Of The Great Mediation Symposium Northern Ireland

We're all hard at work at the moment on the great mediation conference for Northern Ireland. I think this evert promises to be one of the most exciting we've done at Legal-Island in many a year. We have a great mix of speakers representing the legal, business and community sector and some really interesting presentations all day. In the afternoon we have one session in which leading mediators from the interface areas of Northern Ireland will be talking about lessons learnt from 30 years of mediating in the conflict zones. Top stuff. Who'd want to miss it?.

Of Fit n Ready to Go

I played tennis on Saturday. Yesterday I went for a five mile run and this morning I swam 1 kilometre. I have to say right now I'm feeling fitter than I have been in probably 10 years. It's so nice to think as you age that your body is still capable of improving.

Now the plan is to work on my mental fitness and agility. Reading "War and Peace" is certainly helping the mental concentration but I feel I need to return to the cards and still my speed memorisation again. Watch out Ben Pridmore. Here I come!

Of Come Dine With Me or Anyone for that Matter

A number of friends of mine are all single and have different ways of eating on their own. One plays loud music each time she sits down to a meal "tout seule". Another is divorced and lives with his two children. When they are away for the weekend visiting their mum he will, as he calls it, "Eat on the hoof". This he explains is eating standing up like he's too busy to sit down and I guess the food is consumed almost unnoticed. A third who is Polish tells me he sets the table for two people. Polish tradition apparently dictates that you should set the table for the welcome unexpected visitor.

For me well I guess I sit down and get on with it. I may listen to the Beeb, watch the Beeb on T.V or just read a newspaper. I wonder if there's room for an App here? "Come Dine with Me" for those who would prefer not to dine on their own even virtually rather than eat alone.

Of Exercising the Mind and Body

I'm trying to work out the best way to exercise in the week. I would stick with swimming but it's so boring. I've tried cycling to work but then I often need a car when going for lunch for a business meeting. This week I could run to work because I've no visitors coming in that require me to be suited and booted. The problem with jogging to work is that even after using the company shower here you sweat a lot and that's not great.

I guess that means I'm back to swimming. Perhaps I just need to give my mind something to do as I go up and down the lengths. Learn Japanese? Memorise Pi to 300 decimal places? Go through a recipe for dinner?

Of Jobs Aplenty

Excuse me but isn't there meant to be a credit crunch on or something? Aren't businesses supposed to be fighting for work offering top quality service at rock bottom prices?

So far I've asked four different firms to come to my house to quote me for a job. Granted it's not a huge one but it's not small either and well worth the trouble one would have thought for anyone looking for two to three days' work.

The first firm turned up and their sales guy was impressive. He could talk the talk and gave some good advice. I noticed him grimace when I asked for an itemised written quote. I just got the impression that this is not what he does or certainly likes to do. I've heard nothing from him since. Firm No.2 showed up yesterday without apology 30 minutes late for the appointment and were well, ok. Firm no. 3 failed to show up at all without calling to let me know. No.4 is booked to disappoint me on Monday next at 12.30p.m. Come on No.4 surprise me. Inspire me.

Of "Das Boot"

I watched the German war classic last night "Das Boot". I don't think I've ever seen a better submarine war film. It portrays brilliantly the inhuman conditions of submariners in the Second World War and the appalling risks they had to take.

The film tortures the viewers. You begin to identify with the men on board U-96. You root for them too. They are after all someone's son, brother or father and they bravely face unbearable danger in the most awful of conditions. But then you remember that they are on the side of the Nazis and the most evil political movement witnessed in centuries. I guess that's what makes this such a great war movie. It gets you asking questions. It makes you feel uncomfortable. It makes you query the purpose of war. Shouldn't we always do this when reviewing wars?

Of "Au Natural" Every Time

There can't be many meeting places better than the one I experienced on Friday at Baker Tilly, London. Wow! What a view!

There's something about a good meeting space that can make all the difference to a meeting.
Yesterday I was sat opposite a man in a white stripey shirt against a white background who proved almost impossible to look at without feeling dazzled. The great thing about Baker Tilly's meeting space is that there is no background to speak off except the London skyline. Being a bit weather dependant there are loads of inside rooms too but who would opt for that when au natural is an option?