Madam, - I do not recall any letters about the first cuckoo this year. However, on August 7th 2008, I received in the post a card from the Marriott Hotel and Spa in Galway wishing me a very Happy Christmas and advertising pre-Christmas breaks and Christmas parties.
I suppose we can be grateful that they did not try to beat the cuckoo. - Yours, etc,
TOM GREALY, Threadneedle Road, Galway.