As much a part, now, of Bermuda's Christmas as egg nog and cassava pie, Peter Woolcock's `Woppened' celebrates its tenth anniversary of publication with a collection of cartoons printed from The Royal Gazette that are guaranteed to bring a smile to the most jaded brow.

Dedicating this year's edition to that `motley' crew of political characters "on the Hill'', Mr. Woolcock acknowledges them as his main inspiration. "I had quite thought, however, that the era of `the Burger' was finally over. I felt we'd all been `burgered' to death but evidently not! I just wish it would be settled one way or the other.'' As usual, this brilliant artist, who always seems to capture the Island's mood of the moment with an accuracy that politicians must (or should) envy, does so with a wit that is sharp and shrewd, but never unkind. Increasingly, he uses those pesky Bermuda lizards to drive a point home -- or simply to add an element of (equally sharp) verbal humour.

This year, it seems, the cartoon that has caused most comment was that of September 3, which depicted a gaggle of rats, crouching in a sewer, and eyes a-glitter at the shock news of Commissioner Colin Coxall's sudden resignation.

"The rats just symbolised drugs and crime, but it was a bit of a surprise to learn that some people thought it `portrayed' members of the PLP. But then, even more surprising, I heard that the Cabinet thought I had drawn them! I was so astonished -- I suppose that's the ultimate in people seeing what they want to see!'' `Woppened', with a suitably gracious Foreword from Lord Waddington penned from the splendour of the House of Lords, is published by Aardvark Communications and is on sale at $12.95 at all bookstores.

THE BIG TEN -- Peter Woodcock shows off the tenth edition of `Woppened', a collection of his popular editorial cartoons from the pages of The Royal Gazette.