N COMPETITION No 270, you were invited to write a poem called Heather Oxley began, ‘Our halls are gateways to our outside selves.’ John Oldershaw’s narrator started ‘“It’s the hall that sells the house!”/ Said Mr Valentine, holding a clipboard in his hand.’ Hilary Adams had a problem of decoration: ‘Perhaps I should have chosen Orange-rind,/To complement Banana in the hall.’ Several chose