Firstly thank you to everyone who came to the open day last Friday or sent good wishes as the clinic celebrated 18 years of Therapeutic Massage in Ponteland. It was lovely to have time to chat over coffee and reminisce about the years we’ve spent together. Some of you remember the early days working in The Spa others my time at Darras Hall Surgery or the Osborne Clinic. You have supported me and been most generous with the charity events I have taken part in especially my trip to Bosnia Herzegovina, my zip wire off the Tyne Bridge and of course cycling the Grand Depart of the Tour de France.

18 years is a long time and we have been through some times together, happy and sad, and that is what builds a community and allows a small local business to thrive. You have challenged me and encouraged me to be the best therapist I can. Continuing study and development supported by your feedback have put me in a position to try new things. Who’d have thought I’d ever go to the Olympics or Commonwealth Games? Working with elite athletes is an amazing experience made possible by an equally amazing group of people back home who support me in my business. You have been case studies for new treatments and waited while I took time out to be at events such as London 2012.

I will always be grateful to have found a job I love and a community to work with. Don’t ever think I work hard all day massaging for little reward! The rewards are beyond rubies.