NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTE: Does Sue Denham (Comment, last week) not realise that Irish people prefer to listen to tuneful music performed reasonably well by the likes of Westlife rather than the pretentious drivel churned out by the likes of U2? — Arthur McFarland, Londonderry.

WARNING SHOT: Brenda Power assesses the proposed legislation to permit householders to “shoot to kill” when faced by an intruder (Comment, last week). If it is legally necessary for the owner of a dangerous dog to post a sign warning “Beware of the dog”, then “Beware of guns” should also be de rigueur. — Walter Allwright, Pembroke Park, Dublin 4.

AWARENESS: The problems facing the B&B sector are the direct result of the policies of Bord Failte and Failte Ireland, and the tax breaks and cash grants they and successive governments have given to the hotel sector (News, last week). It would be of much greater benefit to the sector if Shaun Quinn marketed the sector. No classification will make any difference. The public must be made aware of the product. — John Kinsella, New Ross, Co Wexford.

SOLDIER GIRLS: I see doubts are expressed about the ability of Gurkha girls to complete the 77lb uphill basket carrying during recruitment (World News, last week). When the test for male recruits was introduced, I was the recruiting officer at Pokhara in central Nepal. It was intended to favour the hardy hillman at the expense of the softer townsman. I was struggling up the proposed course, a steep mountain track, with the weight on my back when I saw a woman trotting down with a hundredweight bag of cement in the basket on her back, held in place by a headband. That sealed the test for me. Women in Nepal are as tough as the men, and that means very tough indeed. — Rory Stewart, San Luis, Minorca.

PAS DE SPAM: I have two e-mail addresses with two servers — one in the UK and the other in France (News, November 19). I pay about the same fee for both, receiving identical service, but with one difference. On my UK address I receive spam and “phishing” letters daily; in France I do not receive any unsolicited mail. Why? — Gail Duncan, Horsham, West Sussex.

VANISHING PAPA: I was among a posse of guests at Helena Frith Powell’s wedding held in the remote village of Hedemora in Sweden (Books, November 19). On arrival we were horrified to learn that her egocentric father, who had been delayed in collection from the station, announced “No one keeps me waiting” and caught a train straight back to Rome. To universal admiration the bride-to-be maintained her composure, though she was faced not only with the dilemma of who should walk her up the aisle but who should do the reading intended for her father. Her dotty but wonderful mother was chosen to give her away and I was present during the following exchange between Helena and her rather stylish Italian aunt: “As my father has left, do you think you could do the reading from Dante?” To which the aunt replied: “But darling, I don’t know if my hat will go with Dante.” — Sue, Lady Kilbracken, Carrigallen, Co Leitrim.

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