Manx ministers do the right thing (for a change)

There is going to be NO Fluoride added to the water in the Isle of Man! Brilliant news.

For once they actually listened to the people and all the facts and made the right decision. In my opinion it wasn’t the answer to poor dental health particulary in the youth on the island, but to me we should be working to educate and change peoples lifetstyles and diets rather than mass medicate.

Very positive news and happy the right decision has been made.

Sad it’s over for another year!

Just got back after watching the Senior TT race from Cronk y Voddy. Such a close race until the last lap when Cameron Donald on the Relentless Suzuki had a problem and it opened the race up for John McGuinness to equal Mike Hailwoods 14 TT wins. Well done John.

 

Such a fantastic week of high speed racing on the Isle of Man, loved every minute of it and the weather and atmosphere has been fantastic. 

Oh well back to work and the quiet life now, bring on May/June 2009! Sad its over for another year!

Isle of Man TT action 2008

I have been watching the TT for over 25 years now and I have covered a good many vantage points around the course. I always had a few favourite spots like bottom of Bray Hill, Sulby Straight and Gorse Lea. This year I have been watching at the jump out of Crosby before the Wagon & Horses and the Highlander which is awesome and also just further down the road pas the Wagon & Horses on the inside left hand sweeping corner down the hill.

Its full on high speed, hairs stand up on the back of your neck stuff and its just what I love about the TT. You can’t beat the crushed grass effect on the hedges and the high speed action and danger that makes the TT such a special event.

Caught a bit on camera and thanks to Steve Plater in the earlier practices there are a few extra skid marks - and not on the road!

Enjoy, long may the TT continue year on year!

Busy Day

Can’t tell you everything I did today! Nothing dodgy, but the great manx grapevine might get wind and then the curtains would come down.

 

One thing I can say is that I have not stopped today. The reason, not sure, I have several theories:

1. I take on too much work.

2. I am disorganised, but I really don’t think I am!

3. Technology - you feel like your always being pestered and bombarded with information from phone calls, texts, emails and therefore your head just gets full.

4. I have two kids under two and a half.

5. I don’t often say ‘no’.

6. I am not really having a busy day, everyone else is just more laid back than me? mmm good theory but I doubt it.

7. I had a full nights sleep and therefore the space/time continuem was out of sync with my sleep pattern and I just couldn’t function normally!

I just dont know, one thing is for sure, it aint gonna go away!

 

Well may be a little seen as I am off for TT week. Come on sun you know you want to!

 

 

Bought a barbecue

Just bought a barbecue today, put it together, bought loads of charcoal and now the weathers crap!

Typical british bank holiday!

Lets hope the weather picks up and I can enjoy the sun, TT 2008 and some great manx lamb burgers and seafood kebabs!

mmmmmm

TT 2008 is finally here!

I have been counting the days down from last years superb centenary event and now its here. I couldn’t make the first practice session on Saturday but I will be heading out this evening to sample a few laps.

You cant’ beat it, the atmosphere, the fans and the best racing in what is one of the greatest challenges to mankind!

Sod the killjoys who want it banned, why not wrap us all up in cotton wool from the day we are born! Don’t even get me started on all the statistics!

Its probably the same loons that want to put Fluoride in our water!

Meet the meat

Not blogged for ages. To busy to blog! Summer is here, to much meat to eat! I love barbeques! Bring on summer bring on meat!

Yum

Well earnt!

Work is doing my head in! Off golfing for week in the UK , happy days.

Blogging has taken a sideline!

 

Bring on the sun shine!

 

The Isle of Man- 10 reasons why I love it!

I have lived on the Isle of Man for over 30 years now and I love it here, there is no better place (well when the sun is shining anyway!) Now we are in spring I really start to look forward to the summer and the outdoors.

Here are my 10 reasons why I love it. In no particular order!

1. The coastline - its amazing, brilliant beaches, stunning cliffs

2. The countryside - the gorse, the heather the mixture of hills and valleys and the flat - fantastic

3. The hills - the views are spectacular and from Snaefell (the islands highest peak) you can see The Seven Kingdoms of Man on a clear day. England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, The Isle of Man, The Earth and Heaven. Cool eh?

4. Low Tax! - Brilliant. No capital gains tax, wealth tax, stamp duty and a top rate income tax of 18%ish (I think.)

5. The TT races - its one of the worlds ultimate challenges and has to be seen to be be believed. High speed motorbike racing over 37 and 3/4 miles of the islands public roads. Long may it last forever and sod all the kill joys who want to ban it! I hope they choke on their cornflakes or fall down the stairs! Yeah try and ban cornflakes and stairs you boring lot!

6. The local produce - the meat, vegetables and especially the seafood are second to none. I love the Isle of Man Queen Scallops or Manx Queenies as they are called locally. I am partial to the Manx Loaghton Lamb sausages on occasions, oh and the cheese as well! Yum.

7. The footpaths - there are loads of great walks ranging from coastal cliffs to inland valleys over a wide range of terrain.

8. The people - yes like everywhere you go there are a few tossers that on occasions let the side down, but overall the local residents are a very friendly and hospitable bunch.

9. The sea - speaking from the heart now, I dont think I could ever live far away from the sea. There is just something so great about being surrounded by it. I love the calm summer days when its like a mill pond but I also love it when its rough and the waves are breaking and crashing over the coastal rocks!

10. The general way and quality of life. We have a good schools, hospitals, sports facilities for the local people, low pollution and traffic conjestion. There is also a different pace of life with the local saying going ‘Traa Dy Liooar’ yessir, basically meaning there is ‘time enough’ fella.

There are many more as well, but thats my top ten for now, might share some others with you soon. Can’t wait to get the bbq fired up!

Its Sound on the Isle of Man

Went to the Sound early this today with my daughter and all my time I have lived on the Island, which is nearly thirty one years I can honestly say that I haven’t seen the sea so rough, the waves were massive!

Its a great spot though and I just love the rugged coastline around the Sound, the Calf and the Isle of Man’s coast in general. Glad I wasn’t on a boat today!