As a local dialect, with its own particular verbal idiosyncrasies, it has been constantly evolving over the decades.

Dundonian ex-pats, for instance, sometimes have difficulty understanding contemporary Dundonesian if they have been away for a long time. The Dundonesian of today isn’t the Dundonesian of the 50s.

Dundonians, I find, tend to be bilingual. They can converse in Dundonesian when surrounded by their local peer group and instantly switch to “proper” English as circumstances dictate.

The same happens elsewhere where local dialects of Scots/English exist.

There’s nothing wrong with a local dialect. I think we have more to fear from the “Americanisation” of our dialect through youngsters being overexposed to transatlantic culture via TV than Dundonians forgetting how to “talk proper”. Ken? — Doon the Toon.

Now the trouble has moved and cars are parked nose-to-tail all day along Dickson Avenue.

I live in Dochart Terrace and trying to turn out of this street is an accident waiting to happen due to parked cars making the corner a blind spot.

Something has to be done before there is a serious accident. — Menzieshill Resident.

But I would point out certain disadvantages to having one in Dundee.

Two offices refused me a radio because I have a black cab, their reason being that as I am the only one it wouldn’t be fair to me or the waiting fare if I was hiked from one end of town to the other to pick up.

It is also harder to get drivers as most prefer the saloons. I take exception to Prometro when he says £30,000 a year can be earned. This is wishful thinking.

But I would urge anyone thinking of putting a black cab on the road to do so as a good second hand one will still last longer than most saloons. — George Aimer, Kinghorne Road, Dundee.

After asking the assistant if she could afford to pay that amount every three years I was told, “Yes, every year”. I feel I have been unfairly treated.

I have written to a consumer champion who reported on a person who had experienced similar problems with the same chain and received compensation. — Miss I. Young, St Ronans Avenue, Dundee.

Now, because everything is out of control, they are crawling to the UN for an international force, under US command, to be sent to Iraq. I say bring our lads home before any more are killed and leave it to the Americans to sort it out. The situation is becoming another Korea or Vietnam. — A. O. Young, Craigowan Road, Dundee.

What must happen before Mr Blair and his chancellor Mr Brown see the light?

In 1997 Tony Blair pledged to listen to and consult. Now is the time to react to the people. — William W. McCormack, Symers Street, Dundee.

I am available to help in situations like this. I can be contacted at my council office on (01382) 433914 and I also hold surgeries on Friday at 6 pm in Menzieshill Community Centre and, also, the first Monday of each month at 1 pm in Clyde Place Sheltered Housing (no appointment necessary).

If Still Waiting would like to contact me I would be more than willing to help. — Nigel Don, Councillor for Ninewells, Dundee City Council.

That is the last time I heard of her. — R. E., Dundee.

[Anne is more or less retired from TV now but still makes the odd appearance.

She first appeared on television in January, 1969, as a hostess on the Golden Shot when the programme was live and in black and white. She then featured in every programme, with presenters Bob Monkhouse, Norman Vaughn, Charlie Williams and finally Bob Monkhouse again.

Anne followed Golden Shot by presenting three series for children’s television and other programmes.

She has also appeared on stage with co-stars such as Trevor Bannister, Frances de la Tour, Brian Rix, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Francis Matthews, Colin Baker and Derren Nesbitt.

Anne played the title role in 15 major pantomimes playing opposite, among others, Russ Abbot, Wayne Sleep, Frankie Howerd, Terry Scott, Charlie Drake and Bernie Winters

Her only feature film as the female lead, shown regularly on TV, was “Up The Chastity Belt” with Frankie Howerd

Anne, who is married and lives in the New Forest, Hampshire, now runs her own extensive portfolio of commercial property investments.]

This is the only explanation I can come up with to explain the nonsense sent to the Tele letters page under the pseudonym Law Abider.

To describe nursing as “women’s work” is massively insulting to all nurses, irrespective of their gender.

In the past ten years I have been employed in all manner of jobs including such traditionally masculine work as shot blasting, construction and bar managing and I have never in any of these jobs broken more sweat than I have over the past two-and-a-half years while I have been a student nurse at Dundee University.

The astronomic number of nurses forced into retirement each year due to injuries such as back problems resulting from the manual handling of both patients and heavy equipment is testament to the physical labour nurses undertake on a daily basis.

Perhaps if Law Abider was engaged in such a physically and mentally demanding career he would be too exhausted at the end of a shift to write such ill-informed drivel. — Third-Year Student Nurse.

AS A male nurse of many years experience I am furious at Law Abider. How dare he insinuate that healthy young men are “driven” to do women’s work.

Nursing is a profession for both sexes, as is being a doctor. Would LA refuse treatment from a female doctor?

As for breaking sweat, we nurses break sweat every day we are on duty.

It also does not help being verbally and physically abused by our clients. I wouldn’t give this man 10 minutes in a general or psychiatric hospital. He would not be able to hack it.

Before nursing I worked for a tyre company and had to fill an articulated lorry with car, bus, lorry and earthmovers’ tyres by hand.

So I have broken sweat in both jobs. Law Abider should be ashamed of himself. — Steven Davidson, Enrolled Nurse, Liff Hospital.

I REPLY to Law Abider’s letter. If men choose this career, then they have every right to work as nurses. In fact, the profession’s roots lie within a male environment, as it was monks who used to care for the sick and dying, even before nursing became “women’s work”.

These men do a fantastic job and are generally well-received and respected amongst patients and colleagues alike.

The NHS already faces a recruitment crisis and if men are willing to join our ranks, then we are happy to have them.

As for their duty to get the economy back on track, then what about the thousands of men (and women) who choose not to work but to live on government benefits? (I appreciate there are people with valid reasons for being unable to work).

Nurses work hard for a meagre wage. We work long, unsociable hours and demanding shifts trying to balance ever-decreasing resources and often bearing the brunt (as the “public face of the NHS”) when things don’t always go as people would like.

We are often understaffed and overworked, and breaking a sweat is the least of our worries. — Tired Nurse, Dundee.

I WOULD defy Law Abider to work on any shift in hospital. Break sweat, he comments. I doubt if he knows the meaning of the phrase.

Is he on his feet 12 hours a day? Nurses frequently do without tea and lunch breaks because of staffing and patient requirements.

I doubt he has been in a hospital environment, otherwise he wouldn't make such stupid comments. — Nurse’s Partner.

DOES LAW Abider think in this day and age nursing is a job only for women? My wife has been unwell for almost three years, and the staff at Ward 22, Ninewells Hospital, have been superb.

This includes the male nurses and the senior charge nurse, Sean. The male and female staff do a great job. I was a paratrooper for ten years, and all our medics were male.

Hopefully Law Abider doesn’t fall ill in the near future as he may have to be treated by male nurses who don’t “break sweat” like the rest of us. — Ripcord.

LA has managed to insult nurses everywhere by insinuating their job is so easy that only women should do it.

Open your eyes, LA. This is the 21st century and people have the choice to live their lives as they want, not as others say they should. — Lesley Ingram, Stirling Street, Dundee.

I FEEL very angry at Law Abider’s attitude concerning male nurses. Is there something wrong with young men who feel drawn to serve the community in this way?

As far as this country needing them to get the economy back on track, where are they going to find these jobs?

The unemployment rate seems to be growing day by day. Where are the plentiful women to do the job when wards and hospitals are closing all over the country?

Every ward is understaffed and every nurse, male and female is overworked. Nursing is a calling, and very few people have either the will or the patience to answer.

So, rather than these angels thinking again, I suggest you think again and be grateful these young men are prepared to give their skill and patience to serve all who need them. — Angry Nurse.