It was lovely to read Sabrina Olson’s letter (6 March) on the quiz as it has been a family ritual for us for years. It kept us all connected through our children’s time at university, then moving into their own homes, and in some cases working abroad. It kept us going through the enforced separation of Covid and became a rite of passage for any new partners who joined our family group, especially as our winner is expected to do a “creative” dance of victory. Two lovely daughters-in-law are now regular quizzers.
Angela Barker
Rottingdean, East Sussex
I have found that chatbots are easily circumvented when, asking to state the problem, I write or spout gibberish (The AI assistant was offering me any help I needed. All I wanted was a living, breathing human, 11 March). It seems to be the fastest way to be put in contact with a human being.
Dr Peter Glanvill
Chard, Somerset
With reference to letters (11 March) regarding interesting additions to the “standard list of measurements”, I have another one. On a tub of lawn weedkiller I recently purchased, the coverage was given as “sufficient to cover the size of about 8 car parking spaces”.
Mike Robinson
Southampton
May I add one from my Malaysian recipe book: “One khati of rice equals one cigarette tin of rice filled to half an inch from the top of the tin.”
Maggie Hamilton
Summertown, Oxford







