Another much-used weather word in Scotland is “dreich” (Weatherwatch: UK needs fludders and drookit to describe changing climate, Guardian, 29 September). From Norse, it means dreary or bleak. And from treeless Shetland in particular, very open to weather, we have “flanning” for gusting wind, “haar” for thick sea fog, “ask” for a haze or mist, “smirr” for the fine rain that completely soaks you, and many more. But dinna fash yersel, because “today’s rain is tomorrow’s whisky”.
Copland Smith
Manchester
• Families should have more children so that they can take on caring for elderly parents, says Robert Jenrick (Report, 2 October). But if they do, they will be denied any child benefit. A fresh example of joined-up government.
Kevin McGrath
Harlow, Essex
• If one had to coin a definition of this year’s Conservative party conference, it would surely be “a business of ferrets fighting in a sack” (“business” being the collective term for ferrets).
Paul F Faupel
Somersham, Cambridgeshire
• I sympathise with Brian Ayers on the lack of foreign films on terrestrial television (Letters, 1 October). I have bitten the bullet and subscribed to the British Film Institute streaming site. Despite its title, it has a magnificent selection of international cinema, from the 1930s to date.
Tom Stubbs
Surbiton, London
• The question of whether a man or a woman should voice a podcast (Letters, 1 October) reminds me of the Moscow metro. On the journey into the centre, announcements are made by a businesslike male voice; on the ride homewards, a more homely female voice is used.
David Jones
Spalding, Lincolnshire
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