I WANTED to write and comment on the breastdeeding advert that was in the Echo on May 9.
I am so happy to see such advertising. I am a nursing mother and am proud to say I have been breastfeeding for seven months.
I do hope to see more advertising as Breastfeeding Awareness Week is approaching.
I would like to share a poem with you I have written.

BREAST FOR MY BABY
From bump to baby,
From boy to man.
I will give you my best,
And do all that I can.

I am your mum,
You are my boy.
The hours we have nursed,
Have filled me with joy.

Right from the start
I have given you my heart.
I fed you from my breast
This at times was a test.

The months have flew by,
Now it's my turn to cry
As you teeth on my breast
Another hurdle, another test.

Nursing is love, Joy and giving
Cracked nipples and sore boobs..
Of this I am forgiving.

I feed you, I love you and do all that I can.
A mothers love is eternal.
You will always be my little man.
Rachel Hutcheon,
Washington

Parking's so easy
IN reply to ignorant, and biased readers regarding disabled parking in Asda, one reader writes that there is no harm in parking in disabled bays late at night. Does she/he believes disabled people are not allowed out after dark?
The same person says it is OK to park in the bays at that time of night as there are plenty of other empty spaces. Why park there in the first place then?
The answer is simple, as are many of the inconsiderate people who are not disabled that use these spaces. If you want a fine, park there. If you don't, leave the bays for whom they are meant, i.e disabled people. Easy, isn't it?
Thomas Stringer,
Polemarch Street,
Saham

Repair our castle
I REFER to Peter Kerr's letter about Hylton Castle (Letters, May 12). I cannot understand why someone would want to tear down a piece of Sunderland's history to make way for yet more characterless homes. Aren't there enough of these ghastly estates?
Yes, the castle is in need of repair but surely the money to repair it would be more well spent than building these "prefabs", which in 20 years time will be sold off yet again and leave more families out of pocket?
The castle was built in 1450 to protect the ferry crossing over the River Wear, then the only means of crossing the river, by William De Hylton. Should we not be educating children in Sunderland about this?
As a child at English Martyrs School we would visit the castle at least twice a year to learn about its history and the history of Sunderland. This has to be a worthwhile effort considering generations to come will be learning about the "monumental Echo 24 building" and the Vaux site that has been left abandoned for so long.
The Cauld Lad would be spinning in his grave!
R Dunn,
High Barnes,
Sunderland

Worst offenders
I READ with interest and concern the news that Sunderland is one of the worst offenders when it comes to laying down a carbon footprint.
I'd like to say I was shocked, but if our neighbours are anything to go by I wouldn't be surprised if the ozone layer broke open over our city tomorrow.
Each day we see our environmentally unfriendly neighbour drive their car from the yard to the front of the house, regardless of whether they intend to drive it elsewhere or not.
To make matters worse, if someone is parked outside their house and later moves, they'll hop in the car and move it a few feet into a position they can keep an eye on it. If they're so concerned about security then why not leave it in the yard, safe – in more ways than one – for them and us?
If this selfish and ignorant behaviour is typical of other Sunderland residents then I fear there is little hope of shrinking that footprint. Shame on them and shame on all of us if we not only refuse to do our bit, but actually defy moves towards a better environment. Maybe hefty fines would deter these spiteful, small-minded people.
Skaro,
Monkwearmouoth