Hello folks, it is Sunday morning and all is well. Tomorrow morning I and my good friends Ray and Pauline Cregeen will take the 7.30 water bus to Liverpool. Yes the gathering is on the move and will reconvene on the Wirral for a week. Barbara will join us Tuesday evening after catching up with a few things and Karron will again take over the menagerie management.

This weekend I have received many calls from folks who have had treatment at Clatterbridge. I am indeed inspired by their calls. Many of them can only follow the blog by reading Manx Tails. Of course Manx Tails only comes out once a month and only carries one blog. I am trying to think of a method whereby we can bring the blog to those who don’t have access to a computer. So far though, I am drawing blanks.

I have just received a phone call from my old friend, Captain Jack Ronan. Captain Jack was often the Captain on the IOM Steam Packet vessels when I was travelling backwards and forwards to School in the 60’s. It is strange that I should find myself talking to him today, the day before I am heading back to Liverpool once again. In a previous blog I told you about the time Captain Jack took me back to the convent school, and on seeing I was not a happy lad regarding returning to school, he parted with the words. “This will all pass by lad; soon it will be just a little bit of history in your life.” Well, I have found myself remembering those words this last couple of weeks at Clatterbridge. It appears that whenever I have faced adversity in my life, Captain Jack appears somewhere and has some inspirational words.

This morning I have been out and bought some boxes of Manx fudge and Manx toffee for the nurses. I didn’t know you could buy Manx Toffee. It’s probably made in China, but at least there is a picture of the IOM on the box. Last week, I took them some bottles of Manx Spirit. Let’s hope they don’t tuck in to it before they begin my treatment.

I have just this minute put the telephone down again after speaking to John Rudd. John called me to tell me he received treatment in Clatterbridge 18 years ago for throat cancer. John also follows my progress through Manx Tails. It seems the Island is full of living proof of the success of Clatterbridge.

Well people it is now time for me to bid you farewell once again. Weather and Steam Packet willing, I will be back on the old blog this time next week. I can’t thank you all enough for your support and I love you all to bits. You may of course hear from Barbara during the week as she has one of those fancy, all singing and dancing phones than enable you to do anything. So until next week, this is Tom Glassey with News at 12.15, on the banks of the Silverburn, and setting course for the banks of the Mersey.