Following advice about not mixing over Christmas, my husband and I, both in our 70s, will for the first time in many years be catering for only two people. As I’m sure our case is far from unique, could I make a plea for some interesting Christmas recipes appropriate to our situation? Not to mention the reported 1.7 million on their own.
Elizabeth Belcher
Sandy, Bedfordshire
• Enough of scotch eggs (Letters, 6 December). Here in Hampstead, one of the local pubs sells sausage roll by the inch. How many inches would I need for it to constitute a “substantial meal”?
Harvey Sanders
London
• Following Gavin Williamson’s “we’re a much better country” comment (Report, 3 December), I was reminded of a visit to a country pub several years back when one of the regulars asked for a pint of his usual and “three portions of your finest English tapas”. The barman arrived with a packet of crisps, some pork scratchings and a pickled egg.
Martin Jago
Los Angeles, US
• Thank you, Zoe Williams, for speaking up for those in public-facing jobs (If this pandemic teaches us a lesson, it’ll be to think harder about who we sneeze on, 4 December). In 30 years working in civil registration, among all the colds, coughs and chickenpox, I think my favourite comment, from a couple giving notice of marriage, was: “It’s a good day to come in, because we’re both off sick.”
Eleanor Jardine
Bengeo, Hertfordshire
• I combed my Saturday newspaper several times and found no articles about Donald Trump. Is this a record?
Trevor Lindley
Weymouth, Dorset
