I LOVED John Phillpott's hilarious, yet sad, article on his daughter leaving home (Evening News, March 6).

My flat became strangely empty two-and-a-half years ago, when Shirley, my pet cockatiel, suddenly died. But for two years, I've had a male canary, Benji (in the same cockatiel cage, to give him space) who keeps me company with his whistling and fidgeting.

And his needs are much simpler than a daughter's would be.

GEORGE COWLEY,

Windermere Drive,

Worcester.