As an ex-BBC engineer of “a certain age”, I have no nostalgia for the era of vinyl and the fragile hardware that accompanied it (Vinyl is back for good and that’s exciting. Don’t let the greed of big labels ruin it, 31 December). In my memories of night shifts in Broadcasting House, the tedious repair of broken gram decks holds a prominent position. Andrew Bryant Frome, Somerset The answer to the question “When did people start celebrating Christmas?” is not “In the Neolithic period, when people celebrated the solstice on 21 December” (The kids’ quiz, print edition, 23 December). Christmas could not have been celebrated before 0AD, when Jesus was born. Rev Eric Baldwin Brentwood, Essex Our son, aged about five, was told by a friend that Father Christmas wasn’t real (Letters, 29 December). Our practical son asked: “Well, who brings the presents?” “Oh, God or Jesus” was the airy reply. Carolyn Voss Leamington Spa, Warwickshire It might interest Gynelle Leon (Five more unkillakble houseplants, 29 December) that I’ve a flourishing aspidistra, inherited over 53 years ago. It has been repotted once. Sue Jackson Little Neston, Cheshire I so enjoyed Oliver Burkeman’s piece (The key to keeping new year resolutions? Don’t make them in the first place, 30 December) that I decided to do nothing about it. Paul Martin London