel like I was working on a vintage Japanese synthesiser or something... Wonder what sort of design process resulted in that choice.
Of course the key questions are whether he passed the Port the right way and if he knows the Bishop of Norwich...
Just ghosted my date because he was holding his knife and fork in the wrong hands. He has a PhD, so there's no excuse for that.
November 14, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Of course the key questions are whether he passed the Port the right way and if he knows the Bishop of Norwich...
Anyone else want to agree with my hot take that entitlement to possession of a chattel is firmly a common law matter rather than one for equity & so the court of chancery lacked jurisdiction?
The Court of Chancery spends a lot of time deciding cases that involve multi-billion-dollar deals. Its equity jurisdiction means it also gets to decide things like who should keep Tucker the Goldendoodle (don't worry, he's not getting cut in half) courts.delaware.gov/Opinions/Dow...
November 14, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Anyone else want to agree with my hot take that entitlement to possession of a chattel is firmly a common law matter rather than one for equity & so the court of chancery lacked jurisdiction?
If, within reason, you were limited to a single table wine for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chateau Musar would have to be quite high for me. It's not cheap but is still very good value—at least half the price which its quality deserves.
Chateau Musar would have to be quite high for me. It's not cheap but is still very good value—at least half the price which its quality deserves.
November 14, 2025 at 7:15 PM
If, within reason, you were limited to a single table wine for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chateau Musar would have to be quite high for me. It's not cheap but is still very good value—at least half the price which its quality deserves.
Chateau Musar would have to be quite high for me. It's not cheap but is still very good value—at least half the price which its quality deserves.
I don’t think I’d seen this panoramic picture before, though a few of the other photographs from this article are familiar. It’s really quite impressive and must have quite a technical feat at the time. Pity NG’s text appears to contain more Orientalism than you can shake “Culture & Imperialism” at.
By the early 20th century there was an unofficial race to capture a photograph of Lhasa, the religious center of Tibet.
In 1905 National Geographic printed a few of the first photos of the region and a decade later, in 1916, published a large panoramic insert of Lhasa's Potala Palace. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Tibet
In 1905 National Geographic printed a few of the first photos of the region and a decade later, in 1916, published a large panoramic insert of Lhasa's Potala Palace. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Tibet
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I don’t think I’d seen this panoramic picture before, though a few of the other photographs from this article are familiar. It’s really quite impressive and must have quite a technical feat at the time. Pity NG’s text appears to contain more Orientalism than you can shake “Culture & Imperialism” at.
One of the reasons why I like Malcolm’s website is that it is a nice reminder of what the WWW used to be like, pre-social networks, Wikipedia, social networks and Web2.0. Of course, I like all of the developments since but I do miss interesting factual websites run by enthusiasts.
#onthisday, 14 November 1999, I posted the 1st page on my Victorian Turkish Baths website www.victorianturkishbath.org. It is now 22 years old.
It may look a bit clunky, having preceded CSS standards, but it includes over 400 articles & more than 1400 images, including many not in my book. 🗃️ #C19th
It may look a bit clunky, having preceded CSS standards, but it includes over 400 articles & more than 1400 images, including many not in my book. 🗃️ #C19th
November 14, 2025 at 11:49 AM
One of the reasons why I like Malcolm’s website is that it is a nice reminder of what the WWW used to be like, pre-social networks, Wikipedia, social networks and Web2.0. Of course, I like all of the developments since but I do miss interesting factual websites run by enthusiasts.
My @thomasmorechambers.bsky.social colleague & former pupil mistress, Laura Collignon, has written an interesting article about limitation periods in child sexual abuse claims, having been involved in the first English case which considered the Scottish law that has influenced the reforms here.
Time limit for child sexual abuse claims
Personal injury.
www.lawgazette.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 10:03 AM
My @thomasmorechambers.bsky.social colleague & former pupil mistress, Laura Collignon, has written an interesting article about limitation periods in child sexual abuse claims, having been involved in the first English case which considered the Scottish law that has influenced the reforms here.
Sometimes you do wonder if more terms should be left to the courts to define, in case of dispute, without the intervention of Parliament.
Entertaining myself with the definition of 'pet' being inserted by the Renters Rights Act 2025.
Probably should add:
'(e) Fear of retribution from the animal if otherwise'
to cover most cats
Probably should add:
'(e) Fear of retribution from the animal if otherwise'
to cover most cats
November 12, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Sometimes you do wonder if more terms should be left to the courts to define, in case of dispute, without the intervention of Parliament.