Wordy Unwise

IN THE 1980s, when IrA terrorism was at its height, my husband John went shopping at the local DIY store. After checking the shelves without finding what he wanted, he approached the manager and asked: ‘I’m looking for Semtex — do you stock it?’ Cautiously, the manager asked why he needed Semtex. ‘I need it to smarten up my garage walls,’ said John. The manager suggested Sandtex might do a better job. John agreed and left the store with the right product, leaving behind a very relieved manager.

Kate Manning, Wittersham, Kent.