Grandfather’s Clock

Some years ago, I came into my grandfather’s grandfather clock. It was made by Michel Quesnel in Jersey in about 1780, and I do think it is impressive that a machine made 1/4 of a millennium ago is still doing the job which it was made to do.

For a long time, the winder was missing its wooden knob. And so a little while ago, I made a red gum knob for it, using my wood lathe. But then there was nothing to keep the knob from slipping off the winder, and so today, having acquired a few lengths of brass rod, I used my metal lathe, together with a tap and a die, to make a brass end cap, with a screw fitting, to keep the knob on the winder.

Extra-Contractual Recoveries in Tasmania

I am pleased to say that the paper I have proposed for the Society of Construction Law Australia’s conference this year in Tasmania – EXTRA-CONTRACTUAL RECOVERIES: 12 HIDDEN OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS – has been accepted.  Subject to some unwelcome relapse into Covid hysteria, this means that I will be in Hobart in person at the beginning of May. SoCLA’s website announces the conference as follows:

Duckhouse Rules

I have completed a floating duck house for our ducks, William and Kate. William and Kate seem to come back to Loch Phenelry every year; last year they had 9 ducklings. Unhappily, they all disappeared one night; the culprit is almost certainly one of the local foxes.

Apparently, foxes can swim, but don’t swim, so hopefully, if William and Kate are sufficiently forgiving (or sufficiently forgetting) to return this year, they can lay their eggs in the duck house, and hopefully the ducklings will sleep in the duck house until they are big enough to survive the attentions of the fox.

The duckhouse is made from a couple of leftover pallets, except the roof, which consists of zinc sheets* laid on a plywood structure**. The finial was turned from red gum salvaged from the firewood pile. There is a ramp to help the ducklings onto the deck, on the inside of the house is laid with pea straw, which the ducks will hopefully find comfortable.

All this is for William and Kate. But what if another pair of ducks turn up, and set up house? It is not entirely obvious that ducks obey the rules here.

Another Chair

Croquet SA has appopinted me as the standing chairman of the SACA Disputes Committe. The President, Lyn Parnell, has written:

At our Board meeting last week, Roger Buddle advised that you had agreed to accept  the role of Chair of the SACA Disputes Committee.

I write to sincerely thank you.  Your knowledge of croquet and legal credentials surpass any other person involved in croquet in this State (probably Australia).  The Board feels very honoured that you have agreed to Chair this Committee.  

Which is very flattering, but back to front. It is me who is honoured here.

The role is pro bono, of course. As it should be.  There is good reason for