I HOPE that Mike Amos enjoys a long and happy retirement.

It would have been a great miss for all of us had his columns of skill, wit and knowledge gleaned with much hard work and long hours, vanished from your paper on the day of his retirement.

It takes many years to become as great a wordsmith as Mike, and stopping just like that would have been bad for all of us, including Mike.

I finished work four years ago with voluntary redundancy and would not darken the doors of my former employer again as I am quite happy with my second life, not quite retired, ten hours a week.

Many people do not want to finish and indeed need for various reasons including their sanity, to continue.

Clearly Mike is one of them, and his infrequent columns will be eagerly awaited by his loyal followers.

As long as the editor will accept your work Mike, we will be happy to read it. Carry on mate.

Chris Kirk, Brompton.