Our Phili-Pam

Hi Philip my thoughts are with you and your family. Progress often moves very slowly in these things but Pam is moving in the right way and hopefully much more to come

Hi all Thank you for your lovely Christmas greetings, some which have travelled thousands of miles.

Pam update Pam remains in the loving care of UHCW, as she responds well to her chemo treatment. It maybe New Year before we have any thoughts of a homecoming.

That is good news Philip, so Christmas may be a little different this year so long as Pam is heading in the right direction. Pam and yourself have my sincere best wishes for Christmas and hope for even better further improvement for Pam in the New Year. God Bless. Jo.

Best wishes Pam and Philip for a Happy Christmas and an ever improving new year. We've never met but it's easy to see you are two of the good guys.

I wish you both well for Christmas and the new year, in particular.

We send you both our love and good wishes at this special time of the year, in the hope that you are able to enjoy it, with your family and also in the knowledge that you are in the thoughts and prayers of so many people, both locally and around the world.

Philip, yes my thoughts are as above, we're all rooting for you both, and your families.

Best wishes to you both.

Try and have a good Christmas, Philip and Pam, and hope things are better in the new year.

Hi Annewiggy, This might be as good a festive time as any for Pam and I, Anne. Pam and I are feeling bubbly. I don't want to talk in depth about our faith, as that is not everyone's cup of tea, we are an open forum where I respect our members, but what is the use of an insurance policy if when needed nothing gets paid out. Am not talking about miracles or a magic hand coming out of the sky. Just the fact that we are both so at ease in what is really the worst crisis in our 50 years of marriage. We both feel uplifted as though we are on an airbed. We are not numb and we haven't lost our minds yet. Pam is sharp and knows the extent of her terminal illness, as indeed I do. She has her second bout of chemo today, which if as good as the first, will be a delight. How long any of us live for is only a number. The two toddlers who perished at the hands of a criminal driver in Longfellow Road earlier this year didn't have much of a number, hey. We have enjoyed a fantastic married life which at present we still are. We jested together about the no.9 bus that broke down on Thursday, but we haven't broke down yet. So much of our cushion is from you, our friends on here, our friends worldwide and those close to us. It will never get any better, which is what I wish for everyone, no matter the circumstances. God bless you all and thank you, Anne. Folk like you don't grow on trees. Love you all so much.

All I can say that`s a beautiful and heartwarming message Philip. I faced this 6 years ago with my wife Heather, a marriage of 46 years, she too was very ill at that Christmas, but I heartily agree that we were still the "same" couple at the end and a degree of humour was still evident, particularly when our little dog leapt on to her bed and attempted to share her scrambled egg on toast. The joke was he was/is the biggest thief still not incarcerated in Sing Sing and was quite prepared to take advantage of her condition. We are presently cooking a piece of gammon, reminds us of two years ago, we had cooked gammon then for Boxing Day tea - we never had it, never saw it again - he`d had it. Anyway, warmest Christmas wishes to you both.

Philip and Pam, as I spend the afternoon with my daughter, son-in-law (he that broke your window all those years ago!) and my grandchildren, I'm sure you'll feel the love and warmth of your family and friends around you at this difficult, but joyous, time of year. Our prayers are with you both. x

It's a small world, hey Tony, all those years ago at my parents home in Bodmin, about 1973 I think.

A fitting time of year to say that you are a star Philip in the best possible way. Good wishes to you both.