Our Friends in the North were the first ....... Never mind!

Portents of doom abound in Manxland. MUA Chairman ‘Popeye’ (aka Alex Allinson MHK) reinforced by his boss Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK spoke gloomily of drought recently. However with the tail end of an Atlantic Storm due to catch the British Isles at the weekend the drought could become the flood.

Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot MHK fresh from his summer 'barbeque' is warning about possible problems with the meat market as struggling farmers balance fodder stocks with livestock numbers. There’s nothing for it I do my bit to keep the meat mountain down by lashing some Manx lamb chops in the oven.

Even the Cops apparently have woken up to the fact there are more serious issues than the Castletown Festival and are warning about various post Brexit scenarios.

Meanwhile the posties are under threat according to ‘Postmaster General’ Julie Edge MHk. Julie is going to consult but I don’t see anything on the Government consultations page. So is it consult as per one of those crystal balls and a Gypsy or is Chris Thomas MHK the patron saint of consultation on holiday (answers on a postcard if you’ll forgive the pun).

One reputed Brexit fallout is likely to be an absence of medicines apparently. That will be dire for me so that should cheer up some of the folk who got so angry because I used ‘THAT WORD’ the other day. Health Minister David Ashford MHK is up beat on the issue however but although I quite warm to David he does seem a bit new to the brief can one take his word. Possibly the man to ask is Tynwald President Steve Rodan a chemist of some repute apparently. Steve often attends the Illam Dhone commemoration and on the odd occasion we have exchanged words seems sound.

On the ‘El Presidente’ front I see Steve recently paid a visit to Iceland to cement relations with one of our oldest set of visitors. You could say that Vikings from Iceland were some of the first ‘comeovers’ if you were allowed to use the word but apparently it upsets ‘the world and its granny’ so I won’t.

Anyway although often a critic of Tynwald global meaderings at our expense I’m pleased to give the seal of approval to Steve Rodans Icelandic sojourn. Why I ask myself has he not been invited into ‘the portal’ (Tim Glover take note) to reinforce the value of our Nordic links. Steve’s adventures in the frozen north would be infinitely more interesting than listening to some nerd from Travelwatch bleating on about Liverpool landing stage. As its audio visual Steve could also bring some of his snaps.

All the links to the items mentioned below:

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/chief-minister-urges-wat...

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/dont-sell-off-stock-says...

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=42127&headline=Beware%20medicin...

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/manx-police-monitoring-b...

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/post-office-cuts-to-be-c...

http://www.three.fm/news/isle-of-man-news/tynwald-president-returns-from...

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/travelwatch-wants-answer...

Image: Tynwald President flies the flag up North!

Bernard Moffatt