8.45 a.m. I am just back from our morning walk; I have two dogs to walk today as my brother has gone to Amsterdam for 4 days. Mother flies out to Liverpool this morning for a check-up after having laser treatment on her eye 2 weeks ago. So that leaves JD, a black Lab and of course Skipper in my care for the next few days.

The blog also is now moving in to new areas. From now on, the blog will be raising a few quid for Manx Cancer Support, and the Macmillan Nurses. This is because the magazine, Manx Tails, are going to make a donation to these charities every time they publish material from the blog.

These past few days have not been my best. My 4^th and last period of chemo is proving just a tad more difficult than I had anticipated. I have got away very lightly from most of the side effects of chemotherapy but it looks like they were all being saved on hold for the last one. The consultant did warn me last week that things were going to start hotting up. This time round I have been constantly tired and weary. I have aches and pains in my limbs, and my lungs feel as if they are full of gas. To compound matters, Barbara has picked up a lung virus. She is now on antibiotics and steroids. She is also wearing a mask in the hope that she doesn’t pass the virus on to me. I am told by the chemo nurses that should I catch a virus at this stage it could be really serious for me as the chemo has killed all my resistances to illnesses. Not withstanding the fact that is not a particularly pleasant period for Barbara either. Anyway, let’s not get too gloomy.

It is Monday morning on a spring April day. My tiredness, aches, pains and weariness will all pass and in a few days Barbara’s virus will also be history.

Unfortunately, I am still experiencing problems in getting my emails through to readers in the US. I know we now have two new blog readers in Sacramento, one in Pasadena, and I think someone else in Illinois. Just hang on in there people and I will be in touch with you as soon as the present problems are resolved.

Monday is normally my day for going to Peel. However, forces have conspired against us today. Chemotherapy, Barbara’s virus, and dog watching will mean, the only way I will get fish and chips today will be in my dreams. Talking of Peel, Wendy is a Peel girl who went to live and work in London. She has become a blog reader and returns to the Island this weekend. She is coming to visit me next Friday, and I am really looking forward to seeing her.

That is about it for today good people. I is time now for a cup of tea and a bit of a lie on the old bed. Until tomorrow then, this is Tom Glassey with News at 9.30 on the banks of the Silverburn River.