THERE'S a Christmas song Santa Claus is Coming to Town with the first line being, "you'd better watch out".
Well, I was in the city centre last Thursday and was 'jostled' three times in an hour.
One man somehow put his hand on my jacket pocket, even though my arm was over it. Another (almost gently) pushed into me, even though there was no other person within six feet. The third was a woman who pushed her child in front of me, then put her hand under my arm when I was distracted.
So, like the Christmas song, "you'd better watch out". I didn't lose anything, but you might not be so lucky.
ANNE WINFINDALE
Adbolton Grove
West Bridgford
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YOU ran a story recently covering the loss of mail by houses in a street that had a nasty dog, resulting in the postmen refusing to go down that street ('Terror dog scares off posties for four months', December 17).
I suggest that the Postman's Training Manual covers my experience with a nasty dog, and how to deal with one. In the 1950s I lived in Anlaby Road, Teddington, and by pure chance found out how to deal with a nasty dog.
I was walking along the pavement past houses that had lost their iron gates in WW2 because the country was short of iron, and it was needed for the war effort.
As I passed a non-existent gate, a medium-sized dog nipped out of the front garden of a house and nipped me on the ankle. It then nipped back into the garden from whence it came.
I saw red as I had done nothing to offend the beast, so I followed the dog into the garden, intending to give it a good hiding.
But as I reached towards Fido, it made to bite my fingers. I have never done it before or since, but I let the dog have my fingers together with the rest of my hand so that my fingers were down its throat.
Fido made all sorts of gurgling noises indicating that it wasn't happy as it couldn't breathe. I kept my fingers in place for about ten seconds; and that's a long time if you can't breathe.
When I finally pulled my hand away, I have never seen a dog move so fast.
In this long straight road it was out of sight in about the time I had had my fingers in its mouth.
COLIN CAMPBELL
Scalford Drive
Wollaton Park
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THE Crown Inn, Beeston, is reported to be under the cosh of Broxtowe Council planners over a marquee which covers part of their outside seating area ('Legal threat to listed pub', December 15).
I understand there are rules, but this structure has mainly open sides, and is hardly visible unless you are almost in the pub car park. The management run a decent pub, well patronised by decent people, and rarely do I hear of any bother.
They have turned the pub into a cracking destination, and the shelter is a boon in indifferent weather.
Perhaps customers would each consider writing in support of retaining the temporary 'structure'. This would be on the grounds that it does not detract from the general appearance of the conservation area, is not harmful, and is indeed helping to bring custom into Beeston centre.
SIMON WOODROFFE
Fulwood Close
Chilwell
