While serving for 38 years as a Methodist minister, I took it as read that it could be described as a “calling”. On retirement, and getting elected to the city council, some people were aghast when I suggested that politics could be seen in the same way. After discovering that Gwyneth Paltrow has often described setting up Goop as “a calling”, (Gwyneth’s Ark: sailing towards wellness but never quite getting there, 30 April), I am inclined to stop using the word.
Cllr the Rev Geoff Reid
Bradford
• I do remember that credit card slogan and agree with Karen Morris (Letters, 2 May) that waiting has value. I also remember being horrified when, in an interview, a director of Asda bragged that its success was because it had abolished seasonality.
Brian Fish
Leeds
• The Guardian’s neglect of classical music reached a new low when describing the BBC Young Musician competition in The Guide (24 April). Phrases such as “it’s squeaky-bum time” and “festival of twiddly excellence” are extremely insulting to these talented and dedicated youngsters.
Anneleen and Andrew Fairfax
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
• I received a leaflet from the Conservative party for the local elections. Its candidate for the police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset set out his four priorities for policing. I was delighted dog theft was one of them. Unfortunately, violence against women was not.
Jane Giddins
Bath
• Re blackbird playlists (Letters, 2 May), our local talents have included the Nokia ringtone and a distinctive “Covid Covid” call. But the latest rendition was a squeaky dog toy that we thought was the neighbour’s dogs for a few months.
Dave Regan
Longborough, Gloucestershire
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