If Brexit news seems too depressing, I suggest that we Guardian readers try to cheer ourselves up by offering adaptations of traditional Christmas songs to reflect the voters’ mood. Here’s one, with thanks to my friend Trevor in Leeds: “On the 12th day of Brexit the PM gave to me, 12 hopes-a-dashing, 11 Mays-a-bottling, 10 Arlenes shouting, 9 Moggs a-mugging, 8 Goves a-gurning, 7 BoJos-bonking, 6 DDs ducking, 5 backstop threats, 4 weasel words, 3 huge fibs, 2 downright lies, and a shitstorm across the UK.
Derek Mckiernan
Edinburgh
• I’m enjoying Steve Bell’s rewording of Christmas carols (If..., G2, passim), which continues a long tradition of outraged agitation. Jim Connell reworded O Tannenbaum as The Red Flag in 1889, during a train journey from Charing Cross to New Cross, on his way to support a dock strike. Those lyrics also fit O Little Town of Bethlehem.
David Hutchinson
Bridport, Dorset
• While skipping, 75 years ago, I sang “Manchester Guardian, Evening News. I sell a dish and one, two…”. I imagined the dish to be white enamel with a blue rim. Does anyone else remember this jingle? “Edition one, two…” does make more sense though.
Audrey Butler
Stockport
• Emma Brockes (I can’t bear to throw the past away, 21 December), mid-40s is too soon. I’m in my mid-70s and recently found the Rick Astley badge my son bought me in High Wycombe market in the 80s. I can’t bear to throw it out.
Jean Jackson
Seer Green, Buckinghamshire
• I can only assume the pub on the Yorkshire/Lancashire border that charged £1 for gravy (Letters, 17 December) was in Lancashire.
Colin Challen
Scarborough
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