Congratulations to Dave, who celebrates his 42th birthday tomorrow.

Yes, the Bermuda short-wearing Witney MP and hip Tory leader really is getting on a bit — even if it looks as if he hasn't started shaving yet.

But we must offer a cautionary tale.

We remember well a youthful-looking Tony Blair when he entered 10 Downing Street in May 1997 — and look at the difference 10 years made to him.

We fancy young Dave won't stay looking fresh-faced for much longer.

How hard can running Oxfordshire County Council, the once but no-longer-excellent-rated authority, be?

We don't know, but we wouldn't mind a bit of what its chief executive Joanna Simons is on.

Since joining the authority from the London Borough of Sutton back in 2004, Ms Simons' pay has sky-rocketed.

In 2006, she was on £158,982. Two years later, she finds herself on £182,431 and rising, according to at least one Sunday newspaper.

Nice work if you can get it.

When it comes to the media, some politicians hunt with the hounds and hide with the hares.

Take Keith Mitchell, for example, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council.

A couple of years ago, the 'Kaiser' described Private Eye as "trashy".

But in a recent edition, the satirical magazine mentioned Parkridge, the company that wants to build homes in an eco-town development at Weston-on-the-Green, near Bicester, in a less-than-complimentary article.

Now, Mr Mitchell, pictured, is the Eye's best friend, or so it would appear.

He said: "Politicians can be a self-important lot and satire cuts them down to size — Private Eye is the absolute past master when it comes to satire.

"I am delighted the publication has seen through Parkridge in the same way that many other people have. Anything that brings extra pressure to bear on Parkridge is all to the good in my opinion."

Nice to see our county council leader has an open mind about ways of easing the pressure on housing shortages in Oxfordshire.

PCSOS are hardly the strong arm of the law, especially in Oxford.

While real criminals wander the streets, these law enforcers pop up in odd locations, looking to dish out fixed penalty fines to the largely innocent.

Example: Wednesday morning at Osney Lock, a gentleman cyclist was on his bike — albeit free-wheeling at pedestrian speed — when he was hauled over by an over-zealous wannabe cop who ripped open his velcro pocket and whipped out an £80 fine docket.

Only some silver-tongued explanation about the sun being in his eyes, meaning he missed the signs banning cycling at the lock, managed to allow our cycling chum to avoid the fine from the wannabe Sweeney man.

Who said cyclists were easy targets? Sleep safe in your beds, folks.