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.
That was a good evening. It's been far too long since I've seen the London Sinfonietta.
The big piece was Gérard Grisey's 1999 Quartre chants pour franchise le seuil but I absolutely loved Rebecca Saunders' Strirings Still II for small ensemble.
The big piece was Gérard Grisey's 1999 Quartre chants pour franchise le seuil but I absolutely loved Rebecca Saunders' Strirings Still II for small ensemble.
November 28, 2025 at 9:25 PM
That was a good evening. It's been far too long since I've seen the London Sinfonietta.
The big piece was Gérard Grisey's 1999 Quartre chants pour franchise le seuil but I absolutely loved Rebecca Saunders' Strirings Still II for small ensemble.
The big piece was Gérard Grisey's 1999 Quartre chants pour franchise le seuil but I absolutely loved Rebecca Saunders' Strirings Still II for small ensemble.
The .gov website has decided to annoy all road-naming pedants in the country by listing the Dartford Crossing as a motorway crossing on the M25 rather than an A-Road crossing on the A282...
November 28, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The .gov website has decided to annoy all road-naming pedants in the country by listing the Dartford Crossing as a motorway crossing on the M25 rather than an A-Road crossing on the A282...
It appears to have a room for conducting eye exams, though.
November 27, 2025 at 8:15 PM
It appears to have a room for conducting eye exams, though.
It's the red wine, I think. Just make sure you don't overdo it, as this helpful poster informs us. No more than one litre per day!
November 27, 2025 at 1:18 PM
It's the red wine, I think. Just make sure you don't overdo it, as this helpful poster informs us. No more than one litre per day!
There’s a rather significant correction to that paragraph at the start of the report!
The forecast period is the next 5 years.
Though it would be helpful to understand how they came up with those figures which are wholly unexplained, including by the footnote.
The forecast period is the next 5 years.
Though it would be helpful to understand how they came up with those figures which are wholly unexplained, including by the footnote.
November 27, 2025 at 11:12 AM
There’s a rather significant correction to that paragraph at the start of the report!
The forecast period is the next 5 years.
Though it would be helpful to understand how they came up with those figures which are wholly unexplained, including by the footnote.
The forecast period is the next 5 years.
Though it would be helpful to understand how they came up with those figures which are wholly unexplained, including by the footnote.
That’s interesting. I wonder what period they are thinking about. There were only 400,000ish new EVs last year (out of a total of about 2.6M first registrations.)
November 27, 2025 at 11:03 AM
That’s interesting. I wonder what period they are thinking about. There were only 400,000ish new EVs last year (out of a total of about 2.6M first registrations.)
For what it’s worth, I live somewhere without good public transport and have an EV...
But the long and the short of it is that about 2.3% of the government’s income (ie £24.3B) comes from fuel duty and so as EVs become more popular that revenue stream is going to decline.
But the long and the short of it is that about 2.3% of the government’s income (ie £24.3B) comes from fuel duty and so as EVs become more popular that revenue stream is going to decline.
November 27, 2025 at 10:54 AM
For what it’s worth, I live somewhere without good public transport and have an EV...
But the long and the short of it is that about 2.3% of the government’s income (ie £24.3B) comes from fuel duty and so as EVs become more popular that revenue stream is going to decline.
But the long and the short of it is that about 2.3% of the government’s income (ie £24.3B) comes from fuel duty and so as EVs become more popular that revenue stream is going to decline.
CNN had a link to this page from Yellowstone which reported a collapse in percentage of international visitors from 2018. I can't quite work out whether that is just due to an increase in domestic visitors but it's rather striking.
www.nps.gov/yell/learn/m...
www.nps.gov/yell/learn/m...
November 26, 2025 at 1:44 PM
CNN had a link to this page from Yellowstone which reported a collapse in percentage of international visitors from 2018. I can't quite work out whether that is just due to an increase in domestic visitors but it's rather striking.
www.nps.gov/yell/learn/m...
www.nps.gov/yell/learn/m...
I’m going to suggest that this en suite isn’t original!
November 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I’m going to suggest that this en suite isn’t original!
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.
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.
And, finally, this Octave Virginal. A tiny, portable harpsichord. Wouldn’t this be fun to have in the back of your car?
(At least until the temperatures destroyed it...)
(At least until the temperatures destroyed it...)
