How I agree with Bill Hearld when he pointed out in his Tuesday column that whistling seems to be a thing of the past.

Wasn't it just wonderful to hear a man whistling while he went about his business as my father and late-husband used to.

As Bill so rightly said, it indicated a sort of contentment and everyone around knew everything was right with the world.

I remember my mother telling me she would know when my father was coming to call when she heard him whistling down the road.

It really is an era passed and I only wish it could return.

Maybe if the young, angry men, and girls, of today learned how to whistle, or it was "cool" to whistle, there would be less frustration in them and they would be happy with their lot.

However, it is sad to realise that whistling is a thing of the past, something I had not appreciated until I read the article.

But wow, everything is not yet lost.

My window cleaner, Paul Morgan, was cleaning my windows while I was writing this letter and guess what? Yes, he was actually whistling.

Sylvia Dunn,

Rutland Close,

Copmanthorpe,

York.

Updated: 09:37 Tuesday, May 02, 2006