CURIOUS to get a taste of the Countess of Dumbarton’s guest editorship of Vogue, I picked up the September edition in Tesco. Leafing through it was a bit like wandering through Duty Free at an international airport. The Countess in her editorial more or less apologises for all the ads. Comes with the territory, says HRH. The mag features 15 powerful and influential women; there’s a spot for a 16th but it is empty – presumably the Countess being modest. Actually, if you look at the empty silver rectangle you see a reflection of yourself so maybe this serves as a challenge and a dare.

I have to confess I only recognised three of the women represented – Greta Thunberg, Jacinda Ardern, and Jane Fonda. It’s worthwhile checking out “Cover Looks” on page 51.

First row, from left: Adut Akech wears jacket, £1,950. Poloneck, £890. Trousers, £650. All Celine by Hedi Slimane.

Gemma Chan wears tuxedo shirt, £1,700, Ralph Lauren collection.

Greta Thunberg wears T-shirt, and hoodie, her own.

Actually, that is really all you need to know.

Dr Hamish Maclaren, Stirling.

Speech therapy

THE distinctive and traditional "wh" and "ch" sounds are fast disappearing from the Scottish language.

Whisky is now wisky, white is now wite, whale is now wale, to give a few examples.

On last night's STV news (August 18), the reporter spoke of Lock Awe. Here in Stirling the area known as the Raploch is now the Raplock. Here's a plea to broadcasters and reporters: save our traditional speech.

Agnes M Cowan, Stirling.

THANKS to R Russell Smith's expertise in lingo frae ither airts (Letters, August 17), I now understand what a golfing colleague meant when in younger days I would be told that one of my drives was in the boondocks. Nowadays, I don't hit it far enough to reach those dreaded areas.

David Miller, Milngavie.