Sir, I guess most of us derive a certain pleasure from spending money, but what a delight when it's someone else's money we are spending.

Take our highways department. What a thrill it must have been for them to have had a hand in making such a pig's ear of the junction where the Burford Road in Brize Norton crosses the new road to Carterton.

How happy they must now be to have been able to turn their attention to the Kilkenny Lane between Brize and Carterton . . . The road is to be closed. I've an idea, let's patch up all the pot holes first. May as well make it tidy for the closing ceremony. Then for those persistent enough to still drive up there, let's spend a bit more, perhaps construct a turning area. Then for the less observant amongst us, who don't realise it's a turning area, we'll put up a sign to inform them of the fact. Better still, let's spend twice as much and put up two signs albeit within three to four metres of each other.

I'm a bit concerned, we still have some cash left . . . brilliant I've got it . . . the roads to be closed, let's put white lines up each side.

All that spending, how exciting. I feel quite exhausted. I think I'd best go and lie down.

H M Hawkins, Manor Road, Carterton