I cannot give advice to Julian Cole ('Oh for a good sleep...' February 3) but his column inspires me to tell you about Auntie May, who couldn't sleep at night.

During the Second World War my mother went out to work, so my lovely godmother and Auntie May were lumbered with me outside school hours.

After the onslaught of my all-singing, all-dancing "entertainment", playing I Spy and noughts and crosses and eating her "cheese dreams" (you don't hear of them in these diet-conscious days), Auntie May was exhausted.

In the late afternoon she would be lulled, or driven, into the Land of Nod and was unable to sleep at night. Without hesitation, I advised: "Try imagining you're looking at a piece of plain black velvet and you'll soon drift into sleep." Auntie May replied: "I'd have it made into a dress in no time."

Knowing how well-dressed she usually was, I imagine she would have added a few sequins, a corsage or a rope of pearls. She was far too kind and patient to ever complain about my childish antics.

Margaret Lawson,

Aldborough House,

The Groves,

York.

Updated: 09:33 Friday, February 11, 2005