Many years ago, Pullyman - aka Michael Cowin - was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, a condition that affects people in different ways. Last week, Michael turned 80 years old and celebrated with a packed variety show at the Manx Legion Club in Douglas, attended by the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister

Last Friday, December 4, was my 80th Birthday.

Now I think you will agree that an 80th birthday is something special, and you know that kind friends and family members will be asking themselves the perennial question.

What do you buy for an 80-year-old? Especially an 80-year-old who appears to have all that he needs already.

Then Brown Eyes had this great idea. Let’s have a party in the Legion Club.

They have a big concert room, stacks of seats to carry all the backsides that we are likely to know and a big enough stage for an army of actors.

Better still. They could cater for whatever food we would like. From a banquet to a buffet.

And finally, just to show that the gods were on our side, the evening that we wanted, was vacant.

So that was it, the job was done. Quicker than you could say ’Bingo on a Wednesday afternoon’ we had booked the venue, and ordered the food.

So that was that. On Friday, December 4, Pullyman and Friends would put on a variety concert.

Brown Eyes would pay for the grub as my birthday present, and our good friend Hazel Teare, would produce the show.

Sorted!

Now if you have ever been to a Pullyman and Friends Show, you would probably have been impressed with the casual ease of how things seemed to work.

Dream on.

We have to choose the performers, calculate the schedule and produce a show that is relaxed, smooth running and finishes spot on time. This show was no exception.

The cast included Manx Concert Brass, musical performers Simon Fletcher and Paul Costain, accompanied by pianist Wendy MacDowell, a duo called Tiny Horse, featuring Hazel’s daughter Steph and her friend Laura and a good poetry friend of mine, a well- oiled Mary (At least I think that she was pretending).

Also some of my fellow poets Georgia, Irene, and Carol, the MC, Bill Strutt, and a brace of brilliant techs Ernie and Alan.

Carol, the baking Bard, produced a remarkable birthday cake, and a rotation of raffle runners, Karen, Monica and Jeff were as persuasive as ever to get people to part with their cash.

I find that folk are always very generous and many of you had asked me about gifts for my birthday.

The evening was in aid of the Parkinson’s Society in the Isle of Man and those of you who so wished made good use of the collecting buckets.

I have some remaining sales of Pullyman Books to collect and add to the total fund and in the very near future Pullyman and Friends will be presenting a cheque to Parkinson’s to be used in its general work.

As a society, we are always available to help where we can, anyone with Parkinson’s Disease and I’m happy to be able to give them much-needed funds to help them with their good work.

But I did receive one special gift. My very good friend Des Clague, who is the illustrator for all of my Pullyman Books I’ve produced so far, presented me with a fantastic surprise.

A caricature of yours truly.

It is brilliant.

If a certain computer comes back from the doctor before my editorial deadline for this week expires, it will be in the paper on Thursday.

Fingers crossed! If you can see it here, all is well with the magic box.

If not, it will be next week.

This is not like a normal column, but believe me, this has not been like a normal week.

The one fear that always waits for all regular writers is to forget to mention some one’s name.

I hope that it is not my turn this week.

However, there is one name that means the world to me.

To Brown Eyes,

Thank you.