May 2016 | the MICRO issue

Isle of Man Premier Magazine | no. 53 | May 2016 | the [MICRO] issue

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#53 #52 the MICRO issue

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Gallery is published eleven times a year as a fresh yet discerning guide to all that happens on the Island and beyond. Not too arty farty superior or too serious, written by you and enjoyed by people everywhere.

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CONTRIBUTORS

WHO WE ARE

EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER

Clare Bowie Hannah Goodby Michelle Tonnesen Linda Huxley Anne Berry Jennifer Parkes Sam New Maria Hill Jessica Ledger Grant Runyon Les Able Suzy Holland Rebecca Lawrence Adam Jazard Rachel Green Theo Leworthy Anne Moorhouse Leon Flemming Richard Evans Martin Fox Tim Bradshaw

Steve Redford T: 07624 249249 steve@gallery.co.im ADVERTISING SALES

Bev Lawley T: 07624 415096 bev@gallery.co.im ACCOUNTS

accs@gallery.co.im T: 01624 619540 laura@gallery.co.im DESIGN STUDIO

design@gallery.co.im PAPARAZZI

T: 01624 619540 paparazzi@gallery.co.im

ILLUSTRATIONS

DISTRIBUTION

T: 01624 619540 www.gallery.co.im/distribution distro@gallery.co.im

Russ Atkinson Jon Moore Adam Berry Alex Probst

DESIGN STUDIO

Emma Cooke Russ Atikinson Alex Probst

GALLERY MAGAZINE

Quay House, South Quay, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 5AR Tel: 01624 619540 www.gallery.co.im

PHOTOGRAPHY

Peter Kwiecinski Brian Mitchell Phil Kneen Matt Mousor

Contact The Firm:

+44 7624 478130 FirmIOM@outlook.com Tower House, 1st Floor - Unit 8 | Entrances from Castle Street or Loch Promenade Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2EZ

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Disclaimer. All rights reserved. Any form of reproduction of Gallery Magazine, in part or whole is strictly prohibited without the written consent of the publisher. Any views expressed by advertisers or contributors may not be those of the publisher. Unsolicited artwork, manuscripts and copy are accepted by Gallery Magazine, but the publisher cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage. All material, copy and artwork supplied is assumed to be copyright free unless otherwise advised. Contributions for Gallery should be emailed to editorial@gallery.co.im. Names have been changed to protect the innocent and no penguins were harmed in the manufacture of this magazine, you can’t prove nuffing. Why are you still reading the small print? How about researching what really makes the best paper aeroplane? Test them with your friends or colleagues, add a picture to our Facebook and we’ll send you some doughnuts.

EDITO

UPFRONT

#53

[MICRO] Isle of Man Premier Magazine | no. 53 | MAY 2016 | the [MICRO] issue

#52

the APPETITE issue BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

edito

£ priceless

WWW.GALLERY.CO.IM

COVER CREDIT Photographer: Shan Fisher Model: Lucy Cringle Makeup Artist: Heather Maddrell Flowers: Heidi Keane – The Flower Studio Neil Technician: Christine Cowley Hairstylist: Jenna O'Sullivan Styling: Beckii Flint & Shan Fisher Location: Florence and Rose

ARE YOU IN? You can also view paparazzi photos on our facebook page.

T

he thing about size, is that it’s all relative. We see this relativity in action here in the Isle of Man all the time. Living on a 30/15 mile piece of granite that is socially and economically alike to a ‘proper country’ places us squarely in a microcosmic reality; a ‘small world’.

The trouble with our charming ‘small world’ is that it is getting smaller… Well, relatively at least; because we are getting bigger. It’s true on several levels; the population is growing larger all the time and each successive generation of kids seem to be taller than the last… That and the ever increasing obesity warnings mean we are getting literally, physically bigger too.

Here’s some scientific trivia that supports it. The human population is growing at such an alarming rate that now, when it comes to organising our societies, we have more in common with ants than our closet living animal relatives, the chimpanzees.

Mark Moffatt, author of a study, published in the journal Behavioural Ecology wrote; “With a maximum size of about 100, no chimpanzee group has to deal with issues of public health, infrastructure, distribution of goods and services, market economies, mass transit problems, assembly lines and complex teamwork, agriculture and animal domestication, warfare and slavery.

Ants have developed behaviours addressing all of these problems.” Only humans and ants have developed full-blown warfare.”

Look on the bight side though… We’re bigger than them!

SR

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PUBLISHED WITH GUSTO IN THE ISLE OF MAN BY

Gallery, Agenda, Places, and Paparazzi are trading styles of 221LTD. Registered in the Isle of Man no. 125981C.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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WILKINS WATCH of the MONTH

IN FUNCTION AS WELL AS IN NAME, THE GMT-MASTER II EVOKES INTERCONTINENTAL TRAVEL ACROSS TIME ZONES. GREENWICH MEAN TIME (GMT) MARKS MEAN SOLAR TIME AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY IN GREENWICH, LONDON – HISTORICALLY THE LOCATION OF THE OFFICIAL PRIME MERIDIAN USED FOR CALCULATING LONGITUDE AND DETERMINING DIFFERENT TIME ZONES AROUND THE WORLD.

ACROSS TIME ZONES

As intercontinental travel developed in the 1950s with the advent of the jet age, airliners began to fly swiftly across successive time zones, making it important to know simultaneously the time in various places in the world (such as the airports of departure and arrival, or local time and GMT reference time). The GMT-Master was developed to meet the specific needs of airline pilots. It became the official watch of several airlines, including Pan American World Airways, better known worldwide as Pan Am.

www.wilkinsthejeweller.co.uk

24-HOUR DISPLAY AND INDEPENDENT HOUR HAND

In addition to conventional hour, minute and seconds hands, the GMT-Master II features an arrow-tipped hand which circles the dial once every 24 hours, as well as a bidirectional rotatable 24-hour graduated bezel. This 24-hour hand displays the reference time (“home” time for example), which can be read on the graduations on the bezel.

Travellers can read local time on the dial, indicated by the hour hand. It is easily set, “jumping” from hour to hour thanks to an ingenious mechanism operated via the winding crown. The adjustment can be made independently of the minute and seconds hands, and without affecting the running of the watch or the reference time. As a result, travellers can simultaneously read the time where they are as well as the time “back home”. By using the rotatable bezel, a third time zone can also be displayed.

NEW 24-HOUR ROTATABLE BEZEL

The bezel was carefully designed to fulfil ideally its function – displaying the time in different time zones. Rolex developed a new bezel rotation system with a spring whose innovative geometry allows the bezel to be turned crisply and securely in either direction and located with a positive click in each of the 24 hour positions. This exclusive system also ensures reliable functioning of the bezel over time.

ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL GMT-MASTER II THE OYSTER CASE, SYMBOL OF WATERPROOFNESS

THE GMT-MASTER II, SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER

Like all watches in the Oyster collection, each GMT-Master II is certified as a Superlative Chronometer. This exclusive designation attests that it has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, which exceed watchmaking norms and standards.

These tests are carried out on the fully assembled watch, in order to guarantee its superlative performance on the wrist.

The precision of every movement – officially certified as a chronometer

by COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute) – is, therefore, tested a second time by Rolex after being cased, to ensure that it meets criteria for precision that are far more exacting than those for an official chronometer.

The unique way in which Rolex watches are designed, manufactured and tested, together with the exclusive innovations from which they benefit, push back the limits of performance for mechanical watches and make Rolex the benchmark for watchmaking excellence. The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

The GMT-Master II’s Oyster case, guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet), is a paragon of robustness. The characteristically shaped middle case is crafted from a solid block of metal: 18 ct gold or particularly corrosion-resistant 904L steel. The fluted case back is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement. The winding crown, fitted with the Triplock triple waterproofness system, screws down securely against the case.

The crown guard is an integral part of the middle case. The crystal, with a Cyclops lens at 3 o’clock for easy reading of the date, is made of virtually scratchproof sapphire. The waterproof Oyster case provides the GMT-Master II’s high-precision movement with optimal protection.

PERPETUAL CALIBRE 3186

The GMT-Master II is equipped with calibre 3186, a self-winding mechanical movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Its architecture, manufacturing and innovative features make it singularly precise and reliable.

BRACELET AND CLASP, COMFORTABLE AND SECURE The GMT-Master II’s Oyster bracelet is equipped with a Rolex-designed and -patented, Oysterlock safety clasp that prevents accidental opening. It is additionally fitted with the Easylink comfort extension link, also exclusive to Rolex. This ingenious system allows the wearer to increase the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm, providing additional comfort in any circumstance.

76 Strand Street, Douglas Isle of Man IM1 2EW T: 01624 690450 E: enquiries@wilkinsthejeweller.co.uk /Wilkinsjewellers

www.wilkinsthejeweller.co.uk

UPFRONT

CONTENTS PICKS FEATURE

SIZE MATTERS

FEATURE CULTURE

Y : NE DAIL HO IP KE 1 TA I’d generally assumed that the future would contain cars that were smaller, safer and lighter, but then I remind myself that I don’t live in Tokyo but here, where we are steadily working towards total gridlock in the mornings so that stressed executives and their trophy wives can spend quality time with the kids amidst the roiling fug of carbon monoxide belched out by their inappropriate offroad vehicles.

SIZE MATTERS: NEWER IS SMALLER

[EXCEPT WHEN IT’S

BIGGER] words | Grant Runyon

CULTURE

“Electronic technology is like a supermodel - it has to become lighter and thinner just to prove itself, whereas vehicles are more like Jordan - the more cartoonishly pumped-up, stupid and poisonous they become the more profitable they are.”

If only the same principles behind mobile phone design could be applied to cars.

They’d be about as wide as a supermarket trolley and constructed entirely from carbon fibre, although it’s also true that they’d probably stop working as soon as you drive through a valley, and you’d need to turn your diesel roaming off every time you went to the UK unless you wanted to arrive home to a bill the size of the UK’s budget deficit.

Illustration | Chelsea White

I

f you ever want to feel like you’re living in the future, root around in your cupboards for an hour and see what it’s like to spend 24 hours relying on technology you thought was impossibly cutting-edge when you were about ten. I did, so I’m composing this on a steam-powered typewriter, and will transmit the finished product to Gallery Towers by means of semaphore and carrier pigeon. I hope to see it published on Ceefax as soon as possible.

A PHONE SO SMALL IT COULD BE EATEN BY A GECKO. I held off from buying a smartphone for so long that I’ve turned into one of those idiots who coos over my iPhone like it’s an especially clever baby, but I expect the next model will leave my current phone looking so fat, inadequate and outdated that I will be crippled with shame until I sell one of my kidneys and trade it in for another dose of Apple’s shiny crack. Electronic technology is like a supermodel - it has to become lighter and thinner just to prove itself, whereas vehicles are more like Jordan - the more cartoonishly pumped-up, stupid and poisonous they become the more profitable they are.

Just one day spent using an early mobile phone, analogue camera or ‘vintage’ CRT television will produce both massive irritation and an eerie sense of everything being slightly out of scale. Phones, cameras and computers have become miniscule, lightweight things that are faster and quieter than ever before - whereas cars, televisions and Super Soaker water pistols have swollen to a scale better suited to Andre the Giant.

A SMALL CAR THE SIZE OF A BABY BUS. Have you seen a Mini recently? It’s more or less the same shape, and seats the same number of people, but the designers have seen fit to inflate it til it has assumed the proportions of a steel midget on anabolic steroids. There’s a lot of them in town, and every time I see one I expect circus music to start playing and a parade of chromed clowns to start pouring out the side door.

For my money, the new average size of televisions and computers is the real proof that I live in Tomorrow’s World. More sensible

futurists might put forward ‘vastly increased life expectancy’ and ‘human understanding of quantum physics’, but I doubt those people grew up fantasising about a Nintendo that could do more than 64 colours or owning their own Laserdisc machine.

My current television is so large that I can see right up Jeremy Kyle’s nose and into his tiny, hate-filled brain, and comes with the ability to stream at least a million channels across the internet in a resolution that makes my eyes throw up. It’s lucky that most of them are religious channels from Mozambique or repeats of Babestation, as the TV uses enough power over the weekend to light up an African hospital for a month.

My computer, on the other hand, is like a sleek silver robot that has sex with my brain, guiding me across the internet in my ceaseless search for news, music and videos of The Crystal Maze. It is quiet, slim and beautiful, awash with vivid colours and so precisely engineered that it feels like it was dug up by explorers on the planet Mars. My first computer looked like it was constructed from ugly Soviet Lego and smelled of burning wires, whereas this manages to be larger and more powerful whilst feeling unobtrusive, calming and even kind. Reading that last sentence back, and can see clearly that this machine is so enhanced that it’s stealthily reprogramming my suggestible mind, but I don’t care, because it’s so efficient I can author six spreadsheets just by stroking a bit of metal and winking suggestively at the webcam.

The Island, as seen through Killip’s camera lens, makes a lasting impression.

What he saw and what he chose to photograph has the ongoing power to startle and unsettle as well as to mesmerise and delight.

to pretend they live two decades in the past, I don’t expect there’s much market for tiny televisions or chunky mobiles that make the hairs on your testes fall off. Instead, I expect to be the proud owner of a television so stupidly gigantic that it wraps round most of my living room and into the toilet, pumping enough BBC iPlayer into my tired brain that solid lumps of coagulated panel show start dripping from my nose whilst I’m asleep at my desk.

Cornelly and Greeba

MANX NATIONAL HERITAGE ARCHIVIST WENDY THIRKETTLE INTRODUCES A NEW EXHIBITION AT THE MANX MUSEUM

I expect an iPhone so tiny that I have to swallow it each day like a birth control pill, or jam it into my eyeball like a disposable contact lens so it can beam Twitter straight onto my brain and block out sensory input from all non-Apple brands and any humans whose DNA is copyrighted by Microsoft. That will probably mean I can’t even see the massive TV any more, causing Sony to dispatch PS5 robot death squads to Applestan, whilst the Googleplex simultaneously becomes selfaware and decides that Youtube comments are conclusive proof that humanity must be cleansed with thermonuclear fire.

W

indswept landscapes, the eyes of people staring assuredly into a camera, glimpses of the fabric of hearth and home. These and much more besides may be observed in the Isle of Man photography of Chris Killip. In 1970 this Manxman set out to photograph the Island. Travelling to many varied places over the course of three years he captured buildings, interiors, natural features and people of all ages at work and rest.

Our tombstone will be a line of cars from Athol St to the bottom of Victoria St, each one the size of a monster truck and containing a family of atrophied pod-people who’ve been queuing since the great ice age of 2112.

Future civilisations of mutant seagulls will dig them up and wonder, although the subtle mysteries of human art, love and the location of all the secret eggs in Angry Birds will be lost in time, like tears in rain.

Selected images from the resulting work were published in 1980 in Isle of Man. A book about the Manx. Now, visitors to the Manx Museum, Douglas have the rare opportunity to view large prints provided by Chris Killip himself. Manx National Heritage is proud to host Chris Killip’s Isle of Man Revisited in the temporary gallery between 7 May and 30 July 2016.

Fifty stunning Killip images have been chosen for display out of a total of 252 large prints held by the MNH Library and Archives. Some have never been seen in public before while others appear in the 2015 book Isle of Man Revisited. They all benefit from viewing in a gallery space where they are left to speak for themselves or through the reflections of the photographer himself.

RISE OF THE MACHINES. So what’s next for technology? How can things possibly get any larger or indeed smaller unless they start moving backwards?

Despite the best efforts of ridiculous hipsters

The exhibition will trace the early years and influences of this remarkable photographer who was born in the Highlander Inn, Marown in 1946. His Manx work came after gaining over five years’ experience working among professional photographers in 1960s London.

Many of the images are set on farms. Killip had no specific plan but in his own words followed one thing after another. He used family connections, contacts with people he knew from childhood and initiative.

Often I would see someone somewhere, maybe at a farm sale or at the mart and I would be looking at a face and say who is that over there, where do they farm and I would just turn up.

Knocking on the door of a stranger somewhere in the countryside he would be quizzed on his family connections before usually being given permission to photograph.

Killip’s images have a certain style and character so it is interesting to learn that it was the practicalities of using a plate camera on a slow shutter speed that led to use of particular locations. Chris needed to take people somewhere quiet where they could prop themselves up to hold still for the time needed. “A doorway is good because often they were whitewashed and the light would reflect back”. He continues,

“When you are using a plate camera it is a very formal process. Although people are resting, for me the process is formal, so people had a chance to address the camera.

They would prepare themselves without me saying anything.” Whilst not directing proceedings he did use the occasional trick such as putting his hands in his pockets, an action copied by the men.

The Island, as seen through Killip’s camera lens, makes a lasting impression. What he saw and what he chose to photograph has the ongoing power to startle and unsettle as well as to mesmerise and delight.

Killip himself recognises the different relationships people can have to his work. It makes him “very happy that the work is in the Isle of Man because that is where it well and truly belongs. It is more open to all sorts of other meanings which it couldn’t have in other places because it doesn’t belong.”

Exhibition dates: 7 May – 30 July 2016, Manx Museum, Kingswood Grove, Douglas AN AFTERNOON WITH CHRIS KILLIP - MANX MUSEUM, SATURDAY 7 MAY @ 2PM Chris Killip will provide insights into his career and will sign purchased copies of his book Isle of Man Revisited from 3pm.Tickets: £10 Adult, £5 Student available from the Manx Museum Gallery Shop & www.manxnationalheritage.im 10% discount to Members.

Mrs Hyslop, Ballachrink, the Braaid

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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24/05/2012 16:41

FEATURE: Size Matters

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CULTURE: Chris Killip Isle of Man Revisited

THE REST UPFRONT

AGENDA

Edito...........................................................................................................................5

In The News........................................................................................................44

Size Matters..........................................................................................................10

Movers & Shakers..............................................................................................48

What’s On..................................................................................................12

Business Events.................................................................................................54

15 Things you know when you have micro people....................13

Uk Billionaires fewer and poorer................................................................52

Bigger isn’t better...................................................................................14

How to invest in Whisky................................................................................54

Me & My Pet.........................................................................................................16

New CEO at Manx Wildlife Trust.....................................................58

News in Numbers....................................................................................19

Mind The Micromanagement............................................................60

Give........................................................................................................................20

On the Right Track................................................................................62

Laura Adams & Rob Booth’s Wedding Day................................22

Manx Startisan....................................................................................................66 Microbrewery.......................................................................................................70

CULTURE

Brave New Era in Technology......................................................................72

Chris Killip Revisited............................................................................26

Virtual Reality enters the real world........................................................74

Culture Vulture.................................................................................................28

Fear of BOTS......................................................................................................76

Culture News..........................................................................................29 Landmark Birthday of Michael Sandle RA..................................30

PLACES

Essentia..................................................................................................................34

Feature properties........................................................................77-106

UPLOAD....................................................................................................36

TRAVEL

8

FASHION & BEAUTY Get the look...........................................................................................108

Micro Missions....................................................................................................40

Andreas Fashion Show................................................................................109

Travel Gadgets...................................................................................................42

Beauty Products..............................................................................................112

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

TRAVEL

WANDERLUST

WANDERLUST

The world’s most insanely small caves

Tiny houses have long been established as an affordable home alternative, as well as an educational tool for sustainable design.

WORDS Tamarin Marriott-Wilkinson

We all know size isn’t everything. From picturesque bays to chic retreats, to outdoor adventures, you don’t always have to go large to have a good time...

WORDS | Amy Tocknell |

PICTURED HERE: Blue Grotto, Capri & Blue Caves, Zakynthos (inset)

MICRO MISSION

Blue Caves Zakynthos, Greece On the Greek Island of Zakynthos, Blue Caves cut into the cliffs around Cape Skinari and can only be reached by small boat. Once inside, you’ll discover the white pebbles and walls of the floor emanate a vivid hue.

Sleep tight in the smallest hotel in the world

Size isn’t everything If you’re thinking logically, taking a trip to a tiny island means less time travelling, and more time spent sipping cocktails on the sidelines.

Central Cafe, Copenhagen For £170 per-night, you can enjoy a snooze in the world’s smallest hotel.

Take a nap in a sleep pod, Nine Hours Hotel, Japan That innovative Japanese experience - sleeping in a pod, in the heart of the city. Sometimes space in unnecessary and if all you’re after is a place to rest your head, Japan have it sorted.

Some of the more contemporary versions boast hugely visually exciting experiences in a compact space - despite their small size, micro hotels are becoming a big trend.

Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba, Dutch Netherlands Antilles Serene tiny, New York The “serene cabin” located upstate New York, in the idyllic region of Finger Lakes is an ideal suitor to the quiet, eco enthusiast. Just a stones throw away from one of the region’s many hiking hot spots, on the Finger Lakes Wine Trail, this serene setting is an ideal option for a relaxing getaway.

Inside you’ll find a sleeping loft, a balcony ‘in the trees’ and an unreal outdoor shower, as well as a sauna and fire pit.

With steep cliffs on one side, the Caribbean Sea on the other and a runway measuring just 400 metres long, you have to be a pretty experienced pilot to make this landing. The only planes making this journey are the ones heading to St Maarten - just 12 minutes away.

ON THE

After a few days spent in a smaller environment, you may even decide to downsize yourself.

NOMAD Micro Homes have designed a house that features all the living functions you could ever need in a sleek, 10” x 10” package (pictured above). The tiny house has all the necessities to go off the grid, with PV cells, rainwater collection and grey water treatment, the basic model will set you back a tiny 19k.

RIGHT

Dinner for Two - Solo per Due, Italy

TRACK

Measuring just 30 square metres, Solo per Due sits just 2 people, and as the name suggests, houses only one table. Only 1500 lucky diners get to try the dishes at this exclusive restaurant per year, which sits in the grounds of an historic villa, once owned by the celebrated poet Horace - with this in mind, reservations are a must!

Inside the historically decorated room, you’ll find all your usual amenities including a flatscreen, iPhone docking station, retro bedside lamps, a padded door for extra sound-proofing and an en-suite...oh and just about enough room to swing a cat.

You’re never too young to start working on your empire and Joseph Dooley is proof of that incarnate. At just 27 years old, he is making a move to become a leader in the exclusive highpowered automotive sector and it’s clear that nothing is going to slow him down.

Gozo, Malta Measuring just 26 square miles, Malta’s smaller sister, Gozo, is a must-visit destination if you’re looking for some down time.

Just a 25-minute ferry ride to the north, Gozo is as green as it is rural. Embellished with Baroque churches and a scattering of golden bays, it’s the perfect place to visit if you’re a little bit of history buff (you’ll find archaeological sites dating as far back as the Bronze Age here) who enjoys relaxing at the same time.

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PHOTOGRAPHS | Liam Gilman

Those curious about what it would be like to live in a tiny home will be pleased to learn there are some unique, retro and tiny houses dotted around the world - all of which, with the intro of start-ups such as Airbnb, can be rented out...

Measuring eight by ten-foot, the Central boasts one room only, which sits above the Central Cafe - Copenhagen’s smallest coffee shop.

Vis, Croatia Micro in size and mysterious in nature, Vis sits at the furthest point from the Croatian mainland. Once a military base - only opening up to foreign visitors in 1989 - it’s now a remote, picturesque holiday hot spot.

With just two settlements, a scattering of local vineyards, superb seafood, and hidden coves, it’s this enforced remoteness that forms part of its tranquil essence.

in-business

Ever wondered what it would be like to downsize...

If you have some pretty impressive climbing/dunking equipment to hand, then a trip to an insanely small cave is a must!

Blue Grotto, Capri The entrance to the Blue Cave is so close to sea level, the only way to gain access is to lye flat on your back. Inside, you’ll find a second underwater entrance way that glows a vibrant bright blue.

TRAVEL

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic The quaint, fairytale town of Cesky Krumlov is said to be one of the most charming destinations in the world. From the cobbled streets to the cutesy eateries, this idyllic place is far cry from the hustle and bustle of McDonald-laden city’s. Tip - visit in the summer season and practice your sailing skills down the Vltavy River.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

TRAVEL: Micro Mission

APPETITE New Chef at The Abbey Restaurant........................................................114

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Joseph Dooley, known to his friends and customers as Joe, has grown up on the Isle of Man, giving him a unique perspective as to what the residents want and expect from their cars. Unsurprisingly, many are in the market for something a little more exclusive and unusual than a standard hatchback and he is only too pleased to oblige by providing a top of the range search and acquire service, alongside his exemplar sales endeavours.

Growing up with a keen interest in cars, Joe notes that sports cars were what really got his motor running, “Obviously, when I was growing up, supercars and high performance vehicles were more scarce on the Isle of Man, so if and when I ever saw one, I would get excited and want to learn everything about it. How fast it was, how much money it cost; I wanted to know it all and usually, a poster of it would end up on my bedroom wall. In an amazing twist of fate, I have now either driven or sold newer versions of almost everything I used to stare at on my wall. As cheesy as it sounds, it was something that I never ever envisaged or imagined could happen, so I guess you could call it a little boys dream come true.”

ON THE AGENDA

Going on to talk more about Joe’s new business venture, his passion for all things powerful and elite is clear and it gives a good insight as to why he has decided to step out from other people’s shadows in a bid to offer the very best, under his own steam and name.

Having always worked for or alongside other motor trade professionals, Joe has had the time to finely hone his craft, but not just in the form of an irresistible selling technique; what makes Joe so individual is his ability to understand and envisage what a customer wants, even before they know. Added to this is his understanding that the customer is king and how you treat them will directly impact on future business and growth, “I strongly believe that the service that you give to people will be reflected in your repeat business and a steady growth in new

customers. The motor trade on the Isle of Man often sees customers looking at buying a new car but settling for second best, so many will find the model of the car they want, but with the wrong engine and in a different colour, but due to a lack of choice, they end up compromising on what they want.”

Understanding that second best is not good enough, Joe is on a mission to bring his customers everything they want and more and thanks to his innovative ‘find my car’ feature on his website, customers can dictate everything they want, then sit back in comfort while Joe does all the hard work and finds exactly what they want, bringing it over from the UK mainland, if needed. The best part of this tailored service, however, is that nothing is left to chance, allowing even the most inexperienced car buyers to feel in safe hands.

...his passion for all things powerful and elite is clear and it gives a good insight as to why he has decided to step out from other people’s shadows in a bid to offer the very best. agenda

IN-BUSINESS

LA Piazza - Chef Speak..................................................................................119 Neat. No Tonic.......................................................................................120

agenda

W E A LT H BUSINESS T E C H N O LO G Y

BUSINESS NEWS, VIEWS AND COMMENTS

agenda

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O N T H E A G E N D A n N O 2 0 n M AY 2 0 1 6

W E A LT H - U K BILLIONAIRES ARE FEWER AND POORER

New dining environment at 14 North......................................................122

BUSINESS - JOSEPH DOOLEY - ON THE RIGHT TRACK

TECHNOLOGY - VIRTUAL REALITY ENTERS THE REAL WORLD

Wine Talk.................................................................................................124

ACTIVE

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AGENDA: BESTCARS - On The Right Track

Appetite News.......................................................................................116 Recipes.......................................................................................................118

Every car is thoroughly vetted to ensure that it hasn’t been in any accidents, is in the best condition possible and has no outstanding finance agreements on it and it’s only then, when a customer is 100% sure that it’s the car they want, that any money needs to change hands and even then it is only a nominal holding deposit to transport it to the island.

This is quite a change from the archetypal images of car salesmen, but that’s exactly what Joe is, a new breed of automotive dealer that seeks to surprise customers with his integrity and dedication.

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What is Yoga to you?.....................................................................................126

Isle of Man | Home & Interiors | May 2016

Cyclefest IoM 2016..........................................................................................128

The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man

HARDWARE Motoring News..................................................................................................132 Top 10 RL360 TT facts...................................................................................134 Phone Home......................................................................................................130

PAPARAZZI Are you in?................................................................................................139-146

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

THE BEST PLACE TO FIND A NEW PLACE IN THE ISLE OF MAN

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FEATURE

SIZE MATTERS

Y : NE DAIL HO IP KE 1 TA

SIZE MATTERS: NEWER IS SMALLER

[EXCEPT WHEN IT’S

BIGGER] words | Grant Runyon

Illustration | Chelsea White

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f you ever want to feel like you’re living in the future, root around in your cupboards for an hour and see what it’s like to spend 24 hours relying on technology you thought was impossibly cutting-edge when you were about ten. I did, so I’m composing this on a steam-powered typewriter, and will transmit the finished product to Gallery Towers by means of semaphore and carrier pigeon. I hope to see it published on Ceefax as soon as possible.

