Illustration by John Sadler, with Apologies to Gainsborough. www.johnsadlerillustration.com

• IT has been interesting to see over a lifetime how the customs and traditions of our everyday urban life have evolved and in some cases become extinct.

For example, generally speaking we are glad to see the back of wolf-whistling in our streets.

But I miss seeing women wearing headscarves and curlers every Saturday afternoon in the high street – ready for a night out in the dance hall.

Little boys being allowed to wear long trousers before puberty is good news for them – particularly in winter. Gnarly old posties wearing shorts in all weathers – not so good.

And it’s a great relief that – apart from on football pitches – there’s very little loud hocking and spitting going on these days.

But one new custom/ritual has me baffled – people decorating trees and bushes in our parks by tying little bags of dog poo onto their branches. What’s that all about?

KW HOWARTH,
NW1