MY 80-year-old sister kindly sent me a birthday card in a purple envelope on which she had written 'Happy Birthday' in large letters next to the stamp. She left the envelope unsealed, which used to be the custom for second class letters, but to be sure she stuck on a first class stamp. What her poor old eyes did not notice was that the envelope was one centimetre (less than half an inch) longer than the new Royal Mail standard letter size. The local postman, with apologies and some embarrassment, had to demand six pence for 'deficient postage', plus a £1 'handling fee' before he could hand it over. I know that 'rules are rules' but if this birthday card was measured by a human and not a computer, than shame on him or her. I fear that our friendly postmen and women will not be so welcome this Christmas and I for one will try to correspond by e-mail in the future.

A E PORTCH Liskeard