Storm Bert | Joy of old diaries | Slavery museums | Salt usage
Perhaps if Storm Bert had been called Kraken or something suitably threatening, the meteorologically illiterate might have taken the warnings seriously (Forecasters and flood defences under scrutiny after UK’s Storm Bert ordeal, 25 November). If we must personalise cyclonic weather events rather than giving them semantically unladen numerical references such as 2024-30, for example, let’s at least choose names that reflect their destructive power. Bert sounds like a jovial uncle, which is probably why the warnings were ignored.
Michael Heaton
Warminster, Wiltshire
• I admire Nell Frizzell’s zeal for throwing things away (Still hanging on to your old diaries and teenage photos? Chuck them out – and start to live, 24 November), but may I offer a word of caution to readers who are inspired to follow her? I’m in my mid-70s and I’ve kept a diary for over 50 years. Now that my memory isn’t what it used to be, these diaries provide refreshing entertainment.
Sam White
Lewes, East Sussex