As we both have hearing problems, my wife and I endorse everything said by your correspondent about noisy restaurants (and pubs) (Letters, 8 June). The big difference would be made though if clients told architects and interior designers to incorporate more sound-absorbing materials in and on floors, walls and other surfaces. By smothering reflected noise, people wouldn’t need to talk so loudly to be heard, thus adding to the problem.
Rod Warrington
Chester
• Since both the Guardian and Anish Kapoor seem entranced by the lighting of ENO’s Tristan and Isolde (G2, 8 June), it seems only fair to mention the lighting designer: Paul Anderson. Perhaps you might want to interview him?
Ken Coker
(Lighting designer), Edale, Derbyshire
• Congratulations to my dad Jack Shaw, a lifelong Guardian reader. His first letter was printed on Wednesday (8 June) at the age of 92. Perseverance really does pay.
Judy Shaw
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
• Perhaps Glen Gibb’s friends (Letters, 9 June) are either too young or from too posh an area of Hull to understand “booling your tansad”. Growing up in the Hessle Road (fishdock) area during the second world war, I was often booled (pushed) in my tansad (a pushchair). Along with all my friends, I also played with a “booler” or hoop in the “tenfoot” in the absence of manufactured toys.
Peter Stead
Holme on the Wolds, East Yorkshire
• Given the torrential rain experienced recently, I wonder if Narberth experienced Sturm in Drang (Letters, 8 June)?
Emyr Owen
Llanfairfechan,Conwy
• In Nottingham an alleyway is called a twitchell.
Dr Allan Dodds
Nottingham
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
