Some of the best conversations I have had during my time in newspapers have been with Courier letter writers.
Their backgrounds and life experiences are as varied as their views.
What links them is their wish to contribute to the greater community.
One correspondent I recall in particular was an elderly gentleman who had witnessed massive changes in post-war Dundee.
He had grown up in grim conditions in central Dundee before the Second World War and remained in crumbling accommodation for more than 20 years after.
Then a miracle happened and he was allocated a flat in the newly-built Whitfield scheme.
He spoke to at length about his never-ending amazement at the open spaces, the views the fresh air and, of course, a home that had everything.
However, within a couple of years, the dream began to tarnish. The old chap told me that some people had “not been playing the game”.
Dispirited by neighbours who did not feel the same appreciation for the scheme, he moved on to Broughty Ferry.
The gentleman wrote to us over many years arguing that decent standards of personal behaviour can make or break communities.
Then there was the very elderly Angus gentleman wrote to us every Christmas from the mid 1990s asking us to consider changing The Courier to compact size. Each year he told us of his difficulties handling the broadsheet format of the paper. We did assure him that we were considering a format change. Sadly, the letters stopped just weeks before we did change the size.
The political axe-grinders seems to be having a mid-week break. Friday’s pages contain two letters questioning the location of the new Madras College in St Andrews, one claiming the extension of Rusacks Hotel will block a world-renowned view of the Old Course.
Another writer is in awe of Dundee City Council’s successful efforts to create wild flower drifts across the city and I must say, the council staff have done the city proud.
Another correspondent suggests Dundee shopkeepers should widen their doors when a new doughnut shop opens in the city while one Fife lady criticises the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement and asks if they would turn down medical breakthroughs developed in Israel.
Looking at the letters that have been coming in this afternoon, I can predict that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s call for control of the BBC in Scotland will feature on Saturday morning. One writer has already been complaining that we spend far too much money on Gaelic broadcasting and we have enough Scottish television channels as it is.
The planned departure of chief constable Sir Stephen House may also feature.
Looking down Friday’s new schedule, one particular entry jumped out at me Alyth beavers innocent. I can only imagine that is a court case in Perth.
As always email correspondence to letters@thecourier.co.uk