A selection of the wit and wisdom of The Times letters page from recent years, from discussions on Murphy's Law (the law governing the dropping of buttered toast ) and the best method of making porridge, to the great issues of the day, such as the war in Afghanistan and the Euro debate.

An enchanting collection of the wittiest letters printed on The Times letters page within the last few years: not sightings of first cuckoos and maunderings of retired civil servants, but pithy, funny and sometimes startling observations on topics from natural history to politics, and from sport and the arts to crime and punishment. With an introduction by The Times editor Robert Thomson, and illustrated with cartoons by Neil Bennett.
From Mr David Lloyd Hughes
Sir, Mrs Judith A. White (letter, October 4) knows a lot of women who start talking as soon as their husbands put the newspaper down.
I know one who starts as soon as I pick it up.
From Mr K. J. Marks
Sir, Following Anne Robinson's gratuitous insult to the Welsh people on the BBC's Room 101 programme, the Council of Bards should impose a Taffwah.
From Mr Richard Posner
Sir, on the demise of Railtrack I was depressed to hear on the radio that rail services are expected to continue as normal.
From Mr Roger Foord
Sir, It does not take a genius to know why our PM and Stephen Byers are both in India at the same time (reports, January 4).
They are looking at the Indian railway system, surely.