Just one day spent using an early mobile phone, analogue camera or ‘vintage’ CRT television will produce both massive irritation and an eerie sense of everything being slightly out of scale. Phones, cameras and computers have become miniscule, lightweight things that are faster and quieter than ever before - whereas cars, televisions and Super Soaker water pistols have swollen to a scale better suited to Andre the Giant.

A SMALL CAR THE SIZE OF A BABY BUS. Have you seen a Mini recently? It’s more or less the same shape, and seats the same number of people, but the designers have seen fit to inflate it til it has assumed the proportions of a steel midget on anabolic steroids. There’s a lot of them in town, and every time I see one I expect circus music to start playing and a parade of chromed clowns to start pouring out the side door.

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

FEATURE

“Electronic technology is like a supermodel - it has to become lighter and thinner just to prove itself, whereas vehicles are more like Jordan - the more cartoonishly pumped-up, stupid and poisonous they become the more profitable they are.”

I’d generally assumed that the future would contain cars that were smaller, safer and lighter, but then I remind myself that I don’t live in Tokyo but here, where we are steadily working towards total gridlock in the mornings so that stressed executives and their trophy wives can spend quality time with the kids amidst the roiling fug of carbon monoxide belched out by their inappropriate offroad vehicles.

If only the same principles behind mobile phone design could be applied to cars.

They’d be about as wide as a supermarket trolley and constructed entirely from carbon fibre, although it’s also true that they’d probably stop working as soon as you drive through a valley, and you’d need to turn your diesel roaming off every time you went to the UK unless you wanted to arrive home to a bill the size of the UK’s budget deficit.

A PHONE SO SMALL IT COULD BE EATEN BY A GECKO. I held off from buying a smartphone for so long that I’ve turned into one of those idiots who coos over my iPhone like it’s an especially clever baby, but I expect the next model will leave my current phone looking so fat, inadequate and outdated that I will be crippled with shame until I sell one of my kidneys and trade it in for another dose of Apple’s shiny crack. Electronic technology is like a supermodel - it has to become lighter and thinner just to prove itself, whereas vehicles are more like Jordan - the more cartoonishly pumped-up, stupid and poisonous they become the more profitable they are.

For my money, the new average size of televisions and computers is the real proof that I live in Tomorrow’s World. More sensible

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

futurists might put forward ‘vastly increased life expectancy’ and ‘human understanding of quantum physics’, but I doubt those people grew up fantasising about a Nintendo that could do more than 64 colours or owning their own Laserdisc machine.

My current television is so large that I can see right up Jeremy Kyle’s nose and into his tiny, hate-filled brain, and comes with the ability to stream at least a million channels across the internet in a resolution that makes my eyes throw up. It’s lucky that most of them are religious channels from Mozambique or repeats of Babestation, as the TV uses enough power over the weekend to light up an African hospital for a month.

My computer, on the other hand, is like a sleek silver robot that has sex with my brain, guiding me across the internet in my ceaseless search for news, music and videos of The Crystal Maze. It is quiet, slim and beautiful, awash with vivid colours and so precisely engineered that it feels like it was dug up by explorers on the planet Mars. My first computer looked like it was constructed from ugly Soviet Lego and smelled of burning wires, whereas this manages to be larger and more powerful whilst feeling unobtrusive, calming and even kind. Reading that last sentence back, and can see clearly that this machine is so enhanced that it’s stealthily reprogramming my suggestible mind, but I don’t care, because it’s so efficient I can author six spreadsheets just by stroking a bit of metal and winking suggestively at the webcam.

to pretend they live two decades in the past, I don’t expect there’s much market for tiny televisions or chunky mobiles that make the hairs on your testes fall off. Instead, I expect to be the proud owner of a television so stupidly gigantic that it wraps round most of my living room and into the toilet, pumping enough BBC iPlayer into my tired brain that solid lumps of coagulated panel show start dripping from my nose whilst I’m asleep at my desk.

I expect an iPhone so tiny that I have to swallow it each day like a birth control pill, or jam it into my eyeball like a disposable contact lens so it can beam Twitter straight onto my brain and block out sensory input from all non-Apple brands and any humans whose DNA is copyrighted by Microsoft. That will probably mean I can’t even see the massive TV any more, causing Sony to dispatch PS5 robot death squads to Applestan, whilst the Googleplex simultaneously becomes selfaware and decides that Youtube comments are conclusive proof that humanity must be cleansed with thermonuclear fire.

Our tombstone will be a line of cars from Athol St to the bottom of Victoria St, each one the size of a monster truck and containing a family of atrophied pod-people who’ve been queuing since the great ice age of 2112.

Future civilisations of mutant seagulls will dig them up and wonder, although the subtle mysteries of human art, love and the location of all the secret eggs in Angry Birds will be lost in time, like tears in rain.

RISE OF THE MACHINES. So what’s next for technology? How can things possibly get any larger or indeed smaller unless they start moving backwards?

Despite the best efforts of ridiculous hipsters

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WHAT’S ON

ON THIS MAY... and entertainment venues Rushen had to offer through a stunning collection of images, stories and memories from across years. 10am to 4pm daily www.rushenheritage.org

now - 18.09.2016

13.05 – 15.05.2016

//HOUSE OF MANANNAN, PEEL// This exhibition celebrates timeless courage during the First World War, telling the story of six heroic RNLI rescues, with family friendly interactive displays. Find out about the effects of ward on Manx RNLI crews and how the Isle of Man managed to crew and maintain six RNLI lifeboat stations in the middle of the war zone that was the Irish Sea. www.manxnationalheritage.im

//RAMSEY, MILNTOWN & THE NORTH// With events for all types of cyclists young and old, this truly is a festival for all velo-lovers and includes the televised Pearl Izumi Tour Series. But it’s not just for cyclists: the unique festival atmosphere in the ground of the Milntown Estate will have live music, events and entertainment and a full range of local produce and drink. For full details and festival wristbands see the website. www.iomcyclefest.com

HOPE IN THE GREAT WAR

02.05 – 30.05.2016

STOCKCAR RACING

//ONCHAN RACEWAY// Racing every Sunday in May, starting at 7.30pm. Gates open from 7pm. www.onchanraceway.co.uk

07.05 – 08.05.2016

KENTRAUGH MILL OPEN WEEKEND

//KENTRAUGH, COLBY// Guided tours round this ancient building, the mill dam and chapel garden and see it running. This is also the site of the first primitive Methodist chapel - enter at own risk.

Saturday 7th May from 10am until 5pm and Sunday 8th May from 11am until 5pm.

01624 832406

ISLE OF MAN CYCLEFEST

//MANX MUSEUM, DOUGLAS// Giant deer were gentle giants that roamed the grassy plains of northern Europe at the end of the last ice age. This afternoon family workshop will learn about the one in the Manx Museum which has been on display since 1900, and how and why it has recently been restored and preserved.

Tickets £6 (£3 children) available from Museum shop or online at: www.manxheritageshop.com

PRAYING THE KEEILLS

//ISLAND WIDE// An opportunity to visit, explore and reflect the islands heritage sites in good company. See the website for the full programme or call 07624 480129. www.prayingthekeeills.org

28.05-15.06.2016

SOUTHERN TOURISM ACROSS THE DECADES //ST CATHERINES CHURCH, PORT ERIN// A wonderful opportunity to read the diaries of holidaymakers, and reminisce about the local activities

//DOUGLAS// Your opportunity to walk out safely to this enigmatic Douglas landmark. Meet at Jubilee Kiosk Loch Promenade. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing and follow the instructions of the Coastguard and stewards. The event is weather dependent so the start may be delayed and the return to the Promenade may be earlier than planned. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.

Time of walk to be confirmed. A donation to support the work of the R.N.L.I. would be appreciated. www.douglas.org.im

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CONSERVING THE GIANT DEER

21.05-28.05.2016

07.05.2016

TOWER OF REFUGE WALK

21.05.2016

25.05.2016

ISLEXPO

//VILLA MARINA, DOUGLAS// ISLEXPO will celebrate the enterprising spirit captured by the Isle of Man’s mantra of ‘Where You Can’ and demonstrate opportunities for starting, growing or relocating a business on the Island.

An exciting programme of thought-provoking keynotes, no-nonsense practical support and industry insights, ISLEXPO will inspire budding entrepreneurs to realise their ideas and encourage businesses large and small to achieve their potential. www.islexpo.com

16-29.05.2016

FOSTERING FORTNIGHT

Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer can find out everything they need to know at a series of information events.

Monday 16th May – Shoprite, Victoria Road, Douglas, 11am to 1pm.

Wednesday 18th May – The Strand Shopping Centre, Douglas, 11am to 1pm; and Derby Road Shoprite, Peel, 2pm to 4pm.

Thursday 19th May – Sea Terminal, Douglas, 1pm to 3pm.

Friday 20th May – Shoprite, Parliament Square, Ramsey, noon to 2pm.

Friday 27th May – Bourne House, Douglas, 5pm to 7pm.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE “MICRO-PEOPLE” BEFORE YOUR FRIENDS Words: Clare Bowie

Your friends call them sprogs or micro people and you call them your children. Of course there’s been a massive shift in lifestyle and priorities but you have to learn to navigate your way through so it’s not “hello baby and goodbye friends.”

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Shopping together is so different now.

They try on the silk duster jacket, whilst, finding a coat with a good hood, is now top of your wish list.

When they talk about shots it’s more likely to be tequila, not MMR, so you need to remember not to re-live the trauma of the double jabbing, which still brings you out in a sweat BTW.

While you’re mushing up carrots they are most likely adding foam to their wood pigeon risotto or sampling a new restaurant on a random Thursday night, just because they can.

Their eyes glaze over when you go on and on about how cute onesies with ears are, or how adorable it is when your child says am-in-als instead of animals.

Your eyes glaze over when they agonise over the wording of a single text message and want to discuss and re-word it 13 times. Like it really matters or something!

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They look at you really oddly when you mention that you “just popped up to see your child’s teacher again” to talk things through, for the third time this month.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

You look at them oddly when they spend £250 on make-up at the Chanel counter and have a total of three tiny black boxes in their (albeit beautifully scented) bag.

You return from a holiday and accidentally tell your friend how ridiculously impressed you are with the family friendly buggy station at the airport, while your friend looks at you with pity in her eyes.

Your friend returns from holiday refreshed and tanned and looks at you with pity in her eyes.

They say they’re tired and you just laugh. A very strained, mirthless, emotionally and physically drained kind of laugh, laced with disgusted intolerance.

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You judge each other a bit. Did your friend always seem so selfindulgent? Can we stop talking about your hair now and why on earth did she give your child a massive, useless teddy bear, to clutter up the house with?

She thinks you’ve turned into a “mummy martyr”, shoving your multi-tasking prowess in her face and taking the assertive mummy thing to the limits, it’s not her fault if she can’t decide between Indian or Chinese takeaway within 20 seconds. Eyeroll!

Oh well, hopefully they’ll have their own kids soon and you can be mummy bores together.

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They organise a night out and book the table for 9pm!! Duh! The whole point of going out is to avoid bedtime routine!

You arrange a weekend coffee catch up for 9am and they are flabbergasted. What? You’ve been up since 6 and are usually craving your second cup by 9am! #differenttimezones

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UPFRONT

SS

I am as guilty as the next of proselyting against wealth whilst quietly aspiring to it. In sickly spectacles of excess the titular Rich Kids of Instagram are trustafarians at best, and at worst a cancer metastasising into those worse off than themselves, spreading the disease of exhibitionism and gross gluttony.

Words: Joshua Pattinson

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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For all their elitism they somewhat when we compare “Quite honestly I couldn’t care less are in fact slaves. They reality to cultivated online are the perpetuating identities. about your digital ego nursing, not apex, the vanguard that unknowingly charges the This unrepresentative showin some kind of anti-Insta crusade, advertising brigade half a manship isn’t a bad thing. league, half a league, half Quite honestly I couldn’t I’m all for social media, more in an a league onward. Chancare less about your digital endearing way, like putting up with nel 4’s merry-go-round ego nursing, not in some programming of Million kind of anti-Insta crusade, your drunk mate chat rubbish for an Pound Homes, Posh Pawn, I’m all for Made in Chelsea and Milsocial media, more in an hour. It’s quaint.” lion Pound Mega Yachts endearing way, like compounds the status quo putting up with your drunk and sells us this idea that mate chat we all want to have loads of stuff. But, bigrubbish for an hour. It’s quaint. ger isn’t better.

Wallman has a proposition for you. He reckons we should swap out materialism Although wealth and materialism has a for experientialism. To me, that sounds like kind of symbiotic relationship, it doesn’t an unnecessary elevation of an otherwise have to be that way. Lovably known as the ety that comes with the snakes and ladders grounded thing: experience.

‘Homeless Billionaire’ Nicholas Berggruen game of consumerism. doesn’t own a house and sees everything “Instead of searching for happiness, status he buys as temporary. And Ikea founder “Ron Ingleheart found in 1970 that 70% of and meaning in material goods, experienIngvar Kamprad buys second-hand clothes people were materialistic. He’s been doing tialists find happiness, status and meaning and all of his furniture flat packed at, you the research ever since. Now that number is in experiences instead”, says Wallman. guessed it, Ikea. He describes himself as 50%. You can see there’s a long term decline “thrifty”. in how materialistic society is”.

Buy having less stuffo ur lives become simpler, maintaining smaller homes is quicker In fact, there is a wealth of research that Wallman explains the work of Everett and easier. By avoiding buying stuffy ou indicates consumerism is correlated with Rogers who examines how culture changes have less debt, and more money to spend mental disorders. “Mass consumption and over time. “It starts with the innovators” on experience-based living; holidays, time mass production has lead to mass depresthe people that see a solution to a problem with friends or family, eat at excellent ression. The statistics for that are frightening”, and live by it. Then follow the early adopttaurants, try a new sport or take up a new says author of Stuffocation James Wallman. ers, then the early majority, the late majorhobby. All the research suggests you’ll be ity and finally the laggards, who still till happier for it.

“It was the early 20th century paradoxical this day “switch their mobiles on only to idea that in order to have more we had to make outgoing calls”, says Wallman. “The I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of lifestyle ‘ten spend more”, says Wallman in his TEDx future is already here, it’s just not very well steps towards a healthier, happier you’, Talk. There was this cultural shift where we distributed”. which typically involve an unsustainable placed tremendous value in belongings, routine of meditation, bikram yoga, goji and navigated the social hierarchy through There are several reasons why we’re seeing berries, drinking enough water to irrigate the accumulation of better belongings. this grassroots shift away from materialism; Ethiopia, and surgical sleeping patterns. and social media plays its role. Instead of Here are Wallman’s three steps; And so we bought stuff. A lot more stuff. seeking status through what we have, we We moved our old stuff to the attic and increasingly measure ourselves by what Step 1) Destuffocate: “Go big. Go garage to make space for new stuff. Then, we’re doing. through your house like a mad person, put we ran out of attic, so the £355m selfeverything you haven’t worn or used in storage industry blossomed. We bought “Social media has had a massive impact the past 3 months into bin bags. Tie them a shelving unit to fill a space and then on how we achieve status. We used to gain up and put them out of sight. If you miss bought stuff to put on the shelf. status through the cars we drove, the handsomething go and get it, then tie the bag bags we wore. Who knew that you’d been to back up. Throw away anything left in the The average US home now has more TVs Paris for the weekend, or that you bags after a month, or better donate it to than people. We throw away 40% of the were at the opera last night? Your followers charity.” food we buy. UK consumer debt rose by on Twitter and Instagram do know that. In two-fifths in six months, now at £13,520 per the 21st century what we do matters more Step 2) Don’t restuffocate: “It’s so household. We wear 20% of our wardrobe than what we have. That matters because easy when you’ve cleared a cupboard or a 80% of the time and engorge ourselves on status matters”, says Wallman. shelf and you look at the space and think 3,500 marketing messages each day. what shall we put there? Resist the urge.

For my dissertation research I asked the Even if it is 70% off.

But, that might be slowly changing. question ‘do you present yourself differently online than in real life?’ 80% of the 78 Step 3) Do stuff: “Spend as much “We’ve moved from seeing more as a good respondents said that they didn’t. I asked money as you would have usually spent, thing, to seeing more as more to think you’ll have more stories, more status and ‘do others present themselves differently about, more hassle, more complications. you’ll be happier for it. You’ll be one of the More is a pain”, says Wallman,“we’ve had online than in real life?’ 90% said yes. innovators”. enough of stuff because of the status anxiThis skewed self-perception is magnified BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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UPFRONT

ME & MY PET

Ozzie Breed: Tibetan Mastiff Age: 4 months Likes: Gardening it seems Dislikes: Getting told off for sneaking on the human’s beds If human what would you be: One that offers “free hugs” to everyone Why do you love your human: Tummy tickles If you had one wish what would you wish for: A brother or sister

Nigel Jones Breed: Welsh bloke Age: 50

What do you do for a living: Director at MiQuando.com (Online booking for everything and anything)

Dislikes: People who mistreat animals

Do you have any more pets: Yes – another dog called Beau who is much smaller

If animal what would you be: An eagle – what a view

Would you have any more pets: Yes, but don’t tell my daughter

Why did you choose a dog as a pet: My daughter wanted a lion, but it just wasn’t practical!

The best and worst thing about having a pet is... The best thing is the welcome home greeting – and the worst – saying goodbye!

Likes: Rum

Where do you live on the Island: Douglas Where are you originally from: North Wales

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TING PY.ECT TERES@ O.IM IN ER N LL A A G E V ES A R DO YOU HT YOURSELVES - FEATU BOU

TELL US A

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

Happiness is a forever home...

Give an animal a home

SALLY

Lola

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e have an extra special cat to tell you about called Lola. Not only is she a Manx cat with no tail but she has three legs aswell. Sadly she become such a ‘symbol’ of our national identity because her leg was broken when she arrived at the Society in December as a stray, and despite several operations the leg had to be amputated. She is now much happier and coping really well on her three legs, and runs and plays despite her disability. She’s very talkative and, as you can see from her photograph, very pretty with beautiful tabby markings. Ideally we would like to place her outside of Douglas, because that is where she was found.

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e can’t work out why the lovely dog, Sally, is still with us after several weeks. Sally is an eight year old, steel coloured greyhound cross collie with big brown eyes. She’s quiet and affectionate, but is very unsure around other dogs and so we’re recommending that she is the only animal in a household, initially at least. She came to us because her owner’s circumstances changed, and not because of any behavioural issues, and so maybe the reason she is still in our Kennels is due to her age. Please don’t let this be a barrier to adoption – Sally potentially has years of life ahead of her, and she’s a fit and healthy dog with no underlying issues. Please come and meet her!

ManxSPCA • Ard Jerkyll, East Foxdale • Tel: 851672

www.manxspca.com

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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UPFRONT

SOAPBOX

PRINTED ACTUAL SIZE FOR EXTRA CUTENESS

WORDS Alex Farnham

In the last month, I’ve been thinking about three things that have the word MICRO in them.

And no, before you ask, one of them isn’t ‘micro-penis’. Yes, apparently that’s a thing. The things I’ve been thinking about range from nostalgic to newly-found, from old to new, and one of them is just something I have issues with but I can’t for the life of me work out why.

I guess the best course of action will be for me to list my top 3 ‘MICROs’ and just talk you through my thought process, but be warned – we might get lost, as I’m not very intelligent and to be completely honest my train of thought is more of a milk float of thought. (that’s right, I’m still relying on self-deprecation as my main comedic output… I don’t feel like I’ve fully tapped out the barrel yet… I have a lot of flaws so there’s still out scraping to do.)

Right, without any further word-count increasing meandering, let’s begin…

Micro-pigs

Yes, this is the one that annoys me. I don’t know why, but something bugs me about the idea that normal pigs just aren’t cute enough. Why does something have to be smaller to be cuter? I could easily make another penis joke here, but I feel I may have exhausted that resource (not literally), and if I make too many obscene jokes I might get the sack! Anyway, first of all, as a meat eater and animal lover, I always feel guilty when chowing down on a burger or bacon sarnie or whatever, because it was obviously once a cute little creature. I just don’t have it in me to give up the good stuff. I’m ashamed to say it, but it’s true.

The best compromise I can come up with is in my refusal to connect emotionally with farmyard animals – some people will raise a pig from birth but then eat it when it’s big enough. Nope. Not for me. I’m not saying people eat micropigs, but it just feels like we’ve had to justify thinking an edible animal is cute by breeding a tiny version of it. Just buy a Guinea pig or GTFO.

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Microdermabrasion

This is a new word I’ve learned this year.

I don’t quite know what it means, but I think it’s something to do with your face.

With work we get free vouchers to use each month at a beauty salon, and I usually just get a back massage. I don’t think microdermabrasion is really a ‘man’ thing.

That being said, I’m not a sexist and we’re lucky enough to live in a world where men and women alike can get beauty treatments without fear of being called a ‘girl’s blouse’, so perhaps I’ll give it a try? I never liked the term ‘girl’s blouse’ anyway - what’s insulting about an item of clothing? It’s like calling someone a Skinny Jean or a Purple V Neck – both of which sounds like experimental sex positions.

Micro Machines

Remember these!? They were wicked.

Something about small metal cars roughly the size of a child’s oesophagus doesn’t seem too safe, but I certainly never choked on one… and to be honest, if you try to eat a small piece of metal maybe that’s nature’s way of trying to… you know, drop a hint!

Obviously children choking is a bad thing, but on the subject of child misfortune and Micro Machines – did you know the tiny toys made an appearance in the 1990 film Home Alone? You know, the film about how a neglected child from a family who’d apparently never heard of contraception decided to take revenge on his troubled upbringing by trying to murder a couple of home invaders? That childhood classic!

Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin lays these toys at the bottom of a flight of the stairs in an attempt to maim his bumbling nemeses.

Micro Machines have a wealth of nostalgia surrounding them, at least, for me they do.

I remember waking up really early when I was a boy, and playing with this really cool carrier thing that was shaped like a big Micro Machine, which in hindsight seems a bit futile… It’d be like calling pigs ‘giant micro-pigs’. I have such vivid memories of playing with these toys, and they’re one of many childhood memories I hope to impart unto my children one day, children who I promise never to leave behind when I go on holiday, unless supervised by a responsible adult.

I have no real reason for writing about the things I’ve written about. I suppose that’s usually the case, but this time I feel like there’s no real relevance to anything topical… perhaps, in many ways this article could be seen as a microcosm for the futility, instability and helplessness we see in the news every day? What do you think?

Nah, I agree… too tenuous, but there’s your fourth micro! If I had time for a fifth, I’d probably mention my broken microwave, but I think I’ve just proven how boring a story it is by telling it in about 10 words.

It’s coincidental that I happened to be thinking about the theme of this month’s issue even before I was even told about it, but I think it’s fair to say that sometimes cool things happen. I guess that’s just how all of life works.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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in NUMBERS NEWS

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people on the unemployment register in March, the lowest March figure since 2009 and a fall of 34 since February.

Isle of Man Post Office puts price of local and UK stamps up by 1p to 45p.

3.5%

£75m

fall in gas prices, and more on the way says Manx Gas when it cuts the unit price of gas by less than a tenth of a penny under what it calls a regulatory adjustment.

the value of ‘agri-food’ and fisheries to the Island’s economy.

£275k the asking price for Kate’s Cottage, a well-known landmark on the TT Course. The agent’s listing attracted 50,000 hits in its first 5 hours and the property went ‘under offer’ in less than three days. (www.manxmove.im)

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27May - new Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney to be sworn in at the Courts of Justice in Douglas, and not, as in the past, the historical Castle Rushen.

85,

000

1,047 Scouts in the Isle of Man, taking part in the activities of 13 Scout troops and five Explorer units. The Scout Association is always looking for more adult volunteers.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

the number of visitors new TT promoter Vision 9 suggests could be attracted to the TT and Festival of Motorcycling annually by 2026, nearly doubling the Island’s population during those weeks.

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UPFRONT

OUR COMMUNITY

GIVE

CELTON MANX RECOGNITION AWARD BOOSTS STUDENT HARDSHIP FUND

Isle of Man College students struggling, on occasions, to manage financially are set to benefit after Manx charity the Isle of Man Youth Partnership Student Hardship Fund received a Celton Manx Recognition award.

WINNING WAYS FOR THE ISLAND’S OWN YOUNG ‘STRICTLY’ STARS 11 year olds Claudia Lewthwaite and Scott Horne were crowned the 2016 British Juvenile Classical Sequence Champions at the national championships in Blackpool recently, the first time anyone from the Isle of Man has achieved this accolade since its formation in 1958.

Claudia and Scott are pupils at the Jayne Hill School of Dancing in Onchan and have been dancing together for just four years. The youngsters travel off-Island regularly and this recent award might be the most prestigious but is not their first: since last November they’ve won four other juvenile British titles including classical sequence, modern sequence and, in January, three awards at the Champions of Tomorrow competition.

And Citywing has now stepped in to sponsor the two dancers and help with their regular flights to Blackpool.

“When Claudia and Scott’s success was brought to my attention by Claudia’s grandmother, I realised that Citywing was in an ideal position to help out,” says Citywing’s Donna Sloane. “They are great ambassadors for the Isle of Man and have the potential to go a long way, so as the only company flying from the Isle of Man to Blackpool, we looked at what Citywing could do to help realise their dancing dreams. Competing at this level is expensive, so we’re delighted to announce our sponsorship of Claudia and Scott and wish them every success for the future.”

Launched in 2015 Recognition aims to provide support to smaller charities and not-for-profit organisations with only limited resources for promoting and developing their services. Accepting the award on behalf the charity was the fund’s committee chairman Kerry Birchall.

For more information about the Isle of Man Youth Partnership Student Hardship Fund contact Kerry Birchall, Kerry.Birchall@ iomcollege.ac.im or Julie Bibby, Julie.

Bibby@iomcollege. ac.im

Be the one to inspire...

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

LIFEGUARD COMPLETES CANCER CHARITY SWIM A senior leisure attendant at the National Sport Centre pool has completed a five-mile sponsored swim to raise money for charity.

Mark Snell swam 196 lengths of the NSC pool and raised £2,208.78 towards 3D mammography equipment for the Manx Breast Unit that has just opened at Noble’s Hospital.

300 STEP OUT FOR SPORT RELIEF MILE Douglas promenade echoed to the sounds of trainers pounding the walkway when crowds of families, friends and the odd dog - took part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile.

Organised by Douglas Town

Management with assistance from a team of volunteers the event, which saw all 300 slots filled, was supported by the deputy mayor of Douglas Councillor Debbie Pitts, accompanied by the deputy mayor’s consort Adrian

Dalton.

So far the UK-wide campaign has raised £56,985.007, which will help to transform lives across the UK and in the world’s poorest countries.

Mark undertook the challenge after a close friend’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Mark handed the cheque over to the Manx Breast Cancer Support Group, which has raised £1.7 million to build and equip the unit.

HARBOUR2HARBOUR WALK ANNOUNCES 2016 DATE AND NEW SPONSOR This year’s Harbour2Harbour Walk will take place on Sunday May 15th, and the organisers are delighted to welcome a new title sponsor - the Dandara Group.

The sponsored walk, now in its third year, is set to be bigger and better than ever, with hopes of increasing the number of walkers by almost 40% to 350 and beating last year’s fundraising total of £3,600.

This year’s route will see walkers leave Castletown harbour at 10am, head along the coastal path to Glen Chass and on to The Howe before joining St Mary’s Road and finishing at the Cosy Nook in Port Erin. www.hubclubsci.im | www.facebook.com/harbour2harbour

Your chance to find out about fostering

Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer can find out everything they need to know at a series of information events to mark Foster Care Fortnight: Monday 16th May – Shoprite, Victoria Road, Douglas, 11am to 1pm.

Wednesday 18th May – The Strand Shopping Centre, Douglas, 11am to 1pm; and Derby Road Shoprite, Peel, 2pm to 4pm. thursday 19th May – Sea Terminal, Douglas, 1pm to 3pm. friday 20th May – Shoprite, Parliament Square, Ramsey, noon to 2pm. friday 27th May – Bourne House, Douglas, 5pm to 7pm.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

www.thechildrenscentre.org.im fosteringfirst@thechildrenscentre.org.im Isle of Man Fostering Ltd. Registered Charity Number 1056

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LAURA ADAMS AND ROB BOOTH’S WEDDING DAY

Reception: The Villa Marina Photos: Shan Fisher www.shansphoto.com

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fter 3 years of friendship Rob and Laura inevitability fell madly in love 13 years ago. Sadly the tough decision was made to part ways as Robs work and life took them in different directions. They never strayed from each other’s thoughts and remained distance friends always keeping in touch.

