Along with a colleague I have just completed an article for a weekly publications called "New Law Journal", its about the level of investment that is necessary for a set of Chambers to be successful! Once I figure out how to do it - I'll try to post it on this site as my patented cure for insomnia!! I am due to write a software review for FoxPop for their February up-load. I expect I really should get started on it - rather than the usual modus operandi of leaving it to the last minute!

I have tasted some really good South African wines recently. Both are from the Vergelegen Vineyard where Andre van Rensbug is the winemaker and has been gaining an increasingly impressive reputation over the past 5 years or so. Anyway I was very impressed with the 2000 Cabernet - smooth rich and complex and will only improve with age settling down a little after a few more years (It think!). I also tried the Shiraz 2001 - which won the "Best Shiraz" in South Africa prize and was described by the judges as "exuberant, colourful expression of shiraz, with flavours ranging from chocolate to deep plummy spicy fruit". I must admit I'm not quite so taken with this as I was with the cabernet. Maybe I'm just becoming too jaded after drinking overly-large Australia shirazs - anyway I have 6 bottles so I'll try it again.

Whilst I was in Toronto over New Year I completed "Backfire" the book about Carly Fiorina and the merger of HP and Compaq. It was a really fascinating insight into the world of big business, mega-deals and how to get ahead. Carly certainly aimed for the top with all her strategic career moves! She has certainly got to where she wanted to be and is paid in the mega-millions league! Although the book paints her as perhaps a slightly challenged CEO she certainly has the gift for selling - not only herself but her ideas as well. Good luck to her!

I also read "Go" which coincidently is another book about a very determined American woman! Barbara Cassani has also risen to the top. You get the impression from this book that whilst she may not have been so controlled about her future career as Carly was/is - she certainly seems to have the ability along with a healthy touch of humility and slight bewilderment and sometimes uncertainty about what she has taken on! Such characteristics allow you to warm to her slightly more than I did to Carly who seems to be buttoned-up and very firmly under control! The book is about how she and her team built up "GO"! The low cost airline from British Airways through to its acquisition by EasyJet. Barbara left the company after the acquisition with a hefty (by UK standards) payout (not by Carly standards!) and is now Chairman of the London 2012 Olympic Bid - which after reading her book I can say it is in very safe and competent hands!

Yes, I know its all been a bit quiet of late! Work, Christmas, holidays, more work have all intervened with my (sometimes) regular up-dates. Since my last entry I have had another article published on FoxPop - suggestions for (Christmas) presents for "techy" minded people. The link below takes you straight to it.

http://www.foxpop.co.uk/eclectica/crackers_01.htm

I also have some wines that I have tasted that I will add to the blog over the next few weeks. I have recently discovered a fantastic site for independent music, which is not as extreme as it seems. They are based in Oregon and I discovered it through Ed Hansberry's Blog:-

http://www.ehansberry.com/

Its called CD Baby. They offer a fantastic service. I ordered some cds on Thursday last week - and they arrived today! What a brilliant service and the music is great. The site is well catalogued and most of the cds have the facility which allows you to list to some of the tracks so you get a good idea of what you are buying, there are also some good reviews of the cds. Never thought I'd be this cutting edge - advocating independent artists!

Anyway the link to the site is

http://www.cdbaby.com/home

Back very soon - well at least sooner than last time!