I was born on 27 October 1962, the same day that the US air force pilot Rudolf Anderson Jr was shot down over Cuba, becoming the only person killed by enemy fire during the Cuban missile crisis. My dad used to joke that I was lucky to be born at all. I’ll be 60 in a couple of weeks – if I make it that far. Somewhere in the firmament, Dad is yet again tossing a coin.
Mike Galvin
Winchcombe, Gloucestershire
• As a new teacher in the 1960s, while preparing my students for exams, I asked: “Is there anything else you’d like me to go over?” “Yes, Miss – the edge of a cliff,” came the reply from a girl at the back. Sorry dear, but I’m still alive at 85 (Letters, 9 October).
Celia Weber
Earley, Berkshire
• How is it even possible for Liz Truss to have spent £454,000 on a trip to Australia and £229,000 on a trip to Washington DC (Report, 9 October)? Are there rogue noughts in those figures?
Katherine Hind
Stocksfield, Northumberland
• Kwasi Kwarteng is to outline his fiscal plan on 31 October (Report, 10 October). Is Halloween a good day to bury bad news?
Jude Carr
London
• I’m not sure whether you can grow a pie (Letters, 9 October), but you can certainly weigh one, somewhere over the rainbow.
Catherine Graham
Manchester
• If Nostradamus predicted the end of the world in 1999, why would he bother with predictions for 2022-23 (G2, 10 October)?
Tony Coghan
London
