The mystery of the vanished beef joint | Brief letters

Dog’s dinner | Short illnesses | Andy Burnham’s smart move | Missing brunch | Making a meal of it The humorous tale of Morris the staffie (The pet I’ll never forget, 27 July) reminded me of when I returned from work one evening wondering why my husband hadn’t roasted the joint of beef I’d taken out from the freezer that morning for the evening meal. There was no trace of it anywhere, nor the plate it was on. Next day, evidence of the butcher’s string tied round the meat appeared during our dog walk, but we never found the plate.Jeanette HamiltonBuxton, Derbyshire Dr Terry Scragg (Letters, 27 July) would like to know what the “short illness” is that features so often in the obituaries so that he can avoid it. Death notices also frequently refer to people dying in “the excellent care” of a particular medical facility. I note the names of these institutions with a view to avoiding them, their reputation for excellence being somewhat belied by their mortality rates. Eoin DillonDublin, Ireland Whatever you think about Andy Burnham’s first few days in the job, you have to hand it to him. How many people start a new role and immediately move the office closer to their home? Respect. Mary