In response to a recent Guardian article on UK climate extremes, reader Liz Haggart from Bearsted, Kent, recalls a rhyme from her schooldays in the late 1960s that helped convert Fahrenheit to Celsius: “Five, 10 and 21 – winter, spring and summer sun,” denoting average temperatures. She suggests an updated version for the 2020s: “10, 15, 28 – reduce emissions before too late.”
School shade inequality debated
Peter West of London challenges the metric used in a study showing private schools in England have 41% more tree shade than state schools. He argues that if a state school sells an open playing field, the proportion of tree cover could increase, making it a poor indicator. Instead, he suggests focusing on the extent of air-conditioned classrooms as a more relevant measure of inequality.
Italian idioms and language learning
Reader Les Bonney, aged 88, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, writes in response to Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett’s article on language learning slowing brain ageing. He shares his enjoyment of learning Italian idioms, noting that the equivalent of “it’s another kettle of fish” is “e un altro paio di maniche” (“it’s another pair of sleeves”).
Word Wheel portent for Crystal Palace fan
John Bryant of Topsham, Exeter, a Crystal Palace fan, expresses concern after finding the words “eagle” and “relegated” in the Guardian’s Word Wheel puzzle, wondering if it is a worrying portent for the football club.
Covid failings remembered
Leila Roberts of Mickley, North Yorkshire, calls for the letter from Laura Matthew, a frontline worker angry over the Tories’ handling of Covid, to be “engraved in stone and made a national monument.”
