Do you have a proper job? Here’s how to tell | Brief letters

Protecting rivers | Proper jobs | Zak Crawley | Second cities | Vasectomies | Passing showers

James Bevan, the Environment Agency chief executive, urges the Guardian to support debate on the protection of rivers (Letters, 20 August). Perhaps you could start with a Guardian event where he and George Monbiot go point by point through the latter’s article (The government is looking the other way while Britain’s rivers die before our eyes, 12 August). I would pay premium rates to see that.
Dave Hunter
Bristol

Marina Hyde (21 August) refers to “a way of distinguishing between white- and blue-collar work in the US – ‘the America that showers before work’ and ‘the America that showers after work’”. I have a similar definition of a “proper job”: one where the worker has to wash their hands before going to the toilet.
Dave Murfitt
Chatham, Kent

• It’s the middle of August and Zak Crawley was on 171 not out in the Test against Pakistan, but the front page of the Sport section (22 August) shows some footballer who’s been arrested on a Greek island. Neville Cardus must be turning in his grave.
Joan MacGregor
Brighton

• We in Liverpool agree that London is the UK’s second city (Letters, 21 August), which makes Manchester the UK’s third city.
Mike Flatley
Liverpool

• Days of correspondence about vasectomies (Letters, 13, 17, 19, 20 August)? What a load of bollocks.
Siobhán Ní Chuanaigh
Dublin

• Planning a day out along the A303, we are warned of “a risk of a passing shower”. The cabinet on an awayday, perhaps?
Paul Teal
Exeter

• Join the conversation – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com

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