My grand-daughter is 13 years old and size 16, so needs to go to a gym.
She got as far as going for an induction but was told she was too young.
The reason for the age bar was given that her bones hadn’t formed yet.
Everyone goes on about obese children, but there are no gym facilities for them.
My grand-daughter needs help now. — Anxious Gran.
Potholes will damage cars
I wrote last year about potholes in Whitfield Loan. They are just as bad again.
There are two which are going to seriously damage cars if not seen to.
One is directly outside Longhaugh Police Station and the other is at the bottom of Longhaugh Road, going towards Iceland.
Also Pitkerro Road has many potholes. — Mrs J. Boyle, Whitfield Rise, Dundee.
UFO sighting
I reply to S. G. regarding his UFO sighting. On Sunday, February 3, I arrived at my house just outside Kirriemuir. It was dark and I could see two bright, white/orange lights in the sky, just hovering over the Sidlaw Hills.
These lights stayed for around 25 minutes, and then disappeared high into the sky.
I have seen similar lights and different objects in the sky both during the day but mostly at nights.
It is very scary. I do believe that UFOs and other species of life exist. — Keep An Eye Out.
Right to evict
Why do landlords not have rights to evict people who don’t pay their rent or break their contract agreement?
My brother rented out his one-bedroom flat in Clepington Road, Dundee, as he was moving to Newcastle to work.
Since December the people who are renting the flat haven’t paid a penny and now owe over £900.
He’s gone to a solicitor, who has started eviction, but may take up to two months while my brother is more out of pocket and paying for two homes.
He has now found out the people in his flat have run up over £500 worth of debt in his name.
He contacted the police, who say they can’t do anything until the firm concerned complained.
My brother has never committed a crime in his life and these people are getting to walk all over him. — Concerned Sister.
Deserve a break
I reply to Old Git who wrote about young mums who have babies they can’t afford. Please think about those of us who do work and pay our taxes. I work hard and deserve a break from people who look down their noses at me. — Young Mum.
Silence triggers nerves
I would have thought having a TV or radio on in a hospital waiting area would help create a calm atmosphere.
Sitting in silence only triggers the nerves. Becoming engrossed in what was a trashy programme helped me when I was a day patient for a minor op.
It took it out my mind and removed me from the hospital environment. — S. P.
Eases tension
TV and music in hospital outpatients’ departments can help to take your mind off a worrying appointment and ease tension. — B. C., Monifieth.
Stop this handout
IT makes me livid to read about cutbacks by the Government and the money the unemployed are expected to live on. I agree there are many people who do not wish to work but goodness knows how they live off between £56 and £87 a week.
Paying for simple things like insurance for yourself and the house, phone bill, electricity, gas, and shopping must be impossible.
I work almost full time and find it hard to survive by paying only for essentials.
I also have full rent to pay and a discounted Council Tax.
People on Disability Living Allowance, who are in full time work, earning the same as the rest of us, are allowed extra benefits. The three different categories are a complete scam. If they are in a low-paid job their DLA money is not counted as income.
There must be many many £millions to be saved by stopping this handout. If someone is capable of going to work why should they get extra money?
I agree that DLA should be paid to those willing to work but cannot through their disability or illness. — Realistic.
Making life or death decisions
I reply to Postman Plod, who criticised firefighters. I am the wife of a firefighter and to say they are always moaning and have an easy life is a joke.
The wage they get may sound good, but it certainly isn’t what they come home with as there is a compulsory 11% deduction for their pension plus the usual tax and National Insurance.
There really isn’t a lot left to go round.
Surely Postman Plod doesn’t grudge these men and women sleep. Should his home be at risk would he want a team of tired firefighters making life or death decisions?
During the days, when not at incidents, the men are continuously being trained or carrying out fire safety work — not sitting around.
As to having more than one job — why not?
If they want a better life for their families, who are you to stop them?
Perhaps it would be fairer to pass comments on to those who don’t wish to work and live off benefits. — Tired Of Moaners.
Safety checks
I reply to letter writer Postman Plod. Firefighters do not sleep all night as they have safety checks if they are not out on calls.
Firefighters pay for their pension and into their benevolent fund for those who have lost their lives.
The salary Postman Plod quoted is an average and takes into account the top brass’s wages. — Fireman’s Mum.
No record of letter
What is Royal Mail playing at? We posted a recorded letter (1st class) on December 15 to our son in Aberdeen and it still has not arrived.
I contacted Royal Mail to be told they have no record of this letter, so I assume it is lost.
I asked what I had paid the extra money for and was told to have it signed for and there was no guarantee of delivery.
Our mail service is horrendous with deliveries sometimes at 3pm and later.
There is certainly nothing royal about this service. — Rip Off.
On the beat
I was leaving my home in Paton’s Lane, Dundee, on the evening of February 6 when I was stunned by what I saw.
I returned home to rummage through old photos and newspaper clippings, plus phoning family and friends to see if any light could be shed on the mystery.
Through the Internet I got the answer. It was two bobbies on the beat.
I remember seeing something like this in my childhood and thought they were now extinct. — Neil.
Scottish notes
I am appalled at plans that could lead to the scrapping of Scottish bank notes.
Folk in England are under no obligation to accept Scots notes, but we should retain them. — Dryburgh Reader.
Safety panel
Whitfield Community Safety Panel meets on Tuesday, February 12, at 6.30pm in the community centre. Guest speaker will be MP Stuart Hosie. Anyone living in Whitfield is invited. — Bob Greig MBE, Chairman.
THE ADDRESS for readers’ letters is - Readers’ Page, Evening Telegraph, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. They can also be placed in our post box at our offices in Albert Square, Dundee, emailed to us on letters@eveningtelegraph.co.uk or faxed on 01382 454590. We ask correspondents using a nom-de-plume or sending by e-mail to provide a name and address for reference purposes. The editor reserves the right to reject or edit any letter. Please keep letters as short as possible.*
