Default facial expressions | Coffee thermometer | Quitting Britain | Nominative determinism delights

Adrian Chiles is lucky that his face is merely “miserable” (I’ve spent my whole life looking miserable. It’s time for a change, 9 September). On the advice of my estimable wife, when I introduce myself to new colleagues I alert them to the fact that if I look as though I want to kill them, it’s my default expression and I am merely thinking, not judging.
Trevor Lawson
Haddenham, Buckinghamshire

• Since Oxford University, no less, tells us that it is now vital to know the temperature of hot drinks (Drinking very hot drinks could triple risk of oesophageal cancer, study finds, 9 September), I look forward to the delivery of my NHS coffee thermometer – and the award of next year’s Ig Nobel prizes.
Anne Archer
Oban, Argyll and Bute

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