Car woes continue for my dog-sitting source who was unlucky enough to get a £20 penalty at 8.15am in a residents' parking zone - he used a visitors' parking permit at the weekend, but thought he could get away with not filling out one for Monday as he was leaving early. He didn't factor in the work ethic of our eager-beaver parking wardens.

It now seems, despite living in a well-regarded suburb, he has fallen victim to car-related criminal damage.

This time, some kindly soul decided to mash in the front of his parked car early on Monday. Not the most car-savvy person, my source thought it was just a leaky radiator until his friendly mechanic pointed out the crushed chassis at the front.

As a real sign of the times, my source said: "You know, despite being a victim of crime at least three times, it never even crossed my mind to tell the police."

How much more crime is being unreported as people give up, shrug their shoulders, and think, 'well, thank goodness I haven't been stabbed'?

At least, until he gets a car, he is cycling around the city and is one fewer motorist on the clogged streets.

What's the delay at Oxfordshire County Council? The Insider was expecting to see big white banners draped from County Hall proudly proclaiming: No Longer Excellent!

After all, last year there was no hanging around before the bunting was out saying that our hard-earned cash is helping fund an "excellent" local authority with four stars.

But, now the Audit Commission has stripped it of a star, because of the council's failure to improve its schools, County Hall seems a bit quiet.

If it needs some ideas, one wag had a couple of suggestions: "We are average - at its best!" or, as it lost a star because of education, "Oxorsdhre Countee Council: Fore starrs minus one equals FIVE!"

The Insider is perturbed to hear of a potential legal threat to the film versions of JRR Tolkien's novel, The Hobbit after the Oxford author's estate launched legal proceedings against the film studio behind The Lord of The Rings trilogy of films.

Legal action filed in Los Angeles alleges the writer's estate received nothing from the £3bn made by the blockbusters and it wants the right to be able to block future films of the author's work.

A friend of mine, who is a Tolkien fan, put it aptly: "The hippies of 1960s American used to say 'Frodo Lives!' in honour of a simpler life and friendship. Now, it seems the message is more 'Gollum Lives!' My preciousssss, my preciousss money...

It appears the serious flood risk to Oxford was ignored more than 30 years ago when the city council's chief architect called for a detailed study of the threat - a study that was never carried out.

Even earlier warnings were also been ignored and The Insider is now urging people to listen to Noah and start building that Ark.

And it is soon that time of year again, when we can all appreciate the inspiring beauty of Oxford, its historical centre, its sunny riverside pubs, its verdant meadows... and its well-educated nicely-spoken murderers.

Yes, Lewis is back to make us all love our sun-dappled city again - forgetting the congestion, the expensive pints and its flood-prone streets