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Things improved, and as usual, my friends were on hand to improve them. Such wonderful friends like Markie The Manc, who suffers from Old Trafford blindness, but managed to see his way to keeping in touch. Kate and Gemma, who took me to watch them eat lunch at the Mud Dock. The Oxford bears - Reg, Tim, Peter, Stuart and Roy - came visiting, and made me reflect that I couldn't be all bad, to have such good and loyal friends as these. David and Marie, who sent me goodies and touching letters.

Then there is Jim, despite going through a medical hell of his own, who was always on the phone, always available, ever wise.

And James was and is the sort of man you would want with you in the trenches. Bet on that. My doctor, Nick Ring, and his partner, Dr Vicky Bowler, have treated me with compassion and realism. They, their receptionist Geraldine and surgery nurse Penny have all been marvellous.

Here at the Western Daily Press, my colleagues and bosses, from Group Chief Executive Alan Goode across the board, have shown me a wonderful warmth and allowed me to work without fuss. I wish that I could name them all but they know who they are. I also hope they realise how grateful I am to have them as friends and colleagues, how proud I am to have worked with them, to have brushed shoulders with their talent.

I can and should mention my editor by name - because Terry Manners reminded me why I came into this profession in the first place. His enthusiasm, professionalism, humanity and kindness are the sort you don't find every day. If he's editing this down himself, he will be reaching for the blue pencil to strike out the last paragraph - he's a hard man to praise.

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