November 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
And, finally, this Octave Virginal. A tiny, portable harpsichord. Wouldn’t this be fun to have in the back of your car?
(At least until the temperatures destroyed it...)
(At least until the temperatures destroyed it...)
A boat-load of ivory is one of musical instrument collecting’s original sins.
November 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
A boat-load of ivory is one of musical instrument collecting’s original sins.
This is a Mongolian instrument called a Morin khuur with its characteristic horse’s head decoration and two strings. Again, there are some wonderful recordings of it being played online, accompanying the traditional throat singing.
November 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
This is a Mongolian instrument called a Morin khuur with its characteristic horse’s head decoration and two strings. Again, there are some wonderful recordings of it being played online, accompanying the traditional throat singing.
The Honiman describes this instrument as a “bīn”. I think this name is a synonym for a rudra veena—a bass zither used in Hindustani classical music—where it is religiously significant as the instrument which Shiva plays.
November 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
The Honiman describes this instrument as a “bīn”. I think this name is a synonym for a rudra veena—a bass zither used in Hindustani classical music—where it is religiously significant as the instrument which Shiva plays.
As always, I like to check to confirm that I do own more antique flageolets than the museum does. Though their double flageolets (2nd pic) are in much better condition than mine. I also hadn’t noticed this beautiful ivory bird flageolet before, in with the folk whistles.
November 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
As always, I like to check to confirm that I do own more antique flageolets than the museum does. Though their double flageolets (2nd pic) are in much better condition than mine. I also hadn’t noticed this beautiful ivory bird flageolet before, in with the folk whistles.
The closest related instrument to the Russian Bassoon is a serpent which has its body coiled up like the animal rather than in two straight sections.
Not sure why no-one ever made one with a serpent’s head, though. That would be something to behold!
Not sure why no-one ever made one with a serpent’s head, though. That would be something to behold!
November 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
The closest related instrument to the Russian Bassoon is a serpent which has its body coiled up like the animal rather than in two straight sections.
Not sure why no-one ever made one with a serpent’s head, though. That would be something to behold!
Not sure why no-one ever made one with a serpent’s head, though. That would be something to behold!
These remarkable instruments are 18th Century Russian Bassoons. Although the body of the instrument with the bocal looks a bit like an early bassoon (albeit with a huge serpent’s head), they are actually brass instruments played by buzzing your lips against a mouthpiece. Berlioz slates them.
November 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
These remarkable instruments are 18th Century Russian Bassoons. Although the body of the instrument with the bocal looks a bit like an early bassoon (albeit with a huge serpent’s head), they are actually brass instruments played by buzzing your lips against a mouthpiece. Berlioz slates them.
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!)
And then there's the musical instrument room, but that deserves another thread.
Sadly the Natural History gallery is being closed so I couldn't visit the infamous overstuffed walrus that is the museum's most famous object...
Sadly the Natural History gallery is being closed so I couldn't visit the infamous overstuffed walrus that is the museum's most famous object...
November 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
And then there's the musical instrument room, but that deserves another thread.
Sadly the Natural History gallery is being closed so I couldn't visit the infamous overstuffed walrus that is the museum's most famous object...
Sadly the Natural History gallery is being closed so I couldn't visit the infamous overstuffed walrus that is the museum's most famous object...
There is a very good section on Benin; the Horniman formerly had a collection of looted bronzes which it returned to Nigeria in 2020 with an agreement that some would be loaned back.
November 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
There is a very good section on Benin; the Horniman formerly had a collection of looted bronzes which it returned to Nigeria in 2020 with an agreement that some would be loaned back.
Some Chinese domestic shrines and images, both ancient and modern.
November 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Some Chinese domestic shrines and images, both ancient and modern.
This is a great example of the sorts of collections they have. A huge kite from the kite festival in Sumpango, Guatemala; small Afghan-style ones made in London; a flag commissioned by a trad union banner maker; others dealing with imperialism.
November 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This is a great example of the sorts of collections they have. A huge kite from the kite festival in Sumpango, Guatemala; small Afghan-style ones made in London; a flag commissioned by a trad union banner maker; others dealing with imperialism.
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.
Makes me think of the Armoured Train constructed for the narrow-gauge Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway during WWII.
November 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Makes me think of the Armoured Train constructed for the narrow-gauge Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway during WWII.