Letters: EU U-turn, loud music and loneliness, plus 1960s farm life

PICTURE FROM THE ARCHIVE: Dora Mayall slices a loaf of homemade bread at Lea Hall in Harmer Hill, captured in a photograph published on July 23, 1960. Married to local farmer Sam Mayall, Dora baked her own loaves using wheat grown right on their farm—a true picture of self-sufficiency and natural living long before it became a modern trend. Do you or your family bake your own bread using traditional methods, or does this slice of 1960s farm life bring back fond memories? | Shropshire Star archive

placeholder image — PICTURE FROM THE ARCHIVE: Dora Mayall slices a loaf of homemade bread at Lea Hall in Harmer Hill, captured in a photograph published on July 23, 1960. Married to local farmer Sam Mayall, Dora baked her own loaves using wheat grown right on their farm—a true picture of self-sufficiency and natural living long before it became a modern trend. Do you or your family bake your own bread using traditional methods, or does this slice of 1960s farm life bring back fond memories? | Shropshire Star archive

Readers debate closer ties to the EU, loud music on public transport and the loneliness that can come with family life

A screeching U-turn on EU

Our new PM's misplaced confidence, nay naivety, regarding closer ties to a failing EU seems like a screeching U-turn given that he dismissed this subject during his election campaign, which seems to me puzzling.

What or who changed his mind I wonder ? It can't have been the benefits because quite frankly there will be none given the current chaotic state of the EU, just like the fact there appears to be no evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit referendum, a statement gleefully seized upon by disgruntled Rejoiners prepared to clutch at any straws going.

Anyone who still thinks that membership of this failing club would be to our benefit, (and don't take my word for it), needs to read the excellent book written by an eminent group of economists entitled, 'Brexit The Facts Strike Back' ISBN 9781919525198, available online priced around £7 plus P&P. Having said this and given our PM's current mindset, he seems to me the kind of person who would queue up to buy a ticket to sail on the Titanic after it had hit the iceberg.

Alan Smith, Midlands

Music on buses is so selfish

So glad to hear that people playing loud music on buses and trains are to be fined for anti-social behaviour.

Perhaps it will make people realise that playing loud music outside their homes is not acceptable.

There is no respect these days for other people, especially the elderly.

Selfish and entitled are words that come to mind.

Valerie Amos, Muxton

How many more are also lonely?

The house is loud before it is quiet. I'm up early to iron the uniforms, flip the toast, tame the bed-hair and break up the bickering before we head out the door.

On the walk, the mist hangs over the Severn and the low sun turns the old brick gold. Shrewsbury is beautiful this time of year.

At the school gate, I notice how many of us are on our own, and how many are looking down at a screen.

I'm standing there too. I'm not judging anyone.

I'm telling you because I'm lonely. I get through the day, but there's no adult at the end of it.

No one to ask how mine went. No one who just knows.

I wonder how many others are standing there feeling the same.

If that's you, look up. Say hello. I'll try to do the same.

Name and address supplied

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