Bernard Moffatt's blog

The Manx Chief Constable Gary Roberts has described reports of armed police officers in the Manx capitals business quarter early this week as ‘routine’.

A report had been carried by the (non Facebook) social media site Manx Forums which generally picks up this type of story days before the mainstream media. There were various speculative posts but now the Chief Constable has moved to calm concerns telling Isle of Man Newspapers it was routine (link):

I had an indolent day yesterday and getting bored with Facebook just recycled a couple of CDN items and then headed for the hills. In this case the Bride Hills. I was going to toss a coin and decide North or South but by the time I was in the car it was North without prevarication.

MTTVs Paul Moulton is with what pass for the Manx ‘luvvies’ at the Isle of Man Film Festival and he’s in his element (link):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TbAJWJ31AY&feature=youtu.be

With everyone much exercised over genealogy and passports and ‘where and when did you come from’ because of the ‘C’ word I thought I would look back in the mists of time.

At least it might have been that or it could have been recollections of peering into that Celtic haze from the Peel - Michael coast road yesterday and dreaming of Manannán and the Tuatha Dé Danann.

I thought I would have a look at the Tuatha Dé or Tuatha Dé Danann.

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.

Despite the fact that you may think I’m chained to this computer churning out this drivel in fact I can rattle this stuff of in a few moments so have plenty of time to enjoy the natural aesthetic.. I think I oscillate between moments of calm contentment in our environment and short bursts of anger at the plight that some on this Island endure (Note: Must try cognitive behavioural therapy).

My good friend Trevor Cowin is in touch again to point out the current issue that he has with the Tynwald Commissioner for Administration. The issue it seems revolves around what he (the Commissioner) believes his role is and what Trevor thinks the role of an Ombudsman should be.

I’ve been having a customer experience with Manx Telecom - that’s what they call it these days when you ask a few questions.

It all started with their statement last week in the war of words with Sure Mobile (link):

http://www.transceltic.com/blog/manx-telecom-wars-who-do-you-believe

Poverty and deprivation which results in misery, despair and recourse to food aid is not something that just sprang up in the last year or so successive Manx governments have known about it and seemingly done little to tackle it.

In 2011 there were no ‘official statistics but a query from an MHK to then Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw MHK revealed that:

‘There are large numbers of families who are clearly struggling to make ends meet.

I’m spoiled for choice! Lunch consumed I settle back for the ‘after dinner rest awhile’ interlude and scan Crown Dependency News. Eddie Power has an item with Kate Beecroft MHK averring that something called the NEWSNIGHTBLOG is a ‘good read. It certainly is very well written and thought provoking but it's spoiled for me by being drawn back to would Kate consider it a ‘good read’ if Howard hadn’t fired her after that ‘No Orchids for Miss Blandish’ episode.