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‘Never apologise it's a sign of weakness’ so the saying goes! I’ve never subscribed to the adage myself believing that on occasion an apology is the best recourse.

‘Baron Boot’ our Agriculture and Environment Minister is used to ‘dining al fresco’ with his barbecue apron and kit but in this interview (courtesy of Manx Radio) he gets a ‘roasting’ himself from an irate Manx ‘Green’.

After the summer barbecue affair the miniscule Minister proffered apologies all round. Quite the genial host I was quite swayed by his humility over the matter. However it seems after his recent climate change faux pas it will take more than a slightly overdone sausage or burger around the Boot ‘barbie’ to promote harmony with the Greens.

News from the Celtic League:

Renewed controversy surrounds the death of Willie McRae in 1985. The death of the SNP political figure and environmentalist has been ruled a suicide by authorities although over the years ambiguities repeatedly arise to challenge that contention.

The latest controversy surrounds evidence from an intensive care nurse who treated McRae in hospital (NATIONAL link):

The result of Presidential Election in Ireland has seen Michael D Higgins elected on the first count to serve a second term in Áras an Uachtaráin. In what has been described as the most lacklustre presidential contest for many years, the incumbent, Michael D Higgins, victory came as little surprise. However, the increase in support for Peter Casey, from a low point in the pre-election opinion polls, to second place with 23.3% of first preference votes surprised many.

The Cornish Culture Association presents its very own Allantide celebration. Allantide is the Cornish version of Halloween. During the evening we will be celebrating the unique customs associated with the time of year., These include 1) The giving of Allan apples 2) The family table 3) The tindle bonfire 4) The apple cross game and much more. 

Please make a turnip Jack-O-Lantern - Prize for the best one. If you have a pumpkin they are welcome but won't be able to enter the competition.

The Ulster City of Derry (Doire) host's a massive Halloween party from 26 October through 3 November. The event, which is billed as the “Return of the Ancients", includes a Carnival Parade and various events in and arouned the city of Doire. The Festival is held on the days leading up to Halloween, which is the modern name for the pre-Christian Celtic feast day of Samhain. Celtic Myth surrounding Samhain (Halloween) includes many tales of Shape Shifting Fairies who emerge at Halloween when the door to the Otherworld opens.

Two resolutions were successfully moved by the Manx branch Secretary of the Celtic League at the organisations AGM in Glasgow last weekend.

One related to the long standing support of the League for the Chagos Islanders who were evicted from their homes in the 1960s. The other resolution related to the industrial harvesting of kelp off the West of Scotland which could impact the eco balance of Marine life not just there but in the wider sea area of the West of these Islands.

We record our sadness at the passing of Colin Murley, member of the Cornish Stannary Parliament and Cornish Patriot.

Colin and Cornish Stannary Team took on English Heritage in 2000 by openly removing and confiscating some of their their signage in Cornwall, a case which ended up in Truro Crown Court and which caused utter chaos in the highest legal offices in the land and even in the Government's security services and with the Duke of Cornwall resulting in the case being discontinued by the Crown which had been fairly and squarely beaten by the Cornish Patriots.

The Menai Strait (Welsh: Afon Menai) is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water approximately 16 miles long, that separates the island of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) from the mainland of Wales (Cymru). The strait varies in width from about 1,300 ft (400 metres) 3,800ft (1,160 metres). The differential tides at the two ends of the strait cause strong currents that flow in both directions through the strait at different times, creating dangerous conditions. One of the most dangerous areas of the strait is known as the Swellies (Welsh Pwll Ceris) between two bridges that span the Strait.

All is not well in ‘Camelot’ (aka the Chief Ministers Offices on Prospect Hill). Howard Quayle MHK is involved in yet another embarrassing climb down due it seems to getting dodgy info before spouting in Tynwald (see link):

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/quayle-hits-back-at-bull...

I likened Kate Beecroft a while ago to ‘The Lady of Shalott’ but in this instance the ‘curse’, as Tennyson put it, is not on Beecroft it’s on the Chief Minister (CM).