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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

Defeated by drought: my bean-growing efforts have failed after 40 years of success

Runner bean plants flowering.
Anne Dyas has been struggling with her runner beans this year. Photograph: Rachel Husband/Getty Images

Any five-year-old can grow runner beans (Letters, 24 August)? Not this year. After more than 40 years of growing vegetables, the drought has defeated me. Repeated sowings and constant watering eventually yielded a few sickly runners that struggled up the canes. A handful of beans have presented themselves. Next year, I think I’ll look for some sort of edible cactus. Or maybe plant an olive grove.
Anne Dyas
Dorridge, West Midlands

• I’m so tired of hearing politicians, when being interviewed, prefixing what they say with “Well, look…” or just Look… No, I won’t be told to look, and where am I supposed to look in any case? I have taken to looking at the floor (and counting to 10). Can something be done? I am almost prepared to vote for anyone who desists from this practice – whatever they might go on to say.
Dale R Hewitt
Romsey, Hampshire

• Due to the rise in the prices of eggs, butter and chocolate (Report, 26 August), it seems I am no longer allowed to have my cake or eat it!
Stuart Harrington
Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset

• When I change for swimming I put my spectacles in one case, obviously, and my hearing aids in another (Letters, 26 August).
Tony Meacock
Norwich

• While Saint George was born in Turkey (Letters, 26 August), he lived in his mother’s country, Palestine.
Kit Jackson
London

• Let us not forget: Saint George is also the patron saint of Moscow.
Margaret Kemp
Shrewton, Wiltshire

• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.

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