Sir, - Every time I see a new Eircom van I want to scream. The bright orange and blue phone boxes make me want to spit. Billboards that say "hello" and offers for new, more and better services make me want to have an old-fashioned temper tantrum. And don't get me started on what happens when I read another story about all the millions the company made in its flotation this summer.
The reason for all this irrational behaviour? I have had one, single, domestic phone line on order since June, when the company was called Telecom Eireann. It never ceases to amaze me that I can live exactly 15 miles from the centre of Dublin city and I can't get a phone line. "We need to re-lay the phone lines in your area, and we have known this for months, but it's not our department, so, maybe next week".
I am not exaggerating; we are entering the fifth month of this kind of conversation. And so you'll excuse me if I break into a fit of laughter as I am offered the company's newest and best service, free Internet connection - which I would love to use, if only I had a phone line. - Yours, etc.,
Molly Mitchell, Oldtown, Co Dublin.