MONDAY morning and the Insider's in-tray is already overflowing with self-congratulatory press releases from all manner of political parties ahead of today's local elections in Oxford, Cherwell and West Oxfordshire.

But one piece of correspondence catches the eye.

It claims to be from "an informer", but one suspects whoever sent it is sending me up.

Anyway, found in the members' lounge at County Hall was a cartoon sketch of Nero, the Roman Emperor playing a fiddle while Rome burns in the background.

Underneath, a caption reads: "While Nero fiddled and Rome burned, the Liberal Democrats began an inquiry into whether the violin was made of wood from a sustainable source."

A parody, of course, of the Great Fire of Rome in the year 64, which burned for six days and seven nights.

How naughty.

THE corridors of power are a wonderful place, where the great and good make decisions that shape our very lives.

But what about the, erm, toilets?

One correspondent wrote in, barely able to hide his disgust at what he claimed to see in the gents at County Hall recently.

Apparently, one reasonably well-known individual made a mess before rushing off without washing his hands.

Libel laws - and common decency - prevent us from revealing the identity of the person concerned. But it gave us all a good laugh nonetheless.

Maybe what's needed are some of the loo rolls they have in primary schools with the instruction "Now wash your hands please" printed on the paper.

FAR be it from me to suggest those sterling individuals who empty our recycling boxes are in too much of a hurry to finish their rounds and get home, but couldn't they at least put the bins back from whence they came?

As I left my country pile this week, I found two boxes - which had been left with the lids firmly shut as requested - strewn across the pathway and my manicured lawn. It's the same with the wheelie bin, too.

Often the thing blocks the entire pavement after the bin men have been and gone. It's a wonder more people don't fly-tip.