The balls needed to bowl Margaret Thatcher out

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/oct/12/the-balls-needed-to-bowl-margaret-thatcher-out

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So I see that a “futurologist” predicts that children at school today will still be working in as many as 40 jobs each when they reach their 100th birthday (Today’s pupils ‘could still be working at 100’, 7 October). Back to the future: in the 1980s I remember that I, along with hundreds of other teachers, spent days attending costly in-depth courses informing us how to teach for a future “leisured society”, when robots would do all the work for us. I guess the “futurologists” of the time simply didn’t see what was coming.John RichardsonRotherfield, East Sussex

• It’s not really an oxymoron: is there some other term for Thatcher’s description of Geoffrey Howe as having an “insatiable appetite for compromise” (Obituaries, 12 October), reminiscent of William Whitelaw’s accusing Harold Wilson of going around the country “stirring up apathy”? And can readers imagine new examples of it? I’d suggest any politician’s hysterical pleas for calm reflection.Brian SmithBerlin, Germany

• At our wedding in 1991 I raised the first toast to Elspeth Howe for “giving Geoffrey the balls to make the speech to bowl Margaret Thatcher out”. It caused a standing ovation. Still wondering how those endearing dead sheep and silly billies are making their way in the celestial city.Bridget TowersLondon

• Today’s holiday offers (Discover the world, 12 October) include trips to South Africa, Norway, California, China, Spain and Sri Lanka, all including return flights. Not so much “Keep it in the ground” as “Burn it in the sky”, wouldn’t you say?David AbbeyEgham, Surrey

• Here in Ireland, like Hong Kong (Shortcuts, G2, 12 October), the postboxes were simply painted green and remain as significant bits of street furniture. I have heard of no calls for their removal.Brian HodkinsonLimerick, Ireland

• I pay more tax than Facebook (Facebook’s £4,327 tax, 12 October), clearly I’ve never had it so good, I just didn’t know.David SimpsonDatchet, Berkshire