Living alone
Sir: According to Alice Thomas Ellis (Home life, 6 May), 'People who live alone are frequently regarded as nuts, and some- times they are.' Well, I've lived alone in a council flat for the past nine years, prior to which I spent 16 years in a mental hospital, so I suppose I qualify as a 'nut' — but at least a reasonably contented one. I read The Spectator, New Statesman, Punch and Church Times each week, and get a lot of pleasure from radio, television and re- cords. I have over the years won about 30 prizes in New Statesman competitions, and have twice had a few words quoted in your competition — which is arguably another indication of insanity. With my past his- tory, I am naturally rather diffident at getting to know people, but I get by — at least I'm not starving to death in Ethiopia, or sleeping in a cardboard box, as many ex-mental patients are.
George Cowley
20 Keswick Drive, Warndon, Worcester
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