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■ I’ve just read your piece in today’s Mirror (Dec 22) concerning The Dark Lord and her sneaky use of your credit card to snaffle some dice. Made me laugh.
I think you should keep a very close eye on her if she’s getting into Dungeons and Dragons. One set of dice is not enough. And don’t even let her know about UKGE at the NEC in May. You’ll be bankrupt in a few hours!
Rob Harris, from my little patch of green between the Rivers Severn and Wye
Ed: It’s too late, Rob. She’s already on her fifth set of dice and saving for the show (i.e. pestering me for cash). Send help!
■ As I am reading your excellent column, it struck me to ask, when did your daughter turn into The Dark Lord? Was it gradual or did she get up one morning and think, “I’m going to be a Goth”?
Colin Whitaker, Bradford
Ed: I’ve checked the archives, Colin, and the first mention of her Dark Lord phase was Friday, June 5, 2020, which is when she went to bed a happy-go-lucky tweenager, and woke up a spotty, smelly, grunting teenager. She’s been in a bad mood now for three-and-a-half years, but there are early signs that her prefrontal cortex is developing a conscience, however small.
■ Your battle with the bins made me laugh (January 4). However, I would like to point out that although my council doesn’t recycle plant-based milk and fruit juice cartons, I have a good friend who lives near me just over the border where they do!
Valerie Baker, Beccles, Suffolk
■ I was impressed by your community spirit over the blown-away bins. If my wife and I are driving along and I see one lying on its side I’ll say to her, “Don’t look, there’s a dead bin”. And I always go and pick them up if they’re down on my street.
I was also the first person to put our green bin out according to the council’s Christmas schedule. As the day wore on and no more bins appeared, I began to think I had got the wrong date. Then, slowly more bins appeared. What a relief!
Mike White, Hastings, East Sussex
Ed: I was the first on my close too, Mike, but wrongly put out the black bin. Nobody pays any attention to me, so mine was the only recycling bin that didn’t get collected this week. I’m now destined to live with my cardboard mountain for eternity.