REGARDING the letter 'Pagan Puzzle' (in the St Helens Star) I must admit I have not read about the great philosophers, but then, I never had the privilege of going on to further education.

I had to get out in the cruel world and earn a living to keep the tax man happy and to keep the roof over my head, the wolves from the door and food in the cupboard.

And if it meant keeping warm or freezing to death I would make a bonfire with those books on philosophy and live to tell the tale.

I am a survivor come what may, a realist, a free thinker, and when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Seeing is believing and if I teach my sons nothing else, it will be how to survive in this dog-eat-dog world, cause God bless the child who has got his own.

You have to be mad to survive in this world, so in a town where majority rule if you can't beat 'em join 'em.

You can choose your friends, but not your relations or your neighbours.

And familiarity breeds contempt.

So I treat some people with the contempt they deserve. Especially, patronising two-faced hypocrites, with friends like them who needs enemies. Et tu Brute!

Mrs L M Feeney, Thatto Heath (full address provided).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.