FEEDBACK: Expense is in the eye of the spender.

Byline: IAN PARRI

EXPERIENCE has taught us that there's few things that get our readers more pent up than the weekly Taste Test in the Saturday edition. Quite often it's somebody complaining that they could never afford to dine out for the sums our reviewers sometimes spend,if ever they dare venture anywhere rather more elegant than the local chippie.

Now,just for a change, we'vebeen caught in a broadside from a restaurauter.

Glyn Roberts,from the Castle Cottage Restaurant in Harlech, vents his spleen at Diane Massey's review (May 10)of his establishment.

Or rather,at her contention that pounds 24.50 per person was rather a lot to pay for a three- coursemeal. He points out that the price was pounds 17 when the restaurant was last reviewed all of 11 years ago.

It's all a matter of opinion what is expensive, of course. Not to mention situation. Much was made of Catherine Zeta Jones' comment that $1m was not a lot of money to people like her.

I suppose pounds 24.50 would be a lot if you were talking about pub grub eaten in a smoky,noisy lounge among a gang of drunken,loutish domino players.

As for a high quality restaurant given marks for good value in the Which? Hotel Guide 2003,as the Castle Cottage is, thenI must admit that I wouldn't find pounds 24.50 too excessive a sum to fork out every once in a while.

But, thenagain, that is only my opinion. Diane Massey is equally entitled to hers.

David Rowlands,from Hawarden, was rather tickled to note that in a recent Looking Backpicture, we'dcaptioned a Mrs Morris as being seventh from the right, rather than first on the left.

Why,he asks?I asked the poor chap responsible, who bribed me in order to remain anonymous,and he came up with some claptrap about starting on the back row and moving anti-clockwise until he came to Mrs Morris on the front row.Confused?So was I.

Eluned Kidd from Llanfairfechan was rather taken by a recent article that stated that ``the Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust received 11,000 `thank-yous' last year compared to 254 complaints''.

She asks why such positive stories about the Health Service don't get the same attention as negative ones.

I suppose it's just human nature to moan when things go wrong, rather than to praise when things go right.

Don't blame us. But we do publicise the positive side of the NHS as well as point out its failings.

And finally, to the article yours truly penned for Monday's DP about the outdoor pursuits industry and its contribution to the Welsh economy.

Ron Williams,from Holywell,and Howie Jones,from Tynygongl, were quick off the starting blocks to ask if I was the one and the same writer who had apparently belittled the contribution of walkers to the economy some two years ago.

Probably. According to Mr Jones,my column of two years ago ``was a piece so monumental in its ignorance and prejudice that it is still spoken of with hushed awe amongst the outdoor activity fraternity''.

Hushed awe,eh?I'm touched that my humble scribblings should be taken so much to heart.