SMARTEST INVESTMENT

I have never been much of an investor, but I bought the minimum allocation of shares in British Telecommunications when it floated. I put the share certificate away in a drawer and forgot about it for years.

Recently, I dug it out and checked the share price, and I'm happy to report that my shares would buy me a good few more beers now than the money I originally invested would have done back then.

GG, Hampshire

The Fool responds: Well done, you have discovered the essence of Foolish investing. Buy shares in good companies, then hang on to them and watch the miracle of compounding weave its magic. Now put that certificate back in the drawer, you Fool.

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