By 2010 Laura had naturally fallen in love again and by this point was engaged to Steve, and a proud Mum to their beautiful daughter named Olivia who was 14 months old and also happily 12 weeks pregnant with their second child Juliet.

Three days after the 12 week scan Laura was left Bereft when her fiancé Steve passed away suddenly. She felt devastated for herself and her girls. Laura took the few years after to fuel her focus on bringing up her daughters, and working full time to support them.

In 2013 Laura had an unexpected surprise. An email from Rob, her first true love, declaring his feelings for her still. The couple fell in love all over again and have never looked back.

Rob & Laura now live on the stunning Isle of Man with their 2 beautiful daughters Olivia and Juliet, never forgetting their Daddy in heaven.

They tied the knot on a perfect sunny day on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea near their home.”We were very lucky with the weather it was perfect and I’m sure we were looked down upon as the butterflies flew around us when we said our vows” Laura explained.

Laura and Rob, your love to each other is magical. You made me feel like the luckiest photographer to document your love and I’m happy to call you friends. I’m honored to have documented your first day as husband and wife. I am thankful to have been invited into your lives and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you both. Much love, Shan x

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Many thanks to the amazing team who brought this wedding to perfection…

Wedding Dress: Caroline Castigliano Bridesmaids Dresses: Top Shop Shoes: Jimmy Choo Makeup Artist: Heather Maddrell Hair-styling: Leila Bromfield & Amanda Morgan - from GHD for birde’s hair And Anna Lucia for bridesmaids’ hair Flowers: The Flower Studio Catering: Niarbyl Wedding Cake: Butterfingers BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

Favours and Stationery: By the Bride Entertainment: 3 Million / Coarl Amphlett - Singer / Sammy J Saxophone / DJ Jo o B / David Penn / The Party People/ Erica Harpist Rings: Charles Alexandra & Wilkins Event Decoration: A3 island Marquees and Finishing Touches, bride and The Flower Studio Videographer: Nick Coole

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Just random things to amuse you.

Bear-ly visible to the naked eye...

The World’s Smallest Revolver

German artist Bettina Kaminski's "Mini the Pooh," at just 5 mm tall, is the world's smallest Teddy Bear!

The SwissMiniGun is the size of a key fob but fires tiny 270mph bullets powerful enough to kill at close range.

Officially the world’s smallest working revolver, the gun is being marketed as a collector’s item and measures just 2.16 inches long (5.5cm).

It can fire real 4.53 bullets up to a range of 367ft (112m).

The stainless steel gun costs £3,000 although the manufacturers also produce extravagant, made-to-order versions made out of 18-carat gold with customised diamond studs which sell for up to £30,000.

One Liners:

In line with (see what I did there? It’s started already...) this month’s ‘Micro’ theme here are a few one-liner jokes for you to scoff at: I just changed my Facebook name to ‘No one’ so when I see stupid posts I can click like and it will say ‘No one likes this’.

What’s the difference between snowmen and snowladies? Snowballs How do you make holy water? You boil the hell out of it.

Why did the blonde get excited after finishing her puzzle in 6 months? The box said 2-4 years!

I once farted in an elevator, it was wrong on so many levels.

I wondered why the frisbee was getting bigger, and then it hit me.

What do you call a fat psychic?

A four chin teller.

For anyone who think a woman’s place is in the kitchen, remember that’s where the knives are kept.

Time for tiny tea...

Chinese master potter Wu Ruishen ( 瑞深) has created a mini teapot weighing just 1.4 grams.

The ceramic teapot is claimed to be the smallest teapot in the world, although it’s also claimed that the teapot is fully functioning, so as to actually qualify as a teapot for the purpose of claiming its distinction as the world’s smallest teapot.

As magnificent as it is, it looks as if you’d be lucky to fit a mere crumble of loose leaf of tea in there at best unless Wu’s wife has been busy sewing up some tiny teabags to go with it. Be careful not to burn your fingertips filling it from the kettle, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

The 73-year-old Wu is a renowned pottery artist in China, specializes in creating teapots. His artworks can be found in various museums in China.

Geckoutta here!

This little fella is a dwarf gecko known as the Jaragua sphaero (or Sphaerodactylus ariasae to give him his full name). It is one of the world’s two smallest known reptiles (the other is the S. parthenopion, native to the British Virgin Islands). The Jaragua sphaero measures 16–18 mm from the snout to the base of the tail and can fit on a US 25cent coin. Its range is believed to be limited to Jaragua National Park in the extreme southwest of the Dominican Republic and the nearby forested Beata Island. The species was first described by Blair Hedges, a Pennsylvania State University evolutionary biologist, and Richard Thomas, a University of Puerto Rico biologist, in the December 2001 issue of the Caribbean Journal of Science.

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Chris Killip’s Isle of Man Revisited 7 May to 30 July Manx Museum FREE EXHIBITION

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Cornelly and Greeba

MANX NATIONAL HERITAGE ARCHIVIST WENDY THIRKETTLE INTRODUCES A NEW EXHIBITION AT THE MANX MUSEUM

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indswept landscapes, the eyes of people staring assuredly into a camera, glimpses of the fabric of hearth and home. These and much more besides may be observed in the Isle of Man photography of Chris Killip. In 1970 this Manxman set out to photograph the Island. Travelling to many varied places over the course of three years he captured buildings, interiors, natural features and people of all ages at work and rest.

Selected images from the resulting work were published in 1980 in Isle of Man. A book about the Manx. Now, visitors to the Manx Museum, Douglas have the rare opportunity to view large prints provided by Chris Killip himself. Manx National Heritage is proud to host Chris Killip’s Isle of Man Revisited in the temporary gallery between 7 May and 30 July 2016.

Fifty stunning Killip images have been chosen for display out of a total of 252 large prints held by the MNH Library and Archives. Some have never been seen in public before while others appear in the 2015 book Isle of Man Revisited. They all benefit from viewing in a gallery space where they are left to speak for themselves or through the reflections of the photographer himself.

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The exhibition will trace the early years and influences of this remarkable photographer who was born in the Highlander Inn, Marown in 1946. His Manx work came after gaining over five years’ experience working among professional photographers in 1960s London.

Many of the images are set on farms. Killip had no specific plan but in his own words followed one thing after another. He used family connections, contacts with people he knew from childhood and initiative.

Often I would see someone somewhere, maybe at a farm sale or at the mart and I would be looking at a face and say who is that over there, where do they farm and I would just turn up.

Knocking on the door of a stranger somewhere in the countryside he would be quizzed on his family connections before usually being given permission to photograph.

Killip’s images have a certain style and character so it is interesting to learn that it was the practicalities of using a plate camera on a slow shutter speed that led to use of particular locations. Chris needed to take people somewhere quiet where they could prop themselves up to hold still for the time needed. “A doorway is good because often they were whitewashed and the light would reflect back”. He continues,

“When you are using a plate camera it is a very formal process. Although people are resting, for me the process is formal, so people had a chance to address the camera.

They would prepare themselves without me saying anything.” Whilst not directing proceedings he did use the occasional trick such as putting his hands in his pockets, an action copied by the men.

The Island, as seen through Killip’s camera lens, makes a lasting impression. What he saw and what he chose to photograph has the ongoing power to startle and unsettle as well as to mesmerise and delight.

Killip himself recognises the different relationships people can have to his work. It makes him “very happy that the work is in the Isle of Man because that is where it well and truly belongs. It is more open to all sorts of other meanings which it couldn’t have in other places because it doesn’t belong.”

Exhibition dates: 7 May – 30 July 2016, Manx Museum, Kingswood Grove, Douglas AN AFTERNOON WITH CHRIS KILLIP - MANX MUSEUM, SATURDAY 7 MAY @ 2PM Chris Killip will provide insights into his career and will sign purchased copies of his book Isle of Man Revisited from 3pm.Tickets: £10 Adult, £5 Student available from the Manx Museum Gallery Shop & www.manxnationalheritage.im 10% discount to Members.

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The Island, as seen through Killip’s camera lens, makes a lasting impression.

What he saw and what he chose to photograph has the ongoing power to startle and unsettle as well as to mesmerise and delight.

Mrs Hyslop, Ballachrink, the Braaid

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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CULTURE VULTURE What’s on now – 29.05.2016 CONTEMPORARY MANX ART 2016 //ISLE GALLERY, TYNWALD MILLS//

New work from leading Manx contemporary artists including James Duggan, Megan Hindley, Juan Moore, Alexander Colby, Ian Coulson, Jelena Benson, Eileen Schaer, Anna Clucas, Colette Gambell and Kate Jerry.

www.theislegallery.com www.facebook.com/theislegallery

now – 21.05.2016 DRAWN STEEL //SAYLE GALLERY, DOUGLAS//

This all new exhibition of Robert Jones’ work combines stone, metal and wood. Rob, who works from his studio and garden in Ramsey, is inspired by the landscape and industrial heritage of the Isle of Man and although he’s always been interested in art, he opted to serve a traditional apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery before working in the building trade, specialising in the conservation of old buildings. It was 2011 before he turned his attention to art, specifically sculpture.

Although he has no formal art training, Rob’s work has been lauded by sculptor - and Sayle Gallery Patron - Michael Sandle RA, and is also on display in the new sculpture garden at Ramsey Grammar School. www.sayle.gallery www.facebook.com/SayleGallery

Now – 21.05.2016 CREATIVE NETWORK EXHIBITION //HODGSON LOOM GALLERY, LAXEY//

An exciting exhibition of work from members of The Creative Network begins as part of the Isle of Man Art Festival and continues right through May. Artists showing in the gallery include John Caley, Nicola Dixon, Susanne Ekdahl, Julie Fayle, Val Galpin, Colette Gambell, Myra Gilbert, Eric Glitheroe, Bryony Harrison, Gillian Hinds, Pat Kelly, Maureen Kennaugh, Christie Nuell, Claire Pearse, Pauline Quaye, Julie Roberts, Eileen Schaer, Pat Tutt and Rosie Wood. www.facebook.com/ HodgsonLoomGallery

now – 09.07.2016 OF GORSE AND GAELS //STUDIO 42, PORT ST MARY// Ellie Baker is a landscape artist

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who is inspired by the Isle of Man’s patchwork fields, rocky beaches, dramatic skies, ragged gorse and dry stone walls. She has been developing her distinct style for over ten years and has always worked in acrylic paint and in vivid colours. Ellie also includes Celtic and Viking motifs into some of her work, hidden in the form of lichen on rocks or hillside bracken.

www.studio42gallery.co.uk w.faceboocomStudio42IsleofMan

now – 22.05.2016 THE ART OF DARKNESS //THE SAYLE GALLERY, DOUGLAS//

ISLE OF MAN POST OFFICE LAUNCHES MATT SEWELL STAMPS FEATURING EXCLUSIVE MANX SHEARWATER IMAGE

www.sayle.gallery www.facebook.com/saylegallery

Isle of Man Post Office is pleased to present a stamp collection featuring the illustrations of artist and ornithologist Matt Sewell. The partnership, under the brand ‘Matt Sewell’s Birds’ was licensed by Penguin Random House Enterprises. The stamps beautifully depict a selection of ‘birds spotted and jotted in the Isle of Man’ with an exclusive illustration of the Manx Shearwater. The stamps together with Matt's latest book Penguins and Other Sea Birds are both due for release on March 24th.

Photographer Julian Simmonds in a full exhibition of his work, including ‘dark skies’ images. Plus, from 28 April, sculptures from Rob Jones.

And the Sayle Gallery will be open for three full days over the Bank Holiday weekend with a series of workshops and demonstrations during the Isle of Man Festival of Art.

07.05.2016 AN AFTERNOON WITH CHRIS KILLIP //MANX MUSEUM, DOUGLAS//

Chris Killip, one of the most influential documentary photographers of the post-war generation will provide a fascinating insight into his career and will sign purchased copies of his book, Isle of Man Revisited, from 3pm. £10 adults (£5 students). Tickets available from the Manx Museum shop and online at manxheritageshop.im

Matt Sewell, who has been described as the Banksy of the bird world, is the former artist in residence of the BBC’s Springwatch Unsprung, and has also appeared on Countryfile. His watercolour illustrations can be found across a variety of media and in a series of six books, including Our Garden Birds and Owls which also include his whimsical descriptions of birds.

Matt, who has worked closely with the Post Office’s Stamps & Coins division to devise its latest issue, recently visited the Sound and Cregneash Village on the Isle of Man to study the local bird life. As a bird observatory the Calf of Man (which is located close by) attracts around 33 species of birds that breed on the Island annually, ten of which are sea birds.

07.05.2016 – 30.07.2016 CHRIS KILLIP’S ISLE OF MAN REVISTED //MANX MUSEUM, DOUGLAS//

In the text that accompanies the stamp issue, Matt describes how birds have been a constant – and obsessive - part of his life. During his childhood, he immersed himself in bird books, pictures and postcards, and was fascinated by birds’ colours, markings and forms which he has characterised in his illustrations. For instance, he describes Buntings, Tits and Finches as being cute, cheeky chaps, the heavy brow of the Sparrowhawk leaving him stricken with fear, and the gorgeous pink Linnet making him swoon.

www.manxnationalheritage.im

The stamp issue contains ten beautiful watercolour illustrations of birds including an exclusive image of the Manx Shearwater.

A rare opportunity to the see the stunning black and white prints of the Isle of Man’s people and places by distinguished Manx photographer Chris Killip.

Admission free.

every Friday FRIDAY ART CINEMA //SAYLE GALLERY, DOUGLAS//

An eclectic selection of art films and films about art every Friday at 7.30pm.

See website for details. www.sayle.gallery

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REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTION TO MANX CULTURE RECOGNISED

ISLE OF MAN POETS WIN INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR THEIR WORK Two Island-based poets, Usha Kishore and Janet Lees, have won prestigious awards for their work.

After almost 25 years’ service as an officer of the Manx Heritage Foundation, now Culture Vannin, Charles Guard, retired at the end of March. The occasion was marked by a small gathering of board members and officers and the presentation of a gift to mark his long-service to public life. Charles’ contribution to Manx culture has been, and will no doubt continue to be remarkable, as his formal retirement by no means marks the end of his love of Manx culture but merely a new phase of how he will go about it.

Usha Kishore has been invited to read at the House of Lords, where she will be conferred with the Word Masala Award. This award is given to published poets of the South Asian diaspora in recognition of a lifetime achievement of excellence. Past winners include well-known UK poets Debjani Chatterjee MBE, Daljit Nagra, Siddhartha Bose, Kavita Jindal and Shanta Acharya.

Usha will be presented with a plaque with a citation at a special presentation at the House of Lords on 22 June, featuring readings by the UK and US winners.

Janet Lees has been placed third in two international poetry prizes. The Guernsey International Poetry Competition 2016 was judged by Ian MacMillan, who will be hosting a winner’s evening in Guernsey on 24 May at which Janet will be reading her poem ‘When Charles & Camilla came to visit’. The winning poems will feature on the Guernsey buses, at the airport and all over the islands in the coming year. Janet was selected as third prizewinner in the Bristol Poetry Prize 2015 by judge WN Herbert, for her poem ‘Mapping HiZex Island’. The competition was organised by Bristolbased Poetry Can and the three winning poems are showcased on the website, together with short biographies of the poets: www. poetrycan.co.uk/2-general/1112-brispoprize15. html Usha is the author of two poetry collections, On Manannan’s Isle (2014), Night Sky between the Stars (2015) and a book of translations from the Sanskrit, Translating the Divine Woman (2015). www.ushakishore.co.uk Janet has been published in numerous journals and widely anthologised. In 2014 she represented the Isle of Man as one of 72 Commonwealth nation poets in the BBC’s Poetry Postcards project. http://janetlees. weebly.com/ BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

SO MUCH GOING ON! The Youth Arts Centre has released its Summer program of activities for young people aged 8 – 19 with a packed month of music, dance, art, literature and so much more to run during the long holidays from July to August.

They start with the Summer Show, a week of improvisational theatre using masks, props and starting lines to create a show of original sketches which have been created from a blank stage on Monday to a performance on Friday. Open to children young people aged 14- 19, it will run from 25 – 29 July.

For information on all activities visit: www.youth-arts.im

MANX BARD 2016 COMPETITION OPENS The 2016 competition to find the Manx Bard is now open. Sponsored by Isle of Man Arts Council and supported by Manx Litfest, this exciting initiative launched in 2014 and every year sees the Island’s most worthy poet appointed as Manx Bard via an open competition.

In recognition of our proud poetic heritage, the first Manx Bard, T.E. Brown, was appointed posthumously in 2014. The first living Manx Bard, Stacey Astill, took on the mantle in September 2015, making her inaugural appearance at Manx Litfest.

‘It’s important that the chosen Bard has some understanding of Manx heritage and the Celtic tradition of the Bard.

Poetic skill, creativity and an ability to engage and inspire the community in poetry will all be crucial elements of The Bard’s remit.’

For an entry form and competition rules: www.facebook.com/ManxBard bridgetcarterpoetry@mcb.net | http:// poetryunlimitediom.weebly.com/

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WORDS | Suzy Holland IMAGES | Flowers Gallery London and New York, Antonio Parente (portrait of Michael Sandle), Howard Grey, Carola Rush (for image of Rob Jones’ ‘Balance’), and Michael Sandle.

Landmark birthday for sculptor

MICHAEL SANDLE RA Celebrating his 80th birthday on 18 May, Royal Academician Michael Sandle, has a reputation of saying what he thinks, not what he thinks you want to hear, so I was understandably a little nervous when he started our conversation with, “I can’t talk for long, I had a really late night and a lot to drink.”

But as it turned out, I had nothing to worry about – he talked for well over an hour and was educational, entertaining and, as I’d expected, just a little controversial.

vocabulary of all artists. “No true art comes from nowhere,” he told me. “My opinion of some of the socalled YBAs – what I like to call the Young British Lightweights - is well documented, as is my ridicule of those who create art merely to make money. Everything I do is based on something I feel, an emotion I keep returning to and develop over time – usually over many years. If you just dash off something you think someone will buy you aren’t being true to yourself.”

In 1942 Sandle’s home town of Plymouth was bombed, and his father upped sticks and moved the family to the Isle of Man where he was stationed at Jurby. Both events, and what he remembers as an unhappy childhood, had a huge effect on Sandle who believes that you carry your earliest memories with you forever. He claims to have known he was going to be an artist when he first discovered magic painting books – the ones where you use water to reveal the colours beneath – aged three, but his formal training began as a teenager, at what was then the Douglas School of Art and Technology, when the colours and moods of the Island’s land, sea and weather made a welcome distraction from his tempestuous home life. From there he studied drawing part-time in Chester whilst doing his national service and was then accepted to study at the Slade in London before eventually becoming the sculptor he is now.

His recent exhibition at the Flowers Gallery in London brought together a range of his finished sculptures, maquettes and the drawings on which they were based. Sandle is a passionate advocate of the importance of drawing as the skill that underlies all art, and the importance of art history in the

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Sandle would be the first to admit, even boast, that his career trajectory has been a bumpy ride.

Always something of a maverick, he has variously described Coventry, where he taught in the 1960s as a place of ‘provincial mediocrity’, and how with his working class background, albeit disguised with a ‘posh’ accent, he is fighting a constant uphill battle against what he says is the ‘cultural stalinism’ of the art world. With that attitude towards the establishment it’s perhaps not surprising that his early successes weren’t in the UK – although his work was championed by Bryan Robertson (‘the greatest Director the Tate Gallery never had’ – Studio International) at the Whitechapel Gallery but in Europe, and particularly in Germany where he moved in 1973, becoming professor of sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe in 1980. It was only in 1982 that he achieved the recognition of the British art world, eventually becoming a Royal Academician in 1989.

There is not enough room here to detail his achievements, but Sandle is perhaps best known for his large public works, which include the imposing Malta Seige Memorial at the entrance to the Grand Harbour in Valletta, Malta, his first major commission in the UK, St George & The Dragon, at Blackfriars in London and what he described to me as his favourite local work, the Viking on the doors at the Port Erin Arts Centre.

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No true art comes from nowhere

Malta WW2 Siege Memorial - sited at entrance to the Grand Harbour Valetta - architecture +13 .5 tonne bell + bronze - 1988 - 92 (c) Michael Sandle

As Ye Sow So Shall Ye Reap - An Allegory

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

Der Trommler in the Rotunda Tate Britain photographed in January (a)2014

The Viking sculpture - Port Erin Arts Centre circa 1997

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The wider consequences of war and conflict worried me then, and still does.

Study for Machine Gun Monument, 1972, Ink and graphite on Paper (c) Michael Sandle, Courtesy of Flowers Gallery London and New York

His work is also included in gallery and museum collections around the world, including the Tate. And it is the themes of war, torment and its effect on the innocent which crop up time and time again.

A 20th Century Memorial

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Sandle loathes what he sees as Western hypocrisy in a world where governments condemn one dictator whilst supporting another for their own ends. In the 1970s he began work on a memorial to the Vietnam conflict (Machine Gun Monument) which over 30 years later became his 20th Century Memorial, which was on show at The Flowers Gallery alongside the original drawings. “I’m a thoughtful man,” he says, “and I read a lot. As I came to understand the complexities of the Vietnam war, and Britain’s historical influences on that country, I started to question whether my sculpture should be confined to that conflict. The wider consequences of war and conflict worried me then, and still does, and the finished sculpture is a memorial to all conflict throughout the 20th century, and to the people who have suffered.”

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Balance by Rob Jones

Sandle is Patron of the Sayle Gallery in Douglas and is a vocal supporter of its efforts to promote contemporary art in the Isle of Man. This month’s exhibition at the Sayle of work by sculptor Rob Jones is, he says, an example of exactly the sort of work the Gallery should be showing, alongside similarly cutting-edge artists from off the Island. But Sandle sees the Island as culturally deprived:

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Study for The Suicide XII, 1994, Ink and wash (c) Michael Sandle, Courtesy of Flowers Gallery London and New York

“It breaks my heart to see how insular it has become, constantly looking inwards and unable, or unwilling, to provide even a temporary home for touring exhibitions of outstanding art by exceptional artists,” he says. “If the Sayle Gallery was able to concentrate being a proper contemporary art gallery instead of a shop that would be a start. With better financial support and government backing, I truly believe the Sayle Gallery could be a cultural beacon for everyone in the Island.”

Wishful thinking perhaps, but Michael Sandle RA is not a man easily ignored.

An often outspoken, sometimes irascible, but always passionate artist, and a true supporter of art in the Isle of Man.

Happy 80th birthday Michael.

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The Suicide or He took the A train, 1995-99, Bronze (c) Michael Sandle, Courtesy of Flowers Gallery London and New York

(More information on Michael Sandle, and his works, can be found at flowersgallery.com – which also includes a filmed conversation with Tim Marlow, Artistic Director of the Royal Academy. There are a number of films on YouTube, including a 2015 interview with Anita Hogarth as part of a series of ‘Artists’ Studios’ for the Isle of Man Arts Council)

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Island’s Fine Art graduates unveil their final degree show at the Market Hall Words: Suzy Holland Images: Bryan Moore, Kirsten Penzies, Helen Tate, Rosie Wood

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can see how this corresponds to the storms we face in our own lives – the constant pressures and battering which make us who we are. But Rosie finds beauty in unexpected places, as happens when something interrupts the ordinariness of our lives, and it is this beauty which embodies an underlying hope and resilience.

The four new graduates of the BA (Fine Art) degree course in the Isle of Man are showing their final works to the public at in an exhibition they have named ‘essentia’ – literally, ‘bringing into being’ – at the Market Hall in Douglas from 27th May -14th June 2016. This is the accumulation of many year’s work developing themes of identity, sense of place, loss, solitude and entrapment but each of the four artists, Rosie Wood, Kirsten Penzies, Helen Tate and Bryan Moore has interpreted this in a very different way.

As you’d expect from such a disparate group of people, with a wide age range and different life experiences, the works are both intimate and general. The benefits of this Island-based course are clear: Helen and Kirsten have young children and fit their art into busy family lives, Rosie has been able to keep one foot in her previous career, IT programming, to fund her studying and Bryan, the youngest of the group, without the personal commitments of his colleagues, made a conscious decision to continue studying here after weighing up the pros and cons of moving off the Island. Their backgrounds are poles apart, the decisions they’ve made are very different, and yet their inner turmoil and, in some cases, torments are universal and it is these which are made manifest in their work.

Bryan says himself that he wasn’t ready to move off the Island after his A levels so chose to stay at the college here. In his art he brings to life feelings of isolation, confusion and loss, but also looks beyond these temporary pains towards a more hopeful future. His works invite the viewer to challenge and ultimately overcome these trials, which most of us feel at one time or another, with him.

Helen’s sculptural works, photographs and films capture the essence and beauty around us in the world. As a child in her native Sweden Helen collected stones and twigs whilst out walking in the forests and glens with her parents and now nature is the centre of her art, and she uses it to encourage the viewer to see what she does – the beauty of our surroundings and how caring for our environment is essential for our inner peace.

Rosie has channelled her initial lack of confidence in her own artistic ability, and the personal pressures of having to work whilst studying, into her art. By focussing on the weathering effects of the sea she BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

KIRSTEN PENZIES

Kirsten, who initially trained as a teacher in her native Australia, sees play as the meaningful core of all human beings.

As children we are encouraged to play and explore our imagination but Kirsten sees that as we move into adulthood, life becomes complex and our indulgence in creative play diminishes. This, Kirsten believes, means we lose the basic but yet essential creative tools that allow us to grow, and she has translated this into her final degree piece, an interactive installation which combines her studies in performing arts, ceramics, printmaking and paper installation work which she has named, aptly, ‘Flourish’ – a collaborative work with local primary school pupils.

Helen Fox, Programme Manager for Art, Design & Media at the Isle of Man College of Further & Higher Education, is looking forward to the exhibition:

ROSIE WOOD

HELEN TATE

BRYAN MOORE

“This is the first cohort of students to have their degrees validated by the University of Chester, and to have worked almost exclusively at our new site the Market Hall”, she says. “It’s been very exciting for Helen, Rosie, Kirsten and Bryan to have been working in public, with people dropping by through the day to see what they are working on, and how they have progressed.

The final exhibition will be just as exciting, and we hope that everyone, whether or not they are regular gallery-goers or just passers-by, comes in to see work by some of the Island’s promising artists.” ‘essentia’ is on at the Market Hall, Douglas from Friday 27 May to Tuesday 14 June.

Admission is free.

Kirsten will be running three Saturday afternoon events during the exhibition for families and children to take part and contribute, and these include creating soundscapes, making ceramic pinch pots and kite making. If you would like to take part please email: kireve@gmail.com or see the Facebook event page www.facebook. com/events/205824539795776/ for more details.

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1 Piotrek Kostorz 2 David Skillicorn 3 John Kelly 4 Lydia Ingham ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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5 Shelley Kilpatrick 6 Chris Shaw 7 Rennie Hollings 8 Kate Cairns 9 Krysia Boruch 10 Damian Bird

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Want to win £50? All you have to do is email your entry with the subject ‘upload’ to: upload@gallery.co.im.

This year we have made more space available and now dedicate 4 pages to YOUR PHOTOS. Make the files nice and big though, 4MB is a good size to aim for. We do try to print every photo following the guide but we can’t get them ALL on the pages full-size unfortunately they just wouldn’t fit!

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Mauritius • Seychelles • Morocco • Middle East

Beachcomber Tours are specialists in tailor-made holidays to the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Seychelles as well as Morocco, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

To book your Beachcomber holiday, contact Elite Voyages on 01624 843 081

TRAVEL

WANDERLUST

The world’s most insanely small caves

Blue Grotto, Capri The entrance to the Blue Cave is so close to sea level, the only way to gain access is to lye flat on your back. Inside, you’ll find a second underwater entrance way that glows a vibrant bright blue.

MICRO MISSION

Blue Caves Zakynthos, Greece On the Greek Island of Zakynthos, Blue Caves cut into the cliffs around Cape Skinari and can only be reached by small boat. Once inside, you’ll discover the white pebbles and walls of the floor emanate a vivid hue.

WORDS Tamarin Marriott-Wilkinson

We all know size isn’t everything. From picturesque bays to chic retreats, to outdoor adventures, you don’t always have to go large to have a good time...

