YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A SIGNED SECRET BARRISTER T-SHIRT: ONLINE AUCTION STARTS TODAY

January 11, 2019 · by · in Charity, Contest, Charity,

With the help of the Secret Barrister we are once again raising money for the Billable Hour Charity, giving you a chance to win a signed Secret Barrister T-shirt.

 

THE SHIRT

This is one of the T-shirts designed for the Billable Hour campaign. The advantage with this raffle is that I will obtain the T-shirt that fits you.  If you don’t want to bid, or don’t get the signed T-shirt, do take a look at the Billable Hour Clothing range, it can provide outfits for the entire family.

GET SB’S SIGNATURE

To make it really unique SB has agreed to sign it. This will provide you with a unique family heirloom, a piece of modern history and (perhaps) an appreciating asset.*

*This blog does not give investment advice.

THE IRONING: IT MAY BE COTTON BUT IT WILL BE IRONED BY A SILK

In accordance with time honoured tradition the T-shirt will be ironed by a silk after being signed and before being sent out the winner.

THE CHARITY

The winning bidder should pay their winning bid as a donation to the Billable Hour charity. Once payment is confirmed it will be sent to the publisher, SB will sign it and then silkily ironed.

THE BIDDING PROCESS

You can bid via Twitter. It is on the hashtag  #SBTSHIRT You can bid as much as you want, as many times as you want. You can bid from anywhere in the world. If you want to bid secretly send me a DM.  If you don’t have access to Twitter – ask someone who does.

Bidding closes at 11.45 pm on Friday the 18th January 2018. The highest bidder will be sent the T-Shirt once the payment is confirmed (and after the shirt has been sent to the publisher and the ironing QC).

IN THE EVENT OF A TIE

The two matching bidders will be invited to bid against each other until one finally expires…

DON’T BE FOOLED BY IMITATIONS

There are some bootleg copies around. Make sure you only buy from the official site.

 

A REMINDER OF THE SAGA THAT WAS LAST YEAR’S AUCTION

THE PROBLEM

Last year we had had an auction where there were two equal bidders when bidding closed.

 

INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE

The bidding stood at £200, with Dr Jo Beswick. Shortly before the deadline I had an offer from Canada. Paul Ceysenns

 “Canadian lawyer bids £250, having a QC iron it is the best-ever “

 THAT “OSCAR” MOMENT

So Paul was announced as the winner.

THE TROUBLE WAS…

I had overlooked an earlier bid for £250 from renowned employment lawyer Daniel Barnett.  There were two equal bids.

THE LEGAL DILEMMA

The legal directories have no category for specialists in “cross-border, charity auction, T-shirt ownership, litigation issues”.  However the consensus of legal opinion was that the first bid in time should be the winner (that was Daniel’s bid).

THIS MAKES YOU FEEL REALLY GOOD (BUT MADE ME FEEL A BIT BAD)

Having announced my dilemma  both Daniel and Paul said, independently of each other, that they would make the donation to Billable Hour, regardless of whether they received the T-shirt -each offering it to the other.

DON’T LOOK TO TWITTER TO ANSWER YOUR PROBLEMS

Twitter was awash with advice as to how to resolve this dilemma. (I won’t name names at this point because, at some time in the future people may regret this). Included in the “useful” advice from the legal twitterati:-

  • “Rock paper scissors”

  • “Trial by combat”

  • “A duel in the Inns of Court, so you can charge and raise more money…”

  • “A Twitter vote. Each candidate explains why they want it and we caste a vote”.

  • “This  T Shirt is of national significance. It can’t be exported to Canada without a licence … which won’t be granted.”

HEAVEN PRESERVE US FROM FAMILY LAWYERS

If the legal twiterrati were not quite helpful, the family lawyers, really went to town.

  • “Joint custody. Summers in saltspring, winters in Outer Temple. Beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

I will name names now, Lucy Reed (@Familyloo)

“sshh Gordon – you have to say “clothes arrangements” (CAO) not custody. It’s almost as if the poor thing was an inanimate object, like chattel… also, the best interests of the clothes are paramount”

And the (soon to be ironing) James Turner QC, in response to issues relating to the finer details of the T-shirt sharing arrangement.

“Yep – setting out details of the arrangements as to with whom the shirt will spend its time and precisely how that time will be shared, and whether it may be removed from the jurisdiction from time-to-time etc.”

Following my comment that with identical T-shirts I was essentially separating twins someone, who will remain anonymous,

“Never separate siblings. Haven’t you seen Blood Brothers”.

THANK HEAVEN FOR THE SECRET BARRISTER

Fortunately for me SB (and their publishers) came to my rescue. As you  may have gathered from the title an extra T-shirt was found.   Both were  lovingly ironed before given to their new owners.

AND THE WINNER WAS…

(James Turner QC made no complaint that his ironing workload doubled).

Well, as a result of a mistake,  the Billable hour got  twice as much to support Save the Children; SB’s eventual canonization is virtually assured; I got out of a tight spot, and continuing diplomatic relationships with Canada were secured (this may be very important after March).

Whilst I was still wrestling with the dilemma of two equal bidders, and each was offering to forego the T-shirt, Chris Dale tweeted

“I don’t know why but you seem to have come across two thoroughly decent bidders”

 

 

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