Colin Dexter is a fellow (by special resolution) of my college. [/smug] He is indeed very very small, and half deaf, which makes him seem a dirtier old man than I think he intends -- not, I stress, that I don't think he intends to be a bit dirty. But if you're talking to him and you happen to be sitting on the side with his bad ear, he'll lean closer and hold on to your arm and twist around so he can hear you with his good ear, which has the added benefit for him of bringing his face to within about six inches of your chest.

Ah, college Christmas drinks parties.