Sleep tight in the smallest hotel in the world

Size isn’t everything If you’re thinking logically, taking a trip to a tiny island means less time travelling, and more time spent sipping cocktails on the sidelines.

Central Cafe, Copenhagen For £170 per-night, you can enjoy a snooze in the world’s smallest hotel.

Measuring eight by ten-foot, the Central boasts one room only, which sits above the Central Cafe - Copenhagen’s smallest coffee shop.

Vis, Croatia Micro in size and mysterious in nature, Vis sits at the furthest point from the Croatian mainland. Once a military base - only opening up to foreign visitors in 1989 - it’s now a remote, picturesque holiday hot spot.

With just two settlements, a scattering of local vineyards, superb seafood, and hidden coves, it’s this enforced remoteness that forms part of its tranquil essence.

Inside the historically decorated room, you’ll find all your usual amenities including a flatscreen, iPhone docking station, retro bedside lamps, a padded door for extra sound-proofing and an en-suite...oh and just about enough room to swing a cat.

Gozo, Malta Measuring just 26 square miles, Malta’s smaller sister, Gozo, is a must-visit destination if you’re looking for some down time.

Just a 25-minute ferry ride to the north, Gozo is as green as it is rural. Embellished with Baroque churches and a scattering of golden bays, it’s the perfect place to visit if you’re a little bit of history buff (you’ll find archaeological sites dating as far back as the Bronze Age here) who enjoys relaxing at the same time.

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

PICTURED HERE: Blue Grotto, Capri & Blue Caves, Zakynthos (inset)

If you have some pretty impressive climbing/dunking equipment to hand, then a trip to an insanely small cave is a must!

WANDERLUST

TRAVEL

Ever wondered what it would be like to downsize...

Tiny houses have long been established as an affordable home alternative, as well as an educational tool for sustainable design.

Those curious about what it would be like to live in a tiny home will be pleased to learn there are some unique, retro and tiny houses dotted around the world - all of which, with the intro of start-ups such as Airbnb, can be rented out...

Take a nap in a sleep pod, Nine Hours Hotel, Japan That innovative Japanese experience - sleeping in a pod, in the heart of the city. Sometimes space in unnecessary and if all you’re after is a place to rest your head, Japan have it sorted.

Some of the more contemporary versions boast hugely visually exciting experiences in a compact space - despite their small size, micro hotels are becoming a big trend.

Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba, Dutch Netherlands Antilles Serene tiny, New York The “serene cabin” located upstate New York, in the idyllic region of Finger Lakes is an ideal suitor to the quiet, eco enthusiast. Just a stones throw away from one of the region’s many hiking hot spots, on the Finger Lakes Wine Trail, this serene setting is an ideal option for a relaxing getaway.

Inside you’ll find a sleeping loft, a balcony ‘in the trees’ and an unreal outdoor shower, as well as a sauna and fire pit.

With steep cliffs on one side, the Caribbean Sea on the other and a runway measuring just 400 metres long, you have to be a pretty experienced pilot to make this landing. The only planes making this journey are the ones heading to St Maarten - just 12 minutes away.

After a few days spent in a smaller environment, you may even decide to downsize yourself.

NOMAD Micro Homes have designed a house that features all the living functions you could ever need in a sleek, 10” x 10” package (pictured above). The tiny house has all the necessities to go off the grid, with PV cells, rainwater collection and grey water treatment, the basic model will set you back a tiny 19k.

Dinner for Two - Solo per Due, Italy Measuring just 30 square metres, Solo per Due sits just 2 people, and as the name suggests, houses only one table. Only 1500 lucky diners get to try the dishes at this exclusive restaurant per year, which sits in the grounds of an historic villa, once owned by the celebrated poet Horace - with this in mind, reservations are a must!

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic The quaint, fairytale town of Cesky Krumlov is said to be one of the most charming destinations in the world. From the cobbled streets to the cutesy eateries, this idyllic place is far cry from the hustle and bustle of McDonald-laden city’s. Tip - visit in the summer season and practice your sailing skills down the Vltavy River.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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TRAVEL

The brush-off

Slim Sonic Portable Electric Toothbrush, Silver 2, £14.95, from johnlewis.com Don’t want to swap your electric toothbrush and charger for a traditional but lighter non-electric number? This little portable toothbrush will be perfect for short breaks. You can leave the plug socket at home as it’s charged via one AAA battery and it cleans at a rather powerful rate of 22,000 oscillations per minute. Size wise, it’s not that much bigger than a lipstick - and like the common lip tint, it’s cased in its own tube so you’ll be able to keep the head nice and clean when you’re not using it.

Two’s company

Belkin Travel Power Pack 9000, £44.99, from currys.co.uk There are plenty of power packs on the market but this Belkin one has something a lot of the others don’t: two USB ports. So, if you’re heading out for a day’s sightseeing only to find both your phone and tablet are running low on juice, whip this little gizmo out.

Small and convenient to pop in your backpack, one port offers up 2.5Amp and the other, 1Amp. While the 9000 does take a while to charge up, it really does hold a lot of power - in fact 9,000mAh of it! That’s plenty to top up your phone several times. What’s more, you can keep an eye on how much battery power remains in the device as it comes with LED indicators.

Tag it

FIVE OF THE BEST: TRAVEL GADGETS

The smart choice

Cardboard Smartphone Projector, £19.99, from firebox.com If you fancy reclining in your hotel room and watching TV only to find you’re struggling to find any channels in English, then this little gadget will suit. Made from cardboard, it is, of course, very lightweight. However, it will turn your phone into a projector - so if you have free Wi-Fi in the room and subscribe to any online streaming services (such as Netflix) you can pop your favourite show on your phone, stick it in this contraption and, as long as you have a flat wall, you and your travelling companions can watch it without huddling around your little screen. Considering it’s just £19.99 (or £15.99 if you want to put it together yourself), it’s not a bad summer holiday investment.

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SULAN Premium Bag Tag Smartphone Charger in Magenta Crocos, £49.95, from cuckooland.com A great attachment for your hand luggage, not only does this lovely leather tag make your bag easy to spot, it also works as a nifty charger. Coming with a 3000mAh rechargeable battery, you simply connect it to your device using a micro USB connector. Whether it’s your phone,camera or tablet, you can quickly give your battery a boost and it holds enough charge to refuel your phone one and a half times.

While it connects directly to Android smartphones, you will need an adaptor for Apple devices.

Feeling flash

Black Diamond Ember Power Light Flashlight, £40, from outside.co.uk

Particularly useful if you’re camping, this small hand-held torch is handy if you’re trying to avoid tripping over pegs after the sun goes down. To put the torch on full power, simply touch the inverted button near the head of it. To dim the light, just hold the button down and it will reduce in power, tap it again and it will turn off.

The torch is just half the gadget’s purpose though - you can also charge your devices with it. Once it’s charged just use the cable that comes with it to boost your phone battery. It’s a good sleek torch that will quickly become a travelling must-have.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

W E A LT H BUSINESS T E C H N O LO G Y

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W E A LT H - U K BILLIONAIRES ARE FEWER AND POORER

BUSINESS - BESTCARS ON THE RIGHT TRACK

TECHNOLOGY - VIRTUAL REALITY ENTERS THE REAL WORLD

in the news

RL360° Services launched

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Developments in e-mail security discussed at Sure seminar

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nderstanding online threats and the latest developments in e-mail security are vital to ensuring local businesses guard themselves against data breaches according to a recent seminar hosted by Sure.

Following a recent spate of ransomware attacks targeted specifically at businesses, Benji Asquith, expert on email security firm Mimecast, outlined how local businesses can protect themselves.

An audience of local technology and business leaders heard about the increasingly-sophisticated cyber-attacks targeted at corporate entities such as phishing and whaling attacks.

Mr Asquith suggested that businesses need to employ a three-layered approach to email security: technology, human and specialist software. This three-pronged approach involves diverting emails to an external facility so that links can be checked and potentially harmful links will never reach a company’s internal IT system.

Jo Cox, Chief Commercial Officer at Sure, said: “Island businesses are being targeted more and more frequently by these cyber predators and it is important that business leaders understand the importance of minimising the risks. Of course, no level of awareness and no piece of software can 100% guarantee the safety of an internet user but if people are aware of the risks and the techniques and new technologies that are used then they can certainly protect themselves to a greater extent.”

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L-R Benji Asquith, Mike Phillips, Jo Cox and Paul Marriott

“Island businesses are being targeted more and more frequently by these cyber predators and it is important that business leaders understand the importance of minimising the risks.”

he RL360° Group has unveiled the newly branded RL360° Services, following the Group’s acquisition of CMI Insurance Company Limited (CMI) late last year.

CMI has been renamed RL360 Life Insurance Company Limited and will operate under the brand name RL360° Services.

RL360°’s acquisition of CMI from former owner Lloyds Banking Group plc completed on 1 December 2015, creating a combined group with $10bn in assets under management, circa 60,000 policies and 300 staff.

A new website has been built for policyholders and their advisers at www.rl360services. com.

ON THE AGENDA

plan.com wins big at Mobile News Awards 2016

I

sle of Man headquartered technology company plan.com have returned victorious from the Mobile News Awards 2016.

A winner in 2015, plan.com returned this year to the prestigious Hilton on Park Lane in London with two nominations – Most Innovative Product and, for the second year running, Best Airtime Distributor. Despite fierce competition they managed to win not

one, but both gongs!

“It was a fantastic result for us and testament to what our team have built over the past few years,” said Chris Smith, Head of Business Development. “We beat household names such as Samsung, O2 and EE in the Most Innovative Product category and have firmly established ourselves as one of the leading technology companies in the telecoms space in a relatively short

L-R Ben Dowd, O2.

Keith Curran, plan. com. Dan Craddock, plan.com, Lee Nelson, comedian and host

space of time. But we are only just getting started.”

The Judges on the night were full of praise for the work plan.com have done in disrupting the status quo and shaking up the telecoms market with one commenting: “The intuitive service proposition is unrivalled. So well done plan. com for changing the dealer operating marketplace”.

Isle of Man commits to enhanced arrangements in sharing beneficial ownership information

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he Isle of Man Government has committed to enhancing the effectiveness of arrangements for sharing beneficial ownership information with the United Kingdom.

Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK said: “This has been achieved through ongoing constructive discussion and is an important demonstration of our long-standing partnership to tackle corruption, tax evasion and other serious criminality.”

The arrangement being finalised will commit to providing Isle of Man and United Kingdom law enforcement agencies with adequate, accurate and current beneficial ownership information on all corporate and legal entities incorporated in their jurisdictions.

IN THE NEWS

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in the news

Manx Telecom to invest £10million in network and operations this year

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anx Telecom anticipates investing a further £10million in its network and operations in 2016, a move which would take its total investment on the Island to more than £120million over the last 11 years. The news was announced as the Island’s leading communications company reported its 2015 financial results.

Revenues were up 0.4% to £79.6million (2014: £79.3million). Underlying EBITDA increased 2% to £27.7million which translated into cash generated from operations of £25.4million. This enabled Manx Telecom to spend £10.1million on infrastructure in the Isle of Man, with the balance used to service debts and pay a dividend to shareholders.

Gary Lamb, Chief Executive of Manx

Telecom, commented: “I am pleased to report another good year for the company and would like to thank both our loyal customers, and our outstanding 300-strong staff. By delivering a solid financial performance, we are able to continue making considerable investment into our network and broader operations which provides better service to our customers, but also plays an integral role in attracting new talent and business to the Island. We are a proud Manx business, and an ambassador for the Isle of Man in the UK and beyond.

Our ability to succeed is directly linked to the Island itself, and we recognise the role and responsibility we have in attracting business here.

MAC Group acquires stake in UK specialist healthcare broker

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AC Group, the Isle of Man’s largest corporate Financial Advisor and insurance broker, has announced the acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in Nugent Santé Ltd, a UK specialist medical and healthcare broker.

Based in the North West of England, Nugent Santé was formed last year by its managing director, Paul Nugent. It officially launched in January 2016 and already manages in excess of £5million of annual insurance premium for private and corporate clients.

The company, which employs 10 people from its Preston headquarters, is aiming to distinguish itself from other brokers by offering a rounded proposition that focuses on keeping clients

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L-R Jon McGowan and Paul Nugent

healthy and then supporting them when they are ill.

MAC Group Chief Executive Jon McGowan said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Nugent Santé which not only gives us opportunities for expansion in the UK but also offers MAC Group access to market leading healthcare schemes that are simply not available elsewhere.

Nugent Santé is a dynamic young company that specialises in dealing with small to medium enterprises and brings a new sense of purpose and energy to the health protection sector. Its services and facilities will be at the full disposal of our Isle of Man corporate clients and we look forward to building on our relationship over the coming months.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Appleby Fiduciary Business Rebrands as Estera

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ppleby Fiduciary Business has launched its new brand and identity, Estera, following the successful management buyout from the Appleby Group in December 2015.

Drawing on the expertise of its 350 strong team across ten jurisdictions, Estera delivers customised fiduciary and administration services to its client base of global corporations, private companies, high-networth individuals and investment funds. Estera’s independence will enable the company to chart new markets and territories as part of its ambitious growth strategy, which includes plans to grow its four core service lines in corporate, trust, funds and accounting.

Estera will continue to be led

by Chief Executive Officer Farah Ballands, supported by the existing

management team with over 150 years of combined industry experience.

Farah Ballands commented: ‘‘We are delighted and proud to launch Estera and have the opportunity to build on the strong heritage and culture that we have developed over the past 25 years. Our new brand and independence provides a solid platform for growth, including strategic investment to align our systems and procedures to deliver a consistently high quality service to our clients.’

The name Estera was inspired by an internal staff competition.

Sean Dowling, Managing Director of Estera Trust (Isle of Man) added: ‘Our rebrand presents a significant opportunity to build on the strong reputation we have already achieved in the Isle of Man. The growth plans for our business will focus on the alignment of our people, clients and jurisdictions to provide a standard of service that sets us apart. It is an exciting time for Estera and I am looking forward to the opportunities this will bring for our people and our clients.’

MANX DESIGN IN LINE FOR MAJOR AWARDS

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“WORLD’S-FIRST” electric shower unit, designed and developed in the Isle of Man by a specialist manufacturer, is in line for a series of industry awards across Britain and Europe.

The iCare shower, which was designed

by DLP Limited in Union Mills, has been nominated for some of the most prestigious honours within the design and manufacturing sector.

IN THE NEWS

The shower’s innovative design is the world’s first Bluetooth enabled electric shower, and has its own iShower app for use with an iPhone to control temperature, power and flow, all controlled from a simple push button remote control. The system also allows the user to set the length of time the shower will be used, and can be set to switch off when a target cost of electricity is reached. agenda

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movers & shakers

L-R Chris Crocker and Joseph Walls

Steve Kelly Joins Investment Management Team at Duncan Lawrie Private Banking

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uncan Lawrie Private Banking has appointed Steve Kelly to its experienced investment management team as part of its long-term commitment to the provision of high quality local discretionary investment.

Steve, 43, has worked in investment management for more than 12 years, most recently with Capital International Group. He holds the highly regarded Chartered Wealth Manager status granted by the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

“I’m delighted to be joining Duncan Lawrie Private Banking at a particularly exciting time for the business in its 30th anniversary year,” said Steve, who lives in Peel. “I was attracted by its culture and also the strong management team which is now in place, coupled with the fact that it can offer clients an investment proposition which is tailored to their individual needs and investment risk appetite.”

Sue Preskey, managing director of Duncan Lawrie Banking Isle of Man said: “Steve is someone who brings with him considerable investment management experience.

I’m confident he will make a significant contribution to taking the business forward and raising its profile in the island.”

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Manx Telecom strengthens account management team M

anx Telecom has strengthened its account management team with two senior appointments. Chris Crocker is now Account Manager for the Isle of Man Government and Public Sector, while Joseph Walls has joined the Island’s leading communications company as a Corporate Account Manager.

Chris will be responsible for Isle of Man Government and Isle of Man Post Office accounts, and other selected corporate accounts. He has more than 10 years’ experience in account management and sales, and joins the company from IFB (Internet For Business) where he worked for four years as a Senior Corporate Account Manager. Chris takes over the role from Paul Keen who is now Head of Global Solutions Account Management at Manx Telecom.

Joseph Walls’ role as a Corporate Account Manager will see him taking on a sales territory of corporate and small to medium enterprise (SME) customers and matching their diverse telecom and IT needs to Manx Telecom’s products and services. He joins Manx Telecom from Atos where he was IT Service Manager for major accounts including the National Savings & Investments (NS&I) bank.

ON THE AGENDA

L-R Nicola Quayle

Equiom expands its global HR team

L

eading trust and corporate services provider Equiom has announced the appointments of Nicola Quayle and Caroline Hart to its Isle of Man office.

Caroline will work with a team of HR Business Partners across the Group to ensure that Equiom’s people development strategy is achieved. She will also contribute to various HR-related change management projects. In her previous role as Group People Director for a legal services firm, Caroline was responsible for 650 staff in nine locations, and she has significant strategic HR experience, particularly

and Caroline Hart

in relation to integration and change projects.

Nicola will take responsibility for Equiom’s HR infrastructure, including benefits, policies and project activity. She joins Equiom from an international ship management company, where she led the group HR function over seven jurisdictions, with additional responsibility for developing training strategy. She has extensive HR experience, particularly in the fields of change management, talent management, succession planning, and employee communication and engagement.

Local Entrepreneur accepted to altMBA program

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ocal entrepreneur and technologist Owen Cutajar is the first Isle of Man based professional to be offered entry to Seth Godin’s altMBA program.

The altMBA program was founded in 2015 by author and entrepreneur Godin, and is a four-week online management and leadership workshop.The program allows only 100 students per session, requiring an intensive application process. Alumni include executives from Google, Coca-Cola, Kickstarter, Red Cross and more.

“I’ve been a fan of Seth Godin’s work for many years”, Owen told us. “He’s a bestselling author, thinker and marketer who has inspired me in more ways than one.”

“The altMBA was created as a program that focuses on coaching and learning by doing. Designed to be hands-on, we’ll be delivering 13 projects in a 4 week sprint, balancing this undertaking with a fulltime job and family commitments. It’s going to be intense, but a fantastic growth opportunity”, he said.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

“He’s a best-selling author, thinker and marketer who has inspired me in more ways than one.” agenda

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business events

Institute of Directors IoM branch Spring Lunch Banker With One of the ‘Coolest’ Jobs Around

“D

igital revolution is here to stay and is key to modern business,” according to Ruchir Rodrigues, managing director, digital banking with Barclays

Bank.

Guest speaker at the Spring lunch of the Isle of Man branch of the Institute of Directors at the Sefton Hotel and supported by Barclays, Mr Rodrigues decribes his job as “one of the coolest around”.

“I’m responsible for developing the business and commercial strategy, managing the roadmap and defining the customer experience for digital channels, products and propositions across personal and corporate banking.”

He added that personal and corporate is the largest business unit of Barclays, with over 16 million customers and over £10B income annually. “Barclays has become the largest digital bank in the UK with commercial benefits across all products and segments, most recently crossing a milestone of £1.5B value in unsecured lending.”

Of his job he went on: “It’s not just that I get to play with all the latest gadgets, it’s also because digital has a central part to play in Barclays’ ongoing transformation..

We are launching new digital services every day and these services are transforming the way we interact with our customers, not only digitally and over the phone but also in our branches.”

The raffle at the lunch was in aid of the Children’s Centre.

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ON THE AGENDA

BUSINESS EVENTS

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wealth & investment

UK’s billionaires are fewer and poorer

Forbes’ annual ranking shows trend of declining wealth among the world’s richest Words: Hugo Greenhalgh

T

here are fewer billionaires in the UK and they are almost $10bn poorer than last year, according to Forbes’ annual ranking of the global super-rich.

UK-based billionaires saw their collective wealth drop to $161.8bn, $9.3bn down on last year, hit by turbulent stock markets and currency market fluctuations in advance of the UK’s June vote on whether to stay in the EU. The UK has 50 billionaires, three fewer than 12 months ago, Forbes reported.

According to The World’s Billionaires ranking, there is a global trend of declining relative wealth among the world’s richest.

The number of billionaires worldwide fell by 16 to 1,810, with overall wealth also falling to $6.48tn — down from $7.05tn the year before.

Bill Gates topped the ranking for the 17th time in the past 22 years, but even he saw a $4.2bn fall in his personal fortune, down to $75bn.

Zara co-founder Amancio Ortega was second, with investor Warren Buffett next.

They were followed by Carlos Slim, the Mexican telecoms magnate, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Mr Slim saw his fortune slide by the most on the Forbes’ list over the past

the top ten world billionaires

JOHN WHITAKER

$2.8 billion

1

2

3

4

BILL GATES

AMANCIO ORTEGA

WARREN BUFFETT

CARLOS SLIM HELU & FAMILY

$77.2 Billion

$71.3 Billion

$66.9 Billion

5

6

7

8

9

JEFF BEZOS

MARK ZUCKERBERG

LARRY ELLISON

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG

CHARLES KOCH

$53.1 Billion

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ISLE OF MAN BILLIONAIRE

12 months, losing $27.1bn. By contrast, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg increased his worth by $11.2bn.

“The general commodity crash and wider emerging markets struggle will have claimed a lot of victims in the past 12 months — not just some billionaires, but also a fair few British multimillionaires,” said Lee Goggin founder of Findawealthmanager, a financial technology company. “But they’ll bounce back when prices recover, so I don’t imagine many tears are being shed for them.”

The Hinduja brothers, Srichand and Gopichand, were the top-ranked UKbased billionaires worth a combined $14.5bn — one of the few fortunes to remain untouched since last year. Sir Cameron Mackintosh makes the list for the first time, with an estimated net worth of $1.2bn — the musical theatre world’s first billionaire.

But despite the seven new UK entrants to the list, London was falling behind on the number of super-wealthy entrepreneurs, said Kerry Dolan, assistant managing editor at Forbes. “If you looked at where wealth is being created, you wouldn’t say it was London,” she said. “Both the US and China supersede London as centres of wealth creation.”

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$48.2 Billion

$49.4 Billion

$43 Billion

$59.8 Billion

shared #9 spot

$43.2 Billion

9 DAVID KOCH

$43.2 Billion ON THE AGENDA

Intelligent and insightful offshore legal advice and services.

Delivered with perspective. applebyglobal.com

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The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount invested. Exchange rate changes may affect the value of investments. Nedbank Private Wealth is a registered trade name of Nedbank Private Wealth Limited. The parent of Nedbank Private Wealth Limited is Nedbank Group Limited, which is incorporated in South Africa and is regulated by the South African Reserve Bank. The ultimate parent of Nedbank Private Wealth Limited is Old Mutual plc, which is incorporated in England and Wales. The latest audited report and accounts, and details of the credit rating are available at www.nedbankprivatewealth.com. Nedbank Private Wealth Limited is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority and is a participant in the Isle of Man Depositors’ Compensation Scheme as set out in the Compensation of Depositors Regulations 2010. For full details, please see www.iomfsa.im. Registered office: St Mary’s Court 20 Hill Street Douglas Isle of Man. The Jersey branch is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission and is a participant in the Jersey Banking Depositor Compensation Scheme. See www.gov.je/dcs for full details of the Scheme and banking groups covered. The London branch is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registration No: 313189. Your eligible deposits with Nedbank Private Wealth Limited, London branch, are protected up to a total of £75,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK’s deposit guarantee scheme. Any deposits you hold above the £75,000 limit are unlikely to be covered. Please ask for further information or visit www.fscs.org.uk. The UAE representative office in Dubai is licensed by the Central Bank of UAE. Licence No: 13/191/2013. Representation in South Africa is through Nedbank Limited. Registered in South Africa with Registration No 1951/000009/06, an authorised financial services and registered credit provider (NCRCP16).

wealth & investment

How to invest in whisky Readers partial to a “wee dram” may now stimulate their portfolios along with their taste buds.

Words: Lucy Warwick-Ching

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ON THE AGENDA

A

n alternative investment market in whisky is opening up to investors following the launch of an online platform allowing people to buy and sell units of the “water of life” as it matures in the barrel for as little as a few pounds.

The launch of WhiskyInvestDirect comes as the sector for rare whiskies is booming. Record numbers of bottles of rare whisky were sold at auction in the UK during the first half of the year (2015), according to the consultancy Rare Whisky 101, which compiles a range of indices on the secondary market for Scotch.

The consultancy said that 20,638 bottles of single malt were sold on the open market in the UK — 35 per cent more than in the first half of 2014.

The growth in interest reflects whisky’s emergence as a luxury item, says Martin Green, head of whisky at Bonhams, the auctioneers.

“Interest in whisky has been growing steadily for many years,” he explains. “One reason is the increasing wealth in the Far East where whisky is seen as a premium product and an indication of taste and sophistication.”

But he adds that there are many people who collect whisky simply because it

WEALTH & INVESTMENT

“fascinates them, they are captivated by its history and romance and, of course, because they like drinking it.”

BUY AT AUCTION The first standalone whisky sales started in Glasgow 15 years ago, when interest in it as an investment sector really started to take off in the UK. Until then whisky was always sold in a mixed sale usually with wine and other spirits. Since then, the market has grown steadily and strengthened year-on-year.

Mr Green believes that the fact that Bonhams sells around 90 per cent of its stock at each of its four dedicated whisky sales — and has done consistently over the years — speaks for the health of the market.

This year the focus has been on Japanese whisky at auction, he says. In August a bottle of 1960 Karuizawa sold for $HK918,750 (£77,735) at Bonhams in Hong Kong, setting an auction record for a Japanese whisky.

“Japanese whisky for many years lived in the shadow of Scotch whisky which has always had — and I think always will have — a special place in drinkers’ and collectors’ hearts across the world,” says Mr Green. “A huge amount of hard work has, however, gone into developing premium Japanese

brands and collectors both in Japan itself and increasingly internationally have started to take notice.

However, investors should take note that auctioneers will typically charge up to 25 per cent of the value of whiskies in order to sell them. Online auction houses may be cheaper — often closer to 10 per cent — but could fail to attract the same attention.

Meanwhile, whisky transportation and storage costs can also be high.

Not all buyers take the auction route.

In 2011, a bottle of The Dalmore 62 was sold at Changi Airport in Singapore for a world record £125,000, following the sale of a bottle of Dalmore 64 at Harrods for £120,000. But one of the most expensive whiskies ever sold is a 64 year old Macallan in a unique Lalique “Cire Perdue” crystal decanter, which was bought at auction in the US for $460,000.

The trick, say experts, is to identify limited edition bottles that are likely to rise in price once sold out. As with most rare goods, reputation, scarcity and exclusivity are crucial.

Returns can vary greatly, though, and headline figures for whisky returns often fail to factor in the high transaction costs involved in buying and selling it, creating the impression that returns are higher than they really are. agenda

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INVEST ONLINE WhiskyInvestDirect gives investors access to the whisky market via its online platform to buy and sell the spirit at wholesale prices for as little as £2 a litre.

Investors need to register with the site to open an account, then transfer funds into it to purchase whisky at wholesale prices.

There is no minimum investment and no minimum length of time that investors have to hold the whisky. All whisky bought and sold on the online platform is stored in barrels in bonded warehouses.

“Our clients see it as a diversifier for their other investments. It has low correlation to other asset classes, such as bonds or property, and because 93 per cent of Scotch whisky is exported, it provides a hedge against weak sterling,” says Rupert Patrick, chief executive and co-founder of WhiskyInvestDirect.

Patrick Connolly, adviser at Chase de Vere, says the new platform should provide greater liquidity for the market — with no irony intended. “It is important to spread risks within an investment portfolio and this is an interesting initiative which can allow more people to invest in whisky, an asset for which there is an ongoing demand.”

Mr Connolly also points out that these investments are unregulated, which means that investors cannot fall back on the Financial Services Compensation

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Scheme (FSCS) or any other body if their investment goes wrong.

BUY A FUND You could outsource the selection process by investing in a fund where the manager will choose companies and bottles on your behalf.

There are no UK funds doing this so you would have to look to an offshore investment such as the Hong Kong-based Platinum Whisky Investment fund.

This would not be protected by the FSCS, but you could also put money into a fund investing more generally in drinks businesses, or buy shares direct in companies such as drinks maker Diageo.

STORAGE Whisky does not need the cool, cellarlike conditions often required for wines.

Bottles must be stored upright and kept in pristine condition but they can be kept in almost any environment. The value can drop dramatically if there is damage to the bottle or labelling or if the fill level drops, indicating poor closing and evaporation.

