For those of you who have been looking forward to the next Cafe Mediate podcast – here it is! This edition is also a video podcast which you can watch below or at Jeff’s website . You will find the audio version at it’s usual home on iTunes.

With Jeff Thompson and Amanda Bucklow

In this episode of the Cafe Mediate podcast, Amanda Bucklow and Jeff Thompson talk about recent and upcoming developments in Europe and the USA concerning the mandatory use of mediation prior to litigation and explore the implications for the development of mediation generally.

With a happy nod to the festive season, Jeff and Amanda offer their ideas on the perfect holiday gift for a mediator.

For the mediator who has everything...

Here are the details of Jeff’s ideas.

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Click the images to go to the websites to purchase the books.

Three Cups of Tea
by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Three Cups of Tea

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Discernment by the Venerable Yifa published by Lantern Books. Jeff has written a review of the book which can be found on Mediate.com

Discernment

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ABCs of Conflict Resolution by Victoria Pynchon

ABCs of Conflict Resolution

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The No Asshole Rule by Robert I. Sutton

The No Asshole Rule

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A brand new iPad

A brand new iPad

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A wireless headset so you don’t get pulled over by NYPD or any other PD for that matter! Jeff says he won’t be able to get you out of that mess.

Hands free headset

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Or try this rather amazing one from Jabra

Jabra Stone Bluetooth Headset

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Amanda's Letter to Santa

Amanda’s gift ideas

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Heartmath – emWave^®

emWave® for Mac and PC

This is a marvelous piece of software for developing strategies to deal with stress and build resilience. Based on scientific research and used by many professionals in many sectors. For more on the science.

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Moleskine® notebooks – I use these for all my mediations. Turn them one way for Party A and upside down for Party B

Moleskine® Notebook

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And the ultimate gift for any mediator has to be…

A 'proper' crystal ball!

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What is you ideal gift?

What is your ideal gift? It can be for yourself or for a fellow mediator. We would love to hear what they are. Do post your ideas in the comments box below.

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For more about the judgment in the Italian case about whether the obligation to mediate before starting court proceedings is in breach of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, you can read the judgment here.

To read a copy of the recent Report on Alternative Dispute Resolution: Mediation and Conciliation LRC 98-2010 in Ireland which can be summarised thus:

The report recommends that legislation be enacted setting out framework for mediation and conciliation, including key principles such as; they are voluntary processes; the parties control them; confidentiality of the processes is required; and their quality must be assured by clearly stated standards.

By the way, I lied about the number of pages! It is only 247 not 267

I tested the recipe on a friend who challenged me to make a hot chocolate she would like!

The only link with mediation I can think of for this one is “preparation”!

This recipe takes a little time and the right ingredients. For anyone with a cold, the chili and cinnamon will help you feel better!

• Measure out a cup of organic milk. Pour into a small sauce pan.

• Add a bay leaf, 10 black pepper corns slightly crushed/bruised, half a fresh chili, half a cinnamon stick and a few drops of real vanilla essence.

• Bring to the boil and turn off the heat. Leave for an hour to cool. Strain. Put milk back into pan.

• Add 75g of really good quality dark chocolate and allow to melt. Using a small whisk, blend well. Heat to just below boiling – do not allow to boil. If it is not like thick cream add more chocolate.

• Pour into small cup (there should be enough for at least two) or one big cup if you are not in sharing mode.

• Sit somewhere where you will not be disturbed. Sip slowly and wait for the grin to appear. Notice that the gentle heat from the chili builds slowly with each sip.

• DO NOT get on the scales for at least a week afterwards.

The latest brilliant cartoon from Charles Fincher at LawComix

How many of us have come across people who have ended up leading the ‘sleigh’ because they couldn’t get on within the ‘team’?

Charles, this is brilliant! For more great smiles and chuckles please see is wonderful site at LawComix