I enjoyed Zoe Williams’ description of her train journey to Liverpool (Yes, Britain’s railways are a mess. But is anyone sober enough to care?, 13 October). Could I recommend any local train heading into Leeds on a Saturday morning, where you’ll see people getting on dressed as superheroes, Roman emperors and gladiators, Smurfs and Oompa-Loompas on their way to the (in)famous Otley Run, a fancy-dress pub crawl, drinking and singing to warm up.
Katharine Jackson
Birmingham
• After reading Jeanette Hamilton’s letter (Count your blessings for a cheery long life, 15 October), I reread the 2025 and 2026 entries in my Sparks of Joy calendar – a daily record written every evening stating, in no more than five words, something that made me feel happy that day. The entry for 1 January this year states: “Both still here.”
Vivienne Seakins (80 years young)
Rugby, Warwickshire
• It may have been a correct use of words, but it was startling to read in your report (13 October) that “the BBC and Trump’s legal team had agreed for him to be deposed on Friday”. Much as this might be wished, I fear it will not happen.
Dr John Davies
Lancaster
• “Nick Clegg and a cohort of able Liberal Democrat MPs were directly (and largely successfully) engaged in government” (Letters, 14 October). It’s not often I’m found on the carpet laughing fit to bust.
Peter Brooker
West Wickham, London
• You report (17 October) that large pumpkins are in short supply after this year’s drought. Time to return to the real thing: lanterns made from turnips.
Gerard Hastings
Céret, France
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