Well would you or wouldn’t you? Are you a ’yes’ or a ’no’? Or are you a sitter on the fence? Well, in our house, I’m a ’yes’ and Brown Eyes is a definite ’no’.

The question for today is vaccines.

In particular a vaccine to tackle the current plague, corona-what’s-it-called.

Now before we start, I must make it very clear that I do not claim to know anything whatsoever about corona-what’s-it’s-name virus except for one important fact.

It is very capable of killing you very rapidly. It can spread faster than Marmite on thickly buttered toast and prefers to attack old people, because they can’t fight back as strongly as the young.

So, here is the question: ’If you were offered a dose of vaccine that would protect you from the plague, would you say yes or no?’

Now from what I understand, it can take a very long time to produce a virus-basher of any real strength. The scientists have to work their way slowly through every level of the structure of the thing and each single part of the process has to be tested in the labs, on animals and finally on human volunteers.

There is no way that any part of the time-consuming, care-taking, sure and steady, step-by-step routine, can be overlooked.

If you are ever in such a position of public inspection, be it as a scientist, a teacher, a politician or even as the person who compiles the bus timetable, I think that you will know what I mean. You have to watch your back at all times.

There will always be a pack of hounds just waiting to tear you apart if you give them half a chance.

In fact, I must admit that sometimes it seems that politicians argue with the opposing party for the simple reason that that’s what they are, the opposition.

But I suppose that I would rather trust the decisions of a winner of a general election than those of a loser. Which is why I would say ’yes please’ give me the pill.

I was sitting at the desk, idly watching the pigeons on the greenhouse roof. The pigeons were watching the collared doves who, in turn, were weighing up the magpies.

I was pondering on the cost to the nation of keeping a pandemic in the manner to which it has become accustomed.

It must be truly staggering. Be it in intensive care or in a standard ward, it must be enough to give a matron a heart attack.

Since 1948, when the NHS began to operate (ho ho) the service has been free at the point of delivery. Over the last 70 years, what was once a miracle has become a dinosaur.

The current emergency seems unstoppable and now the cost of a world wide vaccination program is beginning to be added up.

Now I think that what would only be a very small step to start with could become a huge avalanche if those of us who could afford to pay for our vaccination did just that.

I have no idea how much per person it would cost, but a donation of £5 or £10 each from those who could afford to pay, would soon add up to millions.

And finally I would like to finish off this week’s column with a thank you.

Mike Wade, who looks after the Island Life section of the Manx Independent mentioned to me that Pullyman had achieved the impossible.

A couple of weeks ago, I set the ball rolling when I brought up the subjects of the Promenade and the TT.

And I quote the words from Mr Wade: ’Pullyman managed to create a debate on the iomtoday website with no nastiness or the like from any contributor’.

I rarely comment on readers’ contributions. But I will repeat the answer that I gave to one some years ago.

He accused me for being self opinionated, inward thinking and having an insular attitude.

I gave him a two word reply:

’Thank you’

Some time ago Pullyman - aka Michael Cowin - was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, a condition that affects people in different ways. Michael discovered writing and Island Life is featuring some of his musings. Sometimes topical, sometimes nostalgic, read about life as seen through the eyes of Pullyman