And finally, a note on sexist language

This is one area where you can't win. To use he and his throughout, even with a disclaimer that no offense is intended, doesn't wash with some people. To do the opposite and use she and her throughout, one is accused of tokenism or of treating seriously something that should be regarded as trivial. Whatever you choose to do, you can be guaranteed you'll offend or irritate somebody. Sigh!

Here's the policy I have adopted. I have used he/his and she/her as and when the mood has taken me! I have done this because the juxtaposition of the feminine and masculine sometimes (a) surprises people and (b) conjures up different mental pictures.

Ireland, March 1996