We note that the first swallow of the season was seen at Portland, Dorset, on Thursday 21 February (A year ago Britain was shivering. But look at the difference now, 23 February). Their average arrival date is said to be 29 March. Best to be on the safe side, eh?
Margaret and Michael Farnworth
Liverpool
• I was worried to read the article headed “Putin warns he may aim short-range missiles at western cities” (21 February). However, I was somewhat relieved to read that they would be aimed at “centres of decision-making”, which means parliament would be spared.
John Machin
Calverley, West Yorkshire
• If President Maduro and, possibly, Donald Trump should be removed from office as being “utterly detached from reality” (Letters, 20 February), should Theresa May be far behind, as she practices magical thinking and believes in unicorns?
Jill Adams
Birmingham
• My go-to ditty when thinking of Brexit (Letters, 23 February) is a reworking of a Michael Jackson number: Blame it on the Backstop. However, the way negotiations are going with the EU, it could soon be Cliff’s We Don’t Talk Anymore.
Margaret Coupe
Longnor, Staffordshire
• The room where one goes to relieve oneself in a theatre, cinema, restaurant, store, etc is the lavatory, toilet, loo or even bog or cludgie: it is not a “bathroom” (Danger! Men at work, Weekend, 23 February).
Linda Fishwick
Manchester
• Interesting to see calls for a longer lunchtime (Why we all need a 75-minute lunch break, G2, 20 February). Longer breaks than that, with a proper meal, wine and chat are normal in France. Of course, a long lunch and a glass of wine can have an effect on productivity: French GDP per person is 25% higher than the UK, for less hours worked per week.
Brian Smith
Berlin, Germany
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