York’s Shambles was worse in the old potty-emptying days!

AS a fellow ‘Yorkie’ born and bred, I agree with Mary Morton’s verdict on Shambles in her letter ‘Pun created a stir’, The Press page 20, April 8.

However, at least one improvement can be cited; the ‘potty-emptying’ practice from upper storeys (accompanied by the warning cry, ‘Garde a l’eau!’, which became ‘Gardyloo’), has thankfully ceased.

When I worked at Pickerings bookshop in the street there were a few occasions when watering our hanging baskets we’d splash the occasional passer-by but not like in the ‘good old days’.

Derek Reed,

Middlethorpe Drive,

York

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I had to chuckle

IT’S not often war provides a chuckle, but Tony Fisher stating as a fact that Trump has been lying about the progress of negotiations with Iran the very day a temporary deal is officially struck, did provide me with one.

To wrongly conclude no deal was being worked on, I can only assume he had his ear pressed against the wrong door in the Pentagon.

Dr Scott Marmion,

Woodthorpe,

York

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Great day out

IT was great to see the York Model Railway show over the Easter Weekend at the Knavesmire.

What I liked about it was not only did you have exhibitors from Yorkshire but form the rest of the country as well.

There seems to be a great interest in model railways that you thought that somewhere like the National Railway Museum would after the revamp be able to stage a similar event.

Timothy Wynn Werninck,

Dodgson Terrace,

Acomb,

York

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In praise of the ferret

IT’S nice to read a good news story in the paper – the reuniting of the ferret with its owner.

Ferrets are lovely; very inquisitive and full of mischief, although they sleep between 14 to 18 hours a day – so a bit of a specialised pet.

They are best kept in pairs and relatively easily hand trained and toilet trained to use a litter tray.

My uncle Fred used to keep them for a while for rabbiting until Myxomatosis (a contagious viral disease effecting rabbits) put paid to that.

Fed on cat food, they also liked bread soaked in milk and fresh raw meat and the occasional dead mouse or bird.

Ferrets are a very interesting and unusual pet.

D M Deamer,

Penleys Grove Street,

Monkgate,

York

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