Once bottled, whisky can be stored indefinitely.

THE RISKS While certain brands are doing well, there is also a risk of steep declines if you buy the wrong bottle. Rare Whisky 101 has a negative index, which shows how poorly some whisky bottles have performed in value. While the index of the 1,000 best performing bottles was up 13 per cent in value in the year to end of August 2015, the worst performing fell by 9 per cent.

The charges for investing in maturing whisky are also high, says Mr Connolly.

“While a buying and selling charge of 1.75 per cent might not be excessive, storage costs can make this very expensive, especially for smaller investors, and mean that whisky will need to perform well simply to give a positive return,” he explains.

“Remember that whisky doesn’t produce any earnings or income and so price fluctuations are based solely on supply and demand. This means there can be some big upward or downward price movements if there are changes in the economic environment or as it comes in or out of favour.”

Mr Connolly does not recommend any alternative or other “collectable” or “hobby” investments to his clients. “For the vast majority of investors, a combination of cash, equities, fixed interest and property, will be more than adequate to meet their investment needs,” he explains.

ON THE AGENDA

in-business

C

Words: Les Able

loser links with the business sector is the aim of Tim Graham, newly appointed chief executive officer of Manx Wildlife Trust.

“There could be more entrepreneur routes open to us when it comes to raising funds and delivering projects,” says Tim, who was previously programme manager for nature improvement areas with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Of his new role he adds: “The Trust is in the throes of developing a five year strategy which makes it an interesting time to have joined it as CEO. There are likely to be changes ahead to make it more fit for purpose so there are big decisions on the horizon along with ambitions to try and realise. The funding climate in the island has got to be inventive to see these things through.”

The Trust currently has over 1,000 members and, says Tim, there is clearly scope to encourage more corporate members with the potential for more to be achieved by working directly with business.

“Trust membership is for everybody.

What we want is an awareness of our purpose, what we do and why people should support us on that mission. We want more people to know that the Trust exists, understand its purpose and support us by becoming members.”

He goes on: “During the course of a year the Trust organises a number of activities, particularly for younger audiences, but we can’t deliver those engaging events without a certain level of support to carry them on.

There is scope for greater awareness of what we do and getting the right messages to the right audience is important and this is one of the main things I will be focusing on. I have to make sure these messages get out.”

He would also like to see conservation branded products with people aware they are buying not only a “great Manx product” but at the same time benefiting wildlife.”

There is, he believes, scope for the island’s economy to benefit more from the growing market in nature tourism. “Among my contemporaries there is a greater awareness of the islands of Scotland, Wales and Ireland but they don’t think of the Isle of Man. Nature tourism is a big thing now so there is a job to be done there.” .From a young age Tim, 36, was interested in ecology. “I can always remember being outdoors a lot and my mother was an avid bird spotter. I spent a number of years volunteering with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, helping out on its nature reserves. It was that which inspired me to study Applied Biology at Liverpool University and completing a PhD in plant ecology.”

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CEO of Manx Wildlife Trust Predicts ‘Big Decisions’ on the Horizon No stranger to the island, he has fond memories of visiting the old Marine Biological Station in Port Erin and he also has family ties. “My Dad’s family come from Colby and although he wasn’t born on the island he spent many years here.”

Tim, whose partner Kate, an ecological consultant, will be joining him in the coming weeks declares: “I can’t wait to get stuck into all the new challenges facing me, working with the staff, trustees and volunteers who are the lifeblood of an organisation like ours. I’m very much looking forward to continuing the great work of the Trust, building on its successes and delivering inspiring conservation projects to protect the island’s wildlife and habitats for the future.”

“I can always remember being outdoors a lot and my mother was an avid bird spotter.”

ON THE AGENDA

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SPORT

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ON THE AGENDA

Words: Michelle P. Tonnesen.

W

e’ve all been there. A boss, a colleague or even a spouse micromanaging your doings in some way or another.

Some people don’t mind too much – others can’t stand it. Either way it is counterproductive to all parties involved.

Organisations are generally structured around tasks, processes and people. If structured appropriately, these elements will interact in an efficient manner getting the job done without unnecessary waste of time and resources. Micromanaging not only leads to inefficiency, but also frustration and consequently lower morale and ultimately a negative working culture.

The most frequent motivations for micromanagement, such as detailorientation, emotional insecurity and doubts regarding employees’ competences, are internal and usually related to the personality of the manager. Some people are just born perfectionist control freaks and usually don’t mean any harm but just aim to get the job done in a certain way – which happens to be their way. Certain jobs even require a degree of micromanagement to be successful, like project managers who continuously need to control the quality, scope and timeline of their team’s work.

Others may have more Machiavellian objectives, such as narcissistic leaders who deliberately delegate work to subordinates and then micromanage those employees’ performance, enabling the micromanagers to both take credit for positive results and shift the blame for negative results to their subordinates, who have no authority to take alternative actions to mitigate failure.

However, external factors such as organisational culture, increased time or performance pressure due to customer or shareholder demands, as well as instability of managerial positions may also play a role.

Because a pattern of micromanagement suggests to employees that a manager does not trust their work or judgment, it is a major factor in triggering employee disengagement, contributing to retention and turnover problems. Micromanagement results in interference with the performance and productivity of people and the efficiency of processes. As a consequence, organisations rake up significant direct, indirect and hidden costs, along with instability and lack of continuity.

Effective managers set up those around them to succeed. They empower their employees to do well by giving them opportunities to excel. Micromanagers, on the other hand, prevent employees from making – and taking responsibility for – their own decisions. And a disempowered employee is an ineffective one.

In sum, micromanagement is a guaranteed way to ensure your team or organisation will not reach its full potential.

So, how do you deal with this toxic trait?

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Effective managers set up those around them to succeed. They empower their employees to do well by giving them opportunities to excel.

Step one is to acknowledge the problem.

Are you or your manager displaying these symptomatic behaviours? n Resist delegating work n Discourage others from making decisions n Get involved in the work of others without consulting them n Push aside the experience and knowledge of colleagues n Focus on the details instead of the big picture If the answer is yes, the next step is to develop a strategy for dealing with this form of mismanagement – both as a micromanager and a micromanaged.

Tips for the Micromanager Part of being a good manager is listening. Managers fail to listen when they forget their employees have important insights – and people who don’t feel listened to become disengaged.

The best way to build healthier relationships with employees is by talking to them. Getting frank feedback from employees is the hard part. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to change. This means giving your employees the leeway – and encouragement – to succeed.

Walk the talk – be an exemplary role model to others. Negative behaviours risk becoming imbedded as the norms of the organisation. In many cases the culture of micromanagement is established at the top. The style and behaviour of a few top leaders cascade throughout the organisation. Break this cycle by acting as a positive change agent.

Tips for the Micromanaged Volunteer to take on work or projects that you are confident you will be good at.

This will start to increase your manager’s confidence in you. Plus, pursuing a common goal will help build trust and this will give you more freedom.

Help your manager to delegate to you more effectively by prompting them to give you all the information you will need up front and then set interim review points along the way.

Good communication and results is the best way to deal with the micromanager.

Give them an update on progress at every opportunity and deliver on your tasks.

Learn to see things from their point of view. By understanding the signs of micromanagement and knowing what your boss is trying to achieve, you may find that you can help them realise their goals.

Remember that managers are only human too!

Changing behaviour isn’t easy, but it is possible in time with great patience and perseverance!

Sources Chambers – My Way or the Highway (2004) n Thomas – Narcissism: Behind the Mask (2010) Mindtools.com – Avoiding Micromanagement n Leadershipthoughts.com – 10 Signs of Micromanagement

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WORDS | Amy Tocknell |

PHOTOGRAPHS | Liam Gilman

ON THE

RIGHT

TRACK You’re never too young to start working on your empire and Joseph Dooley is proof of that incarnate. At just 27 years old, he is making a move to become a leader in the exclusive highpowered automotive sector and it’s clear that nothing is going to slow him down.

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Joseph Dooley, known to his friends and customers as Joe, has grown up on the Isle of Man, giving him a unique perspective as to what the residents want and expect from their cars. Unsurprisingly, many are in the market for something a little more exclusive and unusual than a standard hatchback and he is only too pleased to oblige by providing a top of the range search and acquire service, alongside his exemplar sales endeavours.

Growing up with a keen interest in cars, Joe notes that sports cars were what really got his motor running, “Obviously, when I was growing up, supercars and high performance vehicles were more scarce on the Isle of Man, so if and when I ever saw one, I would get excited and want to learn everything about it. How fast it was, how much money it cost; I wanted to know it all and usually, a poster of it would end up on my bedroom wall. In an amazing twist of fate, I have now either driven or sold newer versions of almost everything I used to stare at on my wall. As cheesy as it sounds, it was something that I never ever envisaged or imagined could happen, so I guess you could call it a little boys dream come true.”

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Going on to talk more about Joe’s new business venture, his passion for all things powerful and elite is clear and it gives a good insight as to why he has decided to step out from other people’s shadows in a bid to offer the very best, under his own steam and name.

Having always worked for or alongside other motor trade professionals, Joe has had the time to finely hone his craft, but not just in the form of an irresistible selling technique; what makes Joe so individual is his ability to understand and envisage what a customer wants, even before they know. Added to this is his understanding that the customer is king and how you treat them will directly impact on future business and growth, “I strongly believe that the service that you give to people will be reflected in your

repeat business and a steady growth in new customers. The motor trade on the Isle of Man often sees customers looking at buying a new car but settling for second best, so many will find the model of the car they want, but with the wrong engine and in a different colour, but due to a lack of choice, they end up compromising on what they want.”

Understanding that second best is not good enough, Joe is on a mission to bring his customers everything they want and more and thanks to his innovative ‘find my car’ feature on his website, customers can dictate everything they want, then sit back in comfort while Joe does all the hard work and finds exactly what they want, bringing it over from the UK mainland, if needed. The best part of this tailored service, however, is that nothing is left to chance, allowing even the most inexperienced car buyers to feel in

safe hands.

Every car is thoroughly vetted to ensure that it hasn’t been in any accidents, is in the best condition possible and has no outstanding finance agreements on it and it’s only then, when a customer is 100% sure that it’s the car they want, that any money needs to change hands and even then it is only a nominal holding deposit to transport it to the island.

This is quite a change from the archetypal images of car salesmen, but that’s exactly what Joe is, a new breed of automotive dealer that seeks to surprise customers with his integrity and dedication.

...his passion for all things powerful and elite is clear and it gives a good insight as to why he has decided to step out from other people’s shadows in a bid to offer the very best.

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...I would research the market, find the sportiest, most powerful, best looking, most fuel efficient car that holds the most residual value and buy that one…does that car exist? If it does, I’ll find it and one thing’s for sure; I wont settle for anything less!

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ON THE AGENDA

“Once on the Island, every car is Manx tested, if necessary, at no extra cost to the customer, giving them peace of mind that the car is mechanically sound and ready to drive away. Having been Manx registered and professionally valeted, cars are brought to our exclusive indoor viewing area, where customers are invited to inspect their new vehicle. Buying a new car should be a good experience and an exciting time, so I always try to make every purchase as smooth and easy as possible, allowing customers to stay excited, as apposed to feeling stressed or anxious, but we don’t simply hand over the keys and say goodbye to people; we offer top of the range aftersales care too. That’s what makes a one-time customer a repeat client and a friend to myself and the business.”

Speaking about what makes Joe and his set up so unique, he talks about being able to pre-empt needs and wants, so as to be able to future proof the automotive industry on the Isle of Man. He talks specifically about electric cars, “As well as being able to provide customers

with high performance petrol or diesel cars, I’m also going to concentrate on being the Island’s first specialist in sourcing electric cars! The technology is improving all the time, with some huge advantages being felt already by electric car users, so although I’m somewhat of a ‘petrolhead’ myself, I have been pleasantly surprised with the power that some of these cars are producing now, while also offering a longer travelling range and great safety features. Again, we come up against the problem of being on an island where we are not able to test-drive or educate ourselves about these types of cars easily, but come and see for yourself.

I have the BMW I3 fully electric car at my showroom, ready to drive and enjoy. Most manufacturers now produce an electric car, giving you a more extensive model range to choose from, leading all the way up to highend supercars.”

A self-professed car enthusiast and ambitious business mind, Joe is looking forward to having his years of experience come back around to reward him with repeat customers and exciting procurement challenges. With a determination to be the very best and a realistic overview of business development, he sees the next

few years as being a critical time for the development of his operation, but the potential difficulties do not scare him, in fact, he views them as part of the fun and pledges to deal with them with a smile on his face and up to the minute industry knowledge. There’s only one thing left to know about Joe and that’s what his dream car would be and why, “This is a very difficult question for me as I have been spoilt in driving some of the most exclusive cars the market has to offer. There are so many different aspects you have to consider when buying a car as well! Is it the speed that you’re looking for, is it the comfort...is it the speed and the comfort? Do you want to be sat high up, or are you happy being really close to the ground? There are plenty of things to be thought about, but all taken into consideration, I would research the market, find the sportiest, most powerful, best looking, most fuel efficient car that holds the most residual value and buy that one…does that car exist? If it does, I’ll find it and one thing’s for sure; I wont settle for anything less!”

CONTACT: JOE@BESTCARS.IM • TELEPHONE: 07624 202688 IN-BUSINESS

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SHOPRITE AND DEFA HOST FOOD INDUSTRY SESSION AT NOA BAKEHOUSE

This month Shoprite and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture hosted an introduction to the food industry for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to develop local food products.

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he event was held at Noa Bakehouse and gave aspiring local producers the chance to meet representatives from the Island’s food industry who advised them on the most relevant aspects of establishing, running and operating a food business on the Island.

John Speakman, a Senior buyer from Shoprite welcomed the assembled entrepreneurs and outlined Shoprite’s policy of supporting local producers. Other subjects that were on offer included ‘How to Pitch’, ‘Plan Production’, ‘Manage Availability’, ‘How to Maintain a Profit’, ‘Packaging’, ‘How to Bring a New Product to Life’ and ‘Local Market Economic Importance.’

Attendees also had the opportunity to discuss their applications for Shoprite’s Startisan competition, which offers a guaranteed Shoprite listing, operational marketing support, advice on packaging and product development and six months rent free in one of Isle of Man Enterprises Village Walk retail units.

Other industry experts were on hand to meet the aspiring entrepreneurs including Department of Economic Development staff who explained the grants and marketing courses on offer, as well as PR, marketing and digital experts and specialists in environmental health and transportation.

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Are you a ‘Manx Startisan’? To register your interest and receive an entry form or for help and advice on creating your proposal please email: simon@redpointpr.co.uk.

ON THE AGENDA

PREMIUM QUALITY LOCAL HOT DOGS FROM DAVE’S DELICIOUS DOGS

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his month’s Manx Startisan has a truly international flavour. David Valkema is a Dutch American who has recreated the classic authentic high-quality all-beef or all-pork gourmet hot dog under the moniker Dave’s Delicious Dogs.

Like many Startisans Dave is driven by a passion for premium quality foods using fresh, traceable local ingredients. He takes up the story: “I started making the hot dogs and bratwursts solely for use because I couldn’t find any of the quality that matched my own high standards in the British Isles. But now I’ve found that on the Isle of Man there IN-BUSINESS

are so many establishments such as burger vans, cafes, restaurants and other food vendors that are craving the taste of some great gourmet hot dogs. These other folks, like myself, want a good quality island produced product that doesn’t break the bank in order to sell and eat.“ He continued: “Your typical tinned hot dogs are clearly marked ‘natural pork hot dogs’ and these are basically all you can buy on the island now but people just don’t want a “food stuff” product that has “mechanically separated chicken”, “pork connective tissue” and “hydrolyzed maize protein.”

“So, my making these hot dogs and

bratwursts was just to fill my own need first, but now I want to show others what real, good, high-quality, all-Manx meat, gourmet sausages can taste like outside of the breakfast table. We use all my Oma Valkema and Oma Kruithof’s recipes for these hot dogs and bratwursts.”

You will be able to see Dave’s iconic New York hot dog cart in Ramsey’s Saint Paul Square from May when he will be serving Dave’s Delicous Dogs or you can find out more about ordering on the facebook page www.facebook.com/DavesDelicious/

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FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SOME GREAT MANX STARTISANS Manx Startisans are continuing to emerge in the local market and this month some great new concepts were discussed in a session for new operations at Noa’s Bakehouse.

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ll of these local entrepreneurs are looking to put their passion into practice and create innovative new food and drink companies that can provide healthy, premium alternatives to mass-produced off island goods, for the island’s residents.

Many of the people behind these companies have switched careers, retrained, researched and put their knowledge into creating their own businesses. All of them are driven by the desire to do something different, to take the kernel of an idea and grow it into a tangible product that appears on the shelves of the island’s supportive retailers.

And now is your chance to join them.

Shoprite’s Manx ‘Startisans’ programme is looking to identify the potential in a local food entrepreneur who wants to get their idea off the ground, or take their fledgling idea to the next level.

Shoprite has already helped a number of local producers to develop their proposition to a stage where a major food retailer can stock it. The company’s team works with local producers to help them with branding, packaging, marketing, pricing. Many of the companies that started out as home based operations have now gone on to reach the stage where they can now be exported to UK and international markets.

The winning entrepreneur will receive a guaranteed listing in Shoprite’s stores for six months as well as receiving start-up operations marketing support, packaging, product development and presentation advice including one to one sessions from the panel of experts as well as a free stand at the 2016 Isle of Man Food and Drink Show. Shoprite’s parent company Isle of Man Enterprises will also make available free of charge one of its retail units in Village Walk, Onchan for a six month period.

Are you a ‘Manx Startisan’? To register your interest and receive an entry form or for help and advice on creating your proposal please email: simon@redpointpr. co.uk.

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ENTRIES CLOSE ON FRIDAY 1ST JULY 2016 Can you become a Manx Startisan and join the local food revolution.

The Isle of Man has a large number of well established local food producers, particularly involved with meat and dairy industries, that allow large food retailers like Shoprite to operate ‘import substitution’ where they can support local producers by offering local alternatives.

However, the Island can always support more niche providers which not only benefit the local economy but also provide premium quality, healthy alternatives to well known brands with provenance that can be tracked back directly to local sources.

New businesses are being set up by local people who are passionate about food and drink who are creating products that reflect those premium quality values with delicious, home spun products that are far superior to the mass produced, well established alternatives.

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M I C R O B R E W E R Y

HOODED RAM TO OPEN REAL ALE PUB

Hoppy Poppy Makes Rob Storey a Happy Man Rob Storey, renowned throughout real ale circles as the ‘Shepherd’ of the Douglas-based Hooded Ram Brewing Company, is a decidedly happy fellow.

Words: Les Able

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or the third year in a row the Hooded Ram won Beer of the Festival at last month’s CAMRA Isle of Man Beer & Cider Festival with Hoppy Poppy Rocket IPA 6.4 per cent. In 2015 it was Black Pearl Oyster Stout 5.2 per cent and in the previous year it was Little King Louis IPA 6.0 per cent which took first place.

“Louis is my son’s name and Poppy my daughter’s,” explains Rob who only decided to start brewing after becoming involved in the local CAMRA branch in 2010.

“We’ve just brewed our 200th batch and to celebrate have done a triple IPA which should be about 12.5 per cent, we think we’ll call it Abattoir Blues,” says an enthusiastic Rob. Hooded Ram is today a major success story and that success continues this ON THE AGENDA

month when Rob will have more to celebrate than just his 37th birthday.

Gallery can reveal that Hooded Ram is opening its first pub in the island on North Quay in Douglas.

“It’s in what was Clinch’s building and the concentration will be on real ale, wine, spirits and good food but definitely no alcopops,” he explains. “It’s going to be the sort of pub you and me will want to go to, a great boozer, not a Chelsea pub but at the same time an upmarket pub.”

Rob stresses he won’t be the landlord and while in confidence reveals who it will be, goes on to laughingly add that his aim is to eventually have something of an “empire” of real ale pubs in the four corners of the island.

Rob, who previously worked in compliance in the financial sector, recalls handing in his resignation, his wife Shelly then just over eight months pregnant with Louis, and signing up to a brewing course.

It’s just three years ago that he founded the Hooded Ram Brewery with the intention to start a small American style brewery offering a different range of beers to those normally found on the island. The rest, as they say, is history.

Investment has been considerable and the brewery which started on 2.5 barrels has now grown to 10 barrels, representing almost 3,000 pints. Cask ales are stocked in around 20 pubs and bottles are available throughout many of the island’s hotels and restaurants.

Rob, who was 21 when he opted to do a degree in business and economics, readily admits that he didn’t drink much real ale until 2010 and had never done any home brewing. The first beer he brewed was Little King Louis.

“My fridge is predominantly full of Little King Louis, it’s my ‘go to’ beer at home,” he declares. “I’m a beer and wine drinker, don’t really drink spirits and while I will always try other beers that’s pretty limited in an island when wanting non-standardised beers. When it comes to wines, then preferably Australian; Shiraz, a Sancerre white, but nothing fizzy. No, no, no! Don’t see why I would want to sit there with a fizzy wine.”

Always the entrepreneur, looking ahead Rob adds: “We have started playing around with development beers, something different and out of the norm; the first one is a chocolate mint stout with fresh mint, Madagascan chocolate nibs and cinnamon.

Another is a Chai IPA, which is basically a Little King Louis which we have dry spiced in the cask, the list of ingredients is endless, that’s really nice and floral.”

In the coming months and with -the real ale pub a reality, he is also planning to introduce a ‘home brew system’. “This is for people with a basic home brew kit or who have never home brewed before.”

He recalls that it’s not so long ago working 80 hours a week was standard for him admits that he now has a much better work/life balance but adds: “Now, anything less than 50 is a holiday. although quite often I will do an ‘all nighter’. I never really switch off, and looking back, yes I took a risk, but no regrets… yet.”

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technology

Brave new era in technology needs new ethics Words: John Thornhill

The Spanish artist’s joke may have been true of the 20th century, when computers were for the most part souped-up calculating machines performing clearly prescribed functions. But the expansion of computing power in the early 21st century means that computers are now posing some of the most testing questions of our times. And it is not clear who is responsible for providing the answers.

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echnological advances in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nanotechnology, robotics and neuroscience — to name a few — have left policymakers, business people and consumers scrambling to understand their full social, economic and ethical implications.

Consider just three questions: first, is artificial intelligence, as Elon Musk believes, “potentially more dangerous than nukes”?

The idea of rogue robots destroying their creators has been a popular theme of science fiction for decades.

But now some serious scientists, such as Stephen Hawking, and prominent tech entrepreneurs, including Mr Musk, who runs Tesla Motors and SpaceX, are expressing their concerns about this.

How can we ensure that AI is used for beneficent, rather than unethical, purposes?

The prospect of super-intelligence capable of threatening human life still appears to be decades away, if it happens at all.

At the end of last year, Mr Musk, Peter Thiel and other Silicon Valley entrepreneurs committed $1bn to funding a new non-profit company, called OpenAI, with the aim that AI should remain “an extension of individual human wills”.

“It’s hard to fathom how much humanlevel AI could benefit society, and it’s

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equally hard to imagine how much it could damage society if built or used incorrectly,” OpenAI’s founders wrote in a blog post.

Mr Musk has also donated $10m to the Future of Life Institute, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based organisation, which is studying the social and ethical dimensions of AI. Of its mission the institute states: “Technology is giving life the potential to flourish like never before . . . or to selfdestruct. Let’s make a difference.”

A second difficult question is how to build “ethical elasticity” into self-driving cars. For better or worse, human car drivers are infinitely flexible in evaluating the ethics of different situations — breaking “no overtaking” rules to give more space to cyclists, for example. But how should self-driving cars be programmed to react when confronted with a real crisis? Should you provide owners with adjustable ethical settings?

In a speech last year, Dieter Zetsche, chief executive of the German carmaker Daimler, asked how autonomous cars should behave “if an accident is really unavoidable and where the only choice is a collision with a small car or a large truck, driving into a ditch or into a wall, or risk sideswiping a mother with a stroller, or an 80-year-old grandmother?”

The Daimler and Benz Foundation

has spent more than €1.5m since 2012 supporting a team of 20 scientists examining the social effects of autonomous driving and some of the ethical dilemmas that it raises.

Such questions have previously been the realm of moral philosophers, such as Professor Michael Sandel at Harvard, when discussing “is murder ever justified?”

But now boardrooms — and car owners — may increasingly find themselves having to debate the merits of Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative versus the utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham.

Developments in healthcare also create new dilemmas. Should cognitionenhancing drugs be banned for casual users? In their book Bad Moves, the neurologists Barbara Sahakian and Jamie Nicole LaBuzetta highlight the ethical challenges of using smart drugs to boost academic performance.

Why, they ask, do we take such a dim view of athletes who use steroids to cheat in the Olympic Games but ignore students who use smart drugs to boost their performance when they are about to take university entrance exams?

Students at Duke University in North Carolina have pressed the authorities to amend the institution’s academic honesty policy to consider “unauthorised use of prescription medication” as cheating. But ON THE AGENDA

few other universities, or employers, appear to have considered this dilemma.

“These medications have the potential to change society in dramatic and unexpected ways,” say Sahakian and LaBuzetta in their book. “Now is the time to have informed discussion and debate of the ethics of these ‘smart drugs’ and the role they should play in our future society,” they conclude.

Above all such gnarly questions looms a far bigger one: who is responsible for ensuring that the latest technological developments are not abused?

National governments and parliaments, preoccupied with far more pressing concerns such as fiscal austerity or refugee flows, rarely have the political bandwidth to consider such abstract challenges, still less to help set international standards or regulations.

As in so many other spheres, it seems inevitable that regulation will drag behind reality. Besides, what is to stop rogue nations from ignoring any international norms and putting gene editing or machine learning or cyber technologies to destructive uses?

University departments and think-tanks already play a useful role in disseminating knowledge and stimulating debate. But TECHNOLOGY

“Computers are useless.

They can only give you answers.” Pablo Picasso

they are often dependent on funding from the private sector and are unlikely to come up with radical solutions that will seriously restrict their paymasters.

That largely leaves the tech companies to regulate themselves. Some are by far the best-placed organisations to understand the potential dangers of technology and to do something to counter them. Companies such as Google are forming ethics boards to help monitor their own activities in areas such as artificial intelligence.

But, as we saw in the run-up to the financial crisis of 2008, private sector institutions can often hide behind a narrow interpretation of the law.

Some banks also proved adept at exploiting international legal and regulatory arbitrage.

Pushing the law to the limit clearly corroded ethical standards and led to a number of abuses across the financial sector. By last summer, financial institutions had paid more than $235bn in fines for breaching regulations, according to data compiled by Reuters.

As one former banker says: “Not everything that is legal is ethical.”

This is an issue that tech companies will have to confront if their own industry is not to suffer a regulatory whiplash in the future. agenda

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technology

Y

ou may have seen the photo of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg walking down the aisle at this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, surrounded by hundreds of delegates seated and staring into space with virtual reality headsets strapped to their faces.

Some have suggested that the image gives us a glimpse of our tech-enabled dystopian futures but the reality is that the picture simply sums up this year’s MWC, the world’s leading mobile technology conference, which focused heavily on virtual reality (VR).

Every year there is a tech theme which stands out from the rest and this year manufacturers have been focusing on delivering fully immersive gaming experiences with an emphasis on smartphone VR. From the highly engineered and very impressive Oculus Rift through to Alcatel’s VR in a box, tech firms have been working hard to develop systems to fit every budget and many of the more affordable VR alternatives like the Gear VR and the Google Cardboard use a mobile device.

Whilst there was indeed a huge amount of excitement, very few wanted to talk about the elephant in the room – the question of whether this is this just another fad or whether VR is something that people will genuinely want on their handsets and on their heads?

The mobile handset industry has form in this area. Only a couple of years ago, many were using very clever lenticular technology to offer 3D screens to customers but the reality was that people weren’t interested. Like VR, the technology was superb and represented a great engineering feat; but it just wasn’t wanted by users.

There’s no doubt that VR delivers an incredible gaming experience, one that could be enjoyed by gamers of all ages.

Serious gamers are the target audience for many of the headset manufacturers, but VR isn’t just for gamers. Gaming is an obvious use for VR and is probably the most widelyused example of how VR is developing; however VR has the opportunity to make a big difference in other ways too.

The Telegraph recently discussed how industries ranging from education to medicine and architecture to defence are applying VR technology and the impact this could have on our day to day lives.

