I AM grateful to our hard-pressed postal delivery staff in these present times, but why are they still "lumbered" with what I term "bumff" advertising matter? Today I have had an example from a well-known house furnishing business concerning their spring sales. In the past week there have been fliers from pizza establishments and such like.

Allied to this our wheelie bins containing matter for recycling are discontinued, adding to an increasing amount of paper to be gathered together to await a return to normal service as and when.

John Macnab, Falkirk.

On your bike

QUESTION 3 in today’s Sports Quiz (The Herald, April 2) asks: “Which country won the track cycling team sprint gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics?” and provides the answer as “Great Britain”.

May I remind your compiler, that Germany won the women’s event, so either the question is misleading, the answer is only half right, or the compiler has entirely dismissed or overlooked the fact that women also compete in sports.

Helen Swann, Glasgow G12.

Rings a Bell

WILLIE Towers's letter (April 1) about the annual match between Orkney and Shetland brought back memories. I have a gold medal given to my father when he refereed this match in 1936. His name was Willie Bell. And he also refereed the Wembley Wizards in 1928. I remembered him going to Orkney and Shetland; I was born in 1928.

Happy memories. Thank you, Mr Towers.

Jean Macdonald, Bothwell.

Spirits uplifted

AS a previous writer of Letters to The Herald, I thought until now in remission, my habit nowadays is to look for cheering letters such as those from R Russell Smith and A B Crawford (April 2). All is by no means lost if we can maintain our sense of humour and share it widely. Thank you to both.

We need all the uplift we can get. For instance, I agree entirely with Alison Rowat’s review of One Night in the Museum ("It’s a fun night in the museum … even if there are no unicorns", The Herald, April 2): “Never mind the Hollywood movie and its multi-million dollar special effects. These youngsters, smart as carrots, naturally funny, each a jumping bean of enthusiasm, were better value any day.” I rejoiced, as obviously did the watching curators, in the kids’ excitement, joy, imagination and intelligence.

John Milne, Uddingston.

Lesson learned

HAVING never in my life heard of Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, I did a double take when I saw his obituary (The Herald, April 2). Had this appeared one day earlier I would have thought it was an April Fool but it just goes to show, you learn something new every day.

Janice Taylor, Carluke.

Nana? Nah

DEEDEE Cuddihy (Letters, April 1) need not worry about Scottish culture being eroded by such as the use of "nana" instead of "granny". When it comes to the tradition of singing about the proper behaviour which governs any thought of shoving such an elderly relative off a bus, "nana" does not come close enough as an intended rhyme for "mammy's mammy".

Jim Sheehan, Bridge of Allan.