Re Gunnar Ardelius’s article (In Sweden, we’re smug about our ‘neutrality’. The truth is not so squeaky clean, 7 February), in small towns and villages on the French side of the Franco-Swiss border, it was still the custom 30 years ago – and perhaps still is – to threaten children who refused to obey parents’ instructions with “I’ll fetch a Swede”. This refers to the behaviour of some Swedish mercenaries in various wars in the area, including the thirty years’ war (1618-48), and in particular to a particularly ferocious skirmish near the town of Morteau, where the river is supposed to have filled with blood. Memories die hard.
Charles Wilhelm
Besançon, France
• John Crace says: “No one thinks for a minute that [Rishi] Sunak is a betting man” (Digested week, 9 February). That’s precisely what he is, recreationally, professionally and politically. He has spoken of his pleasure in spread betting on cricket, his career was in hedge fund management, and as a politician he was a strong supporter of the huge failed gamble of Brexit.
Geoff Booth
Knebworth, Hertfordshire
• Claire Cohen (15 February) invites us to be shocked by her wide range of obscenities, including “buggeration”, “knobber” and “arse biscuits”. I’m far more offended by her use of the dismal business buzzword “impactful”.
Gerwyn Moseley
Gilwern, Monmouthshire
• The biggest puzzle for me each week is finding the bloomin’ things in the Saturday Guardian. Please put them all together in one place and then leave them alone. I swear you are moving them week to week.
Sally Barnard
Steyning, West Sussex
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