Despite Howard averring we are 'wealthier' I bring forward departure plans!

MTTV have nailed Howard Quayle MHK (Manx Chief Minister) down for the weekly press conference which is a relief. I was getting tired of seeing and hearing people like Alf Cannan MHK and Chris Thomas MHK who are kind of the Blackadder and Baldrick of Howard’s regime.

Howard has been on ‘hols’ and as he puts it chilled out. Many people who can’t go on holiday or have enough to eat may be resenting Howards ‘away time’ but I don’t. My mind meanders to happy days spent by myself and the good lady at places like Cromane in Co Kerry with the mobile left at home. All I had to do was read ‘Hitler’s Irish Voices’ a kind of taster for Manx Radio that I bought in a local bookshop and watch ‘The Rose of Tralee’ on one of the three channels on the TV happy days. Gosh they were lovely girls and they could all cook, sew and liked their granny - who was generally in the audience! Actually Pauls weekly meet with Howard is like the aimless banter I watched in ‘The Rose of Tralee’ - strange!

Howard had a good time although he spends an hour a day attending to emails - his wife really should take him in hand. I find myself shouting you need your break man! Then I muse Howard still hasn’t answered my email I hope I’m not getting the Trevor Cowin treatment (Note: Must pop in to Howard’s Office if nothing materialises.)

The MTTV interview style has changed much more professional maybe Paul got some tips from ‘Cannes Media Man’.

Howard avers the Manx economy is doing well and skillfully dodges Pauls query about how much WE are paying to make it do well. Apparently ‘our wealth’ is on the increase - good news - I swiftly check my bank account and think... hmm..may have to bring forward the planned move to Ireland or Transnistria.

Paul is being irritating over Brexit and VAT he’s a bit like the ferret we had at the old Forestry Mines and Land s Board in the 1960s (christ I’m old!) looking for that elusive rabbit hole in Howards plans. Howard pulls a stern face - good for him the holiday worked.

Howard says that he and some other Ministers and politicians plus ‘aides de camp’ are of to the various UK political conferences. I think goodness more holidays! Paul is being annoying again implying it's just a photocall with the UK leaders - perhaps they could photoshop it I think? However Howard brushes this of and talks about ‘movers and shakers’ and ‘getting the message across’ - hmm..well that's worked in the past - not!

They conclude with news the BBC may stuff Manx pensioners over the TV licence again which is par for the course. If it becomes a reality Paul and Howard will have a conversation about it - that's one to miss I hope to be watching ‘telly’ in Transnistria by then.

Here’s the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46-UtkVZw3k&feature=youtu.be

Bernard Moffatt