Please look after this picture (and child).

At the Ashmolean there are two water colours by Eric Ravilious (WWII artist) which are so beautiful and stunning. Unfortunately they are kept in the print room there and you have to ask to look at them. It was lovely to be able to see these pictures unframed and without glass covering them but what if a viewer sneezed horribly - or cried liberally - all over them? These are such wonderful pictures surely they should be protected in a frame and hung on the wall for any Tom Dick or Hamble to come and admire.

By the way, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the other people in the print room who all had their heads down working on something deeply absorbing no doubt. I realise that my effusive comments about Ship's Screw and Brickyard must have been utterly distracting and annoying - I am so sorry - I just couldn't help my self.

Something disturbing occurred at home during my absence. Despite all my advice, my younger daughter. who was left unattended for half an hour by my older daughter (in loco p.) ACTUALLY ANSWERED THE DOOR TO A SOLITARY MALE CALLER. I could not believe it - but fortunately (though not before he had ascertained she was alone), he left without incident. I think he was trying to sell something. There is a lesson for us all I think.

A New Pope

It is interesting to observe the very many demonstrations of respect for the last Pope.

Discussion of the election of his successor reminded me how much I had enjoyed A. J. A. Symons' biography of Fred Rolfe, "The Quest for Corvo". I note that in my enthusiasm to tidy I had not taken this book to Oxfam, whereas I did donate "Hadrian the Seventh" - which contains the great line, "He was so tired.". It's a shame its not easier to get a copy of Symons' writing about Emin Pasha, which I remember was fascinating, but at least in 1981 seemed only to be available from the reserve stock at the library.

By all accounts "Baron Corvo" was not a good example to others, aside from being a good writer - eg. "The Desire and Pursuit of the Whole" - surely some pun intended there - and "Stories Toto Told Me". His masterpiece is considered to be Hadrian VII, a story detailing the surprise election of a second English Pope.

Sweet Temptation

Secret government plans have just come to light to allow all children registered at British primary schools a vote at the forthcoming general election. The idea, apparently, is to promote the recent citizenship component of the national curriculum.

A spokesman said, "How can suffrage be a truly universal human right, when we exclude the youngest members of our society?"

In a simultaneous development, The Telegraph today carried a report that free Haribos will be available as an alternative to the unpopular daily fruit ration currently supplied to primary school pupils. Coca cola vending machines in secondary schools will dispense free drinks for a trial run only until the beginning of May.