I have just been catching up on last week's edition of Building and enjoyed the collection of interviews entitled "The children's crusade" (21 March, page 44).

However, Jonathan Manser confused me in saying that the smell of wet concrete was one of his earliest memories. In my 35 years in the industry I have lugged wet concrete in barrows, shovelled it, tamped it, trowelled it and tested it, but never ever smelt it – what have I missed?

PS: I can smell a glass of '95 Château Lynch-Bages as soon as I walk into a room, so I don't think my nose is at fault!