At my father’s funeral (Ted Ellis, a former Guardian country diarist), we had some sturdy nettles mixed with the flowers on the altar. They also appear as a cure-all in an old family herbal. So I happily endorse Claire Ratinon’s recommendation to leave a patch in your garden (Don’t rush to rip out your nettles – here’s three ways to put them to good use, 28 March). My mother also swore by a few stings to prevent joint pain. She lived to 90.
Mary Stiff
Westwood, Broadclyst, Exeter
• I love reading Grace Dent’s reviews, but could she mention how noisy a restaurant is? My friends and I are getting older, and find that more and more restaurants are noisy: hard surfaces, music, tables too close together. It can transform the food and the experience.
Alicia Baker
Highgate, London
• The Playfair code (Zoe Williams, 31 March) is still in use among the more arcane crossword community. Azed in the Observer used one in the last few months. There is a very good explanation of how to solve them in Dorothy L Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey book Have His Carcase.
Meic Goodyear
Lewes, East Sussex
• Given recent events in the US, I am wondering if I’ve misheard the name of the hub at the heart of the White House. Is it actually the Evil Office?
Neil Thomas
Colchester
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