cartoons, is -- in perfect time to fill a host of Christmas stockings.

After a year's absence, the return of this much-enjoyed rib-tickler, which gently lampoons everything and everyone on the local scene, is excellent news for devotees of the cartoons which appear weekly in The Royal Gazette.

Now in its eleventh edition, the 1998-99 collection is no less clever or amusing that any of its predecessors and, as always, will provide a lasting reminder of events which so exercised our attention at the time.

As Sir James Astwood, Kt., KBE, so rightly says in his Foreword to Woppend Eleven, "...while Peter's depictions are clever and incisive, there is a great deal of sensitivity and never any ill-will or malice''.

Which raises an important point. How can Mr. Woolcock tread the fine line between savvy and savage so successfully, when most of his fellow newspaper cartoonists have established reputations -- and even fear -- based on the sharpness of their bite? While he admits that he has sometimes "wished in a way'' that he could be more vicious, it is simply "not in his nature''.

A refined soul, Mr. Woolcock remains surprised at the overheated reaction one cartoon produced among radio talk show listeners.

In response to those who say he is too gentle, he refers to a book he was given to read, Drawing Fire, which addresses the very issue of editorial cartoonists and the constraints under which they work. He also tells how his attention was drawn to an interesting fact which emerged at a recent symposium of newspaper editors and editorial cartoonists.

"Editors are loathe to criticise local affairs, so they turn the cartoonists loose on international affairs and say, `Be savage there, but tippy-toe around the local stuff', '' Mr. Woolcock relates. "So, since I only cover the local scene, it is any wonder that I occasionally tippy-toe around?'' Note the word "occasionally,'' for the cartoonist is too professional to be a total pussycat, maintaining that "there are balloons here to be pricked''.

He recalls that in 1983 when he first thought of doing local cartoons he was advised that that, as an expatriate, he couldn't possibly proceed because "Bermudians don't have a sense of humour'', and says he found the statement "terribly sad''.

Then as now, Mr. Woolcock believes that "Bermudians and politicians tend to take themselves a little too seriously and they should lighten up a bit, because Bermuda is not the centre of the universe''.

Woolcock draws fire and chuckles "Humour is a a safety valve and always has been,'' he asserts. "It is not an escape. I have always maintained that sleep is an escape, but humour is like an exhaust -- very often it can take the pressure out of a volatile situation.'' And indeed it seems that at least one PLP MP agrees, based on a letter the cartoonist recently received confirming that he believes it is healthy to laugh at ourselves.

"I find that a very encouraging sign,'' Mr. Woolcock says.

So how does he come up with what seems the perfect subject every week, given that he has to meet The Royal Gazette 's Thursday morning deadline for Friday's paper? "Well, I read the newspaper and watch the newscasts on Monday and Tuesday so that I can start work on Wednesday,'' he relates. "If I don't come up with an idea I sometimes phone the paper to ask what is coming out the next day. If the House of Assembly has not been in session, likely as not I will be told that it can be a rather slow week.'' More often, however, he is faced with two irresistible topics, in which case he gives one to the two lizards, Leroy and Lucy.

"It is a device a lot of cartoonists use, and is quite useful,'' Mr. Woolcock explains. "Pat Oliphant has a penguin called Punk, for example.'' In fact, the lizards -- which first entered the scene in 1991 -- have become such a delightful adjunct that their creator says they sometimes threaten to take over the cartoons! While the cartoonist is sensitive in his approach to certain subjects, others, such as court cases, domestic violence and AIDS, must always remain taboo in the interests of good taste.

When it comes to politicians, he has long overcome his initial doubts about their reactions to his caricatures based on an initial experience with a certain prominent Member of Parliament.

"He was an absolute gift for caricature but since he had power over my work permit, I was a bit concerned about his reaction,'' Mr. Woolcock recalls.

"However, another politician told me that the man in question roared with laughter and appreciated the drawing.

When I expressed surprise, he responded, `Not really, he is a politician, and as I have always said, the average politician's credo can be summed up in Oscar Wilde's words, `Insult me but don't ignore me'.'' Closer to home, Mr. Woolcock does have a resident critic in his beloved wife of nearly 50 years, Ethel.

"She is the only one who sees the rough drawing and I judge its success by her reaction. She either giggles, in which case I know I am on a winner, or she may say, `I don't quite see why he or she is doing this', and then I know I haven't made it clear enough. If I have to explain the cartoon to her it means it is weak stuff.'' Which is very touching given his impressive international career that included six years with the Walt Disney Corporation in Britain, as well as 34 years with that country's Amalgamated Press.

Born and raised in Argentina during the Peron era when political cartoons were simply not done, the aspiring Mr. Woolcock received encouragement from Britain's top cartoonist, Ronald Searle, to whom he wrote in 1952, as a result of which he worked his passage on a boat taking horses to Belgium for domestic consumption, from whence he made his way to England.

Describing deadlines as his "life'', the father of two and grandfather of two has no immediate plans to retire. Instead, he hopes that the proposal to reduce the number of Parliamentarians won't come about until he is too old to be affected by the possible loss of his favourite faces!