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I’ve got a tip for a cheap Christmas

(Nov 21). I do what my Chinese wife does – nothing at all! We don’t do anything at Christmas. In fact, she doesn’t celebrate anything – no anniversaries, birthdays etc and she says we save lots of money.

Colin Whitaker, Bradford

Ed: The raging anti-capitalist who rails against consumerism in me agrees with you, Colin. But I also think we’d all be a lot poorer if we didn’t celebrate the special moments in our family and friends’ lives.

I’m writing about the US pen pals article (Nov 23). I am 81 and remember when I was in junior school in 1950, and our whole class was asked to write to a pen pal in America.

I was given a girl called Linda Adler in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and we wrote to each for a few years, until it just dwindled.

But after 70 years, I still remember her name and address. And I often wonder if she is still with us, and if so, if her family still lives at that address.

It’s funny how I can still remember it after all these years.

Patricia Smith, West Kingsdown, Kent

Ed: You could always write Linda a last letter, for old time’s sake. You never know, Patricia, it might even reach one of her family in the Christmas post.