Obiter gives a hearty round of applause to barrister Frank Hinks QC of Serle Court chambers for proving that the other branch of the profession are not the stuffy fuddy duddies their grey-haired wigs might imply.

A survey of barrister's Web sites last week heaped special praise on Mr Hinks' very own personal site, home to an abundance of children's stories, all penned and illustrated by the man himself - seen here acting out one of the tales.

Not one to shy away from alliteration, his intriguing titles include the Land of Lost Hair, the Dim Daft Dwarves, the Magic Magpie and The Cruel Count.

Harmless fun, you may say - but the plot of the author's personal favourite could have a frightening effect on the next generations' manners.

Two boys stuck in the forest repel globerous ghosts, mystic mummies and venomous vampires by doing things which the monsters don't like, such as - of all things - picking their noses.

A handy trick for repelling girls, too, Obiter recalls.

This article refers to images that appear in the printed edition [2004] Gazette, 29 April, page 12