I HAD a phone call from my son last week saying "Mum, you've got to buy the Daily Echo tonight''.

"No problem,'' said I, "I have it delivered every day''.

He gave no clue as to what article in particular I should look out for.

When I got home there was a message on my answering machine and also an e-mail imploring me to buy a Daily Echo and to make sure I looked at the supplement.

The supplement was for the Prettiest Pooch competition and he had entered his dog Oscar (1677) in it.

Nothing out of the ordinary there you might think, except for the fact that Matt, my son, lives in Brisbane, Australia, having emigrated two years ago.

He keeps up to date with news from home via the Daily Echo website.

MAUREEN QUEEN, Netley Abbey.