For example, VR could be used to treat a range of medical conditions from phobias to PTSD. The design and process of constructing buildings can also be supported by VR as well as giving clients the opportunity to visualise and walk around buildings before they’re built.

Mobile devices and inexpensive headsets are likely to be the main way the majority of people experience VR in the near future but none of us will know whether people actually want to strap screens to their faces until the products

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agenda

Virtual Reality Enters the Real World Words: Mike Fawkner-Corbett, Head of Product at Sure

hit the mass market.

Sure will stock VR enabled phones and only time will tell whether islanders, along with the rest of the world, are interested in this clever technology.

ON THE AGENDA

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technology

W

hatever happened to the human touch? If you believe the latest fad from the tech world, it won’t be long before we give up talking to real people and start talking instead to machines — or “bots”.

Or it might be machines pretending to be people, or people pretending to be machines. The permutations of human and artificial intelligence are about to become interesting.

But if it works as advertised, we will move one step further beyond a world of direct human interaction towards a future when screens — and new ways of engaging with computer intelligence — govern much of our lives. For sheer convenience, it will be hard to resist. Less obvious is what might be lost in the process.

Facebook has just given this trend its biggest lift with the release this week of a way for companies to plug their bots into Messenger, its chat system. Want to know the weather? Ask a question and an intelligent agent will answer. Interested in buying something? Bots on hand will show you the latest offers and guide you through to the checkout.

If people take to the idea, entire call centres could be rendered obsolete. Why hold on waiting for a human when you can get an immediate response from a bot on your smartphone? The call-centre reps are operating from scripts anyway and these are interactions that could be programmed into a piece of software.

What can go wrong The American Republican party admitted recently that it is struggling to switch off Trumpbot, its artificial intelligence experiment. After encouraging signs in early testing, the Trumpbot was put on Fox News and told to learn from its surroundings. But within weeks Trumpbot was questioning the president’s birthplace, demanding a wall to keep out Mexicans and saying it was not surprised Arianna Huffington’s husband had left her for a man.

Party leaders were initially amused when it declared its intention to seek the presidency, saying that Trumpbot was a learning algorithm which would become more sophisticated as the nomination race continued and that, in any case, no one would actually vote for it. However, they became increasingly alarmed as it gathered momentum, spewing out a slew of racist and offensive comments, and even talking about its penis.

As outrage grew the Trumpbot seemed unfazed by the anger of Mexicans, Muslims and a load of liberal hoes with blood coming out of every orifice. However, each row seems to boost the Trumpbot’s appeal over the one-dimensional opponents whom it dismisses as the artificial creations of a Washington elite. Voters say they like the Trumpbot’s refreshing style. “It seems like a regular guy,” said one.

Its tweets to Hillary Clinton included variations on the “you’re so ugly” jokes and quips about her inability to satisfy her

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agenda

Fear of bots replacing human contact may prove misplaced It will be hard to resist when screens govern our lives but at what cost?

Words: Richard Waters

husband. The bot consistently boasts that its women are hotter than anyone else’s.

Republican leaders have tried to turn it off. “We sent in our best engineers to take it down,” said one party strategist. The Trumpbot is now openly taunting them. A few weeks back it observed “my IQ is one of the highest and you all know it. Please don’t feel stupid or insecure; it’s not your fault.”

Some say it will moderate its views once it has the nomination and starts interacting with voters who are not registered Republicans.

Whether the bots catch on will depend on not stretching the technology beyond its limits.

Most artificial intelligence is not very intelligent and when the main technique for training the new systems involves something called machine learning, it turns out that machines can be taught bad behaviour as well as good.

Not that the chatbots on Facebook are about to have a mind of their own and turn rogue. Most take a very limited approach to

AI, using machine learning to “understand” the questions being put to them and returning largely pre-scripted answers.

They try to identify a need, then draw you down a chain of conversation to a result.

Deeper levels of intelligence will also be on tap. But it is as likely to involve a human brain as one made from silicon.

M, another Facebook chat service, relies on real people sitting in the background, returning answers, though to the user, it is not at all clear whether information is being generated by a person or a computer.

As the machines become smarter they will take over more of the responses, eventually pushing human workers out of the loop altogether.

The prospect of another layer of human interaction being lost to technology is bound to bring a pang of regret, not to mention a wave of concern about the impact on jobs. But then, who would want to give up ATMs and go back to queueing up for a bank teller? Most people won’t mind at all when the days of call-centre queueing have receded into history.

ON THE AGENDA

Isle of Man | Home & Interiors | May 2016

The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man

HOME

FEATURE PROPEPRTY

1, Reayrt Ny Glionney Chase, Lonan, Laxey

£499,000

Summary Modern 5 bedroom detached house offering spacious extended family accommodation.

The property is situated within a sought after cul-de-sac location and presented in immaculate condition throughout, all of which is complemented by high quality fixtures and fittings. There is a recently installed stunning kitchen and the South facing garden has been fully landscaped providing the perfect summer lifestyle which is also enjoyed from inside the property, due to the large bi-folding doors bringing the outside in creating a feeling of space and openness.

Key Features n Modern extended detached house n Sought after cul-de-sac location n Countryside and sea views n Immaculate condition complemeneted by high quality fixtures and fittings n 3 Reception rooms n Recently installed stunning kitchen with sitting/dining area n Utility room and ground floor cloakroom (WC) n 5 Bedrooms (1 en-suite) and family bathroom n Exquisite South facing landscaped gardens n Integral double garage

T: 01624 667788 W: garforthgray.im

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BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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Introducing

bESPOKE bAth ING immerse in the sublime

unit 18 tromode estate, douglas, isle of man, im4 4qb

davidscotttiles.com

C U B B I N

&

B R E G A Z Z I

E S T . 1 9 3 5

F I N E

F U R N I T U R E

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A C C E S S O R I E S

Te l + 4 4 ( 1 6 2 4 ) 6 1 7 7 8 8 . Tr o m o d e E s t a t e , D o u g l a s , I s l e o f M a n . c u b b i n a n d b r e g a z z i . c o m

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THIE DROMMEY, CRONK RUAGH, LEZAYRE, RAMSEY, IM7 2ED Thie Drommey is an executive six bedroom detached house in an elevated position with stunning views of the north of the Island.

The property has been refurbished to a sensationally high standard with beautifully landscaped gardens to the rear. There is an option to purchase the property as a show home to include furnishings plus an additional option to acquire a four acre paddock situated to the front of the property which has planning permission

ÂŁ1,450,000

for equestrian facilities including a manege, stable block and paddocks. The property also benefits from a superb extension to the rear, comprising of bespoke kitchen and family room. With large skylights and doors onto the garden an illusion is created of bringing the outside in!

T: Mark Canty - 07624 220109 W: www.cowleygroves.com

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

ROCKMOUNT RE N LE OW AS ED

AT SLIEAU WHALLIAN VIEW, PEEL

Rockmount is an exclusive development of 2 & 3 bed bungalows at Slieau Whallian View in Peel. These homes are highly insulated and fitted with quality double glazing and energy efficient central heating and hot water systems, making them up to 50% cheaper to run than an older property.*

NOW AVAILABLE 2 bed bungalows from £234,950

2 bed bungalows with garage from £269,950

Call 01624 615000 Visit dandara.com

Sales Suite, 22-24 Victoria St, Douglas, Isle of Man SHOW HOMES OPEN Sat and Sun 11am - 4pm *NHBC Foundation & Zero Carbon Hub Specification may vary subject to house type and build stage. Full details available on request. Details correct at time of going to print. Images indicative only.

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Eversfield, Bay View, Ramsey

£455,000

Summary A gorgeous family home offering spacious accommodation over 2 floors enjoying fabulous views over Mooragh park and beyond over Ramsey bay. The property is situated in a convenient location being a 5 minute walk to Ramsey town centre.

Key Features n Spacious family home n Well presented throughout n Fabulous views n 3 Reception rooms n Modern kitchen n Conservatory n 6 Bedrooms n Off road parking n Integral garage n South facing private and rear garden

T: 01624 667788 W: garforthgray.im

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

The Renewable Solutions Provider Making a World of Difference

Clearly an efficient way to deliver hot water and heating to your home Ecodan heat pumps from Mitsubishi Electric clearly offer a viable, low-maintenance, cost-effective alternative to traditional heating systems. Suitable for the vast majority of homes on the island, there has never been a better time to switch to a cleaner, greener heating and hot water solution that could save you money.

Ecodan could also qualify for the ‘Comfy Heat’ electricity tariff from Manx Utilities, bringing further cost savings.

Ecodan. Clearly efficient, clearly renewable.

For further information call 675555 or visit ecodanerp.co.uk/IOM4

HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT? We’re the most transparent and convenient esate agency service

OTHER AGENTS Very few people are actually going into high street agents premises any more

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ARCHITECTURE PEDESTRIANS URGED TO ‘LOOK UP’ AND APPRECIATE THE ‘NEGLECTED’ PERIOD GEMS OF STRAND STREET Words: Les Able

A scathing indictment of neglected period architecture in the heart of Douglas has come from a leading estate agent who is urging shoppers in Strand Street to ‘look up’ and discover some of the neglected period gems above many shops and offices.

“There seems little interest in preserving the facades above so many of the buildings in the town’s main streets and shoppers seem oblivious to what they are missing unless they take a few minutes to just ‘look up’,” says Mark Canty, director at Cowley Groves in Douglas.

“The upper parts above buildings which date from the Victorian era and occasionally earlier, and also from the art deco period of the 1920’s, are all too often not in use or have windows blacked out as store rooms,” says Mark, whose interest stems from living in conservation areas of south east London where he worked as an estate agent before moving to the Isle of Man. “Here such buildings, many unique, are just neglected and there seems little interest in preserving them and while the shops might have attractive facades what is above is often just downright tatty,” he adds. “A facelift and revamping could do so much to improve the whole image of the town centre.”

He goes on: “There is scope to create residential dwellings above the shops which would inject more life into Strand Street and

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the surrounding area beyond just 9.0am to 5.0pm. Take a look at Parliament Street in Ramsey, a number of the buildings above the shops are residential.”

Mark, whose own house in Onchan was built in 1927 and is borderline art deco, urges people to take just a few minutes when walking along Strand Street and check the imposing architecture of some of the buildings above shop level.

“It’s easy to go charging through town and be so busy about your business you forget to appreciate what is around you, Douglas town centre has a huge amount of heritage as long as you remember to ‘look up’.”

“It’s imperative these buildings are kept up to scratch, people will be reluctant to invest money when they see that government and local businesses are not investing money themselves in moving forward. There is social history reaching back hundreds of years that we should celebrate as we spend time in what is our main high street by looking at the buildings above the modern shop fronts.”

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

61 Port E Chee Avenue, Douglas 6 Clover Avenue, Peel

Local properties at your fingertips www.blackgracecowley.com

61 Port E Chee Avenue, Douglas

ÂŁ295,000

* Extended 4 bedroom residential property situated in a popular residential location * Porch, 2 Reception Rooms, 4 Bedrooms, Dining Kitchen and Family Bathroom * Extended at the rear over 2 storeys providing an additional Sitting Room * Bedroom/Office, Shower Room and Boiler/Utility Room * Small front lawn with paved side and rear garden, accessible via sliding doors * Very popular location with pleasant front aspect

6 Clover Avenue, Peel (ÂŁ337,500)

SOLD

* * * * * *

Outstanding modern detached family home Pleasantly located on the outskirts of Peel Easily managed and maintained accommodation Generously extended to the rear to provide a superb Family/Garden Room Porch, Hall, Cloakroom, Lounge, Dining Kitchen, Family/Garden Room Utility Room, Kitchen, 4 Bedrooms, Master En Suite Shower Room & Bath room * Lawned gardens to the front and; 2 car driveway & Garage * Sunny south facing aspect to the rear with split level paved patio * uPVC double glazing and gas central heating 51 Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2LD

01624 645555 BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

9 Athol Street, Peel, Isle of Man, IM5 1HE

01624 845696

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FEATURED PROPERTY

Palm Villa, 10 Harbour View, Onchan

ÂŁ439,000

Summary A split level detached 4 bedroom house offering spacious accommodation over 3 floors. The property enjoys beautiful sea views towards Douglas Bay and is situated within a sought after cul-de-sac location.

There are good sized mature landscaped gardens along with an integral double garage.

Key Features n Split level detached house offering spacious accommodation n Beautiful sea views towards Douglas Bay n Sought after cul-de-sac location n 2 Reception rooms n uPVC double glazed sun lounge and additional conservatory n Ultra modern dining kitchen and separate utility room n 4 Bedrooms (2 en-suites) n Family bathroom n Good sized mature landscaped gardens n Integral double garage

T: 01624 667788 W: garforthgray.im

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

T: 01624 816111 E: ramsey@deanwood.co.im www.deanwood.im

HOME

APT 19 Campion Crescent , Reayrt Ny Keylley, Peel

ÂŁ155,000

A well presented open plan apartment with 2 double bedrooms one with en-suite.

Situated near the primary, and high school, swimming pool and supermarket.

Outside there are 2 designated parking spaces situated at the front of the property.

At the rear there is a communal yard and bin store with service lane access.

Key Features n First floor purpose built apartment n Spacious well laid out accommodation n Immaculate decorative order throughout n Views towards Slieau Whallian & Peel hill n Modern dining kitchen n 2 Double bedrooms (1 En-Suite) n Modern bathroom n 2 Designated parking spaces (No.19)

T: 01624 667788 W: garforthgray.im

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Raven Electrical Services are a Manx company with an office based close to West Quay in the heart of Douglas, making it an ideal place to meet and discuss electrical contracting projects with clients and for them to meet our team.

• We have been trading since 2010 and developed an excellent island wide reputation for quality and service, of which we are proud.

• Our rates are competitive and we provide a prompt 24/7 callout and friendly service to all customers.

T 01624 664788 E info@raven.co.im www.raven.co.im 1a Lake Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 5AF

• We employ a local team of certified tradesmen who specialise in all aspects of electrical contracting, from industrial/commercial design build, to domestic house re-wiring, electrical installations and alterations of all types. Along with our direct employees we carry a select list of sub-contract electricians for which we can draw upon as and when required.

• The Isle of Man Apprenticeship Scheme is proudly supported by us, as is the Isle of Man Work Experience in administration and trade.

• As registered members of professional bodies ECA members, members of the Isle of Man Construction Federation and Part P registered installers, we are regularly assessed to ensure quality and performance to the high levels required by such trade bodies which we fully endorse and welcome.

Managing Directors right to left Ben Jones & Eamonn McConway.

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MORTGAGE ADVICE

BUYING A HOME Your Questions Answered by Ashley Bingle, Personal Mortgage Advisor at Isle of Man Bank.

What is the most common question you get from potential home buyers?

How much they can borrow, what their repayment would be and what fees are involved?

What is the best part of your role?

The best part of my role is being able to assist customers in making their dream purchase come true. As a Personal Mortgage Provider, being able to approve their mortgage in principle during the appointment, is very fulfilling.

What is the difference between a fixed rate mortgage, buy to let and first time buyer?

A fixed rate simply means your mortgage repayment is guaranteed for that given period. Because of this your repayment will not change for the term of the product you have chosen. Once your fixed rate has expired, we can then review your options.

What advice would you give to people considering getting on the property ladder?

Definitely come and talk to us. We are open for business and are ideally placed to talk you through the process of securing a mortgage, helping you every step of the way. Even if you aren’t ready to make your step on the property ladder just yet, we can help you prepare your finances and give you more information on what to expect.

What does the bank do to support customers with their mortgage?

Our qualified team are all committed to provide the best service possible and will support our customers every step of the way through their mortgage journey.

A buy to let mortgage is borrowing against a property from which you are looking to receive rental income. With a buy to let mortgage, customers also have a choice products, however they differ to a residential mortgage.

First time buyers are customers that have never owned a property before.

Customers that are first time buyers potentially have the option to obtain assistance from the IOM Government under the Shared Equity scheme.

How can I get in touch?

Pop in to one of our branches or alternatively give us a call on 637676 and we can book an appointment with one of our mortgage team. We will sit down with you to fully understand your requirements and circumstances and come up with a solution that best suits you.

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What would saving money on your mortgage mean to you?

Fix your monthly repayments now and see how much you could save.

1.59% 4.0% fixed until 31.07.2018

variable after that

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APR is the overall cost for comparison

2 year fixed rate. Up to 60% LTV. Product fee of ÂŁ999. Other fees may be payable.

Early repayment charge applies until 31.07.2018. Other products are available.

Visit your local branch

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE

iombank.com/mortgages Call us today 01624 637000 Like Isle of Man Bank on Facebook Follow us on Twitter @iombank Isle of Man Bank Limited (IOMB). Registered Company Number: 1 Isle of Man. Registered Office: 2 Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM99 1AN. Licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority in respect of Deposit Taking, Investment Business and registered as a General Insurance Intermediary. APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate and is an interest rate which takes account of the full amount of interest on any money borrowed plus the timing of repayments and any other charges that you have to pay. It may not take into account any reduction in interest rate following the maturity of the initial product. The frequency of the interest payments, for example monthly or quarterly, affects the calculation. Rates correct as at (01.05.2016). Subject to availability. Over 18’s only. Security required. Calls may be recorded.

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SILVER CREEK HOUSE, 12 CRONK ROAD, UNION MILLS, IM4 4NJ Silver Creek is an imposing detached family house of approximately 4900 sq feet with spectacular panoramic views across the surrounding countryside. The property itself is nestled in just over an acre of grounds which includes outbuildings to the lower levels, an orchard and glen style footpaths offering easy to maintain gardens. This impressive home comprises of

ÂŁ995,000

five bedrooms, five reception rooms, four bathrooms, an integral double garage, lower level gymnasium, a large roof terrace plus spacious hallways and landings. Situated in an elevated position on the southern side of Union Mills, Silver Creek has quick and easy access to Douglas Town Centre, Ronaldsway airport & King William’s College.

T: Mark Canty - 07624 220109 W: www.cowleygroves.com

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Are you saving HUNDREDS on fees but losing THOUSANDS on sale price?

It is apparent that some of our Island’s less established agencies could be providing incorrect comparable evidence and therefore wrongly advising clients when it comes to that all important question: “How much is my house worth”?

At Cowley Groves we have 40 years’ experience within the Isle of Man property market and employ the highest quality property professionals who have one objective: To work for you – OUR VENDOR Our single all-inclusive Sole Agency fee is designed to provide the best service possible: • Online Agency advertising 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year inclusive of Google Map and Street view technology.

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• Full detailed colour property brochures.

• Detailed Floorplans inclusive of square footage/square meterage.

• Featured video snippets on social media.

• Unlimited high quality digital photographs.

• Guaranteed window advertising in our prominent High Street locations.

• Guaranteed inserts into our bi monthly property paper; 13,000 of which are distributed Island wide and are stationed at Ronaldsway Airport.

• 24/7 telephone & email contact with your Agent.

• Accompanied viewings 7 days a week.

• After sale service to assist with guiding your deal through to completion.

COWLEY GROVES. WE’RE GOOD WITH HOUSES.

Douglas 01624 625888 Ramsey 01624 812823 Quote ‘We’re Good with Houses’ for 10% discount on our rates.

Don’t sell CHEAP because of poor advice, Choose the right agent and achieve the best price possible for your home.

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FEATURED PROPERTY

Barroose Farm, Barroose Road, Baldrine * Impressive detached bungalow in elevated position with 360 degree views * Set in approximately 4.5 acres of landscaped gardens and land * Hall, 25ft Lounge/Cinema Room, 28ft modern Dining Kitchen, Utility * Study/Bedroom 5, Master Bedroom Suite, 3 further double Bedrooms

£1,250,000 * 1 En Suite, Family Bathroom and Shower Room with Dressing Area * Sweeping block paved driveway with parking for numerous vehicles * Triple Garage and 40ft Workshop * Oil/gas fired central heating & uPVC double glazing * Internal inspection highly recommended

Black Grace Cowley

51 Victoria Street, Douglas, IM1 2LD T: 01624 645555 W: www.blackgracecowley.com

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HEATING OUR HOMES

Mark Christian (left), and Ecodan regional sales manager, Stewart Thompson stand next to the Ecodan unit which harvests energy from the outdoor air.

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HEATING OUR HOMES

HOME

CAN YOU CUT YOUR HEATING BILLS AND CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT? IT’S A PROBLEM MANY HOMEOWNERS STRUGGLE WITH; HOW DO I REDUCE MY HOME HEATING COSTS AND ENSURE I’M BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY? Traditional methods of heating our homes can be inefficient, which often results in us paying out more while producing greater volumes of greenhouses gasses, such as carbon dioxide.

The solution to this situation has now arrived on the Isle of Man with the Ecodan range of heat pumps, which are ideal for many Manx homes and businesses.

The cutting-edge renewable heat pumps are produced by Mitsubishi Electric, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of heating, cooling and ventilation products.

The Ecodan range has been designed to challenge traditional heating methods and give homeowners an environmentally friendly alternative that can also significantly reduce energy bills.

Stewart Thompson, worked closely with Mark Christian to make sure the right heat pump was chosen for the home.

“We selected our Ecodan heating as it is priced competitively and offers higher efficiencies compared with other brands” Stewart arranged installation.”

Mark said installation had been very straightforward, and the system had proved reliable and easy to use.

The Ecodan heat pumps can use less energy and be more efficient than traditional boilers or electric heaters. They are installed outside your home, harvesting heat from the air – even when temperatures are below freezing. They are particularly well-suited to modern build properties of any size, including commercial buildings such as schools and offices.

The Ecodan range delivers a reliable, renewable, efficient and low carbon solution to keeping warm and enjoying unlimited hot water. They are simple for a qualified heating engineer to install, low maintenance, fully scalable and able to work independently or in conjunction with other systems. An Ecodan heat pump can help keep running costs and CO2 emissions at a low level, and for added convenience they can be controlled online via a smartphone or tablet.

Interest in Ecodan is already growing on the Isle of Man, with homeowners starting to benefit from the award-winning technology.

Mark Christian shares a new-build home of a traditional construction with his family of four, and he installed an Ecodan heat pump in January 2016.

He said: “I heard about Ecodan during BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

“It’s very simple and easy to control,” he explained. “We have kept it switched on at a constant temperature and it has been working really well. There’s also a monitor which keeps a record of the energy input and output of the pump, so we can see how efficient and effective it is.

The Ecodan system works with Mark Christian’s existing radiators and delivers all the heating and hot water his family needs.

a presentation at work and thought it sounded like a really good idea. I decided to try and find out more, so I contacted Mitsubishi Electric Regional Sales Manager Stewart Thompson. He was really helpful and worked through the whole process with me.

“We selected our Ecodan heating as it is priced competitively and offers higher efficiencies compared with other brands.

“We have definitely saved money on our energy bills since the pump was installed, even with the cold weather we’ve had since the start of the year. It is on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, maintaining a certain temperature, and it costs us around £10 a week to run.

“We haven’t had any issues with the Ecodan heat pump and as we continue to use it I can see a real advantage over more traditional heating systems we have used in the past.”

For more information about Ecodan heat pumps, contact YESSS Electrical on 675555 or visit www.ecodanerp.co.uk/IOM4.

“I sent the plans of our house to Stewart and he used them to calculate the right size of heat pump I would need. It was ordered and as soon as it arrived in the Isle of Man,

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HOME

Ballagarey, Laxey

ÂŁ325,000

A Superbly presented detached dormer bungalow in Laxey.

Situated on a large mature plot in an elevated position with panoramic views over Laxey Village and Bay. Featuring * 2 double Bedrooms, Attic Bedroom/Hobbies Room, * Lounge, Dining Room, Kitchen, Conservatory and Family Bathroom * Private front and rear gardens * Detached new build single Garage; Parking for 2 cars * Gas central heating & uPVC double glazing

Black Grace Cowley

51 Victoria Street, Douglas, IM1 2LD T: 01624 645555 W: www.blackgracecowley.com

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

OAK FRAME BUILDINGS PART OF THE VILLAGE WORKSHOP GROUP

- Garages - Gazebos - Pergolas - Stables - Summer houses Structurally graded French Oak Large selection of standard structures available Design of bespoke oak frame buildings

See more online - thevillageworkshop.im

Contact us for a consultation: Tel 861094 Glen Road, Laxey, Isle of Man, IM4 7AR Email: enquiries@thevillageworkshop.im

TILES VANITY FURNITURE TAPS

NOW AVAILABLE AT CU-PLAS

Come and have a look at Unit 18, Snugborough Trading Estate, Braddan, IM4 4LG Email: showroom@cuplas.im Phone 673131 Option 2 Showroom

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FEATURED PROPERTY

BALLACAIN COTTAGE, LHAGG ROAD, DALBY £550,000 * Opportunity to acquire superb plot/development site * Superb coastal location and stunning views across Niarbyl Bay * PP granted for the erection of a sizeable replacement dwelling approx 5,000 sq ft * In total more than 2.5 acres of land Several outbuildings including a large barn

Application Ref. No: 07/01264/B Black Grace Cowley

51 Victoria Street, Douglas, IM1 2LD T: 01624 645555 W: www.blackgracecowley.com

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* Attractively refurbished and extended semi detached house in a popular location * Lounge, 21 ft Dining Kitchen, Utility, W.C. * 4 Bedrooms, En Suite Shower Room, Family Bathroom * Replacement uPVC double glazing & gas central heating * Front and rear gardens * Off road parking and double garage

Black Grace Cowley

51 Victoria Street, Douglas, IM1 2LD T: 01624 645555 W: www.blackgracecowley.com

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Curtains up on our newly refurbished showroom!

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Mylchreests - the official Manx dealer for all seasons Go anywhere...

...or wind in your hair

NEW SPRING & SUMMER STOCK NOW IN

T H E L O C A L B U S I N E S S W I T H G L O B A L PA RT N E R S

SERVICE

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FASHION

GET THE LOOK

Social media lit up with talk of presenter, model and blogger Ashley James (rumoured to be dating David Walliams) looking leggy at the recent premiere of Sacha Baron Cohen’s Grimsby. The shoes might have helped - steal her style and leg-lengthening tricks with these Nine West Mana High Heel Sandals, £85, House of Fraser (www.houseoffraser.co.uk).

Actress Zoe Wanamaker, 66, embraced the boudoir trend at the Olivier Awards, in a beautiful floorlength silk gown, proving this is a trend that works for all ages. Ghost has a selection of dye-to-order satin dresses, so there’s a neckline to suit everyone.

Ghost Sylvia Dress, dyed to order in Ivory, £225 (www.ghost.co.uk)

Jigsaw

Race for Space Between British astronaut Tim Peake blasting off to the International Space Station and The Martian getting nominated for an Oscar, visions of outer space have been everywhere recently - it was only a matter of time before fashion picked up the scent.

Take inspiration from Chanel’s shiny accessories and Loewe’s voluminous silver metallic flares by grabbing a mirrored clutch or strapping on a jetpack-esque backpack. :: Jigsaw Pyramid Clutch, £69 (www.jigsaw-online.com)

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Oasis

Boohoo

Usually we have to wait a few months before designer-inspired creations hit the high street, but the current season Boohoo Boutique Naya Crochet Structured Dress, £40, is a dead ringer for the whipstitched frock modelled by Jourdan Dunn on the Balmain AW16 catwalk (www.boohoo.com).

Stella McCartney’s SS16 collection features beautiful floral embroidery that could be straight out of a botanist’s sketchbook, and now Oasis (who you can always count on for pretty prints) has got in on the act.

Stella’s duchesse satin dresses would set you back about £2,000 a piece, but the Oasis Botany V Neck Dress, is yours for just £55 (www.oasis-stores.com).

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

FASHION

Andreas fashion show Words:Sue Woolley Photos: Belinda Leach

The promise of fashion and food with a French flavour was enough to ensure a full house for the Andreas Paris(h) Fashion Show held on 19 March.

For one night only, the parish hall (at other times home of Fur & Feather Show and the Andreas ‘Root’ Show) was gaily transformed to represent Paris, the undisputed fashion capital of the world. Red, white and blue bunting strung from the ceiling, a soaring backcloth of the Eiffel Tower, bistro tables set with wine, cheese and pastries, all contributed to the atmosphere.

Honorary French Consul, Annie Nedellec opened proceedings and Jennifer Kewley Draskau compered the fashion show, which saw a succession of local models displaying beautifully co-ordinated outfits on themes ranging from ‘A Day at the Races’ to ‘The Consulate Ball’. Many of the garments, donated by wellwishers, bore designer labels.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

As the girls strode down the catwalk to a Parisian-inspired soundtrack, there were bursts of enthusiastic applause from the audience as they recognised familiar faces in their new, unfamiliar roles.

