Joanne Harris’s article (I used to hide behind my hair. But cancer gave me a buzzcut and helped me find my voice, 15 May) resonated profoundly with me. Having been brought up with the same phrase about being seen and not heard, I am now embracing my super-short hairstyle six months after finishing breast cancer treatment. Rather than being diminished by the debilitating effects of the treatments, which linger on, this is an encouragement to finally find my voice. To become that woman who says it as it is, rather than using my antennae to always sense what the other person wants to hear. It is time now to be both seen and heard.
Diane Chorley
Bath
• Nice of Neil Tennant to stick up for AI songwriting (Report, 16 May). When the Pet Shop Boys became popular, I and other music lovers thought everything they did sounded like it was computer-generated and lacked the human musical touch, so maybe his support is not surprising.
David Rennie
Cardiff
• I wholeheartedly agree with Janet Hawkins about the benefits of joining U3A (Letters, 15 May). I joined three years ago, do Spanish and French classes (we meet at the Old Ship pub in Richmond), and have started a junk metal sculpture group – meeting new friends I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
David Halley
Twickenham, London
• Years ago, an elderly neighbour would stand outside her back door at night, chillingly shouting: “Satan! Satan!” It was months before we realised that she owned a black cat (Letters, 15 May).
Toby Wood
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
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