Well – that was the year that was.  Fukushima, floods, cyclones & hurricanes; a failed World Cup bid on the rugby front for the Boks; political and judicial upheavals galore in SA; a Euro zone crisis and jitters in economies everywhere.  All very exhausting, and I know many who are happy to bid adieu to 2011 and welcome 2012 with unseemly haste.  For our part we will reflect with satisfaction on aspects of 2011 and more quickly forget others. 

In particular, we have been very happy to produce the first comprehensive work on the finally amended new Companies Act – The New Companies Act Unlocked by Carl Stein and Geoff Everingham.  It is proving very popular with practitioners.  We are also delighted with the new edition of Labour Arbitration – now expanded and incorporating also Peter Kantor's commentary on the CCMA Rules.  Globalisation & Governance represents a work of importance and international value, while Thinking about Law, a tribute to Tony Honoré, was a particular privilege to publish.  New editions of Wild Law & International Tax also appeared – both ever popular, and both of great value to their readers.  And now we have just published the first edition of Labour Law Rules! , a new entry-level book on labour law aimed at students encountering the subject for the first time.  Of course all the while the Sibergrammes and BTCLQ and SILCS, our electronic publications, see the light of day (or of computer monitors) at regular intervals.  And we have also launched our first ebooks through Little White Bakkie in 2011. 

2012 will have many a development too, not least the launch of our books on an i-Pad app, and a number of new titles.  Until then, we all need a rest, one which we here will be taking with gratitude.  We’re shutting up shop from Monday 19 December, and will only re-open on 9 January.  If you require a copy of our books in that time, please order it through your local bookshop.

Please note:  Online orders will be processed as usual, though not between 23 December and 3 January – orders placed in that period will only be sent out after 4January.  (Perhaps this will be the time to try ordering from Little White Bakkie!)

Stay safe on the roads, enjoy time with your families, and return re-energised in 2012!  May it be a prosperous and healthy year for all. 

Simon Sephton

15 December 2011