Thanks Pam, great thought (I understood what you meant ) but we've ditched the shirt - even though he was so comfortable in it.  Time for the cone again.  We tried bandaging his neck so the cone wouldn't chafe, but that wasn't successful.  Honestly, pet aids here are almost non-existent.  I see so many items available in the US and UK, but here in Australia, pet comfort, forget it.  I'm also really disappointed in what our vets here discharge their furry friends with.  I went to every major pet store in a 10k radius today, the best I could get was another rigid cone - at least this one has a slightly padded edging.  I ordered a Comfy-cone from an on-line store over here, and if I'm lucky I'll get it on Tuesday (today is Saturday) I did tell them I need it urgently. 

Lucky was licking furiously during the night, and there was a bit of discharge on the t-shirt.  I'm keeping an eye on the wound.  His sutures are supposed to be coming out in 6 days, but I doubt the bottom of his wound will have healed enough.  He is miserable today, poor boy.  He hates the cone, and I don't blame him.  I hate it too!