Killjoy Boris

Because from Day One of the coronavirus pandemic I have ticked almost every box of the “shielding” requirements, apart from scheduled monthly visits to the doctor’s surgery, I have only been able to leave my house for short walks for exercise purposes – weather permitting. My wife and I were even obliged to cancel our planned annual trip to visit our daughter on Majorca.

So last Saturday, taking advantage of the recent easing of restrictions, we joined the rest of the family at our local farm shop and eatery for a celebratory blow-out! Not exactly in line with our leader Boris Johnson’s exhortations about diet and, even though I actually agree with him, his timing could have been a lot better.

Yes, we should be more careful about our diets. Despite all the medical advice we are becoming a nation of overweighters and there are associated (competing) pandemics of diabetes and heart disease which, allegedly, are partially the result of our love affair with fast-food carry-outs.

However, the saying that “a little of what you fancy does you good” is also currently relevant. Although it’s probably premature to follow Churchill’s immediate post-war ruling that “we may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing,” the public has endured a lot during the past six months and Boris’s timing could have been better.

Please, Boris, don’t be such a killjoy!

ROBIN WHIKE Craigmount Park, Edinburgh

for Princess Diana, it became a death sentence when she tried to escape from the photographers pursuing her like a pack of hungry wolves.

The public have a tendency to abide by the expression Cherchez la femme because this attitude is prevalent in any scandal involving a woman.

Prince Harry found happiness with Meghan, but he’s paying for it by having to relive the intense scrutiny and hounding of his mother, now concentrated on his wife. All the wealth and privilege of royal status are not enough to heal the old wounds of a bereaved son.

CAROLYN TAYLOR Broughty Ferry, Dundee