“Aroma” was sadly missing in your Wordsearch puzzle (G2, 28 March) for words associated with newsagents. Fresh newsprint’s aroma in the morning is a delight I have enjoyed for 50 years or more – from all papers from the Morning Star to the Guardian and the Telegraph. And it goes so well with coffee. May it still be there long after I am gone. The internet has nothing to beat it.
David Beake
Budock Water, Cornwall
• Every Monday in 1955-56 our marked English compositions were returned to us. Every Monday I had to walk round the class showing them my appalling handwriting. Every Monday I had the back of my knee slapped, hard – a bruise stayed there for most of that year (Letters, 28 March). My handwriting is still unreadable.
Glenys Canham
Crosby, Merseyside
• Many years ago, my teacher husband would phone absent students on their mobiles (Letters, 28 March). If they were well enough to answer, they were well enough to come in to school. After one such call, he received a note confirming the boy’s ill health signed by his father, a surgeon at the local hospital.
Barbara Symonds
Birmingham
• Taking seven holidays a year is one thing (Letters, 28 March) but what I want to know is where Barry Crossland buys his wine? Sharing a bottle an evening and spending just £600 a year on wine is impressive – or there again, maybe not!
Kim Hoare
Westhall, Suffolk
• Your photograph on the letters page (29 March) shows a snickelway in York. When I was growing up in Derby we called such passages twitchels.
Dennis Ruston
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
