Beware falling rods

SIR – Cats and dogs are not necessary for heavy rain (Letters, September 11). I grew up in Lancashire, where it occasionally rained stair rods.

The French have two wonderfully descriptive phrases – Ça pleut des hallebardes (“It’s raining halberds” – a combined spear and battleaxe something like a pike) or my all-time favourite – Ça pleut comme vache qui pisse (no translation needed).

Martin Walker

Keighley, West Yorkshire

SIR – It wasn’t always sliced bread that was formerly the best (Letters, September 9). I was always led to believe that it was “tip-up seats”.

Alan Jennings

Altrincham, Cheshire

SIR – Who were we as happy as before Larry?

If it comes to that, who was Larry? Bev Beenham

Manchester