Greetings and salutations

• Published date: 19 December 2020
• Date: 19 December 2020

JACK FEEHAN,

Birr, Co Offaly.

Sir, - My late father, Paddy, remained active in the family business at Main Street, Charleville until his passing at age 94. His daily walk to work required passing the premises of a local undertaker. When greeted with the "How are you today Mr Murray?", his response, "Patience, Austin, please." - Yours, etc,

JOHN MURRAY,

Sandymount, Dublin 4.

Sir, - Members of my mother's family in Dublin, upon meeting an acquaintance of a certain vintage, would say, "You're looking well". I assume that was polite-speak for "Nice to see you're still alive". - Yours, etc,

ALISON FERGUSSON,

Stillorgan, Co Dublin.

Sir, - A dear friend's father when asked how he was would often reply, "Improving worse". - Yours, etc,

JOHN CAUL

Portmarnock, Co Dublin.

Sir, - In the Kells of my youth, we reduced the greeting "Well?" to "Ell" - the inverted comma was implied. No matter how one was feeling, the answer was a similarly punctuated "Ell". Head tilts were optional. - Yours, etc,

RONAN CAHILL,

Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Sir, - When asked, "How are you?", my granny, a Westmeath woman, always answered, "Much the better of you!". She must have been right as she lived a long life of 96 years. - Yours, etc,

EILIS LAWLOR,

Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.

Sir, - If asked how are you, I just reply, I am just...