Gallery | March 2016 | the PARTNERSHIPS issue by Gallery Magazine

Isle of Man Premier Magazine | no. 51 | March 2016 | the [PARTNERSHIPS] 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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EDITORIAL

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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.

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#51 [PARTNERSHIPS] Isle of Man Premier Magazine | no. 51 | March 2016 | the [PARTNERSHIP] issue

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

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ON THE AGENDA n NO 18 n MARCH 2016

WORLD NEWS - 30 YEARS OF BEAR MARKETS - HISTORY TELLS US WHAT NEXT W E A LT H - T H E THE EASY WAY TO INVEST LIKE THE GURUS TECHNOLOGY - EXECUTIVES SEEK MORE EXCITEMENT IN LATEST PLANS FOR SMARTPHONES

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n this issue our theme for the month of March explores Partnerships. We start on page 10 with ‘Postcodes Partnerships’ with Clare Bowie, who tells us in her own way why you’re kind of stuck with your neighbours through a proximity-enforced partnership.

We continue on theme with ‘Partners in Crime’ on page 14 where Grant Runyon talks about his accused derogatory references to Donald Trump and explains why the American elections are more entertaining than ours, because they seem to be more focussed on personality than anything else. In our Culture section on page 26 we focus on Local Film Producer Bev Lawley, of Ex-Isle Films, who has just returned from Italy where her short film ‘Muck’ has won best short film at the Dieciminuti Film Festival. Also in the Culture section Suzy Holland explores the case for - and against - a National Contemporary Art Gallery, due to the Arts Council announcement in October to cut it’s funding for the Sayle Gallery. Do you have a view point on this? Get in touch and let us know if you do. Agenda, our monthly business supplement starts on page 39 and covers all things business, both locally and internationally. Followed by our property and fashion sections. Once you’re done with all that, we’ll warm up your life with our recipes to try at home this month. We also talk with Jamie Lewis who takes a look at the alcoholic origins of the increasingly popular cocktail and offers an ‘Old fashioned’ experience along the way.

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

If that isn’t enough for you why not point, assess, stare or even poke fun at the faces in our paparazzi pages. Whatever you thoughts are on partnerships try to remember the words of Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Until next month.

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

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CONTENTS PICKS FEATURE

FEATURE

POSTCODE PARTNERSHIPS

The Workaholics

Technically, they live in your street but they are hardly ever there. You sometimes see them leave in a mad frenzy of toast, corporate coats half on and numerous bags, sports kits and laptops being loaded into the boot of their car/van/bus thingy. In their absence a small team of modern day Downton Abbey downstairs folk keep the machine well oiled. They have two cleaners, a gardener, a dog walker, a wheelie bin washer (I know!) a shirt ironer, a child minder and usually some builders in for good measure.

NEIGHBOURS YOU MAY HAVE

CULTURE

Least likely to say: “Let’s have a 48 hour box-set binge”

Like annoying work colleagues you’re kind of stuck with your neighbours through a proximityenforced partnership. It’s no mean feat but to keep this partnership professional you have to play nice and avoid petty postcode squabbles about hedge cutting or noise pollution but not so nice that they think that being good neighbours means being good friends. Words Clare Bowie

The Ordered Ones

Their house is pristine and the garden is manicured. They always park their cars outside the house in the same spot at the same time and if someone else has taken the sweet spot they will not rest until it has been re-claimed. Sainsbury’s man comes every Sunday at 4pm and they go for a couples jog on Mondays and date night on Wednesdays. The house will be magnolia, the clothing will be Boden and sorting out the recycling is one of life’s pure pleasures. Interests will include PTA and scheduled visits to Brownies, swimming, choir, violin, ballet, judo, fencing and rugby.

“I can’t believe we haven’t jet washed the driveway all month”

MUCK

Least likely to say: “I just did the school run in my jammies”

PHOTOS | Phil Kneen

“Where is the local artisan bakery?”

The Trendy Ones

The Don’t Care Ones

They’ve ended up in the suburbs but have no intentions of shaking off their hipster beards just yet. Can usually be found working from home in a bespoke garden pod next to their organic home-grown asparagus crowns or driving their vintage Jag. They don’t own a TV and believe weekends are a time for digital detoxing and meditation. Family time is spent at galleries and farmers markets, sipping fair-trade green tea and facilitating the expression of their children’s creative energy. Least likely to say: “I’ve made great bunting for a street party”.

They really don’t care! They don’t care if they are loud, if taxis beep at all hours of the day and night, if their burglar alarm goes off at least once a month or they have to pop to the shops in their dressing gown. They don’t care if their dogs bark constantly or the man from the takeaway always steals the ordered ones parking spot. They don’t seem to notice if their Christmas wreath is still up in March or if the wheelie bin never makes it to the back door and you know they’ll never move!

“Party back at mine”

Least likely to say: “We should organise a neighbour watch scheme”.

ocal producer Bev Lawley, of Ex-Isle Films, has just returned I M the Dieciminuti Film Festival. Bev, along with director Sonya Quayle, cinematographer John Craine and editor Edward Crompton travelled to the picturesque town of Ceccano to

BEST SHORT FILM

“Have you seen my rose gold and diamond encrusted iPhone 6 case?”

The Show-offs

The magpies of the street, they seem to buy shiny new things on a weekly basis. The car is always top of the range and upgraded every year and the glare from their 55 inch Series 8 Ultra HD 4K Nano Crystal Smart 3D Flat LED TV is bright enough to illuminate the black-granitetwist-fountain-water- feature that lives in the front garden, and is very Kim-K, by the way. They have a hot-tub and a pizza oven, usually holiday in Disney and only ever take their children to establishments with Wi-Fi. Least likely to say: “We’re just heading out for a Happy Meal” “Just to be clear, I’ve chalked out my boundary line”

Least likely to say: “We just love pottering around charity shops at the weekend”.

The Competitive Ones

They are like the show-offs but savvier. They have all the shiny things but crave the “lifestyle envy” and love nothing better than inviting you round for espresso to tell you about their weekend of snowboarding in the Alps, how good the taster menu at Gordon Ramsey’s was or how little Benjamin is bound to sweep the board at prize giving this year. Their house has been extended and pimped beyond recognition. Lord knows how they coped before they dug down to the cellar!

“Is your daughter still struggling with her reading?

Least likely to say: “We’ve booked a fortnight in Benidorm”.

The Overly Friendly Ones

The Tense ones

You are on strict “nodding only” terms. They may offer an occasional half smile/grimace but there will be no unsolicited weather chit-chat going on here thank you very much. The wheelie bin is always left languishing outside for a few days and you suspect there may well be passive aggressive “it’s not my turn to bring it in” bin politics afoot. No footballs will ever be retrieved from this garden and the gates are sellotaped shut at Halloween so everyone knows where they stand.

CULTURE

“I could definitely meet for a bite in 7 or 8 weeks time”

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

When you moved in and they popped over it was pleasant and welcoming but you thought you’d made it clear that it was acceptable to share a non-committal “bound by postcode proximity alone” friendship rather than a lets open a bottle and share our hopes, fears and dreams kind of relationship. Yet, they now seem to always leave their house at the exact moment that you do, make themselves available for all your missed parcel force deliveries and want to keep catching up for barbecues every time the clouds clear!

Director Sonya Quayle cast Sian Reeves (Cutting It, Emmerdale) as Babs, James Northcote (The Imitation Game, Wuthering Heights, Nymphomaniac) as Billy her autistic son, and Mark Sheals (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Shameless) as Murray, her impatient husband. “We were so delighted to have a script and team that was capable of attracting such a calibre of actor” explains Bev “the whole film really rides or falls on those performances and each one of them is fantastic. We couldn’t be happier”.

“I loved that new coat you had on last Tuesday”.

Least likely to say: “what a gorgeous baby, I didn’t even know you were pregnant”

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FEATURE: Postcode Partnerships

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

To create the world of 1950s Yorkshire, Bev called on the skills of production designer Anisha Fields whom she’d previously worked with on her educational short film ‘Ben’. Working closely with Sonya, they created a world for the characters to inhabit. “It was obvious to me that although the family home in Muck is not a wealthy one, there is a real warmth of spirit about it.” Sonya explains “It was important to me that Babs had made a beautiful home for her family in what is a pretty unforgiving landscape”

THIS IS THE SIXTH AWARD WE’VE BEEN NOMINATED FOR SO IT’S REALLY WONDERFUL TO BE BRINGING HOME THE BACON

The shoot challenged the filmmakers on many levels, “We had a pig, a flock of sheep, and even a goldfish to contend with” says cinematographer John Craine, “Also we had to try and make it look like the middle of winter. We shot in July which was a bit of a problem on one day when we had bright sunshine but we were able to keep the location, a pigsty, in shade that day. Luckily Mannanin didn’t let us down and we got mist very early one morning and managed to shoot the scenes on the moors then.” Along with Mannin Shorts, the film was funded by local individuals and businesses whom the filmmakers would like to take this opportunity to thank, especially John Hall, Kath & Ian Lowey, David McKinley, Aon, Abbey Dental, Blackford & Co, Culinary Liberation Event Hire, Isle of Man Steam Packet, Tower Insurance, Manx National Heritage and Window World.

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“This is the sixth award we’ve been nominated for so it’s really wonderful to be bringing home the bacon” Bev added, smiling wryly. Anyone interested in being a trainee on a film set or developing their skills at one of their many workshops should contact Mannin Shorts on nadine@ isleofmanfilmfestival.com Bev is currently in pre-production on a new short film, Jean, with many of the same team that she assembled for Muck. Written by Sonya Quayle, Jean is the story of an elderly woman who finds herself alone at Christmas. “Filming Jean should be a breeze after Muck” laughs Bev, “It’s all interiors and there isn’t an animal in sight!” They hope to start shooting in April 2016.

2727

CULTURE: MUCK - Best short film

THE REST UPFRONT

AGENDA

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

In The News........................................................................................................40

What’s On...................................................................................................8

Business Events.................................................................................................44

Postcodes Partnerships..................................................................................10

Bear Markets.......................................................................................................46

Me & My Pet..........................................................................................................12

Invest Like The Gurus......................................................................................48

Partners in Crime................................................................................................14

RL360 Investment Goals...................................................................52

Give..........................................................................................................................16

Perfecting Partnerships......................................................................54

News in Numbers....................................................................................17

IoD Director of The Year Awards....................................................56

MISC............................................................................................................18

The CEO Interview - Mike Phillips...................................................58 The Internet of Things....................................................................................62

EVENTS

Keyboard Apps......................................................................................64

Claudio Mazzone & Sally Roddy Wedding Day................................20

Executives Seek More Excitement From Smartphones.........66

Sharon & Sean Collett’s Wedding Day...................................................22

CULTURE Culture Vulture..................................................................................................24

PLACES Ballaterson Manor Feature.................................................................70 Properties For Sale/Rent.............................................................74-82

Culture News.....................................................................................................25 MUCK.........................................................................................................26

FASHION & BEAUTY

UPLOAD.....................................................................................................28

Beauty Face To Face...........................................................................84

Contemporary Art Gallery............................................................................32

Fashion News.....................................................................................................86

Artist Spotted in Cregneash.............................................................34

Brightlife - The Spa.........................................................................................88 Spring Beauty Trends.....................................................................................90

TRAVEL Marching into Yorkshire.................................................................................36

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TRAVEL

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”

WORDS | Stephen White

O ING INT MARCH HIRE

YORKS

in-business

Helen Keller

Posters also tell of wartime austerity: horsemeat being fit for human consumption, general food shortages and rationing. There are no such worries of hardship at Field House Farm Holiday Cottages, our “billet” for two nights, and where some of the film’s scenes were also shot.

WHEN THE 2014, THEY DAD’S ARMY FILM CRE BUILDING TRANSPORTED W DESC ENDED S IN NOV REMAINS BACK TO THE MANY OF THE EMBER SHOPS 1940 , ALLOWIN G VISITORSS. MUCH OF THA AND T DECORA TO STEP TION INTO A FILM SET.. .

Partnership (noun): A type of business organisation in which two or more parties pool money, skills, and other resources, and share profit and loss in accordance with terms of the partnership agreement.

Perfecting Partnerships Words: Michelle P. Tonnesen

he glamorous face of Catherine Zeta Jones may be splashed all D ’ A ’ very likely another star will steal the show when the nostalgic TV

Joint ventures. Affiliates. Alliances. Sponsorships. Partners in crime. A partnership takes many forms

Some of the scenes from Dad’s Army, including shots of the bank, tea room, police station, Hodges greengrocers, Jones’ butchers and the military parade, were filmed in Bridlington’s Old Town.

It was built close to the beautiful Priory, founded in 1113 and once the biggest and wealthiest church in Yorkshire. With its High Street, Market Place, Corn Exchange House and (in 1710) 25 pubs, the Old Town was a major trading place for surrounding villages. Just seven pubs survive today.

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36 TRAVEL: Marching into Yorkshire

APPETITE Recipes.......................................................................................................92 The Origin Of The Cocktail..............................................................94 Haworths At The Regency.............................................................................95 Wine Co-Operative...........................................................................................96

SPORT

agenda

There is a wide range of aspects to consider when entering a partnership, but here are a few key ones that apply across the spectrum of alliances:

in today’s business world.

ssentially a partnership is a mutually beneficial alliance between two businesses. This relationship may be a contractual, exclusive bond in which both entities commit not to ally with third parties. Alternatively, it may be a very loose arrangement designed largely to impress customers and competitors with the joint resource pool of the business partners. Ideally partners’ professional skills should complement one another, but not overlap too much. On an individual level, this means one partner may be detail-oriented and the other may be a big-picture thinker. One may be an expert in marketing and sales, while the other prefers to stay in the background poring over financials. On an

With some buildings dating from the 17th century, the Old Town stands about a mile northwest from the harbour, originally known as Burlington Quay.

What do successful partnerships have in common? Trust Not surprisingly, trust is the foundation for any successful partnership. In practice, this means both parties are able to give and take. The attitude of giving a full commitment to the partnership will usually result in getting the same commitment in return.

organisational level, complementary strengths may be one company’s hardware to another’s software. Strategic partnerships can give small businesses the edge to help them compete with larger companies. Bigger companies have more resources than smaller businesses. Partnerships can help entrepreneurs compete effectively with larger firms by levelling the playing field, thus increasing their bottom line in innovative ways. Partners can share marketing, product development, sales, HR and technology, as well as other functions. Business owners can also establish mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers, vendors, banks and credit card companies to better serve their customers. ON THE AGENDA

Mutual Respect If you look at famous partnerships, you’ll notice that each pair has complementary skill sets that allow the partners to respect each other’s unique strengths. Keith Richards, for example, as an expert musician, relies on Mick Jagger’s skills as a vocalist, lyricist and businessman. Similarly, when founding Apple in 1976, the technical skills of Steve Wozniak paired with Steve Jobs’ business foresight made them the ultimate business match. Wozniak, a master of analytics, admits that he never once thought to sell his original computer model. That was all Jobs.

Open and honest communication Taking on a partner is like taking on a spouse. That means you need to have honest and open communication – no matter how difficult the topic. This includes talking about money, mistakes and different management styles.

Agree on the financials As unromantic as a prenuptial agreement, a robust partnership agreement saves everyone involved a lot of heartache if things go wrong. At the end of the day, the key to a successful partnership is making sure that you get along with your business partner. It’s important to find someone who complements your skills, but don’t underestimate the importance of actually liking one another as human beings.

SOURCES: businessdictionary.com n inc.com n forbes.com n entrepreneur.com n businessinsider.com

agenda

IN-BUSINESS

AGENDA: Perfecting Partnerships

agenda BUSINESS NEWS, VIEWS AND COMMENTS

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

agenda

ON THE AGENDA n NO 18 n MARCH 2016

WORLD NEWS - 30 YEARS OF BEAR MARKETS - HISTORY TELLS US WHAT NEXT W E A LT H - T H E THE EASY WAY TO INVEST LIKE THE GURUS

Sports News.........................................................................................................98

HARDWARE

Agree on a vision It’s important that partners aren’t too different when it comes to goals. When Hewlett and Packard launched their business in a garage in Palo Alto, California, in 1939, they shared the same mission and objective: to build an electronics company. A shared vision – both for the short and long term – helps partners manage expectations and enhance collaboration.

TECHNOLOGY - EXECUTIVES SEEK MORE EXCITEMENT IN LATEST PLANS FOR SMARTPHONES

Motoring News..................................................................................................102 Gadgets................................................................................................................104 Phone Home......................................................................................................106

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PAPARAZZI Are you in?.................................................................................................108-113 THE BEST PLACE TO FIND A NEW PLACE IN THE ISLE OF MAN

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WHAT’S ON

LOCAL WHAT’S ON

MARCH

24- 28 MARCH 2016

10.03. 2016 - 13.03.2016

Nantwich Jazz, Blues and Music Festival

ISLE OF MAN INTERNATIONAL DARTS FESTIVAL

//VILLA MARINA, DOUGLAS// Top darts players from around the world will compete for over £30,000 prizes. Several classes for all standards of payers and you could play against world champions Scotty Mitchell and Scott Waites, or other well-known players in cluding the current women’s world champion Trina Gulliver. www.isleofmandartsfestival.com

NOW – 16.4.2016

HEROES

//MANX MUSEUM, DOUGLAS// Discover the stories of nine Vikings who were legends of their time in this touring exhibition from York. Monday – Saturday, 10am-5pm www.manxnationalheritage.im

25.03.2016 – 27.03.2016

EASTER FESTIVAL OF RUNNING

//PORT ERIN, PEEL AND DOUGLAS// Various routes, various distances at this annual festival from Manx Harriers and supported by Celton Manx.

YOUNG FARMERS CONCERT

//GAIETY THEATRE, DOUGLAS// An extravaganza of singing, dancing, sketches and humour – all performed by members of the local young farmers’ clubs. www.villagaiety.com

//VILLA MARINA, DOUGLAS// The Isle of Man Choral Society and Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra join together to perform in the Villa Marina Royal Hall at 2.30pm. Soloists Richard Pollock (tenor) and Graham Crowe (Baritone). Tickets £13 adults, £3 students and under 18s. www.choral.im

//HOUSE OF MANANNAN, PEEL// Vikings are the theme of Danish artist Susanne Thea’s exhibition of prints featuring the Battle of Clontarf in Ireland in AD1014 when thousands of Vikings were killed and the Irish lost a king, murdered by the leader of the Manx Vikings. Early manuscripts and sagas provide the basis for Susanne’s work which makes use of 400-year-old graphic and printing techniques. www.manxnationalheritage.im

www.nantwichjazz.com 12-13 MARCH

MCM COMIC CON

www.exhibitioncentreliverpool.com 12-19 MARCH

Las Fallas

Valencia, Spain Exuberant and anarchic, Las Fallas is Europe’s wildest spring party, which is a pretty big deal for what is essentially a glorified puppet show. It’s a time when the city is all but taken over by the fallas, which are huge sculptures of papiermâché on wood, built by teams of local artists. www.visitvalencia.com 17-20 MARCH

NOW – 10.04.2016

THEY CAME FROM THE DEEP BLUE SEA

Nantwich, Chesire The Nantwich Jazz, Blues and Music Festival sees the historic market town of Nantwich transformed into a charismatic lively atmosphere of beer and blues. This is an annual festival, with many local pubs and destinations hosting famous jazz and blues performers. This Festival remains one of Cheshire’s biggest events.

Liverpool If you’re a fan of movies, comics, video games, sci-fi, anime, or cosplay you cannot For more information see the Facebook miss MCM Liverpool Comic Con. page or website. Exhibition Centre Liverpool will transform www.facebook.com/ into a huge celebration of modern groups/627354137309274/ pop culture where you can take part in www.easterfestival.info eSports competitions, explore a Comic Village packed with artists and writers, colourful costumes in the Cosplay enjoy Masquerade and meet special guests from PUCCINI’S MESSA DI the worlds of TV and film.

GLORIA & RUTTER’S REQUIEM

03.05.2016-05.03.2016

ELSEWHERE

St Patrick’s Festival 28.03.2016

EGG ROLLING

//CREGNEASH// Easter Monday family favourite – bring your plain hard-boiled eggs to see how far they roll, and decorated ones to enter the ‘best decorated’ competition. Full details of how to enter, and rolling start times from www.manxnationalheritage.im

Dublin, Ireland Wherever in the world there’s a Plastic Paddy, there’s a St Patrick’s Day festival with green beer, blarney and craic, but the most authentic way to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint is in the country’s capital, Dublin. The parade starts on Parnell Sq and heads down O’Connell St, through College Green to an appropriate end at St Patrick’s Cathedral. www.stpatricksfestival.ie

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Working together to provide you with the perfect short break

THE THRILL OF ALTON TOWERS, A FUN-PACKED VISIT TO CHESTER ZOO, A GRAND DAY OUT AT THE AINTREE GRAND NATIONAL, OR THE HIGH-FLYING ESCAPADES OF THE SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW – THERE’S SOMETHING TO TEMPT EVERYONE IN THIS YEAR’S VARIETY OF DAY EXCURSIONS AND SHORT BREAKS FROM STEAM PACKET HOLIDAYS.

ach year, the team puts together a superb package of offers for Islanders looking to escape for a day or more, and for this it works closely with many partners around the British Isles. But it’s not just about talking with the likes of Alton Towers and Chester Zoo. Steam Packet Holidays has built excellent relationships with companies such as Premier Inn, with access to more than 700 hotels around the UK and Ireland, and Superbreak, which provides a choice of more than 2,000 hotels, not forgetting Steam Packet Holidays’ coach hire partner PG Coaches. Working together, the organisations tailor packages to offer the best in value, comfort and entertainment during 2016. Steam Packet Holidays looks after everything for you – including return ferry travel, coach transfers, and, where relevant, entry tickets to parks and shows. Many people enjoy a shopping trip, and there are day excursions to the Trafford Centre in Manchester – 26th March and 17th September, priced at £49 for adults and £39 for children – and

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one day excursion to Cheshire Oaks on 7th May (£48 adult, £37 child). The Grand National this year is on 9th April, when you can see first-hand if last year’s winner Many Clouds can triumph again (£99 adult, £79 child). For Chester Zoo, this year’s visits are on 2nd April, 28th July, 11th August and 1st September (£67 adult, £51 child – please note, while the Steam Packet Company only charges for children aged five and over, Chester Zoo charges for ages three and over), and there are two flower shows to choose from – Tatton Park on 22nd July (£78 adult, £49 child) and Southport on 19th August (£68 adult, £39 child). Fans of Alton Towers should check their diaries for 23rd August (£82 adult, £68 child), while the excursion to Southport Air Show is on 10th September (£55 adult, £41 child).

the beauty of the Peak District or Yorkshire Dales, heading to the Highlands of Scotland or Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. These short breaks are ideal for attending a music festival or top sporting event, catching your favourite stand-up comedians on tour, or simply to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a couple of days. What’s more, you can take your car from just £55 extra, meaning you have the freedom to explore at your leisure, and enough room to pack in everything you might need for walking, golfing, mountain biking or surfing! Whichever escape appeals the most, booking early is advised to avoid disappointment. To book, please call Steam Packet Holidays on 645777 or email info@ steampacketholidays.com VISIT THESE WEBSITES FOR MORE INFORMATION:

If you prefer a longer getaway, Steam Packet Holidays can make it very simple and stress-free for you to get to one of the many superb destinations around the British Isles. The team looks after ferry and accommodation for you, and with prices starting from just £69 per person for a one-night stay, you could be relaxing in

FEATURE

POSTCODE PARTNERSHIPS

NEIGHBOURS YOU MAY HAVE L

’

enforced partnership. It’s no mean feat but to keep this partnership professional you have to play nice and avoid petty postcode squabbles

Words Clare Bowie

“Where is the local artisan bakery?”

The Trendy Ones They’ve ended up in the suburbs but have no intentions of shaking off their hipster beards just yet. Can usually be found working from home in a bespoke garden pod next to their organic home-grown asparagus crowns or driving their vintage Jag. They don’t own a TV and believe weekends are a time for digital detoxing and meditation. Family time is spent at galleries and farmers markets, sipping fair-trade green tea and facilitating the expression of their children’s creative energy. Least likely to say: “I’ve made great bunting for a street party”. “Have you seen my rose gold and diamond encrusted iPhone 6 case?”

The Show-offs

The Tense ones

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

FEATURE

The Workaholics

“I could definitely meet for a bite in 7 or 8 weeks time”

Least likely to say: “Let’s have a 48 hour box-set binge”

The Ordered Ones

“I can’t believe we haven’t jet washed the driveway all month”

Least likely to say: “I just did the school run in my jammies”

The Don’t Care Ones

“Party back at mine”

Least likely to say: “We should organise a neighbour watch scheme”.

The Competitive Ones

“Is your daughter still struggling with her reading?”

Least likely to say: “We’ve booked a fortnight in Benidorm”.

The Overly Friendly Ones

“I loved that new coat you had on last Tuesday.”

Least likely to say: “what a gorgeous baby, I didn’t even know you were pregnant” BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

UPFRONT

ME & MY PET

HUMAN QUESTIONS

PET QUESTIONS

Leonie Ward

Hilti

Breed: Manxie

eed Netherland dwarf cross lion head

e 33 i es Looking after my animals, studying for my Herpetology diploma and racing my stock car. Dislikes: Cancer, maggots and the cold If animal what would you be: A cross between a cat and a lizard because I like being fussed and lying in the sun Why did you choose a rabbit as a pet I have just always had them since I was a child. My mum loved them. he e do ou li e Douglas

Age: 8 Would you have any more pets: Yes, yes, yes. I would love a snake and few more frogs but I think my partner Dean would say otherwise.

Likes: All food but I really love barley rings

The best and worst thing about having a pet is... The best thing for me is coming home to a mad house of creatures that are so happy to see me. I love looking after them and getting the rewards from them. The worse thing is leaving, apart from missing them like mad, going away is pretty much impossible because of the specific care some of them need.

If human what would you be: Head of MI5

Dislikes: Being fussed

Why do you love your human: She feeds me If you had one wish what would you wish for: To have my bunny friends back from heaven

What do you do for a living: Registered veterinary nurse Do you have any more pets: Yes. Two dogs (koopa and Kirby) 4 cats (Zelda, Meadow, Bowser and Groot the wonder kid) a chameleon (rocket) three red eyed tree frogs (snap, crackle and pop) a fantasy horned frog (snoop frog) an African pigmy hedgehog (wicket) and 7 land hermit crabs.

? TING PY.ECT TERES@ O.IM IN ER N LL A A G E V RES YOU HA ES - FEATU RSELV

BOUT YOU

TELL US A

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Happiness is a forever home...

Give an animal a home LACEY, LUCY, DAISY AND PERSIA

Who is the Easter Bunny?

pare a thought for the Easter Bunny. One step up from the Tooth Fairy perhaps, yet always in the shadow of Santa Claus. But March is the Easter Bunny’s time to shine, bringing chocolate eggs to all of us who deserve them. But who is the Easter Bunny? 1. The Easter Bunny isn’t really a bunny at all. Originally, he was an Easter Hare. 2. The Easter Bunny is German, where he is known as ‘Osterhase’. 3. The Easter Bunny originated among German Lutherans and he was first mentioned as an eggbringer in 1682. 4. The Easter Hare started out as a judge, deciding whether children were naughty or nice. If they were good, the hare would lay eggs for them. 5. Hares, rabbits and eggs are all associated with fertility and so they became linked with Easter. 6. Early Christians painted eggs red to represent the blood of Jesus Christ at his crucifixion. 7. In 19th century Sweden, there was a mix-up over translation after the Germans tried to bring over the custom of the Easter Bunny. Instead, he became the Easter Wizard, and children in Sweden still dress up as witches and wizards at Easter today, leaving letters with neighbours in exchange for sweets or money. 8. The pagan goddess of spring was Eostre, and she was represented by the hare. 9. It was said the rabbit belonging to Eostre could lay eggs because it used to be a bird. 10. In the early 1800s in Germany, children would build nests out of their hats for the Easter Hare to fill with coloured eggs. 11. About 86 million chocolate bunnies are produced in Germany each year.

Meet some of the longer term residents of the ManxSPCA’s Cattery – Lacey, Lucy, Daisy and Persia. Black and white Lacey has a thyroid problem and needs regular medication. She is looking for a foster home which means that the Society will continue to pay for the ongoing veterinary costs in relation to her thyroid for her life time. Lucy, Daisy and Persia are all black which seems to be the most unpopular colour when it comes to rehoming, even though black cats are supposed to be lucky. These lovely felines are all very sociable and affectionate, and they thrive in a calm and quiet environment - please come and see them if you have the time and space to provide them with a ‘forever home’.

Lacey, Lucy, rsia Daisy and Pe

FLOPSY & HER FRIENDS These young Dutch Dwarf rabbits were born in September 2015, and we have eight siblings in all. They won’t get very big and they are super cute with their stripy noses, playful personalities and sense of fun. Ideally we like to rehome rabbits in pairs, because they are social animals and are happiest when they have another rabbit for company; and since neutering is part of our rehoming process, males and females can live together. Did you know that domestic rabbits can live on average between eight and twelve years?

Flopsy & Friend s

ManxSPCA • Ard Jerkyll, East Foxdale • Tel: 851672

www.manxspca.com

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FEATURE

WORDS Grant Runyon ILLUSTRATION Luke Moss

A loyal reader (or perhaps just somebody trapped inside a dentist’s waiting room) recently got in touch to ask why so much of my writing contains derogatory references to Donald Trump. We don’t live in America, they wrote, so why are you obsessed with this unpleasant man and his preposterous rug? Shouldn’t you be at least writing about local toupee wearers? Do you have a specific fetish for this awful nutter’s scary barnet? It looks like varnished candyfloss, the topping on a cheap waxwork, a picture of a labrador drawn by a slow toddler but it’s an American wig and not relevant here. Worst of all, they asked, aren’t you doing his dirty work by helping to make sure that people talk about him all the time? On most counts I have to say I’m guilty as charged. I find the rise of Trump grimly fascinating, and cannot get enough of his antics. However, little of it has to do with my interest in politics. It’s really because this stage in an American election is like living through the bit at the beginning of an old superhero movie where they establish how the main villain became so preposterously evil. We’re at the stage of “he was pushed into a vat of acid” or “he turned to the dark side of The Force” or “his billionaire parents did a terrible job of raising their child”. Screen-Trump has already poisoned a kitten and is just a few scenes away from hooking up the power cables to his doomsday machine. All he needs is enough stupid people voting to give him the electricity to flip the switch on the hairmageddon device. Well, that and one other key piece to the puzzle. A running mate. One as evil and crazy as he is.

The Four Hairsmen Of the Apocalypse

American elections are more entertaining than ours because they are focussed on personality. Outside the arena of satirical journalism this is an extremely bad thing, because it means that vague promises and unrealistic outcomes are sold to a gullible electorate by people who are good at sounding convincing - but quite often turn out to be incompetent at best, malicious hypocrites at worst. It’s not so hilarious when you realise that people will really vote for these goons, and that Biff Tannen from Back To The Future could have the

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FEATURE

power to send ambassadors to our country and put his sweaty finger on the nuclear button. There’s no two ways about it: Trump is a reprehensible toad and people even considering voting for him should be exiled to the moon. Reasonable people need to do everything in their power to stop his kind, but if you want to sleep at night you might sometimes need to stop worrying and pretend that global politics is all a big game, like the backstage footage from professional wrestling. Then you can at least laugh at the people who will probably turn out to be responsible for the total destruction of all that is good about human civilisation.

the Wu Tang Clan. He does look like a haunted department store mannequin, and has the world’s most punchable face, but he’s too busy right now to become a fulltime member of the League of Evil. The other promising name would be Sarah Palin, former VP candidate and moose-shooting mangler of the English language, but she already repelled voters once and couldn’t even finish a full-term of governing Alaska, a part of America where the most pressing issues are snowmobile taxes and Sasquatch attacks. It’s a pity that General Zod, Hans Gruber and Skeletor are ineligible due to being fictional characters, and that both

“It’s a pity that General Zod, Hans Gruber and Skeletor are ineligible due to being fictional characters, and that both Ebola and the Zika virus don’t speak English.” He may have a mullet made of cheap loft insulation, but even Trump can’t ruin the world on his own. A really great vicepresidential candidate is central to the dark magic promised by his brand of politics. To extend the wrestling metaphor they will be like a tag team, and so the Donald just needs somebody with the instinct to smash his opponent with a chair whilst he distracts the referee. You cannot rely on Trump for much, but those of us who have learned to respect his commitment to being the absolute worst of a pretty bad bunch know that we can await the coming of a creature almost as awful as he is for Vice-President. Trump is simply too much of an arrogant fruitcake to play it safe and pick somebody who can masquerade as a normal human being.

Ebola and the Zika virus don’t speak English. This also rules out Donald Trump allying himself with unpleasant but intangible concepts, like standing barefoot on a plug, or trapping your genitals in a zip. I’m sure somebody on his team has already checked whether there is a legal impediment to him just playing both roles himself, like Tom Hardy in that film about the Krays.

Combover catastrophe

Oh, the anticipation. It looks like we won’t find out who will be the Starscream to Trump’s Megatron, the Muttley to his Dick Dastardly, until some time in June. I can only assume that dark forces are growing something awful in a vat, genetically engineered from Steven Seagal’s neck, that woman who put the cat in a bin and a concentrated syrup of the comments underneath YouTube videos. By the time this vile horror is birthed Trump may even have dropped out of the lead, replaced by a candidate who provides fewer laughs because they genuinely believe the repugnant opinions they’ve all been spewing up to try and outflank The Donald. Forget June, this vortex of intellectual flatulence might even have imploded by the time this issue goes to print. If that happens I will shed a tear, but I’ll always know that Trump will threaten to repeat the show. Even if you shot him, electrocuted him or blew him up he’d manage to regrow from the wig down. He’ll crawl onto Fox News in 2020 as a puddle of half-formed goo and insult the other candidates for being vulnerable to conventional weapons. As long as hatred, stupidity and extra strong hairspray exist in our culture there will be the possibility that Trumpamania can rise again. See you around, LOSERS.

The coming of Rug-na-rok The thing is that it’s quite a challenge to imagine somebody horrible enough to be second-in-command to this blocked toilet in a business suit. They will need to be foul, rude, prejudiced, arrogant, ugly, uncultured, boastful and stupid, but also enough of a sniveller to accept they will be taking orders from a man who only has money because his parents left it to him and, crucially, looks like he is wearing a guinea pig as a helmet. The most obvious candidate is Martin Shkreli, the loathsome pharmaceutical boss who raised the price of an essential HIV medicine by 4000%, but he’s currently being prosecuted for fraud and is also in mortal danger after falling out with members of

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

UPFRONT

OUR COMMUNITY

GIVE QUINN LEGAL STEP INTO ACTION FOR HOSPICE AT HOME ISLE OF MAN

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TO TREK GRAND CANYON FOR ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY 49-year-old Michael Thorne, from Kirk Michael, Isle of Man who is a community mental health professional will be taking on the challenge of trekking the Grand Canyon in March 2016 to raise vital funds for Alzheimer’s Society. Michael qualified as a mental health nurse in 1987 and much of his career has been spent working in the care of the elderly. Michael knows only too well the journey that people with dementia go on as a big part of his job involves him assessing people who are experiencing memory problems. Michael has raised money for Alzheimer’s Society previously by completing the Inca Trail and trekking to Machu Picchu in Peru. If people want to donate money please go to: www.justgiving.com/ mikethorne www.alzheimers.org. uk/localinformation

Quinn Legal is stepping up to fundraise for Hospice at Home Isle of Man, managed by Diana, Princess of Wales Care at Home Trust Isle of Man.

CHARITY CONCERT FEATURING ABBA TRIBUTE TO RETURN WITH SUPPORT FROM THE ISLE OF MAN STEAM PACKET COMPANY A charity concert which proved a hit last year will return to the Villa Marina in July, with support from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. Acclaimed tribute performers ABBA Reunion delighted an audience of more than 600 people with renditions of some of the biggest disco hits of the 1970s and 1980s last time they visited.

They were so popular organiser Marc Lowey has arranged a return trip. Last year’s show raised £5,500 for South Douglas Old Friends Association, which will also benefit from the concert in July. Once again, the Steam Packet Company is helping by assisting with the group’s travel.

Equipped with fitness watches and pedometers, 26 staff members at the law firm will track their steps between February 1 and April 30, collectively aiming for a goal of 26 million steps, or 13,000 miles. The step challenge is headed by James Quinn, Managing Director, and will support a local charity, Hospice at Home Isle of Man. Staff are already walking towards their daily goals of 11,111 steps, with many taking extra walks before work and during their lunch times.

CITYWING ANNOUNCES TWO NOMINATED CHARITIES FOR 2016 Citywing is delighted to name Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man and Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation as its joint Charities of the Year for 2016. Due to an overwhelming response from local charities applying to be its Charity of the Year, Citywing took the decision to offer support to not one but two organisations this year.

Both of the Isle of Man-based charities will receive 12 return tickets to use for fundraising during the year on any Citywing routes to and from the Island, the donation of proceeds from the popular annual ‘Plane Pull’ event, and the chance to show a promotional video on Citywing flights.

‘ We are extremely thankful for any sponsorship as we progress towards our £2600 goal, said James Quinn.’ If you would like to sponsor Quinn Legal, visit www. justgiving.com/ quinnlegal

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NEWS

NUMBERS

nominations for snooker player Darryl Hill who is up for Sportsman, Under 21 Sportsman and Ambassor in the 2015 Isle of Man Bank Sports Awards, which will be presented on 23 March.

bedroom hotel due to open in Douglas in April. Construction of the new Mannin Hotel has taken over 3 years.

bank holidays in March on the 25th and 28th. Because Easter falls early this year itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five weeks until the next one on 2 May.

3.8

rise in visitor numbers to the Isle of Man in 2015, according to the Department of Economic Development.

payrise has been negotiated for civil servants and other government workers.

56 BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

the number of students in just one GCSE physics class at Castle Rushen according to the papers. Teacher shortages blamed, but there is a concerted effort to recruit more, according to the Department of Education and Children.

snakes were rescued by firefighters from a house in Onchan after an electrical fault caused black smoke to engulf the building.

times the old Summerland site has been on the open market since the old leisure facility was demolished in 2006. At least two potential sales have fallen through and any new owner would have to consider the unstable cliff face and limited access.

UPFRONT

MISC

Just random things to amuse you.

[PARTNERSHIPS]

The Wright Brothers

Guide Dogs For The Blind

When a guide dog is not working and out of harness, playing and relaxing is encouraged. It's also a great way for a handler and guide to bond and strengthen their partnership. The partnership between guide dogs and their owner is a strong, unbreakable bond. For two to three months the guide dogs are taught by skilled instructors to guide someone who can see through pedestrian travel. At Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) the dogs are trained with positive reinforcement methods that use food and cuddles as rewards. Most Guide Dogs work until they are around 8-10 years old, but this varies with individual dogs and their lifestyles. After spending a life of devoted partnership, Guide Dogs deserve to spend their senior years in comfortable (and pampered!) retirement. They may remain with their partner as a pet, return to the home where they were raised, or be placed in a loving adoptive home. In all cases, they are honored and loved.

Ben & Jerry’s

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfields partnership began in 1977 when they completed a correspondence course on ice cream making in Pennsylvania. One of the original flavours was “Chubby Hubby” consisting of vanilla malt ice cream swirled with fudge and peanut butter, it contained pretzel nuggets covered in fudge filled with peanut butter. Ben and Jerry’s all started with their first ice cream scoop shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont, U.S. Now Ben and Jerry’s have 5,812 eating locations and have made a 27,102 pound ice cream sundae. Ben & Jerry’s now have 39 flavours of ice cream and frozen yogurt including the ‘cookie core’ flavours!

Larry Page and Sergey Brin

Larry Page and Sergey Brin met when Brin, a student at Stanford, gave Page a tour of the campus. They started the company that would become Google as a way to experiment with search algorithms – but it’s grown into a suite of technological wonders that have become part of the lives of millions. The world’s information, and the way we’re all able to access it is amazing.. Google have come a long way from the dorm room and a garage. They moved into headquarters in Mountain View, California—better known as the Googleplex—in 2004. Today Google has more than 70 offices in more than 40 countries around the globe.

Wilbur and Orville Wright got their start fixing bicycles, but, in 1903, developed the three-axis controls that made flying a fixed-wing aircraft possible. Their invention not only made aeroplanes a part of industry and trade, but also opened the world to the kind of travel most people had only dreamed about. Their work together resulted in one of the formative inventions of the 20th century – and a completely different world. They looked at how the birds angled their wings for balance and control, and tried to copy this. On December 17, 1903, they succeeded in flying the first free, controlled flight of a power-driven, heavier than air plane. Wilbur flew their plane for 59 seconds, at 852 feet.

The Allied Partnership- WW1

The major Allied powers in World War 1 were Great Britain, France and the Russian Empire. They were formally linked by the Treaty of London on September 5, 1914. Countries like the United States were called ‘Associated Powers’ U.S. President Woodrow Wilson made the difference clear to keep America free. The Treaty of Versailles(June 28, 1919) at the end of the war listed 27 “Allied and Associated Powers” they were: Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, the British Empire, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, the Hejaz,Honduras, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serb-Croat-Slovene State, Siam, the United States, and Uruguay.

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EVENTS

THE WEDDING OF SALLY RODDY & CLAUDIO MAZZONE

Sally and Claudio met originally through a mutual friend on a night out. It was several months before they saw each other again and he finally plucked up the courage to ask her out. Claudio wasn’t sure if it was the promise of an ice cream that sealed the deal for her but either way they had their first date on 14th June 2009. In August 2014, whilst they sat on the sofa one evening, they decided that they wanted to get married. Not wanting a big fuss they decided not to get engaged. Instead they quietly set about organizing the wedding. As a birthday present Claudio booked a trip to Dublin for Sally in October 2014. Whilst exploring

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

the city they stumbled across (or so she thought) a little jewellery shop. When they walked in and the Manager greeted them by name it was clear that they were expecting them! Claudio had been in touch and arranged for champagne and a selection of beautiful engagement rings to be waiting for their arrival. Sally was absolutely stunned. Claudio simply turned to her grinning and said ‘looks like we are making it official then’. She cried. Lots! :) Sally and Claudio, your day was just as perfect as you both are. I couldn’t be happier you found true soul mates in each other. Thank you for allowing me to document your first day as husband and wife... Much love and appreciation. Shan x ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

MANANNAN RETURNS Book your Liverpool city break now

RELAX EXPLORE

Start your break as soon as you step on board and enjoy the comfortable seating, choice of refreshments and freedom to stretch your legs. When Manannan returns to service on 17th March, you’ll once again be able to arrive right into the heart of the city. Then Liverpool is yours to discover, from the world-class museums and art galleries to the fabulous choice of bars and restaurants. Soak up the culture, spoil yourself at a top-class restaurant and then experience the vibrant nightlife. And don’t forget Liverpool is a city of music, so check out what’s on at venues like the Echo Arena and O2 Academy.

Kids Go Free offer is back for Summer 2016

ENJOY CAR + TWO ADULTS FROM

£82

EACH WAY

SHOP

With no luggage fees to worry about, you can bring back all the shopping you can carry when you travel by ferry! The city centre is full of bustling shops, especially around Liverpool ONE, or you could seek out designer brands at discounted prices at nearby Cheshire Oaks.

FOOT PASSENGER FARES* FROM

DISCOVER WHY THE FERRY .50 £8.50 £ 17 IS THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL ADULT CHILD For our ferry best fares, book now at

STEAM-PACKET.COM

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INFANTS FREE Twitter

Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability. ^Valid for travel from 01/03/16 – 24/05/16. Journeys must be completed within five days - day of outward sailing counts as day one. Return sailing must commence on or before day five. *Valid for travel until 18/01/17. For payment by credit card, a fee of £3 applies per transaction, not per person.

EVENTS

SHARON & SEAN COLLETT’S WEDDING DAY

Location: The Claremont Hotel Photos: dollsfactory.net

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

They came from the deep blue sea

Art prints by Danish artist Susanne Thea, inspired by sagas of the Viking Battle of Clontarf

6 February - 10 April â&#x20AC;˘ House of Manannan FREE ENTRY

CULTURE

CULTURE VULTURE

CULTURE NEWS

What’s on

MARCH now – 12.03.2016 IOM PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY EXHIBITION //HODGSON LOOM GALLERY, LAXEY//

As always this exhibition includes the very best of still life, portrait and landscape images from the Island’s photographers. www.facebook.com/ HodgsonLoomGallery

04.03.2016 – 03.04.2016 POINTS OF DEPARTURE //THE SAYLE GALLERY, DOUGLAS//

Manx-born Cian Quayle comes from a long line of well-known artists. He studied under Norman Sayle and David Fletcher here before leaving for Bradford to study painting and print making, and later, photography. He is now the programme leader for BA Photography at the University of Chester, and this exhibition of paintings, prints, photography and object-based works investigates ideas of place and what lies between home and elsewhere. Points of Departure was first exhibited at the Grosvenor Museum in Chester and has been revised and extended for this exhibition at the Sayle Gallery. www.sayle.gallery www.facebook.com/saylegallery

06.03.2016 – 27.03.2016 ANN PITTS, CELIA KAY AND CHRISTINE POLLARD //ISLE GALLERY, TYNWALD MILLS// An eclectic exhibition of work from three popular local artists, with water colour landscapes and acrylics from Ann and Celia, and ceramics and pitfired work from Christine. www.theislegallery.com www.facebook.com/theislegallery

18.03.2016 THE FILMS OF SIMON BUTTIMORE //SAYLE GALLERY, DOUGLAS//

This special film night at the Sayle Gallery is a showing of films made by Sayle Gallery Artist and supporter, the late Simon Buttimore. Many of them have been shown as part of exhibitions over the years, but this is a unique opportunity to see all of them in one sitting. Entrance is free, and starts at 7.30pm www.sayle.gallery wwww.facebook.com/saylegallery

18.03.2016 – early 04.2016 SKETCHES, PENCILS & INK //HODGSON LOOM GALLERY, LAXEY// An open exhibition of work by local artists. Please contact Julia at the gallery if you would like to enter your work. www.facebook.com/ HodgsonLoomGallery

every Tuesday LIFE DRAWING SESSIONS //SAYLE GALLERY, DOUGLAS//

The Sayle Gallery is running life drawing sessions every Tuesday evening from 6-7.30pm. £10 per session, £8 students. All abilities welcome. Please phone the Gallery to book your place. Tel: 674557

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 LIVE STREAMING/ENCORE There is a full programme of live and encore streaming of significant theatre and opera from the National Theatre, the Donmar and The Royal Opera House this month. Full details can be found on www.villagaiety.com (for screenings at The Studio Theatre, Ballakermeen High School, Douglas) and at www.kwc.im/kings-courttheatre-live-streaming for screenings at the Kings Court Theatre at King Williams College.

COUNCIL CONFERS HONORARY FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH ON HECTOR DUFF The honorary Freedom of the Borough of Douglas has been conferred on Hector Duff. The honour, in recognition of Mr Duff’s tireless devotion to ensuring those who lost their lives serving in the First and Second World Wars are not forgotten, was bestowed on Mr Duff at a special meeting of the council on Friday February 5 after members unanimously agreed the motion, proposed by Councillor David Ashford and seconded by Councillor Betty Quirk. Councillor Ashford said Mr Duff was ‘one of those people who just keeps giving of his time freely’, adding: ‘He is always willing to help to support organisations or individuals and to impart his knowledge and experiences in order to benefit others.’ Councillor Ashford went on to outline Mr Duff’s distinguished military career, which began in 1940 when, aged 19, he registered in Peel with the Island’s first intake of conscripts. He later served at El-Alamein and in the invasion of Italy in 1943, receiving a citation for distinguished service, while his part in the D-Day landings saw him receive the Military Medal. After the war he enjoyed an equally distinguished 30-year career in the Isle of Man Constabulary, received the British Empire Medal in 2012 and the Tynwald Honour in 2014, the same year he was presented with the Légion d’Honneur by President Hollande. In closing Councillor Ashford said: ‘As far as I am concerned Hector is a living inspiration to us all and what better type of person is there than that for the greatest honour this council can bestow, the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Douglas.’ In his reply Mr Duff said the honour would be ‘a wonderful memory’ and that his enjoyment in serving the community remained undimmed. He praised the council for maintaining the Douglas war memorial in good condition, saying it was ‘in wonderful hands’. ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

CULTURE

RBV CULTURAL AWARD TO BERNARD CAINE AND JOHN KENNAUGH AN EXCEPTIONAL DECISION FOR TWO EXCEPTIONAL CULTURAL CHAMPIONS THIS YEAR’S RBV AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY TO BERNARD CAINE AND JOHN KENNAUGH Cultural champions of the highest order, Bernard Caine and John Kennaugh, have been honoured posthumously with the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan - Manannan’s Choice of the Year - cultural award for 2016. The RBV selection panel, made up of representatives of cultural organisations, made this exceptional decision in recognition of two exceptional champions of culture and community. Close family and friends gathered in the Methodist Chapel in St John’s on Friday 29 January to receive the honours. ‘Manannan’s Choice of the Year’ or the ‘Reih Bleeaney Vanannan’ is an annual cultural award from Culture Vannin made to an individual or group who has made the greatest contribution to the Island’s cultural heritage. The nominees come from a wide variety of backgrounds, working to promote and support language, literature, art, music, dance, history, education and the environment, and many more.

MANX-BASED CLASSICALLY TRAINED ARTIST RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADE An Island-based, classically trained artist has been recognised as one of the finest living painters in the world. The prestigious international Art Renewal Centre (ARC) has awarded Svetlana Cameron the status of ‘Associate Living Master’ – her works have subsequently been introduced into its museum. A “Living Master” is defined as someone with exceptionally rare talent and experience. Svetlana has been driven to join the exclusive group of distinguished proficients for over a decade. She says: “When I started making my first steps into the art world, I admired many of the works now placed

alongside my own at the ARC. I would read about them in books and magazines - never imagining that one day I’d be singled out as a professional reaching the same level of expertise.”

For more and to find out about the work of Culture Vannin, go to: www.culturevannin.im

Having produced works for Speakers of the Isle of Man Parliament, Mr. David Cannan and Mr. Tony Brown OBE – it’s expected that Svetlana’s rise in the art world will help to promote the Island as a hub for masterful artisans. Those who receive this accolade are typically bestowed with major commissions and invitations to exhibit in prominent galleries around the world – it’s as a direct result of their online representation on the ARC website.

LAUNCH OF NEW WORLD WAR 2 VIDEO SERIES FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS Culture Vannin is delighted to announce the release of a series of ten videos on different aspects of the Second World War. Produced by Archives and Project Manager for Culture Vannin, Charles Guard, the videos have been produced to support the BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

History Curriculum in Secondary Schools; however, they are likely to be of interest to anyone who would like to find out more about this key period of Island history. The videos which are available to view at: https://vimeo.com/album/3723244

For more detail about the project contact Archives and Project Manager for Culture Vannin, Charles Guard at charles@ culturevannin.im or Adrian Cain, the Manx Language Officer for Culture Vannin at:adrian@culturevannin.im

CULTURE

MUCK PHOTOS | Phil Kneen

BEST SHORT FILM

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E I

I M the Dieciminuti Film Festival. Bev, S C E C C

Muck is the story of Babs: a mother to an autistic son and the wife to a jealous husband. Set on a isolated sheep farm in Yorkshire in the 1950s, Muck follows two life changing days in the lives of Babs and her family. Shot in the summer of 2014 at Balladoole Farm, Cregneash and Brandywell, Bev assembled a crew of film industry professionals working alongside trainees from the Mannin Shorts training scheme. Director Sonya Quayle cast Sian Reeves (Cutting It, Emmerdale) as Babs, James Northcote (The Imitation Game, Wuthering Heights, Nymphomaniac) as Billy her autistic son, and Mark Sheals (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Shameless) as Murray, her impatient husband. “We were so delighted to have a script and team that was capable of attracting such a calibre of actor” explains Bev “the whole film really rides or falls on those performances and each one of them is fantastic. We couldn’t be happier”. BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

THIS IS THE SIXTH AWARD WE’VE BEEN NOMINATED FOR SO IT’S REALLY WONDERFUL TO BE BRINGING HOME THE BACON

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UPLOAD

THE MONTHLY UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS £50

Winner

3 2 4

1 Yohann Bonjus 2 Liz Pinnell 3 Pauline Guest 4 Rebecca Stride

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5 Gregory Brown 6 Damian Bird 7 Margaret Woolnough 8 Janette Phair

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9 Shelley Kilpatrick 10 Samantha Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;keeffe 11 Sean Corlett 12 Felix Galbraith 13 Marlon Cruz 14 Xavier Bedo

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15 Nick Shimming 16 Beryl Quayle 17 Christine Botha 18 Nick Shimming 19 William Galbraith 20 Sean O’Connell

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! BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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Simon Buttimore (Photo: Andi Howland)

WORDS | S

FASHION FAN 1 - Simon Buttimore

The case for – and against – a National Contemporary Art Gallery was brought into sharp focus last October when the Arts Council announced that it was cutting its funding to the Sayle Gallery, and there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. What is the Sayle Gallery for? Does it represent the best of the art on the Island? Does it deserve any financial support at all? And, more generally, what is contemporary art anyway and don’t we have enough places for local artists to exhibit their work? Chairman of the Sayle Gallery, Damien Ciappelli went public in defence of the Sayle and its history of promoting contemporary art, and in coming out fighting, garnered support from artists and art lovers across the Island, and even from those who’ve never set foot in the place.

a national

So what is ‘contemporary art’? Technically it is art that is being produced now, by people who are building on art of the past and coming up with something new. For a gallery, it’s also about taking risks – which means its exhibitions might cause some extreme reactions and not necessarily a lot of sales. Contemporary art is rarely a good commercial bet. But to be a truly NATIONAL contemporary art gallery, it can’t expect to survive on the shock value and outraged reviews –

it also has to promote and support local artists, provide an outlet for their work and, at the same time, stage exhibitions of work to inspire and illuminate. It’s a tough brief. The idea of a national contemporary art gallery was first suggested by Norman Sayle and his contemporary, fellow artist David Fletcher, both of whom are no longer with us. So it is with that sense of history and legacy that the Sayle Gallery, almost by default, took on that mantle. This doesn’t by itself make a convincing argument for supporting the Sayle over any other gallery, but the uncertainty about on-going funding has meant that the Directors and staff are at something of an impasse – should they carry on as if nothing has happened and hope that they are able to pay rent, utilities and the two part-time staff and arrange an exhibition schedule and events for the rest of the year, or give in and lock the doors behind them? The mood at the gallery is bullish. They claim that if they close, even for one of their 6 days a week, they wouldn’t be fulfilling their mission to make contemporary are available to everyone. Recent exhibitions have included wildlife artist Jeremy Paul and internationally acclaimed portraits of Svetlana Cameron as well as video art from the late Simon Buttimore (whose contribution to the

arts in many forms will be celebrated at an exhibition in September) and abstract digital work from Tom Kowalski. Not everything is to everyone’s taste, but the gallery argues that it is contemporary art and that an artist working in any medium would like to make the viewer think, and to challenge any preconceived ideas. But it’s not all doom and gloom. The Arts Council is continuing to fund the Sayle Gallery’s Artist in Residence scheme, the only paid opportunity here for young artists at the beginning of their careers. An advert for a new resident artist was placed in February and it is planned to have the successful applicant set up in the Sayle Gallery by the summer, with his or her end of residency exhibition already in the schedule for Spring 2017. There is, of course, a very large elephant in the room. Historically the bulk of the Arts Council funding went towards the rent of the Gallery space – ironically a government owned unit in the Villa Marina complex. The rent has to come from somewhere. ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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CAGE Spray paint on garage door, James Duggan

HAWKHEDED - Simon Buttimore

Anna Clucas

CHAOS AND CREATION - Bruno Cavellec

? Why do we need one anyway? The Arts Council has many demands on its funds and although it is happy and willing to consider future subsidy in parallel with the many other applications for funding it receives, the Sayle Gallery, if it is to be the National Contemporary Art Gallery it wants to be, has to look further for funding. These are tough financial times and not everyone thinks money spent on the arts – particularly contemporary visual arts – is a priority. A commercial art gallery (which includes most other galleries on the Island) can’t afford to take the risks which a National Contemporary Art Gallery could, and must, if it is to support local artists, be a window to contemporary art around the world and, at the same time, provide a venue for compelling exhibitions and events. At the moment, this brief is met by the Sayle Gallery, but for how much longer? The Sayle continues to cement other relationships, particularly with the Isle of Man College, and its Directors are actively pursuing partnerships with the many successful businesses on the Island. But the Sayle acknowledges that this is not always an easy thing to do: expenditure on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibilty) may appear on the balance sheet, but many companies are reluctant to commit

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

significant funds to a gallery which can’t, at the moment, guarantee its position in such a prominent setting in the capital’s ‘Arts and Culture Quarter’. Perhaps a complete rethink is what is needed, but if there is to be a National Contemporary Art Gallery at all then long-term financial commitment is required. Funding could come from the Arts Council (part of whose remit is to distribute Lottery funds to all the arts), the Government (with an understandable reluctance - especially in an election year - to commit tax payers’ money to a venture with an intangible and immeasurable benefit to the Island) or a visionary member of the business community.

It really doesn’t matter who steps up to the plate, but for contemporary art and artists to survive and thrive, they need support. And

DOG TRICKS - Eileen Schaer

(as Gallery went to print, the rumour that the Isle Gallery in Tynwald Mill was to shut after Easter was confirmed. This makes the argument for a properly funded National gallery even stronger.)

perhaps a proper, funded National Contemporary Art Gallery is the answer.

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Isle of Man

Manx Shearwater

The sight of a puffered-up Robin in a holly bush can make even the most Scrooge-like duck smile a little.

2016

Matt Sewell

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Matt Sewell

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Matt Sewell

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Matt Sewell

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Matt Sewell

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Matt Sewell

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Matt Sewell

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Matt Sewell

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Matt Sewell

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Robin

Matt Sewell

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Pheasant

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Goldfinch

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ARTIST SPOTTED IN CREGNEASH

Isle of Man Isle of Man Isle of Man

The stamp set of ten characterful images, including the specially-commissioned Manx Shearwater, is issued 24th March to coincide with Matt’s new book, Penguins and other Seabirds, which is published by Penguin Random House UK (naturally) and Ebury Press. Isle of Man Stamps & Coins, EJC Design and the artist himself certainly have all their ducks in a row on this happy collaboration.

Isle of Man

Cormorant

Matt has illustrated for publications including the Guardian and The Big Issue and exhibited in London, Manchester, New York, Tokyo and Paris. He works closely with charities, including the RSPB, to raise awareness of birds and their habitats in the

As part of the stamp set Matt produced an exclusive painting; “It’s amazing that the stamps have been produced for the Isle of Man as I got to paint the Manx Shearwater, which I’ve never done before, such a good story, as the numbers are back on the increase” he said.

Hobby

“It was great to be asked to do the stamps. It’s always nice to see your work printed on different mediums. Stamps are iconic and to see my work used as it has here is so amazing.”

Puffin

His first visit to the Island and his partnership with IOM Stamps & Coins stamps has left him very chirpy…

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Blue Tit

Matt has been described as the Banksy of the bird world and his work is becoming increasingly well-known with six very popular ‘spotting and jotting’ books to his name. An avid ornithologist, his work encompasses illustration, interior design and public art and graffiti projects. He has been artist-in-residence on BBC2’s Springwatch Unsprung and has appeared on Countryfile. His whimsical bird illustrations and descriptions now grace a whole host of products, including stationery, puzzles and gift items.

UK and overseas. During his visit to the Island he met up with Manx ornithologist Chris Sharpe who described the positive impact that recent work by Manx National Heritage has had in increasing numbers of Manx Shearwater breeding on the Calf of Man. The gradual control of the small brown rodent we must not name, but which less superstitious Islanders call ‘rats’, has meant that the Shearwater chicks and eggs are safer than for many years and there are very positive signs that the population is rising steadily.

Starling

ARTIST AND AUTHOR MATT SEWELL FLEW TO THE ISLAND RECENTLY TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE BIRDLIFE AND PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO HIS FIRST SET OF STAMPS FOR THE ISLE OF MAN POST OFFICE.

Tawny Owl

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iomstamps.com

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

TRAVEL TRAVEL

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WORDS | Stephen White

O T N I G N I H C MAR HIRE

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A small fishing town in East Riding, Yorkshire, famous for its tasty fish and chips, is set to become a staycation hotspot this summer. Much of the filming for Dad’s Army was done in Bridlington, a popular resort for 19th century leisure seekers, which is preparing for a return to glory. Some of the scenes from Dad’s Army, including shots of the bank, tea room, police station, Hodges greengrocers, Jones’ butchers and the military parade, were filmed in Bridlington’s Old Town. With some buildings dating from the 17th century, the Old Town stands about a mile northwest from the harbour, originally known as Burlington Quay. It was built close to the beautiful Priory, founded in 1113 and once the biggest and wealthiest church in Yorkshire. With its High Street, Market Place, Corn Exchange House and (in 1710) 25 pubs, the Old Town was a major trading place for surrounding villages. Just seven pubs survive today.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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When the Dad’s Army film crew descended in November 2014, they transported many of the shops and buildings back to the 1940s. Much of that decoration remains, allowing visitors to step into a film set: the Black Lion still appears as Walmington-on-Sea’s Royal Oak Inn while various shops feature 1940s fashions and a variety of air raid warden posters. Posters also tell of wartime austerity: horsemeat being fit for human consumption, general food shortages and rationing. There are no such worries of hardship at Field House Farm Holiday Cottages, our “billet” for two nights, and where some of the film’s scenes were also shot.

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WHEN T HE DAD ’S ARMY 2014, TH F EY TRA NSPORT ILM CREW DE BUILDIN SCENDE ED MAN GS BAC D IN NO Y K TO TH REMAIN VEMBER E 1940S OF THE SHOPS S, ALLO . MUCH A WING V O ISITORS F THAT ND DECOR TO STEP AT INTO A FILM SE ION T...

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TH FOR E COTTA TW GE BUIL O TO SIX S OFFER DING S WI PEOPLE A RANGE TH E A VOC ND ARE OF ACC ATIV OMM ALL EN OD CO OLD DAIR AMES LIK NVERTE ATION D FA Y AN E TH R D TH E E TU BYRE, T M R HE NIP H Situated a mile up the OUS E. coast in the tiny, old village of Sewerby, this cluster of six luxurious Heading cottages makes a perfect base for anyone north towards exploring the Bridlington and Flamborough Flamborough Head, we pass Head area. a cricket field and golf course, while Field House Farm is owned by John and watching colourful paragliders soaring and Angela Foster and their grown up children swooping high in the deep blue sky above James and Lucy. It has been in the Foster us. family for generations, and was originally About a mile from Sewerby, we reach Danes part of the nearby Sewerby Hall’s estate. Dyke, a 2.5mile long prehistoric defensive Until August 2003, the farm was home to a ditch and earthwork that protected five herd of some 130 Friesian/Holstein dairy square miles of Flamborough headland from cattle, but the slump in milk prices forced invaders. their sale. Only a few “decorative” cows are The natural woodland reserve, a Scheduled kept on the land these days. Ancient Monument of national importance, It’s still a working farm, but the focus has is home to a diverse range of wildlife. switched to growing wheat, barley, oil-seed Its car park sits on the former site of a grand rape, field beans and alternative crops. house built in 1873 for the lady of the Manor Tourism and wildlife conservation are also of Flamborough. It was demolished in 1953. new areas of business. Nearby Flamborough, with its two The cottages offer a range of lighthouses, has a number of pubs, including accommodation for two to six people and are the Rose & Crown and the curiously named all converted farm buildings with evocative Royal Dog & Duck in Dog and Duck Square. names like The Byre, The Old Dairy and The Midway between Flamborough and Turnip House. Bridlington is The Ship Inn in Sewerby. It’s They are perfect for all-year visits. When we packed when we visit for a lunchtime drink drive there in mid-January, it’s bitterly cold. - a christening party and a crowd of hungry We come across plenty of snow on the local customers fill almost every seat, many hills and our car is covered in ice for much of of them taking advantage of the bargain our second day. TRAVEL carvery lunch (two for £12). FACTS Our cottage, The Roost proves to be a Nearly 500 local people from the area starred beautifully warm and comfortable retreat, S W as extras in Dad’s Army, so I carefully watch however, with all the cottages having oilC to see if I can pick out any budding stars. fired central heating and log-burning stoves. ’ Bridlington’s town crier David Hinde, who at The Roost, Field House Farm In warmer months, a large play area, just off holds the world record for the loudest town C the farm’s main courtyard will prove very cry, is undoubtedly the most recognisable. popular with children. Angela has written a handy and interesting history of the property Cast aside though, it’s the scenery that will C ’ attract most people to this pretty corner of and has included a number of walks around features almost 1,000 four and England. and from the farm, and plenty of facts and figures about the surrounding area. Just as Poldark gave tourism a boost in U Cornwall and Downton Abbey put Highclere from small, romantic boltholes The Roost, features attractive exposed brick Casle on the map, big screen exposure is and chalkstone walls. Its two large bedrooms likely to send visitors marching to Yorkshire estates. The collection includes are either side of a big, comfortable lounge in the following months. pet-friendly accommodation. and fully equipped kitchen. Both bedrooms have flat screen TVs and are dressed with comfortable and quality bedding, and each has a beautifully-fitted ensuite. Free wi-fi is provided for anyone keen to keep in touch with the outside world. Arriving at the cottage early on Friday evening, we walk the half-mile or so to the nearest pub, The Martonian Inn, and enjoy a “cheap and cheerful” fish and chips supper £12 for two, including two free drinks. The Martonian does a roaring trade during the summer, catering for the hundreds of visitors who descend on the area for caravan holidays. After a day exploring Bridlington and Flamborough, Sunday morning sees us walking into Sewerby, past the recently restored 17th century Grade I-listed Sewerby Hall and Gardens - home to a museum, small zoo and aviary, past the old Ship Inn - and on to the high chalk clifftop.

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

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ON THE AGENDA n NO 18 n MARCH 2016

in the news

Manx Telecom in running for another UK Stock Market Award

anx Telecom is in the running to win another honour at the prestigious UK Stock Market Awards. Last year the Island’s leading communications company won the ‘Best Telecommunications PLC’ award, and it has been shortlisted in the same category this year. In 2015, Manx Telecom was shortlisted alongside BT, Talk Talk, AdEPT Telecom and Telecom Plus – this year it is shortlisted with AdEPT Telecom, BT Group, CityFibre Infrastructure Holdings, and Inmarsat. The awards recognise and reward all that is great about publicly-listed firms, the equity market which they choose to operate within, and the enormous contribution they make to the economy. Manx Telecom became a PLC in February 2014 following a successful flotation on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. Manx Telecom CEO, Gary Lamb, commented: “Winning a UK Stock Market Award in 2015 was a deserved recognition of our success as an AIM listed company, and an indication of the level of awareness of Manx Telecom in the City. It was a huge honour for the business and all of our hard working staff – as is being nominated again this year.” The winners in the sixth annual UK Stock Market Awards will be announced at a black-tie dinner on April 14th at The Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London. For more information about the UK Stock Market Awards go to www. stockmarketawards.com

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Optimus present at Kuwaiti Property Forum

im Shallcross, Head of Business Development at Castletown based fiduciary and pension firm Optimus has presented a key message at the MAS British Investment Forum in Kuwait City. Tim, who regularly travels to the Middle East, spoke on the advantages and challenges faced by foreign investors when purchasing UK property through offshore structures. He promoted the Isle of Man as a jurisdiction of choice when dealing with offshore structures. Tim cited the Isle of Man’s strong AA1 credit rating as well as enforcing how the Island is recognised as a highly regulated International Financial Centre appearing on the OECD’s white list. “It was a privilege to be asked to speak at this forum and to provide an overview of offshore structuring” said Tim, “I was also able to promote the Isle of Man as favored jurisdiction and advantages of the Island over other jurisdictions such as Jersey, BVI and Cayman”. The inaugural forum was organised by MAS International, a leading real estate firm in Kuwait and was attended by almost 50 high net worth clients who have an interest in investing within the UK. “The forum was a fantastic event and we were delighted Tim and Optimus were able to speak and provide not only an overview of the market, but also practical examples of how property can be structured” said Abdullah Alshehab, event organiser and Business Development Manager at MAS International.

ON THE AGENDA

RL360° review sees 28 new funds added to its range

LRI M A R M D H S Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood and G M I M S C M C

ROYAL STAMP OF APPROVAL FOR ISLE OF MAN ADVERTISING & PR

design project delivered by the team at Isle of Man Advertising & PR has received the royal stamp of approval from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The Island’s longest-established advertising and PR agency was entrusted with a very important job by Isle of Man Post Office – to create a stamp issue to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. Following royal protocol, the finished set of eight stamps was sent to Buckingham Palace where Her Majesty approved the design before the stamps went on sale on 6th February. Throughout the design process for the Long to Reign Over Us issue, the team worked closely with Arthur Edwards MBE, who has been royal photographer at

The Sun for almost 40 years. Eight of the celebrated snapper’s personal favourite photos of the Queen were chosen for the stamps, including some never previously published. Each image showcases the Queen at a series of public engagements including marking the day she became Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. Isle of Man Advertising & PR Managing Director Helen Summerscales said: ‘We have been proud to have been invited to create a number of stamp issues for Isle of Man Post Office before, with subjects as diverse as Sir Winston Churchill, Manx artist Bryan Kneale and the Women’s Institute, but it was a great honour to be asked to design this prestigious set.

L360° has completed its annual review of the funds available on its regular savings product Quantum, as well as Oracle, Paragon and LifePlan. The result has been the introduction of 28 new high performing funds to further strengthen the range. For RL360° Quantum, Oracle and Paragon, more GBP funds have been introduced and a gap has been filled with a number of regional small and mid-cap equity funds. Another significant change has been the introduction of 2 more strongly performing ethical funds. LifePlan has added some new, solidly performing, equity funds from 5 new sectors and 5 new fund houses, along with 3 ethical funds. In total, 6 new exciting fund groups have been welcomed on board: n Kames Capital n Legg Mason n Matthews Asia n PIMCO n Polar Capital n T. Rowe Price “This is one of the most important, ongoing services we provide to advisers and clients,” said Andrew Dudgeon, RL360°’s Product and Investment Marketing Manager. “It keeps our offering fresh and reflects their feedback. We believe the latest range has all the ingredients to be our best yet with strong performing, direct funds, across all major sectors.”

KPMG eGaming Isle of Man Summit Report Published

“T

here are some exciting new concepts out there and they will provide some interesting topics of discussion for the coming year,” enthused Russell Kelly of KPMG Isle of Man, commenting on the celebrated KPMG eGaming summit held in the Isle of Man. Over 200 delegates attended the summit at the Villa Marina on the 10th November 2015, to discuss in an open forum the challenges and opportunities of the domestic and global eGaming industry. KPMG has announced the release of its Summit Report, which documents the events and findings of that IN THE NEWS

day, its sixth annual summit in the Isle of Man, and eleventh in a series which spans both Gibraltar and the Isle of Man. Providing a detailed summary of the panel sessions and individual presentations by leading industry experts, the 58-page document offers a unique perspective into today’s eGaming sector, and proves informative reading for those who were unable to attend the Summit. Continent 8 Technologies are proud to sponsor the report, which is now available at kpmg. co.im/eGamingSummitReport. agenda

in the news

APPLEBY REPRESENTATIVES TO ATTEND MAJOR PROPERTY MARKET CONFERENCE

he Isle of Man office of offshore law firm Appleby will be represented at MIPIM, the world’s leading property market conference. MIPIM, held in Cannes, France, from 15 to 18 March, brings together the most influential international property figures for four days of networking, learning and transactions. All the major sectors are represented, including commercial, residential, retail, healthcare, sport, logistics and industrial. It provides opportunities to view ambitious development projects, advance investment deals, meet future and existing clients from across all property sectors and discover more about the latest changes in the world’s property markets. More than 21,000 visitors, including property owners, investors, tenants, service providers and members of the media, are expected to attend, with almost 2,500 companies from 89 countries exhibiting at the Palais des Festivals. Appleby’s Isle of Man office will be represented by Kyle Sutherland, Partner in the Corporate department, who will be meeting new and existing clients to discuss the Isle of Man and BVI legal services Appleby offers from its Isle of Man office.

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B L C W E G F L and Teodora Dimitrova.

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NEDBANK PRIVATE WEALTH STAFF SAY “GRACIAS” FOR THEIR SPANISH LESSONS

mployees from Nedbank Private Wealth have taken part in a basic Spanish language course over a period of six weeks. The initiative was offered to Nedbank Private Wealth’s staff so they could learn more about cultural sustainability and have the opportunity to attend a taster language course during their lunch hours. The course was given by Teodora Dimitrova, a Spanish teacher based in the Isle of Man. Teodora’s teaching style received very positive feedback; games were played to get staff used to remembering and pronouncing words, in an effective and fun way. Helen Lyall, one of the attendees said: “I really enjoyed the course and I thought the content, speed and level of learning was pitched just right.” Karl Kelly, head of Nedbank Private Wealth’s sustainability forum said: “I have had some fantastic feedback from those attending the course on the teaching style, and about Teodora herself. With this initiative our staff have become more aware of cultural sustainability and by celebrating diversity in this way, we encourage respect and understanding of all cultural differences, in the hope of it spreading beyond Nedbank Private Wealth.” Nedbank Private Wealth is committed to practicing, encouraging and enabling cultural sustainability throughout its organisation, and set up its sustainability forum over four years ago to serve as a platform to raise awareness of various elements of sustainability among all staff right across the organisation. ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

movers & shakers

NEW HEAD OF FUNDRAISING AT THE CHILDREN’S CENTRE

aren Greatbatch has been appointed Fundraising and Communications Manager at The Children’s Centre. Karen, who comes to The Children’s Centre from the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education where she was Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Business Studies and the new BA (Hons) Event Management and Marketing. Prior to this she worked at the Isle of Man Government Department of Home Affairs where she was responsible for setting up a number of statutory bodies. In addition she has been heavily involved in IT development and business continuity planning within the Airline industry.

L-R JP Koolmees C S

First Names Group appoints Head of Asia

irst Names Group is delighted to announce it has appointed Jean Pierre (JP) Koolmees as Head of its Asian operations. This key hire marks a significant milestone for the business, as it looks to build its presence throughout Asia. The appointment is effective immediately. Holding a seat on the Group’s

Management Committee, JP will report to Group CEO, Cengiz Somay, and will oversee both First Names Group and its subsidiary fund business Moore Management throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Singapore, JP will be responsible for further developing and implementing the Asia business strategy and growth plans.

L-R Simon Nicholas and Allan Christian

LR G and Mary Brady

Creechurch Capital appoints Andrew Brown

outique discretionary fund manager, Creechurch Capital, has recruited Andrew Brown as assistant portfolio manager. His previous role was wealth management assistant at Duncan Lawrie (IOM) Limited. As such, he brings with him, experience of dealing with high-networth clients across the Isle of Man and internationally. Speaking of his latest hire, CEO John Greenwood said: “It’s no secret that we’ve grown quickly since our launch five years

IN THE NEWS

ago. We’ve exceeded expectations and it has been a natural time to take stock and assess the future direction of the business.” “We’ve competed on an international stage in terms of business development and been able to already hire and nurture some of the Island’s top talent because of this. The next era will see us focus on this talent, attracting the next generation of stars, and providing the opportunities and resource to develop a global centre for excellence on the Isle of Man.” Brown added: “I was impressed by the opportunity to work at a wellrespected company with endless future opportunities and am looking forward to being part of Creechurch’s continued growth and success.”

KPMG Appoints Allan Christian as Regulatory Consultant

udit, tax and advisory specialist KPMG has announced the appointment of Allan Christian as a Senior Manager in KPMG’s Risk Consulting team. Allan joins KPMG with considerable expertise in the insurance consulting field. He has worked for the past five years as an independent consultant with a particular focus on Solvency II, corporate governance and risk management in the life and non-life insurance industries, mostly in London. Allan joins KPMG from the Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) having worked in the supervisory team ahead of Solvency II going live on 1 January 2016. Simon Nicholas, Director of KPMG and Head of their Insurance group, is delighted to welcome Allan to the KPMG. agenda

business events

Annexio host eClub 2016 Launch Event Photography - Matt Mosur

n Thursday 21st January Annexio hosted over 110 guests at the inaugural eClub event of 2016. No doubt part of the attraction for guests, along with catching up with their industry peers, was the fact that each attendee was gifted with a free Euromillions line for that weekend. Sadly, it would appear that no one won the big prize, but three other prizes were won on the evening by lucky attendees including Chris Till, Chief Executive of Standard Bank, who went home with a brand new Apple Watch. Annexio Limited is a lottery services business that gives customers the chance to play in some of the biggest jackpots worldwide. The company has been trading for over four years and in this short time it has seen the team grow rapidly. In 2013 they were the fastest growing online gaming company on the Isle of Man and they now operate as one of the world’s leading secondary lottery operators. Commenting on the evening, Jennifer Houghton Annexio Managing Director said, “We are delighted that so many of our industry colleagues were able to turn up to the 2016 launch event. The eClub provides a great environment to network and catch

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up with colleagues.” Jennifer greeted guests saying, “To help you celebrate the first eClub meeting of 2016, Annexio is giving you the chance to become a millionaire – I did say we think big! Each of you will receive a free Euromillions line and while you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see if you’ve hit that jackpot, your ticket may be a winner tonight as we have three fantastic prizes to give away – an Apple Watch, a Lego Millennium Falcon and a GHD Gift Set.” The eClub is a social meeting place for anyone involved in eGaming on the Isle of Man or those with an interest in the sector. The initiative was started by KPMG and Continent 8 Technologies to bring the growing number of people working in the sector together in one place and start building lasting relationships. As well as providing a social venue, the eClub party also gives colleagues and friends the opportunity to chat informally about ideas and issues related to eGaming on the Island. For regular updates and to get involved in the eClub, visit: www.facebook.com/ IsleofManeClub or join the group ‘Isle of Man eClub’ on LinkedIn. ON THE AGENDA

BUSINESS EVENTS

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BEAR MARKETS

wealth & finance

30 years of bear markets - history tells us what’s next Is the bear market here to stay? We look back at previous selloffs to try and find the answer Words: Kyle Caldwell

lobal stock markets have suffered their worst start to the year since the Great Depression. Britain’s leading blue chip share index, the FTSE 100, has fallen 20pc since last April. Last month the panic intensified with further violent falls and a rush into “safe” assets such as gold. However alarming these events may be, they are far from unprecedented. Since the FTSE 100’s inception in 1984 there have been 11 other “bear markets” – the term which describes markets that have fallen by at least 20pc from their previous peak. Market historians pore over this past data, hoping an analysis of how shares behaved after previous slumps could shed light on what might happen now.

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ON THE AGENDA

isto

s lesson

The reasons for each of the last 11 bear markets, of course, are different, but some commentators claim to identify key ingredients. These could indicate whether already battered stock markets will enter a full-blown crisis and plunge yet further – or swiftly recover their poise. Some would say that the previous 11 sell-offs were associated with one of two, key elements: an economic recession or extreme valuations. Separate analysis by JP Morgan, the fund manager, which looked at America’s 10 most extreme bear markets since the great Wall Street crash of 1929, drawn a similar thesis. But JP Morgan said there are two other ingredients: extreme movements in the price of commodities, such as oil; and aggressive increases in interest rates by the Federal Reserve, the US central bank. JP Morgan said overall its findings showed that “bear markets require a recession or extreme valuations”. When one or both are apparent the stock market falls do not end at 20pc below their previous high – they carry on plummeting. Here in Britain this has happened three times out of the previous 11 bear markets. On the other eight occasions Britain’s stock market bounced back, in some cases recouping its losses rapidly. The first bear-market-turned-crisis occurred on Black Monday in 1987 after stock markets had enjoyed an excellent run – and were very highly valued. On October 5, 1987, the index stood at 2386 points. It fell rapidly to 1801 by October 20, a 25pc fall. It continued to slide, bottoming out at 1565, declining 34pc from its peak. In that case, according to the theory, valuations were to blame. The tech bubble and global financial crisis were also full-blown crises. Both cases involved global recessions, while extreme valuations were for the former crash also a major component. The emerging markets crisis of the late Nineties was an example of a bear market from which we quickly recovered. On April 4, 1998, the FTSE 100 was trading at 6105. Financial panic around the world struck when Russia devalued its currency and defaulted on its debt. On October 2, 1998, the FTSE 100 entered a bear market. The index bottomed out a couple of trading days later, on October 5, registering a 24pc plunge from peak to trough. It then rebounded violently, edging back above 6105 three months later on January 6, 1999. More often than not big falls are the trigger for a big rebound. Volatility is part and parcel of investing in stock markets, and the price that investors pay for the fact that over the long term shares outperform. Where next for bear market number 12?

The key question is whether the world economy will tip back into recession. Analysts say that following the recent slump, global markets have already priced in a one-in-two chance of recession. This is WEALTH & FINANCE

Since the FTSE 100’s inception in 1984 there have been 11 other “bear markets”. Conditions just before the crash Market fall after crash*

Recession

Commodity price spike

Raising rates by Fed

Extreme share valuations

Wall Street 1929

-86%

✔

✗

✔

The Fed’s’Mistake’ 1937

-60%

✔

✗

✔

✗

Ppstwar Crash 1947

-30%

✔

✗

✔

‘Flash Crash’ 1962

-28%

✗

✔

Energy Crash 1970

-36%

✔

✗

Oil Crisis 1973

-48%

✔

✗

Inflation Crisis 1980

-27%

✔

✗

‘Program trade crash’ 1987

-34%

✗

✔

Tech Crash 2000

-49%

✔

✗

✔

Global Financial Crisis 2007-08

-57%

✔

✗

Crash

unrealistically gloomy, some say. More of a concern is the other key ingredient which could push today’s bear market into something nastier: excessive valuations. By most measures the FTSE 100 is neither cheap nor dear, and trading in line with long-term historical averages. But America’s stock market, viewed as a benchmark for how other global stock markets perform, is a bigger worry. Financial historian Russell Napier reckons US shares have only been more expensive three times: in 1901, 1928-29 and 1995-2008. “At current valuations, stock markets offer little promise of recovery,” he said. “Share prices could halve if they return to the levels seen in the four great bear markets,” he said. But fans of long-term investing insist the fundamental attraction of shares have not changed. Those who invest steadily and regularly should be able to ride out the storms, particularly when you consider the added power of reinvesting dividends. A £10,000 investment in the FTSE 100

in 1987 would have a capital value today of £33,534. But, when income is re-invested and compounded up over time, a £10,000 investment in the index in 1987 would have turned into £99,720. WHAT IS A BEAR MARKET?

* Bear-market territory is a market condition in which prices of securities fall by 20pc or more from a recent high. * This is not to be confused with official correction territory, which is a reverse movement (usually negative) of at least 10pc to adjust for an overvaluation. * In April 2015 the FTSE 100 hit a high of 7,103.98. * On January 20 2016 it fell 20pc below this - to the same level it closed at a decade ago.

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wealth & finance

The easy way to invest like the gurus Words: Richard Evans

Buffett, Keynes, Lynch... they all made a fortune from shrewd investments. You can replicate their success.

re you determined to become a better investor this year? Mastering the stock market can seem daunting, but one short cut is to learn from the masters. Many had a good way with words too, cutting through the jargon so common among today’s professionals to bring home the essentials of the subject in a way that anyone could understand. Here we look at five of history’s greatest investors – and how their wisdom might help you get more from your money today. 48

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ON THE AGENDA

John Maynard Keynes

ou probably think of John Maynard Keynes as one of the 20th century’s most influential economists. But he was also a brilliant investor. His Cambridge college, King’s, appointed him bursar in 1924. Between then and his death in 1946, the fund he managed for King’s grew from £30,000 to £380,000, a remarkable feat given the stock market turbulence of those decades. The path was far from smooth, however, with the fund tumbling in the 1929 Wall Street Crash. But this painful experience provided valuable knowledge, shaping a new investing style for Keynes. He went from trying to work out what the market would do to focusing on a small number of individual companies – a style adopted by Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett. In a 1934 letter, Keynes said: “As time goes on, I get more convinced that the right method in investment is to put fairly large sums into enterprises which one knows something about and in the management of which one thoroughly believes.” So what did he buy? In the Thirties, he dramatically increased his holdings of mining shares and stocks that had fallen but seemed well placed to recover. Union Corporation, the South African miner, was a core holding, as were Austin Motors and Hector Whaling. He also challenged convention merely in his devotion to shares. At the time, most institutions were wedded to bonds. Best quote:

“The dealers on Wall Street could make huge fortunes if only they had no inside information.” Investment returns: 12 per cent a year. WEALTH & FINANCE

Warren Buffett

enjamin Graham, who started his Wall Street career in 1914, is regarded as the first investor to take a scientific approach to picking shares. After losing money in the great crash of 1929, he decided to look for shares whose prices offered a “margin of safety” – where the value of the company’s assets exceeded the value placed on it by the stock market. He described his approach in two highly regarded books, Security Analysis and The Intelligent Investor. Graham taught at Columbia University in New York, where Warren Buffett was among his pupils. Buffett called him “the greatest teacher in the history of finance”. Like Buffett and Templeton, Graham believed in going against the crowd. “Buy when most people, including experts, are pessimistic, and sell when they are actively optimistic,” he said. Best quote:

ew investors are household names but Warren Buffett, otherwise known as “the Sage of Omaha”, is the exception. Buffett runs Berkshire Hathaway, an American firm that owns insurance companies among other investments. His approach to investing in shares could be summarised as “buy and hold” – but he chooses them carefully in the first place. Berkshire’s biggest holdings, which include American Express and Coca-Cola, are long-established businesses with loyal customers. Buffett looks for companies that not only generate profits consistently but are able to reinvest them in the business. Not all companies do this; even if they make profits, they may squander them by using the money to expand into less lucrative areas. Buffett is not bothered by falls in the stock market – in fact he actively welcomes them if he can buy more of the same shares more cheaply. He says: “Overall, Berkshire and its long-term shareholders benefit from a sinking stock market, much as a regular purchaser of food benefits from declining food prices. So when the market plummets – as it will from time to time – neither panic nor mourn. It’s good news for Berkshire.” Best quote:

“In the short run the market is a voting machine, but in the long run it is a weighing machine.”

“Only buy something that you’d be perfectly happy to hold if the market shut down for 10 years.”

Investment returns: reportedly 20 per cent a year over his career (detailed figures not available).

Investment returns: 19.7 per cent a year (Berkshire Hathaway shares, >>> 1965-2012).

Benjamin Graham

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wealth & finance

Peter Lynch

Sir John Templeton

ohn Templeton, who was born in Tennessee but later became a British citizen, started his Wall Street career in 1937. When war broke out, he used borrowed money to buy 100 shares each in 104 companies whose share price was $1 or less. Only four turned out to be worthless, and he made large profits on the others, holding them for an average of four years. This story encapsulates his approach. First, he believed in buying at a time of extreme pessimism, when most people would instinctively avoid the stock market. He also sought out undervalued companies, but sold the shares when their prices had recovered, exemplifying his principle that investors should “expect and react to change – there are no stocks that you can buy and forget”. Templeton took a global approach to shares, saying: “If you search worldwide, you will find more — and possibly better – bargains than in any single nation.” He was the first Western

investor to appreciate the potential of Japan’s post-war economic miracle, but also moved his clients’ money out before the Tokyo market peaked in the late Eighties – moving it to America in time to catch a bull market there. “When Templeton first invested in Japan it was still an emerging market,” said Mark Dampier of Hargreaves Lansdown, the investment shop. “No one else was interested.” Templeton’s fund management business still exists as part of Franklin Templeton, and his principles are used “on a dayto-day basis” in the running of the Templeton Growth fund, says its lead manager, Dylan Ball. Best quote:

“The only way to avoid mistakes is not to invest — which is the biggest mistake of all.” Investment returns: 15.1 per cent a year (US version of the Templeton Growth fund, 1954-1986)

ou might imagine that successful investors spend their time poring over company accounts, but Peter Lynch, who ran the giant Fidelity Magellan fund in America for many years, said he got many of his best investment ideas outside the office. He believed that ordinary investors could steal a march on the professionals by using their eyes and ears in everyday life. “I stumble on to the big winners in extracurricular situations,” he says. “Apple computer – my kids had one at home, and then the systems manager bought several for the office. Dunkin’ Donuts – I loved the coffee.” Lynch didn’t just go straight out and buy the shares, but used these insights as a basis for further research. While he didn’t advise investors to put all their money into shares, Lynch said in 2002: “I believe in stocks. If you look at the returns of the last 70 years, stocks are the undisputed champs.” He remains an adviser at Fidelity in America, and the Magellan fund is still run in line with his strategy, a company spokesman said. Ken Fisher, the founder and head of Fisher Investments, described Lynch as “the first of the great post-1960s stock-pickers”. Best quote:

“Invest in what you know.” Investment returns: 29 per cent a year (Fidelity Magellan fund, 19771990)

>>>

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ON THE AGENDA

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wealth & finance

TOP 10 SAVINGS GOALS

’ plan ahead. RL

’

I build up cash for substantial

income in retirement.

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ON THE AGENDA

EDUCATION Learning is a pricey business. Whether you’re planning for school fees or the whole university package, it’s worth starting early. In fact, if you’re not at least giving it some thought as soon as your child exits the womb you’re already running the risk of leaving it too late. A term-time job at Pizza Hut will only supplement a student’s finances so far…

PAYING OFF YOUR MORTGAGE OR HELPING A CHILD WITH A DEPOSIT FOR THEIR FIRST HOUSE Think of the freedom paying off your mortgage would afford you. Or the start in life you’d be able to give your offspring if you helped them with a deposit on their first home. The ties you put down are important but make sure they don’t hold you back from getting out there and doing the things you really want to do.

THE BIG DAY Did you know that the happiest day of your child’s life could cost in the region of an eye-watering £30,000? And although some couples now choose to pay for their own wedding, it’s still not uncommon for parents of the bride and groom to chip in. It’s the difference between a Vera Wang and a Dorothy Perkins.

RETIREMENT Some of us (and by that we mean a lot of us) are burying our heads in the sand about this one. Just where is that money going to come from when we’re too old to earn

it anymore? At one end of the scale, we’re talking “how am I going to buy food or pay for nursing care?” and at the other we’re talking “how am I going to pay for all of the fantastic things I’ve been dreaming I’ll do once I don’t have to do the 9-5 any more?” With the uncertainty surrounding the state pension, do you have the answer to either of those questions?

HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME There’s usually a little voice rattling around in the back of everyone’s mind when they’re booking a fortnight on the Costa Del Sol. It says things like “but what about the Taj Mahal?” or “I don’t care if it takes me a day to get to Fiji”. But we push it back down into its little box and carry on smiling at the Thomas Cook travel agent because it’s too expensive. Why not set that voice free?

SECOND HOME You have one home, and it’s a perfectly good one, but you dream of buying another in the future, possibly somewhere warm and balmy. It may be a holiday property or your base when you retire. Either way, it’s going to cost money, money which you need to start saving as soon as possible.

AN EMERGENCY This is what’s known colloquially as the What If? Fund. What if you make a poor business choice? What if you find yourself unexpectedly in need of some legal fees?

WEALTH & FINANCE

What if someone in your family falls on hard times and you want to help them out? You’ll feel extra smug and virtuous if you can, with very little pain, reach down the back of the metaphorical sofa and bring out the cash.

FUNERAL/BURIAL Not nice this one and I’m sure we’re all making like the proverbial ostrich. Nevertheless, it’s a certainty. Death comes to us all and that means someone is going to have to sort through your affairs and organise a funeral. Why not take some of the burden away from your loved ones and plan ahead?

DREAM CAR A car can be so much more than a way of getting from A to B, as many will already know. Nice cars are one thing, however, dream cars are another kettle of fish entirely. We’re talking Aston Martins for the James Bond fans, Bugattis for the style conscious and Ferraris for the speed freaks. And that’s before we get into the realms of classic cars. It’s what Jeremy Clarkson’s dreams are made of.

PLASTIC SURGERY 1% of Brits are, according to stats, saving to go under the knife. Assuming we’re not just talking about people saving in case they feel they might need a spruce up one day, that’s a lot of people very unhappy with the way they look. But the point is, if you save your money, it’s there to be used for whatever you want or need. It’s nice to have the choice.

’

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in-business

Perfecting Partnerships Words: Michelle P. Tonnesen

Joint ventures. Affiliates. Alliances.

Sponsorships. Partners in crime. A partnership takes many forms

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in today’s business world. organisational level, complementary strengths may be one company’s hardware to another’s software. Strategic partnerships can give small businesses the edge to help them compete with larger companies. Bigger companies have more resources than smaller businesses. Partnerships can help entrepreneurs compete effectively with larger firms by levelling the playing field, thus increasing their bottom line in innovative ways. Partners can share marketing, product development, sales, HR and technology, as well as other functions. Business owners can also establish mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers, vendors, banks and credit card companies to better serve their customers. ON THE AGENDA

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” Helen Keller

What do successful partnerships have in common? There is a wide range of aspects to consider when entering a partnership, but here are a few key ones that apply across the spectrum of alliances: Trust Not surprisingly, trust is the foundation for any successful partnership. In practice, this means both parties are able to give and take. The attitude of giving a full commitment to the partnership will usually result in getting the same commitment in return.

SOURCES: businessdictionary.com n inc.com n forbes.com n entrepreneur.com n businessinsider.com

IN-BUSINESS

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in-business

IoD Director of the Year Awards Words: Les Able

Judges Announced For IoD’s First Director of the Year Awards

he annual awards launched this year by the Isle of Man branch of the Institute of Directors aimed at celebrating outstanding business leadership are attracting a steady flow of nominations as the closing date of March 18 fast approaches. The awards will be judged by IoD branch chairman Clive Parrish, his predecessor in the role Sally Bolton and Isle of Man Creamery managing director Findlay Macleod, who is a Reviewer on IoD’s Chartered Director Programme. “We are delighted with the response so far but we would like to see even more nominations before the final closing date as these awards are all about raising awareness of the significant contribution business leaders can make to the economic prosperity of the island,” said Mr Parrish. The winners of the four categories will also be entered into the UK National Awards, which take place in London, as national winners in the Isle of Man. “This will be a great opportunity for the IOM branch to showcase the quality of directors that operate in the island,” added Mr Parrish. The Awards are being sponsored by law firm Appleby and are open to IoD

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members and non-members from the public, private and third sector. The winners will be announced at the IoDs’ Spring Lunch on Friday, April 15, 2016. The categories are: SME Company Director of the Year – open to directors of companies with an annual turnover of under £10 million. International Director of the Year – open to all directors in Isle of Man based companies with overseas sales. The entrant must be able to show that a minimum of 25 per cent of the company’s turnover comes from overseas sales and must be successful in exporting and committed to continual growth in the international arena. Young Director – directors must be under the age of 42 and able to point to outstanding achievements at work in the previous 12 months. Non-executive Director – this seeks to recognise the important role that non-executive directors can play on the board of a company, regardless of its size. The entrants will hold a non-executive director position within a company, public or third sector organisation and be able to highlight the role that they have played in its overall success and growth.

The IoD is also having a celebration of its own with the announcement that it has a new home in the centre of Douglas courtesy of professional services group Middleton Katz. It has taken up residence in the Middleton Katz building at 11 Hope Street, Douglas. The move comes in the wake of the closure of The Forum in Mount Havelock, Douglas where the IoD previously had its office facility. We are delighted to have been able to offer the IoD an office facility within our building,” said the firm’s principal, Martin Katz. “It’s very much a case of one door closes and another opens,” said Mr Parrish. “We are extremely grateful to Martin for offering us this facility which allows us to remain in the centre of Douglas and puts the IoD at the heart of the Douglas business quarter.” Further information on the awards is available on www.iod.com/connecting/ local-networks/isle-of-man or contact Claire Veale at admin@iod.im for an application form. ON THE AGENDA

ING & K N A D B NT E U N I O B C C COM T A N E M ING & T K S N A E B V D I NO M B I N E RCMO U N T O F C C N A T IEON T M A T C S I E L V P N AI P A LRL M R O F TI O N F O N U T O IES A C C C I C L N P AA P E R CUR R U FOR O L Y L N A O R I O T O IUNNGT SFO L UC I ETSR A V E L ACC A NUKR C UTRIROENNA L B Y OT E R N A IN C TN F O R AI O T T U N L O O G SC L SSETS BPAONI NK TI NO F I O N A L T ROAUVRE A Y T I N T E R RNTA F O R A L L REPO TACT N O C F POINT O SETS S A R U LL YO A R O F REPORT

FOCUS, THE ALL IN ONE ACCOUNT The complete solution from the best international banking service provider*. To find out more, visit www.nedbankprivatewealth.com. *International Fund & Product Awards Winner 2015

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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).

In-Business

The CEO Interview

Mike Phillips Chief Executive Officer of Sure Words: Les Able

“ ’ve always been fascinated by technology, how it interacts with our daily lives, making everyday tasks easier, how it drives innovation, creativity and solutions,” declares Mike Phillips, who is only weeks into his new role as Chief Executive Officer of Sure. He adds: “Technology is constantly evolving and it mirrors what drives me and that is CHANGE - in capital letters. Change should not be feared but embraced and through embracing it we grow, develop and flourish as individuals, communities, businesses and economies.” On joining Sure in 2009 as Head of Fixed Data Services it was apparent to most that Mike, 41, was being ‘groomed’ for the CEO’s role. In 2014 he became Chief Operating Officer and in January this year was handed the reins to run Sure with all the drive he can muster. Within minutes of meeting him you are left in no doubt of his ambition for the business in a sector which he is passionate about, even as an inquisitive ten-year-old. But a nerd he most certainly is not. So what does he see as his significant achievements to date? “Introducing competition into the marketplace, offering a wide range of products and services: starting in 2007 with mobile and quickly expanding in recent years to become a full service telecommunications operator. Certainly competition is important because it provides customer choice and that drives innovation and value in the market place. In particular, it also enables businesses to innovate their own products and services as well. So yes, competition is a key milestone and achievement”. “We have led the introduction of a wide range of products, services and features which have not been available from other operators before. Last year we completed the full operator journey, with fixed-line

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“One all-important belief I have is that you shouldn’t do any job you don’t enjoy. Fortunately, I have thoroughly enjoyed the roles I’ve had in the worldwide industries and sectors I’ve worked in. I very much believe if you enjoy what you do you will drive the best out of not only yourself but the people around you.”

ON THE AGENDA

services for both consumers and businesses to enjoy. Choice is now offered across the whole range of services and the last jigsaw piece was put into place. “Sure can now own the end-to-end relationship with the customer, handling all their support and service requirements and with proper access to the market, we can drive further innovation in our products and services. That excites me: a truly seamless operation, delivering endto-end service with full local support from consumer mobiles to complex business global network and telephony solutions.” He adds: “Sure can now be regarded as a genuinely full-service telecoms operator in the corporate arena – with the tantalising opportunity to really innovate from here on. To be successful, the Isle of Man must continually broaden its horizons. In this respect, 4G undoubtedly offers up a raft of solutions and opportunities for our corporate market, and not just in terms of delivering data to a mobile market.” A favoured word in Mike’s vocabulary, >>> IN-BUSINESS

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in-business

“The hurdles from a business perspective are again the changes we will see in both the market and technology.”

>>>

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ON THE AGENDA

PROFILE Name: Mike Phillips. Age: 41. Position: Chief Executive Officer of Sure. Married: Niomi. Children: Alex and Sam. Hobbies: Walking, family life, science fiction. Interesting fact: As a ten year old Mike dismantled the family’s colour TV in the absence of his parents – but, to placate them, duly put it back together again.

IN-BUSINESS

along with ‘innovate’ is ‘functionality’, allowing customers to have absolute control over much of their life from their mobiles and via apps. “This could be from anywhere in the world,” he enthuses. “We are now in a position to run other services on a consolidated, converged network and this year will see Sure providing more services from the one network, again allowing us to innovate further in the marketplace. This is all about offering what customers want in the 21st century. The other big driver is that by running more and more services from one network there is added value, which means less cost for both consumers and businesses.” This all comes from a man who makes it abundantly clear just how much he enjoys

his role, and for whom complacency will always be anathema. For him the challenges ahead are many and great but he is ready to face them as he drives the business forward. His ambitions for it are myriad. “This is truly one of the most exciting sectors to be in and change is guaranteed: it is increasing at an alarming rate,” he adds. “We are already talking about, and planning for, 5G services and the implications there will be from that over the next two to three years.” Mike began his career in the UK after graduating in Manchester with an IT degree. His wide industry experience started in manufacturing before moving to the Isle of Man in 2000. “In a three week period I was made redundant, got married, sold a house, moved to the island, moved in with my inlaws and started a new job,” he recalls with a big grin. In fact the new job was at Clerical Medical International with responsibility for their global IT. Following this Mike joined Manx Telecom as product manager for data services and solutions before being promoted to run their entire corporate product portfolio. “One all-important belief I have is that you shouldn’t do any job you don’t enjoy. Fortunately, I have thoroughly enjoyed the roles I’ve had in the worldwide industries and sectors I’ve worked in. I very much believe if you enjoy what you do you will drive the best out of not only yourself but the people around you.” Looking to the future he goes on: “The hurdles from a business perspective are again the changes we will see in both the market and technology. For the benefit of customers we need to drive the best use out of technology and engage with customers, offering them viable solutions and keeping abreast of the constant changes. We must deliver the products and services customers require plus encourage further inward investment and complement the island’s Vision 2020. “We are part of the local community; it’s not just about Sure’s products and services which is why we sponsor a wide range of activities, including the TT, and involve ourselves with as much community support as we can. We are Sure Isle of Man, this is our home, and we intend to be here for the very long-term, to help the Isle of Man to grow and innovate in the future. After all, this is the information age. “I’m dedicated to what I do but this business is not about me. For any business to be a success it’s about the team that underpins it and the need to drive the best out of those who make up that team. That means continued investment, expansion and mentoring of the local team whilst continuing to deliver the products, services and solutions that customers require – both today and tomorrow.”

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technology

The Internet The wonderful world of the IoT Words: Abby Chambers

There are few things that mankind can’t do or invent in this day and age. We have thought of pretty much everything we can to make our lives a bit easier; from air travel and indoor toilets to checking when a cow is pregnant using a wireless sensor… Okay the last one is slightly more recent, and is an example of one of the next steps forward for mankind, the Internet of Things or “IoT”.

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ON THE AGENDA

of Things T

he definition is in the name; if it’s tangible, it can be connected to the internet. Although it seems like objects connected through the IoT have only in recent years been made available to the public, the idea has been around a lot longer than you might have expected. In 1946 The 2 Way Wrist Radio worn as a wrist watch by Dick Tracy and members of the police force, made its first appearance and became of the comic strips most recognisable items. Over the decades the idea has developed until we have what we do today. There are many large businesses which currently use the IoT to make their products more innovative and intelligent than their competitors. One of the most universally known brands, Nike, use the IoT in their running shoes. The shoes come with a sensor that tracks your run and sends the data to your phone, tablet or computer, perfect example of how IoT is being used in day to day life. TECHNOLOGY

Losing your dog will be a thing of the past with the Tagg GPS pet tracker collar which connects to your phone, allowing you to see where they are if they wonder off. It also monitors your pet’s surroundings and alerts you if they get too hot or cold. IoT is not just another development in technology, it’s a development in quality of life. With IoT we have more control over the things around us. Fridges can tell you when your food is about to expire, a new cooking device can cook your steak perfectly when you input on your iPad or iPhone how you want it done. I know what you’re thinking (probably the same thing I thought when I heard about all of this) stop over complicating life with technology. But then I thought to myself, people probably said that about mobile phones, or the internet, like all that came before it, this is another leap forward in technology. Granted, products with IoT features are significantly more expensive than their inferiors, however in the future, as

technology develops further and more companies begin to use IoT, non-internet related products could almost become redundant. The Global IoT Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 31.72% from 2016-2109 according to TechNavio, and Gartner estimates that IoT product and service suppliers will generate incremental revenue exceeding $300 billion in 2020. The stats say it all, the Internet of Things is here to stay. Apparently the new rule for the future is going to be, “anything that can be connected, will be connected”. Sounds a bit freaky but imagine how much easier life would be. Your alarm goes off, as it does it sends a message to turn on your coffee machine. You’re in your car running late to a meeting and sends a message to your colleague to notify them you will be late. And last but not least you’ll be able to check to see if your cow is pregnant without having to put your hand anywhere nasty… result! agenda

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technology

GIF Keyboard

Shortcuts and timesavers with keyboard apps Swiftkey is just one example of clever and nimble ways to navigate your smartphone Words: Tim Bradshaw

ast month’s acquisition of Swiftkey by Microsoft put the spotlight on UK start-ups’ expertise in artificial intelligence. It also highlighted the value that smartphone users have found in swapping out their default keyboard for a more capable alternative. Thanks to its spookily accurate predictive text system, Swiftkey is perhaps the best known alternative keyboard. For smartphone users who still miss the accuracy of typing on a BlackBerry’s physical console, Swiftkey is a much more forgiving onscreen version. Not only does it save a huge number of taps thanks to its psychic autocomplete, it means that lazy touchscreen typists like me can bash out a close approximation of a word or phrase and still be understood. Swiftkey instantly “learns” your writing style by “reading” your emails, social media postings, contacts book and other messages on your device (if you give it permission). This individual profile is stored in the cloud, so you can use the same personalised phrase book across different devices. While Swiftkey is widely known — it has been bundled with Samsung devices for years and arrived on iPhones in 2014 — a new crop of alternative smartphone keyboards has emerged in the past 18 months, which offer different shortcuts and timesavers. This development is largely thanks to a change that Apple made in iOS 8 that allows third-party keyboards to be used in place of its own (Android has had similar capabilities for much longer). Aside from Swiftkey, most of the early examples had only superficial improvements, such as new colours or fonts. Now, several keyboards are trying to improve not just how you type but how fast you can access other data, from a Google search to your calendar or even animated GIFs, without having to switch apps. The only inconvenience is that few of these extensible keyboards offer autocorrect or predictive text that is as good as Swiftkey or even Apple’s own. Switching between two keyboards in iOS means pressing the globe icon a lot, which can be fiddly. Those reservations aside, here are four of the best extensible keyboards.

agenda

(free, iOS) What, you mean you’re still using emojis only to express your emotions in texts and online? Riffsy’s free GIF Keyboard makes it even easier to respond with a short animated clip that says more than words ever could. Compared with some other keyboards, Riffsy’s is straightforward: just type a keyword to find a GIF pertinent to your conversation, tap it to copy to the clipboard, then paste it into the email or text message window.

Sunrise Meet Keyboard

(free, iOS and Android) Like Swiftkey, Sunrise is a Microsoft acquisition. Download its app, connect your smartphone’s calendar and install its Meet keyboard to make scheduling easier and so avoid lots of appswitching. When someone emails or texts to ask when you are free to meet, swap into the Sunrise keyboard and a snapshot of your calendar appears in place of the keys. Tap on a gap in your schedule and use icons to set a meeting length and location. When you are done, tap the blue tick and a shortcut link appears for you to send to the person who is demanding a piece of your precious time. The recipient can then click that link to accept your invitation. Microsoft has said it plans to add many of Sunrise’s features to its Outlook email and calendar app, although it is not clear whether that includes the Meet keyboard.

Thingthing

(free, iOS) Thingthing combines elements of the GIF and Meet keyboards while adding a few more options. Above its regular qwerty keyboard is an extra row of icons which give one-tap links to emojis, your calendar and photos stored on your phone, as well as Instagram images and links to files in cloud services such as Dropbox and Google Drive. As with the GIF keyboard, images have to be copied and pasted into messages (because of restrictions by Apple, which Thingthing finds “hard to digest”). It also has an ingenious use for the space bar: slide your finger across it to move the cursor, a much simpler solution than Apple’s own method for selecting text.

Slash (free, iOS and Android) If you like the idea of Thingthing but feel restricted by being able to only choose from its 10 interconnecting services, try Slash. One for power users, Slash provides instant access to more than 20 apps and internet services, including Spotify and Apple Music tracks, Google Maps locations, Giphy images, Amazon product listings and Foursquare’s location recommendations. Some can be shown as icons, like Thingthing, but the rest can be accessed at any time by tapping its “/” key, entering the name of the service you wish to use and then typing a search query. This can take a bit of getting used to but makes for an almost limitless range of options, especially when one is “/google”. For instance, type “/google places to eat in London” and the top search result — in my case, a TripAdvisor link — pops up ready to be sent, with a single tap, to a friend or colleague. ON THE AGENDA

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Executives seek more excitement in latest plans for smartphones Smartphone makers are facing something akin to a mid-life crisis. The excitement of the early days when people were clamouring for the latest technological marvel is long gone. Almost everyone has a phone in their pocket and, to a great extent, these devices look and act the same.

ompanies such as Samsung, Sony and HTC are struggling to maintain the pace of innovation and are finding sustainable profits difficult in a market that is increasingly focused on low prices rather than high technology. Analysts agree these groups need to find a way to inject excitement back into the market — and not simply by relying on big-buck marketing campaigns and celebrity endorsements. But true innovation has stalled in the past two years, according to executives at mobile groups who complain about the lack of differentiation on offer to customers. Telecommunications executives fear there will be more of the same this year, with little in the plans outlined in confidence by handset makers

agenda

so far suggesting much will change. One telecoms executive linked to the smartphone makers, predicts there will be mostly incremental improvements on previous ranges. Phones will be updated with sharper screens, faster processing and more precise cameras, she says. But they are largely the same shape and broadly the same size. “The main trend next year will be how the phone looks and feels, as well as with improvements to the battery life and camera,” she says, pointing to devices featuring dual cameras to provide greater depth to photos. Instead, consumers can expect to get better deals on more expensive devices, with Chinese smartphone makers such as Huawei expected to continue to grow market share with phones offering the

same sort of features as those from Apple and Samsung but at a lower price. Chinese manufacturers are “making handsets a commodity, with high specifications at an affordable price”, says one telecoms executive. However, the most excitement will come from the titans of the industry — Apple and Samsung — which will continue to slug it out with the most high-profile launches of the year. Apple will almost certainly launch an iPhone 7 — probably in the autumn — while Samsung will find room for the Galaxy S7, launched at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Spain in February. Both manufacturers are said to be developing pressure-sensitive screens, so the strength of the users’ touch can let loose a range of added menus.

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“The main trend next year will be how the phone looks and feels, as well as with improvements to the battery life and camera,”

LG, Huawei and HTC are also expected to unveil new handsets in the spring to avoid clashing with Apple. Sony, whose future in the market has been questioned given sluggish sales, is predicted to fight on with the Xperia Z6, while Google will continue to update its Nexus range. Poor sales have also led analysts to ask if Microsoft has the appetite to keep the Windows phone franchise going. One boost, according to analysts at CCS Insight, would be if chipmaker Intel supports Windows 10 mobile in 2016. Qualcomm, the other big US chipmaker, already supports Windows 10 phones, and such a move by Intel might encourage more manufacturers to do likewise. However, there is always the chance of a surprise. CCS Insight predicts at least one manufacturer will offer a “radical new smartphone design using free-form (nonrectangular) display technology in 2016”. CCS says that mobile phones have been constrained by the need for a rectangular display, but that free-form display technology from suppliers such as Sharp will break this mould. Other innovations will emerge in connected wearable devices, according to telecoms executives, even if some still question whether there is consumer demand for more smartwatches. CCS sees niches opening in the wearables sector, such as pharmaceutical companies making disposable devices part of medical prescriptions to remind the wearer to take medication, or suggest different dosages depending on data gathered by the band. However, CCS says that the most popular wearables will have a fitness theme, such as the Fitbit fitness tracker band. Devices that track children are also expected to become more popular. CCS expects Google to develop a version of Android Wear to offer low-cost fitness bands, including its own “Nexus Band”, which will generate data that can be used for advertising sales. Virtual reality is also likely to be a prominent theme, with low-cost headsets that can link up with the Samsung smartphone range, which will be available for gaming and movie watching.

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Isle of Man | Home & Interiors | March 2016

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

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FEATURED PROPERTY

BALLATERSON MANOR BALLATERSON MANOR, BALLATERSON BEG, BALLAUGH - £1,650,000

B Manor is one of

available today on O M Groves.

A former Manor House, Ballaterson sits at the end of a road bearing its name and at the end of a gated and private tree lined driveway, just 5 minutes outside of Ballaugh, 15 from Ramsey, 30 from Douglas and 35 minutes to the Airport. Set in approximately 3 acres of its own formal and landscaped gardens. Having undergone an extensive renovation programme, the current owners have coupled the elegance of the original Manor with the comfort of modern day living with new windows, zonal heating system and a new roof. The accommodation comprises of an entrance porch, Barovian reception hall with stunning galleried landing, four lounges, a fully fitted study by Neville Johnson (making it ideal for those wishing to work from home), a large master bedroom suite with a small lounge and feature log burning stove, dressing room and en-suite. Alternatively, this suite is suitable for short or long term use by guests or relatives.

Additionally there is a large lounge, dining room, family room, fully equipped contemporary kitchen with choice of cooking options (either Aga or electric oven) and a conservatory off to the ground floor. Above the hall, accessible via the mahogany staircase, are four large double bedrooms (three of which are en-suite) and an additional family bathroom. To the right of the house lies a separate detached double garage in addition to ample car parking to the front and side of the house. There is also an external dog kennel/ run. Of the property, Cowley Groves Director Mark Canty says, “after over 17 years in the job, it takes a lot to impress me in a property. But Ballaterson surpasses anything I have seen”. He continues by saying, “it’s a real privilege to be offering this property for sale and rent. I know it is an often over used expression by agents, but viewing really is recommended to take in the beauty of this sumptuous house and stunning rural location.” For further information contact Mark

01624 625888

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The property comprises… n Historic charm with contemporary comforts n 5 Bedrooms (4 en-suite) n 4 Reception Rooms n Private rural location with electric gates providing access n 3 acres of easily managed gardens including external vegetable plots,

n Dog kennel, potting shed and greenhouse n 3 zoned Wi-Fi system to ensure uninterrupted service throughout the property n Sonos wired TV/ Hi-Fi system within the garden room which could be extended around the house.

THE ISLE OF MAN’S LEADING INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENT

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HOW WE CAN HELP TURN YOUR IDEAS IN TO REALITY Cubbin & Bregazzi are the Isle of Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier interior design company with the widest selection of luxury furniture brands from around the world. We have come a long way since we opened our doors back in 1935 and we now offer a range of services to help our clients create the home or workplace of their dreams.

