Sir, – I can empathise with your correspondent Tom Farrell (August 4th). Back in 2001, I found myself a first-time father-in-waiting at the tender age of 42.
I asked my brother-in-law if he thought I was too old. “Not at all,” he replied, adding helpfully: “All kids think their parents are ancient, but in your case they’ll be right!” – Yours, etc,
KIERAN McHUGH,
Woodcliff,
Howth,
Dublin 13
Sir, – If Tom Farrell frustrates his granddaughter’s prediction and survives another 10 or 15 years, I’d advise him to avoid showing her that letter of his that you published on August 4th. She would be apt to be witheringly condescending about the glossarial foot in mouth whereby he dared to use the word ‘”girl” instead of “woman”.
Permit me to “mansplain”: the word he wants in this instance is “womansplaining”, best abbreviated to “womplaining” to reflect the grumble and grouse with which the explication is frequently pickled. – Yours , etc,
FRANK FARRELL ,
Lakelands Close,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin