Having left the army at the age of 61, I took up festival-going, grew my own cannabis and bought an open-topped sports car. My children categorised this behaviour as “Dad’s midlife crisis”. Simon Hattenstone’s article (‘I’ve hit 60 – I’m officially an old fart and I’m going to embrace it’: the thing I’ll do differently in 2023, 29 December) has put the record straight and encouraged me to strive for yet greater feats of immature irresponsibility.
Mark Hainge
Hay-on-Wye, Powys
• Great that fast food companies in France now have to wash crockery and cutlery in their outlets (Ban on single-use restaurant tableware hailed as fast-food ‘revolution’ in France, 28 December). This will revive the art of the plongeur, the occupation of struggling artists and radicals made famous in George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London.
Sam White
Lewes, East Sussex
• It’s interesting that, in his letter defending the House of Lords (1 January), Baron Timothy Kirkhope states that it is important that steps are taken to avoid the “accusation” of cronyism, rather than avoiding cronyism itself.
Phil Coughlin
Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear
• “Suspect identified in only one in 10 bicycle theft cases…” (2 January). Sergeant Pluck from Flann O’Brien’s surreal masterpiece The Third Policeman would be shaking his huge head.
David Feintuck
Lewes, East Sussex
• Christmas Day: last jar of 2022 marmalade opened. New Year’s Eve: Seville oranges bought. New Year’s Day: first batch of 2023 marmalade cooked. Happy new year!
Elizabeth Pearson
New Barnet, London