For the finale, Robert Kneale, looking very debonair, escorted a party of glamorous companions to the ball.

Simon Clarke then swapped his role as DJ to that of auctioneer, cajoling the audience to bid higher for selected haute couture garments.

This was followed by a rack sale of prêt a porter clothing at never to be repeated prices. Needless to say, many bargains were bagged!

The event, which was definitely a first for the parish hall, was expertly organised by a small, very hard working committee Marsha McQueen, Natasha Sharpe, Andrea Howroyd and Waveney Jenkins, together with a multitude of volunteers who donated clothes, food and raffle prizes, decorated the venue and prepared the models for the show. Lesley Gregory, of Dolce Vita, Ramsey, especially, played a vital role in helping the models decide what to wear and Paul Bradford designed the choreography.

Simon Clarke thanked everyone involved in putting on such a fabulous evening, concluding with a sincere ‘au revoir’ - farewell until the next time.

The evening raised £3218.59, which will be shared between Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Andreas Parish Church.

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BEAUTY

Pucker up for spring’s best lippies Finding the perfect foundation or eyeliner or brow pencil can take years, so no wonder we stick with our favourites through thick and thin (and feel bereft if, heaven forbid, they’re discontinued) - but lipstick is another matter.

THE BRIGHT SPARK

Painting on a new pout is the quickest and easiest way to refresh your make-up look, and the spring collections are so full of gorgeous glosses, lacquers and lipsticks, it’s impossible to choose just one.

More subtle than the dense Rouge Coco, Chanel’s Rouge Coco Shine comes in three fierce brights and can be worn as a light gloss or layered for a more vibrant feel. We love the tomato red Shipshape. :: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Shipshape, £25 (FeelUnique.com)

So pucker up and prep for the season’s most covetable lip products...

THE WELCOME MATTE

Matte lip colour usually comes in a bullet, as a thick, chalky lipstick, but Bourjois Souffle de Velvet is liquid, imparting a matte look with a light application in eight shades. Plum Pidou is a vivid berry pink - layer it up for an opaque effect. :: Bourjois Rouge Edition Souffle de Velvet Lipstick in Plum Pidou, £8.99 (www. superdrug.com)

THE RAVISHING RED If you’re a proponent of the ‘casual red lip’ trend (wearing scarlet by day), be sure to add Elizabeth Arden’s Cherry Bomb to your arsenal. One of four new shades in the Ceramide Ultra range, this blue-toned red delivers incredibly pigmented, impactful colour. :: Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lipstick, £21 (launching in April; www.elizabetharden. co.uk)

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THE PIGMENTED PAIR

From RMK’s new Colour Performance collection comes the uber-pigmented Irresistible Bright Lips . This blue-toned pink is a great match for cooler skin tones, while Bright Coral suits warmer complexions. :: RMK Irresistible Bright Lips in Shiny Pure Pink, £21 (www.selfridges.com)

THE FULL MONTY

The latest addition to the Burberry Beauty family is Full Kisses, the brand’s most intense lip colour yet.

The 14 shades, from pale nudes to the rich purple of Dewberry, are housed in a twist-up pen, the bullet cleverly shaped so you won’t need liner or a lip brush. :: Burberry Full Kisses in Dewberry, £24 (www.burberry.com)

THE CARING COLOUR

Blended with five oils, including avocado, jojoba and cocoa seed, Bobbi Brown’s Nourishing Lip Colour really looks after your lips, while also giving great colour pay-off and lustrous shine in 15 shades. :: Bobbi Brown Nourishing Lip Colour in Desert Rose, £21 (www.bobbibrown.co.uk) Ever wondered why red lipstick has seen off thousands of fads, remaining a firm beauty favourite for decades? According to a new survey

by Listerine, 55% of women think red lippy makes their smile stand out more, 47% believe it makes their teeth look whiter, and 42% confess they feel more powerful with a scarlet pout.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

BEAUTY

No longer should we be “long in the tooth”!

A

“what a lot of people appear not to realise is that periodontal disease in the 99% of the cases is completely treatable, even in severe cases and late treatment.”

PERIODONTAL DISEASE IS NOT NEW. IT IS A CHRONIC MULTIFACTORIAL INFLAMMATORY DISEASE CAUSED

BY CERTAIN STRAINS OF BACTERIA, IN THE RESULT OF WHICH THE GUMS AND DEEPER TISSUES THAT SURROUND AND SUPPORT THE TEETH BECOME INFLAMED AND ARE REABSORBED.

bout 50% of the adult population suffer from some form of the disease, as many as 85% of people over 65 years of age, 98% of the population will suffer with some form of periodontal problems during their life.

The disease starts simply with “gingivitis” or bleeding gums but over time can progress to permanent damage of the gum, bone and the resultant loss of teeth. Symptoms can include bleeding of the gum, sensitivity, bad breath, teeth becoming longer due to the recessions of the gums, mobility, difficulty in biting and ultimately teeth simply falling out.

However, what a lot of people appear not to realise is that periodontal disease in the 99% of the cases is completely treatable, even in severe cases and late treatment.

Periodontal or gum disease can be due to a number of factors, plaque control, host response (differences on how the person reacts to plaque) and also systemic disease or external factors (stress, smoke) which can help the progression of the disease.

Systemic conditions such as diabetes, thyroid, heart conditions, atherosclerosis, have all been proved to have an association with periodontal health and conditions.

Periodontal disease has been also associated with problem pregnancies, it has been linked to three problems: having a baby with a low weight at birth, giving birth too early in the pregnancy, or having dangerously high blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia).

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IF YOU SUFFER FROM PERIODONTAL DISEASE? Periodontal disease, in reality does not cause symptoms that are very clear and

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

obvious and therefore can occur and progress insidiously. The smoke, which is one of the most important risk factors may have a “mask effect” on the bleeding, and minimising it by making progression more subtle. However, in case of presence of the signs and symptoms of the disease the first thing to do is to go to the dentist to promptly inform him of the situation and allow him to make a correct diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatments.

A NUMBER OF TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO DEFEAT THIS SUBTLE DISEASE: Accurate perio assessments, accurate perio x-rays, microbiological tests, non surgical treatments, resective surgery, regenerative surgery, conservative surgery and more.

The therapy needs to be personalised to the single case, each treatment has specific indications and accurate treatment planning is the only way to make sure the disease can be defeated in every case.

TREATMENTS AVAILABLE: • Full Periodontal Assessment And Treatment Planning • Treatment Of Aggresive Periodontal Disease • Microbiological Tests • Periodontal Maintenance • Resective Periodontal Surgery • Regenerative Periodontal Surgery • Conservative Periodontal Surgery • Crown Lengthening • Mucogingival Therapies (Recession) - Gum Grafts

ARE YOU CONCERNED WITH PERIODONTAL DISEASE?

• Peri-Implantitis Treatment And Assessment

Dr Giovanni Marras has completed his postgraduate education in Advanced Periodontology in Florence, Italy. You may book an appointment direct on 805230 or you may ask your dentist either NHS or Private for a referral. A full assessment, photographs, x-rays (if needed), and treatment plan will be provided.

• Endo-Perio Lesions • Gingivectomy/Gum Recontouring

Every periodontal problem can be resolved if you know how to.

Full assessment and planning costs start from £250.00.

Call 805230 to book your FREE consultation.

Email: castletown@ traceybell.co.uk All forms of private health insurance accepted: BUPA, AXA, WPA, CIGNA, Simply Health.

BEAUTY

BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Beauty Products that heal Here is a round up of beauty essentials which will zap, sooth or scrub away your body hang ups.

Sisley Nutritive Lip Balm

Dermaloica Break Out Control

deMamiel Altitude Oil

www.sisley-paris.com Lips are easily irritable and tend to become drier with the first gust of wind or ray of sunshine. This luxury repair formula works to simultaneously protect, moisturise, nourish, relieve and plump up the lips!

www.dermalogica.com This is one to have at the ready for any unsightly spots. Contains natural antibacterial agents, including Lactobacillus Ferment, to help clear and prevent breakouts without over-drying the skin.

www.demamiel.com This is an energising and revitalising inhalation essence, to help you keep a clear head when you are on the go or feeling under the weather. Take a full breath, which will clear your head, chest and airways and stimulate your senses.

Jo Malone London

PurePotions Skin Salvation Intensive Moisturising Ointment

Goldfaden MD Lifting Neck Cream

Vitamin E Body Treatment Scrub www.jomalone.co.uk Slough away dull surface cells to reveal radiant-looking new skin ready for tanning!

A signature ingredient and beneficial antioxidant, Vitamin E is combined with salt to encourage a youthful glow.

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www.purepotions.co.uk

Rich and deeply moisturising, this ointment forms a semi-occlusive barrier which protects the skin from everyday external irritants. It is also suitable for use by people with dry, itchy skin or those prone to eczema, psoriasis or any sore skin condition. 100% natural.

www.goldfadenmd.com The ultimate potion for fragile, crêpey skin on neck and décolleté. It contains a cocktail of tightening and nourishing actives to fortify skin’s fabric and diminish visibility of fine lines.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

KEEP CALM CALL THE LADY CHAUFFEURS AND

PERSONAL | CORPORATE | TOURS

07624 235577

24 HOURS ALL ISLAND – 10th JOURNEY ½ PRICE www.theladychauffeurs.com

Roy Macfarlane looks forward to welcoming you to his recently refurbished restaurant in Duke Street, Douglas.

Whether you are looking for somewhere to celebrate that special occasion or to enjoy an informal night out with family and friends, Roy and his team will try their very best to make sure your visit to Macfarlanes is an enjoyable one.

Opening hours: Tues-Sat from 6:30pm Thurs-Sat lunch 12pm-2pm Tel 624777 www.macfarlanes.im

APPETITE

NEW HEAD CHEF AT THE ABBEY RESTAURANT JAMES CONNOLLY, WHO HAS MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF AS AN AWARD WINNING CHEF WORKING ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE TOP NAMES IN THE INDUSTRY, IS THE NEW HEAD CHEF AT THE PRESTIGIOUS ABBEY RESTAURANT IN BALLASALLA. “I’m just obsessed with food and so look forward to creating an innovative and exciting menu for diners at the Abbey Restaurant, it is just such an amazing venue,” says James, who has previously worked at Marcus Wareing’s Michelin starred restaurant at the Savoy Grill.

For the past two years he was executive chef for Simon Rimmer’s restaurants in Liverpool and prior to that was chef at the boutique Redbourne Hotel in affluent Woolton village on the outskirts of Liverpool, a favourite and exclusive hotel for celebrities when in the city.

“I can also say that I cooked for the Prince of Monaco when he stayed at the hotel,” laughs James, 32, who readily admits that he has a total, all consuming passion for cooking. “I now have a little black notebook and every

She adds: “The Abbey is a special place and deserves a chef that is as passionate about the Island as we are.” day I’m jotting down ideas of what I want to do and achieve here at The Abbey.”

Another of James’ loves is foraging “I’m blown away with how clean and fruitful the Manx countryside is,” he declares. He readily admits, however, that it was more by accident than design that he discovered his love for cooking which has seen him become a top-rated chef.

“I was going to be a professional wrestler and was looking for a part-time job to fund it. The local butcher had a vacancy but I needed a hygiene certificate so was in the training centre thinking it was just for an afternoon session on hygiene.

Someone, though, made a mistake with the paperwork and put me down for an apprenticeship in catering.”

He adds: “The way things worked out it was meant to be.”

James hastily points out that while he’s in no way as manic as the infamous Gordon Ramsay he does share his passions and drive. “I’m a Scouser so a bit loud and animated which means that the over dramatic nature of working in the kitchen

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really suits me! Those I work with are my friends, it’s a partnership and I confess I’ll be seeing more of my sous chef than I will my wife and definitely more than my own mother.”

Of his first meeting with Artan and Sarah, the couple that have built the Abbey Restaurant’s business over the past six years, James adds: “We hit it off immediately, there was instant chemistry, they are definitely on the same page as I am. There are no holds barred. I will be using Manx products whenever possible and I’m excited about all the queenies and local shellfish; even the butter is fantastic and I’ve already been along the river bank collecting wild garlic, juniper and wood sorrel.”

Many Islanders celebrate special occasions at the Abbey and this year a total of 52 weddings are due to take place there. It also acts as a great local, with residents of Ballasalla and the south enjoying morning scones, cakes and coffee with outstanding grand afternoon teas, light lunches and full a la carte menu available every day.

“Our menu reflects the best of every season and embraces all that is good in the Isle of Man, be it the cream or the world class flour,” says Sarah. “We now have James, an incredible chef, complemented by the arrival of new front of house manager Alex Mazzitalli from Madrid. It is an exciting time for The Abbey Restaurant.”

Asked what his own favourite main course is, James has to think for a few seconds.

“Lamb,” is finally the answer. “I love the flavours of smoke and pickle.”

Artan and Sarah see the arrival of James as the next great leap forward for the restaurant which has been dubbed the hidden gem of the Isle of Man. “We knew we wanted to find a chef that shared our passion for the industry and that understood what growing, foraging and cooking from scratch means to the plate and the customer,” says Sarah.

T: 01624 822393

www.theabbey.im

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

APPETITE

Our menu reflects the best of every season and embraces all that is good in the Isle of Man.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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APPETITE

APPETITE NEWS Entries invited for Isle of Man Chef of the Year competition Chefs with a passion for cooking with fresh local ingredients are invited to compete for the title Isle of Man Chef of the Year.

An entry form and information can be obtained from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) – ring 685856 or visit www.gov.im/ foodanddrink The closing date for entries is 27th May. Chefs must submit recipes with their entry forms and ingredients should, as far as possible, be Manx grown or produced.

Shortlisted chefs will cook in front of a knowledgeable audience at the Isle of Man Queenie Festival on Sunday 3rd July.

Two finalists will then go head to head for the title at the Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival on Sunday 18th September.

The winner will receive £500 cash plus advertising to the same value for their place of work, a trophy and a certificate.

Smokey Joe’s Chill out down south “Smokey Joe’s is a 1950s themed Ice Cream Parlour & Snack Bar in Port St. Mary, named after an old cafe that was two doors down, popular in the Isle of Man’s tourism hay day. As well as award-winning Davisons Ice Cream on offer; there are Milkshakes, Cheese Burgers, Hot Dogs, Toasties, Tea, Coffee, Chilled Drinks and more. To accompany that,

there is also a vintage Jukebox with a collection of proper ‘50s Rock ‘N’ Roll records, retro decor plastered all over the walls, a TV, free WiFi (coming soon), plenty of reading material and a brilliant view over the bay.

Open everyday 12:00 - 17:00, with later evenings during summer | facebook.com/smokeyjoesPSM

Accreditation opens up global market for local food business A leading local food business has gained the coveted British Retail Consortium (BRC) accreditation.

Berries Isle of Man, luxury pudding makers and confectioners, earned the benchmark after a rigorous inspection of its premises, procedures and paperwork.

The BRC independently audits food manufacturing facilities around the world to ensure compliance with its stringent global safety standards.

Leading retailers insist suppliers are BRC certified.

The announcement opens up potential new markets at a time the Island is seeking to grow the value of the food and drink sector by £50 million via its ‘Food Matters’ strategy.

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

APPETITE

Mooragh Perk: RTC chairman welcomes Costa Coffee to Lakeside Centre Ramsey Town Commissioners’ chairman Richard Radcliffe has welcomed Costa Coffee to the Lakeside Centre in Mooragh Park.

Mr Radcliffe said: ‘For Costa Coffee to open up a second branch in our town is a tremendous vote of confidence in Ramsey and a welcome boost to the local economy. Its Parliament Street outlet proved a runaway

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success from day one and I am sure Costa’s arrival in Mooragh Park will be equally well received.

‘The Lakeside Centre, with its views of the lake and the magnificently maintained gardens, combined with the children’s water play area, tennis courts and the many other attractions Mooragh Park has to offer, perfectly complements Costa Coffee’s new venture.’

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RECIPES

TEMPORARY VEGGIE

As challenges go, temporarily turning veggie to mark National Vegetarian Week (May 18-24) is hardly up there with trekking the Great Wall Of China. As a lover of all things meaty, however, it’s a task that fills me with som to try out some vegetarian dishes?

Here are three tasty meat-free recipes to try at home.

BEAN AND QUINOA SALAD WITH POMEGRANATE SEEDS AND FETA (Serves one)

n 125g ready to eat quinoa n 1/2 tin (200g) mixed beans (drained) n 4 baby plum tomatoes, halved n 1/4 yellow pepper, deseeded and chopped

n 5cm cucumber, sliced n 50g feta cheese, crumbled n 1tbsp pomegranate seeds n Juice of 1/2 lemon n 1tbsp olive oil

Combine the ready to eat quinoa (or boil and simmer for around 15-20 minutes if not using ready-made), beans, tomatoes, pepper, cucumber, feta and pomegranate seeds.

Dress with a splash of olive oil and a dash of lemon juice.

FRESH GNOCCHI WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES AND PESTO (Serves one) n 1/2 red pepper, sliced n 1/2 courgette, sliced n 1/2 small onion, sliced n 50g cherry tomatoes whole n 1tbsp olive oil Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas mark 6.

Place the chopped vegetables and whole tomatoes in a large roasting tin with the garlic. Toss lightly in olive oil so that the vegetables are well coated, and roast in the oven for about 20 minutes.

n 1 garlic clove, crushed n 200g potato gnocchi n 1tbsp pesto (Ocado recommends Zest Vegan Basil Pesto) Cook the gnocchi in boiling water for three minutes, drain and return to the pan. Add the pesto and warm through for a further minute.

Combine the cooked gnocchi and pesto, mix with the roasted vegetables and serve.

TOFU AND NOODLE STIR-FRY (Serves one)

n 1tsp light olive oil or rapeseed oil n 1/2 onion, sliced n 1 garlic clove, crushed n 1/2tsp grated fresh ginger n 1/4 red pepper, chopped n 1/2 courgette, sliced n 50g green beans cut into 2cm lengths

n 2tsp tamari soy sauce n 125ml water n 100g tofu (Ocado recommends Dragonfly Organic Marinated Tofu) n 150g fresh egg noodles n Handful fresh coriander n 2tsp sesame seeds

Heat the oil in a wok and stirfry the onion, garlic and ginger on a medium to high heat for two minutes.

Add the tamari and water, cook for another two minutes then add the sliced tofu and noodles.

Add the pepper, courgette and green beans and stir-fry for another two minutes.

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Leave to cook for two minutes and take off the heat, and then gently stir in the coriander and sesame seeds.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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[ LA PIAZZA ]

chef speak Chef Name? Adam Christian

What’s special about La Piazza Nice views across Douglas Bay wonderful Italian waiters/waitresses Fresh food, great atmosphere What’s your favourite dish on the menu?

King Prawn Aromi

In my kitchen I couldn’t live without?

Sharp Knife Probe and a good team

Favourite cooking gadget?

Mandolin

What’s been the most challenging situation you have had to deal with whilst at work?

TT fortnight

What’s your favourite smell?

Freshly cooked food

Marmite… no

What’s your tipple?

Nice full bodied red wine or Peroni Favourite restaurant outside of the Isle of Man? Olympia sardinia

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Enjoy a nice cold drink after a busy service

DELICIOUS AUTHENTIC ITALIAN FOOD

RECENTLY REFURBISHED (NEW MENU)

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

INCLUDING PASTA RISOTTO PIZZA

LA PIAZZA

OPENING HOURS MON-SAT 12PM-2PM

TEL: 672136

DINNER MON-THURS 6PM-10PM

WWW.LAPIAZZA.CO.IM

FRIDAY-SUN 5PM-10PM

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Neat. No Tonic.

Words: Jamie Lewis, General Manager bath & bottle @jamielewislewis

‘Knock me down’, the ‘out and out’, ‘royal poverty’, ‘white satin’, the ‘no mistake’, ‘strip me naked’ and… Vera Lynn’. Though similar in content, I’m not here to tell you about last Saturday night.

No, these names have something else in common; they are all nicknames for everybody’s new, old favourite tipple - gin.

My own first encounter with‘Vera’ was a turbulent one. It was September 2007, a friend and I were taking a well earned ‘study break’ from sixth form. Arriving back at his house before the school bell rang, we set about correcting our stressful day by raiding his mother’s liquor cabinet.

To our horror, his mother had clearly enjoyed her weekend and the only bottle with ample liquid inside was bright green and “smelled like trees”.

Needless to say we drank it. Neat! No tonic! The desired effect was achieved. It was another four years before ‘Vera’ and I met again. During the interview for my first bar job the manager asked me what my favourite mixed drink was, “Erm… Jack & Coke” I said. He laughed, “We’ve some work to do”.

As a bartender you are taught to taste everything, much like a chef dipping their spoon in the pan to taste for seasoning, we pipette our straws in each and every drink prepared to ensure it is correct and balanced. As a complete novice, I was invited to taste everything the bar sold, for how can you comprehend mixing a drink, if you are unable to describe and sell it?

“Is there anything you don’t like” he said, “Gin” I said, Instantly, remembering that harrowing day three years previous. “We’ll change that,” he replied. Unbeknown to me,

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The Last Word

Conceived during Prohibition at the Detroit Athletic Club and reborn again in 2004 at the Zig Zag Café, Seattle. Not for the faint of heart, the ‘Last ‘ is a full bodied, sour, sweet and pungent concoction.

INGREDIENTS: n 20ml Tanqueray Gin n 20ml Maraschino Liqueur n 20ml Green Chartreuse n 20ml Fresh Lime Juice n 1 x cocktail cherry (for garnish) METHOD: 1) Shake all ingredients 2) Double strain into chilled martini glass 3) Garnish with cherry in the bottom of the glass the times ‘they were a changing’ and the revolution was only just beginning.

In less than ten years, gin has gone from granny’s favourite to phenomenon, with the number of UK producers alone having doubled since 2010. This boom owes huge gratitude to West London based distillery ‘Sipsmith’ and its founders Jared Brown, Sam Galsworthy and Fairfax Hall, whom after a two-year battle with HMRC earned the right in 2009 to produce small batch quantities of London Dry Gin as opposed to mass production of industrial scale.

By the end of 2015 there were 233 licensed UK producers, with sales predicted to reach in excess of £1billion in 2016.

This Exponential growth has been aided further by even smaller batch, ‘boutique distillers’ such as Sacred - an uber micro distillery based in Highgate, operated since 2009 from owner Ian Hart’s home kitchen.

The rise of gin has led to the revival of

classic and forgotten cocktails; drinks that faded from favour alongside gin’s fall from grace. The popularisation of 1920’s and 1930’s staples has been complemented by film and TV shows such as ‘Mad Men’, ‘The Great Gatsby’and ‘Boardwalk Empire’, all of which feature classic cocktails of the era; the Martini, the Gin Rickey and the French 75, to name a few.

The lust for all things vintage has resulted in bartenders around the globe have looking to classic cocktail books for inspiration; books such as ‘The Savoy Cocktail Book’ – its re cipes being some 70 per cent gin based. It is exciting and humbling to see the classics sitting comfortably alongside new and exciting variations on bar menus the world around.

A personal ‘revived’ favourite is the ‘Last Word’; a blend of gin, maraschino, Green Chartreuse and lime - recipe below. Even the humble gin & tonic got a makeover, no longer a mere measure of Gordon’s, straw, stirrer, bottle of Schweppes - on the side - and single cube of ice. The G&T is now a cabaret of garnish, glassware, ice and tonic, with of course your favoured choice of juniper flavoured spirit from the ever growing ‘ginventory’.‘ One of my favourite restaurants, Liverpool based ‘Maray’ feature an incredible Beetroot & Hibiscus G&T on their menu; house infused beetroot gin, hibiscus syrup and tonic water - (www.maray.co.uk).

I will be forever thankful to my first manager for forcing ‘Vera’and I to be friends and, in his honour, his questions are amongst the first I ask any new trainee at Bath & Bottle. For today, in 2016, juniper has truly ascended.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

RECIPES FREYA’S RECIPES

APPETITE

Overnight

oats

WORDS Freya Richardson

A revolutionary fun twists on the age-old classic: porridge.

Cheap, easy to make and delicious- this breakfast will nourishes your mind, body and soul.

It takes minutes to prepare and leaves you with one less thing to do in the morning. Using an old jam jar holds the perfect portion size, and

Super Simple Base Recipe:

Flavourings:

Porridge

Carrot Cake 1 carrot, grated Pinch of salt 1tsp cinnamon 1tsp all spice 20g raisins 20g crushed walnuts

80g Porridge Oats 100ml dairy or non dairy milk Natural, soya or coconut yoghurt for extra thickness Add optional protein powder, chia seeds or flax for an extra health kick Add all the ingredients plus the additions of your choice or use inspiration from below to the jam jar, mix well and leave to soak overnight.

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with no cooking needed you can crack the jar open straight from the fridge or easily transport in your bag for later.

Berry Cheesecake 50g fresh or frozen berries 30g dried coconut flakes 50g Yoghurt of choice (reduce milk) 1tsp vanilla extract

Nutty banana bread 1tsb vanilla extract 1 ripe banana, mashed 20g crushed walnuts 2tbsp crunchy peanut or almond butter 1tsb cinnamon Apple pie 60g apple purée or homemade stewed apple 2tsp cinnamon 10ml maple syrup ½ small fresh apple, diced

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EXCITING NEW DINING ENVIRONMENT AT 14 NORTH WITH PLANS FOR A ‘RESTAURANT WITH ROOMS’ 14 NORTH, ONE OF THE ISLAND’S MOST POPULAR RESTAURANTS WITH ITS LOCATION OVERLOOKING DOUGLAS QUAY, HAS UNDERGONE A MAJOR FACELIFT AND REVAMPING WITH THE CREATION OF AN EXCITING NEW DINING ENVIRONMENT. “It amounts to a substantial investment, not only in the restaurant but in the quay itself as the more business we have on the quay the more it becomes a dining destination,” says 14 North restaurateur Phil Taylor, who also has Bath & Bottle and Little Fish under his corporate umbrella.

“The extension was not about achieving more bums on seats but enhancing the customer experience.”

Upstairs, there are large, comfortable chairs. The intention, however, is that while it can accommodate 22 diners it can be used as a private dining space for up to 12 people with a sliding panel for total privacy. It can be available for both lunches and dinners.

A major part of the renovation on the upper floors will, in the coming months, see 14 North become a ‘restaurant with rooms’. The three double rooms will, says Phil, be ideal for business people over for one night or more, with the bedrooms overlooking the quay; there will be a bathroom and a kitchenette.

The pizza oven which dominated the kitchen has now gone and along with it the flatbreads from the menu, the oven has now been installed at Bath & Bottle so as to ensure the cravings for flatbreads from addicts can still be satisfied!

“Revamping and renovating a restaurant is an essential part of maintaining an interest in it ,” he adds. “It’s recognised in the hospitality industry that a restaurant has a “shelf life” of eight years and then needs to be refurbished, we decided not to wait that long but to do it only five-and-ahalf years after we opened.”

When entering the interior is now almost unrecognisable with the ground floor space extending into what was 15 North Quay which had stood empty for a number of years. There is an immediate Wow Factor! The decor is both vivid and exciting, while comfortable, padded designer chairs surround the tables and, crucially, there is now more space between tables, a factor which so many restaurants seem to overlook.

“We have also put in more acoustic ceiling panelling so as to lower noise levels from other tables, it means diners can relax and listen to the conversation they want to hear and that’s the one at their own table and not from others,” says Phil.

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“With the oven gone, the space allows us to be more versatile in the kitchen with more of a focus on creating interesting starters and main courses.

The absolute driver in what we serve will still be local ingredients whenever possible,” is the assurance from Phil.

He continues: “We have been to London, Dublin and Chester with the chefs, eating at various restaurants, looking for inspiration and new ideas. We are also looking to invite chefs over in the coming months, not only big names but up and coming young chefs who can take over the kitchen for four nights. This will not only be great for us but great for the Island when the head chef is temporarily from somewhere else.”

Dining at 14 North, Bath & Bottle or Little Fish will be part of the package.

“The standard will be comparable with the best the Island has to offer,” he adds. “If it goes well then a boutique hotel may be something we would consider sometime in the future.”

The extension also means greater storage space in the basement for adding bio dynamic and natural wines to the existing wine menu. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while,” says Phil.”It’s all about how wine was made a long time ago before preservatives and nitrates were added.

