Page 6 of 6

I'm proud beyond the telling to have worked with him, to be able to count him and his wife Carol as friends and to have accompanied on at least part of his great WDP 'journey'. 'The Old Lady' has never looked better and it all starts with his ability to inspire.

I am looking forward to a visit from my brothers, Martin and John, and Martin's girlfriend Debbie, accompanied by my mum, who has been lighting a lot of candles and saying a lot of prayers on my behalf. We can't wait for her to come down and belie her tiny figure by eating us out of house and home again…

Now, I'm planning some trips, listening to some music, reading a few books, doing some work, living a lot. In about an hour from now, I am due to have my second and last dose of radiotherapy.

Naturally I am hoping it will be somewhat less of an ordeal than the first session. Beyond that, I am not hoping for much. Except to live for as long as I can: of course, which is like hoping for everything.

And when the time comes and the moment arrives for this to be no longer possible, well, maybe the last thing to add will be some words from O Henry, a writer who specialised in stories with surprise endings - a bit like life itself. The words are simple enough, but the feeling behind them is as profound as it gets: Turn up the lights - I don't want to go home in the dark.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk