Missed opportunities

Jack Rear arranges to spend a night in an allegedly haunted room [ FT414:19]. During the night, something inexplicable happens. Does he investigate it? No, he hides in his bed doing his best to ignore it. Why was he there if he didn’t want to find out more about it? Initial reserve I can understand, but I don’t think I could have restrained myself from looking into it. Indeed, that would be the only reason I would be there in the first place!

And then there’s Janette Fulton’s letter [ FT414:70]. On the first manifestation of blue goo, I might well have passed it by with a quizzical glance, but when it returned, my natural curiosity would have impelled me to gather some of it up. Perhaps not touch it with bare hands, but collect it in some way, surely? In your own back garden there would have been any number of suitable receptacles scant seconds away.

No offence intended to either of these people, just bemusement.

Chris Dean

By email

Responding to Ms Fulton’s “blue goo” observation: it seems likely that this substance is plant gel used in place of soil. It will expand after the rain. There are many commercial items that use silica or polymer gels as desiccants, product bases, or growing media; I suggest manufactured ‘goo’ should be considered an explanation by default these days. Sharon Hill

By email

I think that the ‘blue goo’ was mucus left by slugs. I have occasionally found similar slime (though not blue) on soil in our garden after a damp night when slugs are most active.

Henry Chester

Feltham, London