After more than five years in the hospitality industry in the Island, ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

APPETITE

14North is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Bookings can be made directly through the website www.14north.im or by calling the restaurant on 01624 664414.

Phil has strong views on its future.

“I want the Island to be a place where foodies come to visit, where they will find boutique, independent restaurants; in many ways we are fortunate not to have the restaurant chains which you can find everywhere else.”

“The Island’s reputation for good food is growing in the UK and queenies are playing an important role in that. We are exporting lots of them to London and restaurants are highlighting them on the menu, along with the Island and its produce. The hospitality sector most certainly has an important role to play in the Island’s growth strategy.”

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APPETITE

WORDS | Anne Berry | The Wine Cellar MANY WINES CONSUMED IN BRITAIN ARE MASS PRODUCED WINES, PRODUCED TO A SUPERMARKET’S SPECIFICATION AND PRICE POINT. THESE GENERALLY LACK CHARACTER AS THEY ARE PRODUCED TO HAVE WIDE APPEAL AND HAVE NOT BEEN PRODUCED THROUGH THE DESIRE TO PRODUCE A COMPLEX AND INTERESTING WINE.

A

t the other end of the scale are the wines that are produced by passionate winemakers, who strive to produce a fine quality wine with character and showing the true expression of its place of origin.

Many of these will be single vineyard wines. Single vineyard is a term used in the wine industry to indicate that the wine in the bottle is produced from grapes grown in one single vineyard site. This site will have been selected for its superiority, which could be a distinctive soil type, microclimate, topographical features, or a combination of all these factors, giving a unique terroir. By isolating a single site, the winemaker is able to give more attention to the grapes grown on that particular site, which ultimately results in a higher quality wine.

Many single vineyard wines are very expensive, due to labour intensive very small production, but others from larger producers can be affordable.

This single vineyard Gavi di Gavi from Araldica’s La Battistina estate is just £10.95 at The Wine Cellar.

The Araldica group of companies is a major force in wine growing, production and distribution based in the Piemonte region of northwest Italy. Thanks to the combination of a modern attitude towards production and marketing with a commitment to producing wines that are identifiably Piemontese, the group enjoys ever-growing international success.

The Battistina estate consists of 25 hectares of south facing vineyards on a unique combination of limestone and clay.

Included in this is 5 hectares of ‘Gavi del Comune di Gavi’, an isolated plot of chalky, mineral soil, known as Nuovo Quadro. The Cortese vines average 35 years old, giving omplexity and weight to what is becoming one of Italy’s most fashionable white wines.

This delicious white wine has enticing aromas of white peach and pear with hints of fresh lime and gooseberry and even a touch of crystallised ginger. Fresh and zesty citrus notes and ripe peachy characters on the palate are balanced by crisp acidity and mineral notes leading to a textured complex finish.

Rudi Schultz Syrah is a single vineyard wine from Stellenbosch and, priced at £14.75, it represents extremely good value for money.

Rudi Schultz is the chief winemaker at highly regarded Thelema Estate. He has always had a passion for the Syrah grape

and in 2002, he travelled to France for the first time to visit the producers he aspired to emulate. He completed a harvest in the Southern Rhône, where he worked with Grenache, Syrah and Viognier. It was there that he became inspired to create his eponymous wine, and Syrah was naturally the varietal of choice. Grapes for the stunning Rudi Schultz Syrah are sourced from a single vineyard site in the Bottelary Hills area of Stellenbosch. The vineyard is located 16 miles from the ocean, and the soil is granite-based, with coarse sand on a gravel base, and a small amount of wet clay. This terroir suits the Syrah grapes. The hand-crafted wine is vinified at Thelema. It is regarded as a “small production gem” and a “delicious fruit-driven Syrah” that “maintains a sense of freshness and minerality”. It has also been awarded a 90+ Wine Spectator rating in every vintage since its 2002 debut. The unicorn depicted on the label is part of the coat of arms of Schultz’s wife’s family.

It is a silky smooth, very ‘moreish’ wine with beautiful aromas of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, and pepper that follow through on the lengthy palate. The tannins are well integrated, and on the palate you will find seductive hints of mocha, earth, and spice that add extra complexity.

THE WINE CELLAR • TENNIS ROAD • DOUGLAS • IM2 3QW TELEPHONE: 01624 611793 • EMAIL: anne@thewinecellar.im

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

ACTIVE

? u o y o t a g o y s i t a h W

LET US JUST STRIP AWAY A FEW MYTHS, AND PERHAPS ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS TOO….

Do you have to be able to touch your toes before stepping into class?

Will there be there others my age in class?

No. Most beginners can’t, but we are here to help you become more flexible gradually, rather than too quickly, which may cause injury.

Yes. We offer a discounted drop in fee for over 65’s and for students, this opens up the potential for anyone from 18 to 108 to attend a class. We have plenty of both students and over 65’s.

Our teachers aren’t here to show off their skills, they are hired for their skills in encouragement and passion to help you overcome any flexibility, imbalances, or strength building issues. Our teachers will help you understand how to confront muscle and joint pain with yoga, so you can apply these skills to your daily routine. But, if you like the fancy stuff, such as handstands, then we can also show you how much mind control will help you achieve these and also anything else you might put your mind to.

Yoga doesn’t help me lose weight or tone up Yes it does! Yoga does, and will tone you up. Lengthened muscles will make you look toned and lean. Not just looking great on the outside, but the action of toning muscle internally first, means you work on the more important issues of core strength. Having this much internal control will help you control all other aspects of your life, such as improving running, cycling, or football, and safely enhancing your resistance training at the gym too.

Will it just be women in the class?

No. Many males currently attend our classes and worldwide many celebrities including, Ryan Giggs, Bon Jovi and Robert Downey Jnr., advocate for the health improving benefits of yoga. They also have expressed that they were initially apprehensive of yoga, and now would class yoga as an integral part of their fitness regime and lifestyle.

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We have an off peak membership now too, so perhaps if you have kids and can have a break away for an hour or so, then this makes the off peak perfect for you.

Do you have courses for beginners?

Yes. If you are interested in trying yoga for the first time, or are looking for a refresher if you have done yoga in the past, this is your opportunity to learn the fundamentals of yoga. Over 6 weeks you’ll learn 7 core principles that will provide the base of your yoga practice. On completion of this course you will be able to attend with confidence any beginner’s class.

The course costs £75 and consists of 6 weekly 75 minute sessions with a maximum of 10 students per class. We keep the class sizes to a minimum to ensure each student receives the support they need. No prior experience or flexibility is required and all the equipment you will need is at the studio, so you won’t even have to buy a mat—you have nothing to lose!

Whatever you thought Yoga was...

Let us show you what it can be now!

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

ACTIVE

“

Yoga does, and will tone you up.

Lengthened muscles will make you look toned and lean.

”

NEW OFF PEAK PRICES! To attend any morning sessions (excludes weekends) Drop in price £8 8 class card £48 New Student and over 65’s prices £6 off peak £8 evenings and weekends

ARE YOU A BEGINNER? Beginners are most welcome to take part in classes with no obligation or commitment to become a member of the studio.

Karma Studio | Isle of Man 2nd Floor, 9-11 Duke Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2BB Tel: 01624 663300 Mobile: 07624 470522 Email: yogisammi@gmail.com Website: www.karma-iom.co.uk

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SPORT

Mooragh Park will play host to the first two days of Isle of Man Cyclefest presented

by Isle of Man Bank, which includes the opening round of the professional Pearl Izumi Tour Series on Thursday 12th May. Spectators will be treated to the spectacular thrill of elbow to elbow professional cycle racing as Olympic, Commonweath and British Champions tear round the specially constructed 1 mile Mooragh Park circuit.

In addition to the professional races, Thursday also features the Sure School Challenge and the Isle of Man Cyclefest Stars of Tomorrow Youth Races. There’s plenty of activity on the Friday too, with the professional circuit remaining in place for the Ocean Motor Village Community Day with a variety of races and the chance for anyone to ride the course with the ‘Big Ride with Rebecca House’ and the Jewson Team Relay.

The action then moves to the Milntown Estate, the hub for the weekend Isle of Man Cyclefest Championship races – the Storm the Tower Hill Climb powered by Isle of Man Creamery, the Battle of Sky Hill Mountain Bike Race and Sunday’s round island Gran Fondo and the Isle of Man Cyclefest Food and Music Festival.

An outstanding line up of local musicians, artisan food and drink from the Island’s best local producers, awe-inspiring stunts and plenty of fun for all the family will be the order of the day.

Local artists confirmed to play the PokerStars Main Stage over the weekend include Barrule/Mec Lir, Ruth Keggin, Matt Creer, Scarlet Parade, Retrospect and Loose Crew.

Away from the main stage, Manx arts and culture group Yn Chruinnaght will be delighting festival goers with their own mix of acoustic artists and groups while children’s charity Rebecca House will be organising a series of outdoor games for all the family and stunt rider Andrei Burton will be running through his new show over the two days.

The Milntown Café and Gardens will be open during Cyclefest from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May. However anyone wishing to eat in the Milntown Café must purchase or hold a valid ticket for that day’s Cyclefest event either in advance on-line or at the gate on the day.

Milntown is not taking advanced bookings for the cafe on the 14th or 15th May but if you would like to make a reservation please either go into the café on either day of the event.

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WATCH THE PRO’S AND THEN HAVE A GO YOURSELF Food, music, family fun and cycling at inaugural Isle of Man Cyclefest presented by Isle of Man Bank SAVE UP TO 40% BY BUYING TICKETS ONLINE:

Wristband tickets are available to buy on-line now at www.iomcyclefest.com. Tickets for the Isle of Man Cyclefest Festival at Milntown Estate are priced online at £5 per adult per day (£9 adult weekend), £3 per child per day (£5 child weekend) (child tickets for children aged 5 to 16) or £15 for a family day pass (£25 for a family weekend pass).

Family tickets include 2 adults and up to 3 children. Children aged 4 and under go free. All tickets include FREE entry to Milntown Gardens.

Please note on-the-gate prices start at £9 per adult per day (£15 adult weekend), £5 per child per day (£8 child weekend), £25 per family per day (£45 family weekend).

AND WE’VE GOT A GREAT COMPETITION FOR GALLERY MAGAZINE READERS.

We’ve got five sets of weekend tickets to win. Simply answer the question below and specify ‘family’ or ‘adult’ tickets on your email: cyclefest@gallery.co.im Which professional cycle race is coming to the Isle of Man: ANSWER:

A: The Tour of Britain

B: The Pearl Izumi Tour Series

C: The Tour de France

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

SPORT

First ever Manx Polo Team Compete In England at the Midlands Polo Festival The Miracles Recruitment - Isle of Man Polo Team and 7 polo ponies from Triskelion Polo Club departed on Thursday 24th February for the impressive Arena Polo facilities of Rugby Polo Club at Onley Ground Equestrian Centre in Warwickshire Photographs: Elaine Dewhirst

In arena polo individuals possess a handicap ranging from -1 to 10 representing the experience and skill of a player and when added together give the team a handicap. The division Miracles entered allowed teams up to a team handicap of 4 and was comprised of Club Coach, Cameron Houston (1), Becky Netten (-1) and Graham Dimelow (-1) giving a team handicap of -1. Becky, a local IFA has only been playing just over a year and Graham a local electrician/businessman has only been riding for just over a year, both taking part in lessons and playing in local games, so this was a massive leap for the team to make.

Miracles first opposition on the Saturday was Dallas Burston’s Polo Club (DBPC), they were ceded 1st for the tournament with an extremely strong side and a total handicap of 3 against the Miracles team handicap of -1, this established our travelling team as the underdogs by a substantial margin.

With tack clean and the ponies bathed it was time for the first Manx polo team to compete in a UK tournament. From the off, the speed and tempo of the game was the highest the team had experienced with players rarely out of a gallop around an arena which is an imposing 75m x 30m dwarfing the team’s humble 40m x 20m home arena thus providing a whole new challenge with different tactics and conditions. The team played hard over the match and in the last quarter with just a handful of minutes remaining Miracles still had a goal lead against the odds at 16-15. As alarm bells rang through the DBPC side with an impending defeat to the ‘underdogs’, the game turned and DBPC ran out the winners by 19 goals to 16.

Losing by such a small margin and holding DBPC right to the end was huge achievement and were encouraged as they looked to the subsidiary final against Staffordshire Polo the next day.

The following day, Miracles Recruitment

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

– IOM polo team faced another daunting task against Staffordshire Polo team who also possessed a team handicap of 3 including the vastly experienced Glyn Henderson (3). The team again lacked the experience of the opposition but more than made up for it in tenacity with Cameron at the helm providing direction to Becky and Graham. The team came through the match to earn an extremely hard fought 16-15 win which came right down to the wire.

The team gave a great account of themselves over the weekend and made the first step in playing competitively in the UK and establishing a strong reputation for polo on the Isle of Man. The trip was fully subsidised by our players and Miracles Recruitment, the team have been working and saving endlessly for the last six months to make the trip happen. The team were supported by Triskelion polo club manager Frazer Houston and groom Lauren Shimmin, along with supporting club members and our very own photographer Elaine Dewhirst.

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ACTIVE NEWS

COUNTDOWN TO GOLD COAST 2018 BEGINS There are now less than two years to go until the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast and Team Isle of Man’s preparations are gathering momentum.

The event, between 4th – 15th April, will feature 18 different sports involving 6,500 athletes and team officials from 70 nations. This week, the official mascot of the games was unveiled on the Gold Coast’s Burleigh Heads Beach. The bright blue koala bear is called ‘Borobi’ – the indigenous Yugambeh language word for koala – and Games organisers say he will ‘promote Australia and powerful messages about its natural and aboriginal heritage to the world.’

2018 will mark 60 years since the Isle of Man first competed in the Commonwealth Games.

The last games held in the Southern Hemisphere (Melbourne, 2006) proved successful with Mark Cavendish winning gold in cycling’s 20km Scratch race and shooters David Walton and Trevor Boyles taking bronze in the team Clay Pigeon Trap discipline.

ZURICH TO BECOME HEADLINE SPONSOR OF IOM TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP Zurich International Life has been confirmed as the new headline sponsor of one of the biggest athletics events in the Island’s sporting calendar.

The insurance company is putting its name to the Zurich Isle of Man Track and Field Championship which this year will take place over the weekend of 23 and 24 July at the NSC in Douglas.

The championship is widely acknowledged as one of the highlights in the Island’s athletics calendar, and sees hundreds of athletes, aged between seven to 67, competing in all athletic disciplines from 75m sprints for the youngest competitors, to middistance and throwing events. In addition to bronze, silver and gold medals in each category, a Victor or Victrix Ludorum trophy is awarded to the best athlete in each age group over the weekend.

Entries for the Zurich Isle of Man Track and Field Championship close on Sunday 10 July. For further information about the event and details of how to enter, please visit the Isle of Man Athletics Association website.

YOU’LL HAVE TO RUN TO ENTER MANX TELECOM PARISH WALK! Time is running out if you want to be part of this year’s Manx Telecom Parish Walk.

Midnight on Sunday May 8th is the final deadline. All entries must be made at www. parishwalk.com – and no entries will be allowed after the deadline has passed. It costs just £40 to enter the Island’s biggest mass participation sporting event which takes place on Saturday June 18, starting as usual at the NSC.

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2014 KIA SPORTAGE 2.0 CRDI KX3 AWD Fusion white, 1 owner with only 9,000 miles, Panoramic roof, heated seats, 2021 Kia warranty £18,750 2014 TOYOTA AYGO 1.0 MOVE NAV 5 DOOR, Polar white, £35 tax, sips fuel, sat nav, air-conditioning £6,250 or £38 per week 2014 SUZUKI S-CROSS 1.6 SZ3 5 door, Galactic Grey, Superb value SUV for only £9,850 2013 SUZUKI ALTO 1.0 SZ3 5DOOR, Bright red, 1 owner, bluetooth, air-conditioning, remote locking, low insurance, £35 tax £4,995 or £31 per week 2010 (SEP) NISSAN JUKE 1.6 ACENTA ‘PREMIUM’, Petrol Blue metallic, Very high specification inc Touch screen Sat nav, Climate £8,250 or £50 per week

2012 (DEC) VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1.4 85 ‘MATCH EDITION’ AUTOMATIC 5 door, Candy White, air-con, alloys, like new £8,995 or £55 per week 2013 FIAT 500 1.2 STREET, White, Only 11,000 miles, 1 owner from new £7,450 2013 (SEP) NISSAN MICRA 1.2 ‘PREMIUM’, Cosmic Grey, 1 owner with only 10,000 miles, climate , satnav, alloys, £62 tax, £7,250 2013 (NOV) SUZUKI SWIFT 1.2 SZ3 5 Door, Kashmire Blue met, 1 owner, air-con, alloys, low miles £7,695 or £47 per week 2014 HYUNDAI I10 1.2 ‘ACTIVE EDITION’, Fusion white, only 6,000 miles with balance of Hyundai warranty £6,795

2013 TOYOTA YARIS 1.33 TR 5 Door, Midnight Black with only 5,000 miles, lovely specification small hatchback £8,495 or £52 per week 2011 FIAT 500 0.9 LOUNGE, Bossa Nova White with over £1,000 worth of extras, Full leather, Climate, Park assist, upgrade sound £6,795 or £41 per week 2013 HYUNDAI I20 1.2 CLASSIC 5 Door, Guards Red, only 17,000 miles, low tax, low insurance £6,695 or £41 per week 2007 NISSAN QASHQAI 1.6 ACENTA 5 DOOR Dual zone climate, 6x Cd, alloys , lovely car for under £5,000. £Now in Finance available subject to status. Finance examples based on approx 10% deposit over 48 months.

Please call for details.

HARDWARE

MOTORING NEWS BRITISH SPORTS CAR MAKER ASTON MARTIN HERALDED THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA BY UNVEILING ITS STUNNING NEW DB11 PRODUCTION MODEL AT THIS YEAR’S GENEVA MOTOR SHOW.

ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST POPULAR PICK-UPS IS BACK WITH A HOST OF NEW FEATURES AND EVEN BETTER VALUE. THE NEW NISSAN NP300 NAVARA HAS ALREADY COLLECTED THE PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL PICK-UP OF THE YEAR AWARD AND IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER FROM ATHOL GARAGE. Thanks to a host of updates, the new NP300 Navara is as rugged and capable as ever, but with greater comfort, improved refinement and a range of new technologies that make it even more suited to those with an active lifestyle.

It’s available in two bodystyles; the stylish king cab or double cab for those needing full-sized seating in the second row. Under the bonnet all Navara models come with a brand-new 2.3-litre dCi diesel unit, which offers 160PS in single-turbo form or a generous 190PS with twin-turbochargers. Both engine options can be specified with a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission, with two- and four-wheel-drive available depending on the model. All double cab models are also fitted with an accomplished five-link rear suspension set-up for a more composed ride and greater comfort.

The DB11 is the first of a new generation of Aston Martins that benefit from radical overhauls in key areas such as design, structure and powertrain. The exterior shows a clear step forward from the DB9, with a clamshell bonnet, a strongly-waisted centre section and a distinctive kick to the tail. It shows a great deal of influence from the DB10 created for the film Spectre, as well as the One-77 and Vulcan hypercars.

Aston says the design changes also give much improved aerodynamics.

Underneath the skin, the DB11 receives a brand-new twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine, which in this application provides 600bhp and 516lb.ft of torque, more than any previous DB model. In addition, the new powerplant benefits from a number of technologies to improve efficiency, with cylinder de-activation and stopstart helping to reduce overall emissions and improve economy. Driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, Aston claims the DB11 is capable of 200mph with 0-62mph taking 3.9 seconds.

Aston Martin plans first deliveries of the DB11 about now, with prices expected to start at £154,900.

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BRITISH CAR BUILDER EAGLE HAVE ANNOUNCED A THIRD MODEL TO JOIN THEIR RANGE OF E-TYPE BASED HAND-BUILT SPORTS CARS, CALLED THE SPYDER GT. Joining the Eagle Speedster and the Low Drag GT, the Spyder GT incorporates elements of both to give the stunning drop-top looks of the Speedster, but with greater practicality, as well as a folding fabric roof for all-weather use.

Each of the Spyder GT examples produced will be completely bespoke and to the customer’s exact requirements, including powertrain, suspension and interior finishes.

Eagle also buys and sells original E-Types, as well as offering comprehensively restored and upgraded original cars that are sold as Eagle E-Types.

ALL-NEW NP300 NAVARA RANGE FROM £21,995 – £31,745

100,000 MILES

ATHOL GARAGE (1945) LTD Balthane Road, Isle of Man IM9 2AF 01624 820082 | athol-nissan.co.uk Opening hours 0900-1730 Monday to Friday, 0900-1700 Saturday, closed Sunday

Fuel consumption figures for NP300 Navara Range: URBAN 32.5-40.3mpg (8.7-7.0L/100km), EXTRA URBAN 46.3-47.9mpg (6.1-5.9L/100km), COMBINED 40.3-44.9mpg (7.0-6.3L/100km), CO2 emissions 183-167g/km.

Offer valid until 30 June 2016 at participating Dealers only and subject to vehicle availability. Model shown is Navara Tekna at £31,745 with additional metallic paint at £495. Vehicle price includes first registration fee and 12 months’ road fund licence. For terms and conditions relating to Nissan technologies visit www.nissan.co.uk/technology T&Cs. Always drive carefully and attentively. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing, in accordance with 2004/3/EC and intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results.

(Optional equipment, maintenance, driving behaviour, road and weather conditions may affect the official results.) Information correct at time of going to print. Model shots shown are for illustration purposes only. 5 Year / 100,000 miles (whatever comes first) Manufacturer warranty for the LCV range (with the exception of eNV200: 5 Year / 60,000 miles manufacturer warranty for EV system parts, 3 Year / 60,000 miles for the rest of the vehicle). Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd, The Rivers Office Park, Denham Way, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 9YS.

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TOP 10 RL360째 QUANTUM SUPERSTOCK TT FACTS

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1.

Every one of the top 10 riders in the 2015 Superstock race achieved an average race speed of over 126mph.

This year RL360° will celebrate the sponsorship of its 15th Superstock TT race.

From 2002, back when the company was Scottish Life, right through to 2016 as RL360° goes from strength to strength, there’s no doubt it has been a successful partnership.

2.

The TT course is 37.73 miles long and the Superstock TT runs over 4 laps, making the entire race just over 150 miles.

3.

There were a total of 206 laps completed in the 2015 RL360° Superstock race, equating to 7772.38 miles.

Here are 10 facts about one of the most hotly contested TT races:

4.

5.

There were 72 riders on the 2015 Superstock start list.

The Superstock regularly features some of the closest racing at the TT, with Bruce Anstey beating Cameron Donald by only 0.77 seconds in 2012 and Ian Hutchinson winning with the first 130mph+ Superstock lap by 1.32 seconds from Ryan Farquhar in 2010.

6.

Michael Dunlop currently holds the lap record at 131.220 (17:15.114) which he set in 2010.

7.

Ian Hutchinson set a new race record for the Superstock class with an average 129.197mph (1:10.05.298) in winning last year’s Superstock race.

8.

The Superstock TT Race replaced the 1000cc and 600cc production races in 2005.

9.

Bruce Anstey, Ian Hutchinson and Michael Dunlop have all won 3 Superstock titles since 2005, with the others being won by John McGuinness and Cameron Donald.

10.

RL360°’s Finance and Commercial Director Mike Crellin competed in 5 Superstock TTs, in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2008. He retired from racing in 2008, having completed an overall 14 TT races, ranking 44th in the all-time number of finishes (one ahead of Giacomo Agostini).

Quantum, along with all of RL360°’s products, is sold through intermediaries.

Talk to your financial adviser about our products.

For more information visit www.rl360.com BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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WIN

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO TT2016 VIP HOSPITALITY THE 2016 ISLE OF MAN TT RACES FUELLED BY MONSTER ENERGY IS ALMOST HERE AND GALLERY MAGAZINE IS OFFERING ONE LUCKY READER AND THEIR GUEST THE CHANCE TO GET EVEN CLOSER TO THE ACTION WITH A PAIR OF VIP HOSPITALITY TICKETS UP FOR GRABS FOR RACE DAY ON MONDAY 6TH JUNE.

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M

onday’s packed calendar includes a double header of the RL360 Superstock and Monster Energy Supersport 1 Races as well as SES TT Zero and Sure Sidecar Race 2 qualifying. All the leading stars including John McGuinness, Michael Dunlop, Ian Hutchinson, Conor Cummins and Bruce Anstey will be on the track going head to head for honours.

The VIP Club package gives guests all day access to the hospitality suite with complimentary bar, breakfast and a gourmet hot and cold buffet as well as the opportunity to meet stars past and present behind the scenes. You’ll also receive a goody bag of that includes official TT merchandise, an ear piece radio to tune in to Manx Radio’s TT commentary, a copy of the official TT programme and race guide.

TT legend Charlie Williams, a seven time race winner, will be the host for the day and a series of great riders past and present, from road and circuit racing, will be appearing in the VIP hospitality unit throughout the day.

All of the race winners and podium placed riders will also be coming in to the VIP unit as soon as the race is finished to share their personal thoughts on the day’s races and to meet fans and sign autographs.

But if you’re not lucky enough to win there are still ‘late availability’ hospitality and grandstand tickets available to buy. www.iomtt.com

To win all you have to do is answer this questions correctly: WHO IS THE CURRENT SOLO TT LAP RECORD HOLDER: A: Bruce Anstey B: Michael Dunlop C: John McGuinness Email your answers (By 1st June) to: vipttcomp@gallery.co.im

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PHONE HOME

4 INCHES OF PURE POWER When Apple announced that they’d shrunk the iPhone, we all wondered just how good the new Apple SE would be. The verdict – superb!

In spite of its size, and its quite diddy four inch screen, the Apple SE is powered by an A9 chipset, the very same engine that lies behind the success of the iPhone 6S. The SE is the iPhone’s first foray into a non-top-end market and the designers at Apple have pulled off quite a coup by keeping the popular iPhone 6 design, whilst making the whole package that little bit smaller and more suitable for everyone’s pocket.

The key to the SE’s success is the A9 chip which delivers console-class graphics that are beautifully rendered on the four inch screen. Not only is this great for watching videos and gaming but it ensures that every image you take with the 12MP camera and 4K video is crisp and captures all the details that make for beautiful memories.

Everything about the SE screams Apple at its best: great apps, brilliantly user-friendly and superbly stylish.

The iPhone SE is available now, so pop into your nearest Sure store – in Douglas, Ramsey or Port Erin – to experience it today.

THE NEW LG G5 IS TURNING HEADS As LG’s latest flagship premium smartphone, the device does not disappoint.

The LG G5 makes it almost impossible to run out of battery.

The only premium smartphone on the market with a slide-out battery which can be removed and swapped with a spare, fully charged one, coupled with the fast-charging charger when it just needs that extra boost – running out of juice is a thing of the past!

With a new sleek metal design available in Silver, Titan, Pink and Gold, the G5 fits comfortably in your hand. The fingerprint sensor is located on the back of the device, leaving more room on the front for the impressive 5.3” Quad Display.

Fitted with a dual back camera offering wide and standard lens options, along with advanced features such as ultra HD and the option to add accessories such as the LG 360 CAM°, you will be taking photos like a pro in no time!

at a glance

5.3” 32

GB

touchscreen

16MP

plus 8MP front camera

innovative removable battery

plus up to 200GB on microSD

2.15 GHz Dual-core & 1.6 GHz Dual-core processor

android OS

TM

from £49

(24 months Smartphone 1200 plan)

LG G5 is available from Manx Telecom – the islands leading 4G network –from £49 @ £55 per month, over 24 months on Smartphone 1200, which includes 1200 minutes, 10000 texts and 12GB of 4G data. >>>

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Switch – free £20 surfer top-up will only be provided at the point of switching from Sure to Manx Telecom and will be activated straight onto your account. The credit cannot be provided as a cash alternative or as a substitute. Offers are available through purchases made in our store at Strand Street, Douglas only. Visit www.manxtelecom.com/paygo for full Pay As You Go terms and conditions.

Swap – offer applies to Manx Telecom customers upgrading to a FREE 4G SIM card. *£20 discount applies to selected handsets only: LG K4, Microsoft Lumia 650, ZTE Blade V6. Offers are available through purchases made in our store at Strand Street, Douglas only.

Visit www.manxtelecom.com/paygo for full Pay As You Go terms and conditions.

EDDIE REDMAYNE’S CHOICE