I READ last week about the usual mass of people getting up before dawn to make sure they were at the front of the queue for the Boxing Day sales.

Haven't these people worked out that all these sales continue for many days afterwards - some of them even started before Christmas.

I don't know if it's my age or that I have finally been defeated by consumerism but I can think of nothing worse, or more stupid, than hoping to nab a bargain which might still be there days later - get a life.

Janice Kearns Pollok

Food shame

GREAT work, folks! You should be proud of your efforts but why, in 21st century Scotland are food banks a fact of life?

I blame incompetent politicians in Westminster and greedy bankers. Vote for independence next year and get a government we can control at the ballot box, something we've never had with Westminster.

Nothing makes politicians listen more than the thought of being deposed.

Ron Campbell Posted online

No posing

WITH reference to your Memories photograph of 1947, in your paper on December 24, the photo was not 'posed'.

That was the way it was back then. Most tenement dwellers in Glasgow only used the fireplace with its built-in oven, that was located in the kitchen.

The majority lived in a one room and kitchen house.

The 'room' as it was known had a fireplace, but some were never lit for two reasons. One was relative poverty and the cost and scarcity of coal in 1947. The second was, most rooms were only used at bedtime. What was the point of burning coal in an empty room?

Some of the families with one or two children, used the room to double as a bedroom and a living room.

Even then the fire in the room was only lit on special occasions, when there were visitors.

You will also note that the children were not writing a long list of presents that they wanted from Santa.

Changed days.

Daniel Harris, Glasgow