Answer
The letter was written on a typewriter which has a problem with the middle row of letters, which print spaces instead. The letter should have read:
Dear Sir,
I recently visited one of your outlets to buy one of your typewriters. However, as you can see I am having a small problem.
The middle row of the keyboard appears to be faulty.
I would be very grateful if you could despatch a replacement by return post. Failing this, could you please send an engineer to resolve this problem as a matter of urgency.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Middins.
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Puzzle 127
My BrainBashers electronic world atlas has developed a fault, I did a listing of miles from England to particular countries and here is the result:
Austria 1,800 miles
New Zealand 2,400 miles
Japan 1,200 miles
Brazil 1,400 miles
Hint
Vowels (AEIOU) and consonants are each worth a different number of miles.
Answer
2,200 miles.
Vowels (AEIOU) are worth 300 miles and consonants are worth 200 miles.
Double-Checking
Argentina has 4 vowels (AEIA = 4 x 300), and 5 consonants (RGNTN = 5 x 200), for a total of 1,200 + 1,000 = 1,200 miles.
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Puzzle 128
Kevin wants to go and see his brother, who lives across the valley, and he wants to take his three pets with him, a dog, a cat, and a mouse.
However, the shortest way to his brother's house involves a river crossing, and Kevin only has a very small boat that can carry him and just one of his pets.
He doesn't want to leave the dog alone with the cat, nor does he want to leave the cat alone with the mouse. However, the dog and mouse are great friends.
How can Kevin cross the river to see his brother, and make sure his pets are all happy?