I HAVE bad news for Miss Graham (Darwen student, LET, January 16). Slogging at college, working at Asda for a pittance and having to put up with the general public.

It doesn't get any better. Aged 68 years, at college, paying fees (in full), living on an old age pension and walking to Asda to be served by some grumpy 'till monkey,' trying to pack stuff away as she tut, tuts waiting for the dosh.

No it's a sad, sad life my dear, or at least it would be, except you see, I enjoy college and meeting all the young folk. I shop at Asda at 6am and it's a riot with the night staff and I swapping tongue in cheek insults and playing out a Victor Meldrew role whilst being leg-pulled from pillar to post.

I wouldn't miss it for the world. I am on a pension, they work long hours for not great pay but we console each other with laughter.

I take your point about public behaviour. Standards have slipped. Its all rush and push (car syndrome, no time to meander, maybe). It's all stress and work and more work.

Its all the harder now for the 'liberated' from the kitchen sink female. She now has a till as well as a sink and school no longer ends at 12 years of age.

We have wealth and a lifestyle your grandparents could never imagine but it comes at a price.

Work out what you need, really need; what you don't need, don't really need, and chill out. Keep a sense of proportion and humour.

Good luck. It's a hard life but most of it is what you make of it.

D PRATT (Mr), Plantation Street, Accrington.