Sir, – Thank you for publishing Fintan O'Toole's memory of his knitted circus ("When I close my eyes and think of Christmas", Opinion & Analysis, December 23rd). I smiled as I read the wonderfully captured colour and magic of a child's innocent delight; and then, as only a great writer can do, he rekindled my memory of a home-made cavalry fort complete with "millions" (probably hundreds) of cocktail sticks painstakingly glued around the external wall as logs. How many hours did my hard-working father spend up to his elbows in Evostick to produce that effect? The uniqueness of that toy made me feel very special and obviously someone that Santy held in high regard.
There's a funny kind of sadness around Christmas. I treasure my own two daughters now, but wish they could have known their remarkable, gentle grandfather Paddy. So, thank you Irish Times, thank you Fintan and thanks Dad. – Yours, etc,
PHILIP MULLEN,
Fairview, Dublin 3.