Steven Poole’s column (18 April) highlighting advertising idiocies reminded me of this, on a package of salt: “This rock salt is over 200m years old, formed through ancient geological processes in the German mountain ranges. Best before April 2003.”
Alan Gilchrist
Brighton
• Your report on the reopening of Cardigan Castle (April 14) did well to mention its eminence in Welsh consciousness as the cradle of the National Eisteddfod. What it did not mention was the absence of the archdruid and gorseddigion from the festivities. The authorities claimed the paltry sum of £10,000 required to cover their costs – a mere 0.083% of the £12m received from the public purse – was far too extravagant. The mythical condition of tightfistedness attributed to every Cardi is alive and well. A possible magnificent front-page photograph of druids in their regalia was lost.
Hefin Wyn
Maenclochog, Sir Benfro (Pembrokeshire)
• A sad reflection of modern times that the new Buddhist monastery in Hong Kong has to feature “bulletproof VIP rooms” (Eyewitness, 17 April).
Cleo Sylvestre
London
• Gallipoli was not “the first combined naval-army operation in history”, as Rachel Billington claims (18 April). That was the (equally unsuccessful) allied assault on Toulon in 1793.
Jeremy Muldowney
York
• I don’t know about Blackpool hallucinations (Letters, 17 April), but when I worked in the DHSS it was not unknown for claimants to refer to their infidelity benefit.
Tony Fletcher
Neath
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