As mum is a single parent she can not afford to send me so I went out and got a job.

If Interested Granny grudges paying, she should stop getting her papers delivered and go out in all weathers to collect them.

We do not expect tips. These are goodwill gestures. — 14-Year-Old Paper Girl.

I RESPOND to the letter from Interested Granny about tipping newspaper deliverers — a letter of which Mr E. Scrooge would be proud.

Of course the customer pays the wages and of course the child does the job for a bit of pocket money, but can Interested Granny not find it in her heart to give a bairn an extra ten bob or so at Christmas and maybe the summer holidays?

I remember delivering papers as a boy, getting up at 6am in all weathers for virtually 365 days of the year.

A wee bit extra from a grateful customer was (and I assume still is) greatly appreciated and tipping has to be earned by good service.

In the mid-70s I was paid £2.20 per week for approximately 75 Teles and Couriers plus English papers and magazines and double that on a Sunday.

Of the 10p delivery charge paid by the customer then, the paperboy received 2p. — Paperlate.

I REPLY to Interested Granny who seems to begrudge giving paper boys and girls a tip.

I agree parents do not force them to do this, but instead of complaining she should be grateful for these te enagers who get up at 6am in all weathers.

I for one certainly appreciate this service and don’t mind paying the minimal amount I am charged. I also give a tip each week with an extra bonus at holidays and Christmas time.

I say thank you to all the boys and girls who have the gumption to do this thankless (in some eyes at least) job.

I’m sure Interested Granny is in the minority. — Grateful Granny.

I READ the letter from the lady who doesn’t tip her paperboy or girl. I find this sad.

The letter writer also complains about the delivery charge made by her shop. The shop has to charge to make a profit.

These boys and girls deserve tips. I certainly couldn’t do without them. — Granny Grateful.

The city should be proud of this first-class facility.

It told me more about the lives and work of ordinary folk than most of the museums I have visited all over the country.

My friends told me that the works had been under threat of closure. If this was to happen, and the materials there dispersed, it would be loss folk would come to rue.

When I extolled the virtues of the works to people I met while up in Dundee many agreed, but then admitted they had not got around to visiting themselves.

I urge all those who have not been to get along to Verdant Works. You won’t regret it. — English Visitor.

However, as your correspondent rightly pointed out, some of these new vehicles are being used for anything but transporting the disabled. Each of these new converted vans (because that is their original purpose) is welcome if used to remove Dundee from the bottom of the league of shame as to the availability of DAVs.

Because of their construction it is easy for the driver to leave his seats in and absolve himself from the responsibility — some might say his duty — to provide a service for all our citizens including a sizeable disabled minority. Not only did Wanta Taxi highlight the problem but also provided the solution by stating the London-style taxi (TX11) is not only purpose-built but is the only vehicle that is non-discriminatory.

The consultation process instigated by the city council is not over and Wanta Taxi may not have to wait for legislation in October. — David Young, Dundee Taxi Cab Co.

What he or she is probably seeing are aircraft on their approach over the Pentland Hills towards Edinburgh Airport. The lights then disappear when they make a left turn over the Forth Estuary on their final approach for landing. — Not Really An Anorak.

THE MYSTERY lights over Fife are the landing lights of aircraft which fly up the coast to Edinburgh Airport. They seem to hover for ages but disappear when the plane makes a left turn up the Forth on its final approach. — T. A. S., Dundee.

We received over 30 parcels which was more than we ever thought we would get.

Our tents and work places were transformed, and looked really festive. — Sergeant Jason Marshall.

This is not the first time we have had a Scottish Space School. This is the first time we have gone national. Last year we had four pupils from Dundee attend the first school along with pupils from Glasgow and Lanarkshire.

Also the astronaut we are talking to is not Mike Foley, but Mike Foale. He is of British descent.

These students will work hard at Space Center in Houston. We encourage pupils to become involved in the STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) field.

It won’t be all hard work. There will be fun times like a BBQ at Dundee’s own astronaut Bonnie Dunbar’s house where the kids will have senior NASA personnel flipping burgers for them. — John J. Smith, Co-Ordinator Scottish Space School, USA.