Readers of the Guardian have responded with a mix of heartfelt praise, sharp criticism, and wry observation in the newspaper's letters pages, covering topics from the National Health Service to television schedules and international aid.
A Testament to the NHS's 'Priceless' Care
Christine Batley from Cromer, Norfolk, wrote in to strongly endorse a recent column by Anne Perkins, published on 29 December, which celebrated the NHS's core virtues despite its well-documented challenges. Batley's perspective was forged in a personal crisis, having watched her seriously ill husband nursed back from the brink of death.
"When we don't need the NHS, it is quietly working in the background," she observed. "When we do, the care, love and support is beyond words and is priceless. How very fortunate we are." Her letter stands as a powerful, first-hand rebuttal to those who focus solely on the service's operational flaws, highlighting the human dedication at its heart.
Celebrity Saturation and Aid Agency Irony
Elsewhere, Margaret Squires from St Andrews, Fife, took issue with a headline declaring 2025 as 'the year we grew tired of celebrity for celebrity's sake'. She pointed to a single day's television schedule—22 December—as evidence to the contrary, noting celebrity editions of Antiques Road Trip, The Chase, Escape to the Country, Mastermind, and Masterchef all aired alongside significant newsprint coverage of Celebrity Traitors.
On a far graver note, David Duell from Durham commented on reports that Israel plans to ban dozens of aid agencies from operating in Gaza. He singled out the potential prohibition of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), stating such a move "would surely be beyond irony." This response follows a Guardian news article from 30 December detailing how ten nations have warned about the catastrophic suffering in the region.
Quirks of Measurement and Language
The correspondence also featured lighter, pedantic musings. In response to a Guardian style guide piece from 29 December debating 'Twixmas' versus 'Twixtmas', reader Elli Woollard from London noted a recent article that compared the size of Mexico's Espíritu Santo island to Manhattan. She humorously queried what that measurement would be in the colloquial British units of "football pitches and/or Waleses."
Meanwhile, John Stiles of Orpington, London, offered a more succinct solution to the festive nomenclature debate: "Twixtmas or Twixmas? Why use either?"
The Guardian continues to invite readers to submit their opinions on any published content for potential inclusion in its daily letters section.
