Blogs

Finn Burnham, 18, from Betws-y-Coed, has completed an epic 400 nautical mile journey around Wales in the memory of best friend Callum Wylie. Callum, an international level skier and talented mountain biker, tragically died, aged 18, on February  1, days after making an attempt on his own life. Finn started his epic kayak journey on September 1 from Llandudno lifeboat station, tackling inland waterways, locks and rivers. Then he followed the coastline of Wales all the way to the completion of his journey last Saturday, near the Llandudno lifeboat station where it all began.

Last week the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued an alarming report on global warming. The new report focuses on what impacts we might expect from warming of 1.5 degrees and 2 degrees. The Paris climate agreement negotiated in 2015, set a target of no more than 2°C global warming above pre-industrial temperatures, but also an aspirational target of no more than 1.5°C.  This would substantially reduce the risks and effects of climate change. However, there had not been a lot of research into the climate impacts at 1.5°C vs. 2°C.

ALF PLANS A ‘GIVEAWAY’ BUDGET!

I can exclusively reveal that Alf Cannan the Manx Treasury Minister is planning ‘a giveaway budget’ next year the detail is being worked on as we speak by his trusty sidekick Sheila Lowe.

Hang on don’t get excited! Alfs idea of a ‘giveaway’ follows the pattern of earlier budgets and earlier Treasury Ministers in that he takes from the less well off to ‘giveaway’ a wedge of public money and tax breaks to the Chamber of Commerce and business community generally.

Inspired by the earlier post I go in search of knowledge about Manx Agriculture and subsidies. Fortunately Catherine Nicoll is in the Manx Radio ‘portal’ talking to Famers representatives.

They outline the rural agricultural scene as they see it including the recent uncharacteristically dry weather which now seems to have been consigned to history.

The one million plus scheme for drought relief for Farmers hit a slight hiccup when Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper said he had been contacted by farmers who had told him that things were not as bad as they’ve been painted. Nonetheless Tynwald were unswayed by the member for Ramsey.

Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot refuted his concerns saying it was not the ‘impression’ that he had gained and at the Farmers Union (NFU) welcomed the scheme.

Report here on Crown Dependency News about (Lord) Alf Dubs asking what support the Crown Dependencies are giving to provide homes for youngsters from conflict zones in the Middle East.

Dubs himself was a child refugee from Nazi Europe so he understands at first hand the plight of these in some instances very young people who have lost parents and are surviving in dire circumstances.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK had a ‘work out’ earlier in the day with Kate Beecroft MHK. Kate was trying to get Howard to answer some simple questions. However the questions were close to the bone. Its clear to Kate that the Chief Secretary is running the Island. She queries politely is he doing his own thing or is Howard overseeing matters. The Chief Minister gets really cross and adopts the John Bercow style of parliamentary behaviour.

Chief MInister Howard Quayle MHK will be much too stretched preening himself for the media today as he delivers the State of the Nation address to worry too much about poverty so I thought I would help him out. ‘The boss’ seemed to be having difficulty getting his head around the concept so I thought why not send him to New Zealand?

Howard famously trotted off to New Zealand for a jaunt some years ago when he was Health Minister accompanied by short-lived DHSC CEO Mark Charters (aka Father Fintan Stack) so its an obvious choice to resolve his ‘poverty conundrum’.

Originally posted October 2013 by Myghal Map Serpren

In Kernow, the time of Halloween or Samhain, is known as Nos Calan Gwaf and is widely celebrated. Popularly linked to St Allen or Arlan a little known Cornish Saint, it is also known as Allan day.

A 19th century account informs that:

ALF MUSES OVER SOMEONE CALLED ‘HOWARD QUAYLE’

Earlier in the day I’m focused on the forces of darkness later on it's ‘The Dark Prince’. It's the Alf Cannan MHK Year 2 interview on MTTV and you know that while you can give Ann Corlett or Martyn Perkins MHKs a miss and fade Clare Bellison MHK out after a few minutes with Alf - it's a must watch.