Older couples need a living room of one’s own | Property

It’s not just renters who need a living room (The death of the living room: ‘It’s hard to invite people over – not everyone wants to sit on a bed’, 26 November). What about a couple of senior citizens, home most of the time, who do not wish to spend every waking hour in the same room? In our local area there appear to be no flats for sale with a kitchen/diner and separate living room. How can we escape from each other?Jennifer HenleyLondon All five “homes for downsizers” (Fantasy house hunt: Homes for downsizers, 28 November) are larger and more expensive than the one I’ve happily inhabited for many years. And I have to ask: from what palace might one be downsizing to a three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment in St John’s Wood, London?Anne CowperBishopston, Swansea Samuel Johnson was wrong. Patriotism isn’t the last refuge of a scoundrel. It is the penultimate refuge; hiding behind the term “banter” is the last refuge of the scoundrel (Three more ex-pupils at school with Nigel Farage reject ‘banter’ claims, 25 November). Prof Stephen FarrallSheffield Hong Kong authorities wasted no time in arresting those they hold responsible for last week’s fatal fire in tower blocks. Here, eight years on, still no arrests over Grenfell.John KendallPresteigne, Powys If we’re done with aptly named people, for now (Letters, 28 November), how about inaptly named places – like the Idle Working Men’s Club, in Bradford?Mark de BrunnerBurn Bridge, North Yorkshire Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.f