I AM writing with reference to Karen Hoy's column 'Straight Talking' featured in the Midweek on August 11, plus the previous week's columns.

First of all, "Only the idle can afford a suntan". I do not consider myself as a dolly bird with no brain, unemployed or unemployable, common or a student. As a middle-aged lady who enjoys working in my garden, why shouldn't I make the most of the nice weather to get a healthy glow? After all, winter is certainly longer than summer.

If Ms Hoy is embarrassed to show her "spaghetti hanging down from her shorts", then I suggest she takes a holiday (a VERY long one).

I also object to my grandson being referred to as a BRAT who gets in her way whilst shopping with his parents, as featured in a previous column. I presume that Ms Hoy has no family of her own, so therefore does not understand that family time together is precious. After all, it is the 1990s, or does she expect the supermarket all to herself? If so, some stores are open until midnight, so she could quite happily shop alone.

If Ms Hoy is embarrassed to be living in High Wycombe, I suggest she moves on as she seems to be living in a world of her own anyway.

Mrs J Darvill

Mead Park

Holmer Green

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.