My dear old Dad used to say "It's never how you write on a subject, it's how it's read that you have to be careful about!"

Well, even though he hasn't been with us for many, many years, I've just proved him right again.

In April, The Newsport published an editorial piece outlining my fears ('Don't take a chance on eclipse day' - Friday 27 April 2012), well more concerns really, for Port Douglas during the unique and exciting Total Solar Eclipse festivities on 14th November this year.

I thought I was coming at it from the angle of helping to ensure that whoever chose to come to Port Douglas (and we hope they come in their thousands) was entitled to a great time, a great view and would genuinely have the greatest experience of their life!

I simply proposed that to guarantee Port Douglas delivered everything these welcome visitors have a right to expect, that all they needed to do was 'pre-plan' their trip. 

This easy pre-planning should include accommodation if they were staying overnight or for a few days, valuable car parking space which probably would come along with their accommodation and, of course, a viewing platform to avoid the throngs of non pre-planners.

And I boldly suggested that if they took these three simple steps, Port Douglas and the planets would deliver the rest.

Apparently in some lofty quarters this was considered to be propaganda for the organisers of the Total Solar Eclipse Marathon - of which I am one.

I'm not sure I've ever hidden that fact, or my association with Port Douglas Events Management who have unearthed some excellent viewing platforms for several scientific groups (at which there will be spare room to gain access to some of the best uninterrupted views of the whole event on the day). 

We are also helping to ensure all spectators for the marathon, once the Eclipse has finished, have a comfortable morning watching and cheering on the national and international field of runners as they battle to complete this challenging adventure marathon.

Actually I'm quite proud of my association to these wonderful events and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to shout about them all!

The Cairns Regional Council and Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce are also organising all sorts of festivities for the day trippers on the Four Mile Beach Esplanade and I'm sure their programme will be publicised at some time in the near future.

So I apologise if anyone thought the advice and concerns I proffered were propaganda.  It was meant to be an honest 'heads up' to the thousands of visitors we hope to welcome on the day.

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Afterall, if all the designated commercial viewing platforms are booked up, then surely that will help free up the public spaces in Port Douglas and surrounding region for the casual visitor.

I don't want anyone going away from Port with a sour taste in their mouth because they didn't get what they were expecting. 

Well, this all seems to make sense to me but then I'm writing the article, so please don't listen to my dad, read it how it was meant to be read, as good old fashioned advice. 

There's no hidden agenda - all I want you to do is have an experience on the 14th November 2012 that you can pass on to your grandchildren about the day you saw the Total Solar Eclipse in Port Douglas. 

And when someone asks you about it you can say with smile "I was there, and I saw it all."

See you on the dark side!