Our friendly and professional interior design department can assist you with the following services: Wallpaper, Paint and Fabrics we have the finest library of wallpaper and fabrics on the Island which is open 6 days a week for anyone to come and browse through. We have a huge selection which covers most styles and budgets. There is always someone on hand to point you in the right direction. Curtains, Blinds and Soft Furnishings we have full make-up services available for any window treatments, re-upholstery, cushions etc. We are more than happy to provide free quotations for this service. Interior Decor Advice A lot of people do not require much more than assistance in finding the right products and a reassurance in their own design ideas. We are happy to help in store... to advance even the smallest of projects Interior Design Service We offer a full range of services in this department from on-site advice to a full technical design and supply service. We can help with architectural plans, lighting and services, floor finishes, kitchens and bathrooms as well as our core services listed above.Most peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs are different so we offer a free consultation to discuss how we might help best on an any specific project. To get full

benefit from this it is key this consultation happens as early as possible in any project, preferably at the plan stage. Commercial Interiors Many of our interior projects are in the commercial sphere. Our strength is our ability to integrate technical and practical requirements within a well designed environment. We have developed a number of close working relationships with specialised contractors so that the design and construction are harmonious. Project Management and Supervision We provide a range of services in this area from design led consultation to full realisation of a project from the planning stages to turnkey occupation. From our analysis of what our clients require, we deliver high quality design while keeping control of costs and timing. Our unique approach carefully manages any risks involved and keeps potential stress to a minimum, leaving you to focus on what it is you really want and need.

Please contact our showroom on 617788 or email sandy@cubbinandbregazzi.com for an appointment for any of the above services. You can also call in to our showroom Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm and Saturday 10am to 5pm.

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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

FEATURED PROPERTY

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BALLAGAREY, RAMSEY ROAD, LAXEY

* * * * * * * * *

ROYAL AR * * * * * * * * * B

RAMSEY

Immaculately presented and decorated detached family house High quality fixtures and fittings, solid oak doors throughout Well designed and tastefully decorated accommodation Porch, Reception Hall, Cloakroom, Lounge with bay windows Dining Room, open-plan Dining Kitchen, Conservatory, Utility Luxury Master Bedroom Suite with En Suite & Dressing Room 4 more double Bedrooms, En Suite & Family Bathroom Double Garage and off road parking Viewing highly recommended

G C V S D T: 01624 645555 W

Superbly presented detached dormer bungalow Situated on a large mature plot in an elevated position Panoramic views over Laxey Village and Bay 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 with parking for 2 cars Gas central heating & uPVC double glazing Viewing highly recommended B G C V S D IM LD T: 01624 645555 W

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Monthly spending going up and up? Bills and mortgage payments soon add up. Keep your repayments down by fixing your mortgage for the next 2 years.

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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 31.05.18. Other products are available.

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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 (01.03.2016). Subject to availability. Over 18â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only. Security required. Calls may be recorded.

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FOXDALE S Superb value

This stunning former show home with garage provides a superb level of specification and living accommodation, just 15 minutes from the centre of Douglas. VIEWING HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. PRICE INCLUDES... * Luxury kitchen by top German manufacturer with stone worktops and integrated appliances * Luxurious bathrooms and en-suites * Stylish fitted wardrobes * ALL Carpets, flooring and curtains * ALL light fittings * Landscaped front and rear gardens * Integral single garage

Offering superb value, this detached 4 bedroom home comes complete with: all light fittings, curtains, blinds, floor and wall coverings, a fabulous fitted kitchen with stone worktops and quality appliances, tiled bathrooms and en-suites, fitted wardrobes and is finished to an exceptional level of presentation. Premium quality fittings, a superior level of specification and meticulous attention to detail has resulted in the highest levels of finish throughout this superb, energy efficient family home, which has been designed and constructed to award-winning standards DANDARA TEL: 615000 EMAIL: iomsales@dandara.com

LONAN Sought after location This superbly appointed 4 bedroom detached home is located in a quiet cul-de-sac in the pretty village of Lonan, just 15 minutes from the centre of Douglas. Featuring a fantastic fitted kitchen by top German manufacturer with stone worktops and quality appliances, this energy efficient new build home is finished to an exceptional standard and includes a high level of specification with tiled bathrooms and en-suites, fitted wardrobes and floor coverings. Living accommodation comprises: living room with double doors through to the open plan kitchen-dining room, study, downstairs WC and utility; upstairs there are four double bedrooms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the master bedroom is ensuite â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and a contemporary family bathroom with heated towel rails and integral storage. VIEWING HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. PRICE INCLUDES: * Luxury kitchen by top German manufacturer with stone worktops and integrated appliances * Luxurious bathrooms and en-suites * Stylish fitted wardrobes

* ALL carpets, flooring and curtains * ALL light fittings * Landscaped front and rear gardens * Integral single garage DANDARA TEL: 615000 EMAIL: iomsales@dandara.com ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

STUNNING HOMES READY TO MOVE IN This impressive 4 bedroom detached home features a separate dining room, study, family room and open-plan breakfast/ kitchen with bi fold doors leading into the garden.

THE OAK

THE CEDAR

A spacious 4 bedroom detached home at Reayrt ny Cronk with single garage, study, breakfast/ kitchen, dining room and sunroom with bi fold doors leading into the garden.

N A N LO

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£474,950

LE A XD FO

P ER OR IN T

£589,950

THE SILVERDALE

THE OAK

THE LAUREL

THE ROWAN

£544,950

£454,950

£451,950

£464,950

A 4 bedroom detached home with integral single garage. Includes sunroom, carpets, wallpaper, curtains and soft furnishings.

A popular four-bedroom detached home with a fantastic open-plan kitchen-dining room. LAST ONE REMAINING

RA M

U G

LA S

A 4 bedroom detached home with garage. Includes light fittings, carpets, wallpaper, soft furnishings and fire surround.

P ER OR IN T

A spacious five bedroom detached home, featuring a large formal living room, separate dining room and sunroom.

To find out more please contact our Sales Team:

01624 615000 MAINE COURT

QUAY WEST

THE ASH 2

£397,500

£329,950

£182,950

Award winning 4 bedroom, three storey townhouses, minutes from the beach and Port Erin town centre.

2 bedroom award winning apartments with river view, minutes away from the town centre, bars and restaurants.

A 2 bedroom mews home with parking, featuring a contemporary open-plan kitchen-dining room with direct access to rear garden.

Specification may vary subject to house type and build stage. Full details available on request. Prices and details correct at time of going to print. Image indicative only.

iomsales@dandara.com or visit dandara.com

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Spectrum Apartments No 14, Douglas 63 Ballacottier Meadows, Douglas Sunnycrest, Poplar Raod, Douglas Majestic Apartments No 87, Douglas

Local properties at your fingertips www.blackgracecowley.com

* Easily managed ground floor studio apartment * Ideally located for town centre living and working * Studio Living/Bedroom, Kitchen and attractive modern Bath room * Electric heating system * Allocated car parking space

* Pleasant modern semi-detached house * INVESTMENT opportunity tenanted till October 2016 producing £950 pcm * Gas central heating and uPVC double glazing * Hall, Lounge, Dining Kitchen, 3 Bedrooms and Bathroom * Lawned gardens to the front and rear plus 2 car drive

£385,000

* * * * *

Charming detached property sat in mature private plot 3 Bedrooms, 2 Reception Room, 1 Bathroom 2 additional Storage Rooms Detached double Garage; off road parking Well established gardens and surrounds

9 Atholl Place, Peel, Isle of Man, IM5 1HE

£249,950

£99,950

01624 845696

£599,000

* * * * *

Magnificently situated first floor apartment with sea views Living Room/Dining Room featuring a spacious balcony Overlooking manicured communal gardens and coast Lavishly appointed Kitchen, 2 Bedrooms, En Suite Wet Room Family Bathroom and Cloakroom, generous storage through out * Communal grounds features seating areas, a pagoda and pond

51 Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2LD

01624 645555 ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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FOR RENT

BALLATERSON MANOR, BALLATERSON BEG, BALLAUGH I FOR RENT AT £3,750 PCM

thoroughly modernised 5 bedroomed Manor House situated in a stunning rural location, 15 minutes from Ramsey, 30 minutes from Douglas and 35 minutes from the airport.

Key Features * Partially furnished and available for immediate occupation. * Three zoned Wi-Fi system to ensure uninterrupted service throughout the property. * Large Barovian entrance hall and feature fireplace, leading to 4.

* Above the hall, are four large double bedrooms (three of which are en-suite) and an additional family bathroom. * To the right of the house lies a separate detached double garage with further car parking to the front and side of the house.

further reception rooms, impressive family kitchen (with oven

* Electric gates provide access to the property which lies in three.

and Aga), fully fitted study (ideal for someone looking to work

acres of easily managed gardens including external vegetable

from home) and large master suite on the ground floor.

plots, dog kennel, potting shed and greenhouse.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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FASHION

BEAUTY FACE TO FACE with elegance. THIS IS THE STORY OF ITALIAN JEWELLERY BRAND FOPE AND ONE IT TELLS AND RE-TELLS, RENEWING AND REFRESHING IT FOR EACH SEASON THAT PASSES WITH SPECTACULAR GOLD AND DIAMOND JEWELLERY COLLECTIONS THAT DEFINE NEW RULES OF STYLE FOR OUR TIME. At their headquarters in Vicenza, Italy, FOPE’s exquisite 18ct gold creations are entirely designed, crafted and finished under one roof by the same family that first founded the brand in 1929 when they first opened their jewellery workshop producing watch castings and bracelets for other companies; something they continued to do until the 1970’s. It was then that they developed their own “Novecento” chain – the chain that forms the basis of all their collections.

www.wilkinsthejeweller.co.uk

Now under the guidance of the third and fourth generations of the family with Umberto Cazzola at the helm, FOPE has become a tour de force in the jewellery industry; developing their own equipment and keeping their entire production inhouse in order to protect their core values of innovation, original design and to be truly “Made in Italy”.

Umberto Cazzola spends his days working on his machinery and developing new technologies but he is not the only member of the family involved in the business. His wife, Marilisa is in charge of design and their daughter, Giulia, is the company’s marketing director. The original family business ethos is still very much apparent today and walking around the factory it is hard to ignore the feeling that everyone is very much a part of that family, working together to create their exceptional products. The headquarters for FOPE in Vicenza is a self-contained jewellery factory; the three floors all serve a purpose to ensure the creation of high-quality, intricately designed 18ct gold and diamond jewellery. From design to creation, the journey of each piece of jewellery is meticulously observed by all involved in the process, from the designers of each individual collection to the engineers who have developed the machines to create them. Each process is overseen by Umberto Cazzola who can be found on site each day. His passion finds him developing and modifying the machines that serve as a crucial part of the production of the jewellery. FOPE dedicates a considerable space in their factory to the design and

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

FASHION

improvement of technology and machinery necessary to create their jewellery. THE PROCESSES ARE A CLOSELY GUARDED SECRET WITHIN THE FACTORY WALLS AND IT IS THIS INNOVATIVE MENTALITY THAT HAS PUSHED THE FOPE BRAND TO THE VERY FOREFRONT OF JEWELLERY INNOVATION. On the ground floor the foundry casts the raw gold into sheets that are passed through special cylinders which ensure the metal is only a few millimetres thick before forging; this process releases internal tensions within the metal to harden it. The metal is then pressed into the links and springs that are then hand crafted into meters of the patented FOPE chain. This chain can then be shortened by hand to create the desired length of bracelets and necklaces and then finished with clasps and plain or diamond set rondels. The only process that is not carried out within the walls of the FOPE building is the setting of their diamonds. This is carried out by professional setters in the local area using stones sourced by FOPE. The diamonds used by FOPE are the highest quality D/E colour, VS1 stones. The fifteen goldsmiths employed by FOPE are all highly skilled and trained in various parts of the production process to ensure diversity in their working day. This relatively small workforce produce and supply all the jewellery which is then sent

to retailers in over 50 countries worldwide. FOPE pays close attention to hand-finishing all their pieces with their dedicated team who work on each piece individually. This is mirrored in their after sales procedures with all repair work and alterations being done in house by the same people who finish the pieces in the beginning. Quality control is the final stage of each piece’s journey with a dedicated team that check and package each piece ready for it to be shipped to the retailer. It is this attention to detail that really cements FOPE’s values to never compromise on quality in all aspects of their business. It is the original ‘Novecento’ chain that has formed the basis for their innovative and patented gold spring ‘Flex-It’ bracelets, first released in 2007, which feature 18ct gold springs that allow the wearer to roll their jewellery on and off the hand with ease. The springs have been tested thoroughly to ensure their strength and flexibility is maintained over time with the springs

undergoing 20,000 ‘flexes’ to guarantee their quality. This spring system is now used in all the FOPE bracelet collections. FOPE has been surprising us for nearly a century with their creative and innovative processes for creating the most beautiful jewellery. FOPE embodies the Italian lifestyle with luxurious but wearable designs that are meant to be enjoyed by women who value quality, elegance and art. The beautifully flexible pieces are perfect to be worn as a collection, every day, for an understated elegance that reflects the beautiful country of which they originate.

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

www.wilkinsthejeweller.co.uk

www.wilkinsthejeweller.co.uk BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

FASHION

PLAYING WITH LAYERS D layers? Do they have a knack of

that?’

’ I

of life too. H

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Get the look 86

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

FASHION

STYLE STEAL

JUMP TO IT

Gok Wan has looked to trendy Scandinavia for inspiration for his latest Tu collection. Clean lines, marble prints, pastels and navy combine in this easy-to-wear, officefriendly selection, and prices start from just £10.

Rather than wearing a blazer over a jumpsuit, try pushing up the sleeves and layering a long-sleeved top underneath. Casual ‘boiler suit’ styles in denim or khaki tend to work better for this look, but adding a pair of jazzy heels makes it street style-worthy.

:: Gok Navy 2-in-1 Woven Jumper, £28 (www.sainsburys.co.uk/tu)

:: Les Petits Prix All-in-one Printed Long-sleeved Trouser Suit, currently reduced to £17.40 from £29; R Essential Skinny Rib Jumper, £22; Mademoiselle R High Heeled Court Shoes with Ankle Strap, £49 (www.laredoute.co.uk)

SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE The coolest way to colour block now? With pieces split on the vertical.

TO THE MAX

All those spring/summer maxi dresses landing in stores at the moment look tempting, don’t they? The good news is, all it takes is the addition of the right blouse to make an otherwise summery frock ready to wear now. Look for styles with high necks rather than skimpy straps, and pair with fitted Victoriana or Peter Pan collar blouses, in fluid fabrics that won’t be too bulky underneath. Linea Black Broderie Maxi Dress, £99; Biba Ivory Lace Collar Shirt, £79 (www.houseoffraser.co.uk)

A bright 50-50 frock is a great way to add a splash of colour without going the whole hog, while a monochrome minidress spells a chic Sixties vibe. And a versatile half-and-half shopper is ideal with your favourite trench there’s nothing like a new bag to put a spring in your step.

:: Kaleidoscope Zip Colour Block Dress, currently reduced to £39 from £49 (www.kaleidoscope.co.uk)

ven when she’s not treading the red carpet, Amal Clooney always manages to look immaculate, with her staple of sleek, below-the-knee frocks. Recently, the human rights lawyer was pictured in a boat neck plum S Dress, which is designed to give a comfortable slimming effect - not that Mrs Clooney needs it.

If the acclaimed Gucci SS16 collection is anything to go by, a sheer blouse is a must for spring. Pair Very’s Red Floral Shirt, £29, with a skinny ribbon tie, and tuck into high-waisted trousers to complete the geeky-chic look (available March 4; www.very.co.uk).

Myleene Klass almost looked like an extra from Zoolander 2 at the film’s London premiere recently, in a pink latex skirt and plunging net top. For a less risque version, try River Island’s pretty salmon Leatherlook Pelmet Skirt, £28 (www.riverisland.com).

:: S Dress Ava Contrast Detail Black Dress, £495 (www.sdress.com) BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

WORDS | Ben Brooker

The Spa is an exciting new addition to enhance the facilities we already offer and will sit alongside our varied workshops in personal, physical and spiritual development.

BEAUTY

the Spa BRIGHTLIFE PROUDLY PRESENTS

A NEW SPA HAS OPENED ON OUR ISLAND OFFERING A RANGE OF BESPOKE HOLISTIC TREATMENTS AND WELLNESS PACKAGES. Situated near Andreas village amidst rolling countryside with unrivalled views of the Northern hills, Brightlife has an air of calm that descends and envelops you the moment you enter the tree lined driveway. Brightlife’s aim is to ease stress and rejuvenate the mind body and soul. Managing Director Suzie Bregazzi (FCCA) explains “The Spa is an exciting new addition to enhance the facilities we already offer and will sit alongside our varied workshops in personal, physical and spiritual development.” Unveiled in December 2015, the launch of The Spa has been a resounding success. With 5 treatment rooms (including one double room), a luxury hydropool, sauna and aromatic steamroom, the facilities offer a 5* Spa experience without having the added expense of having to travel off Island.

Director of Operations, Julie Watson states “We wanted to create something that would exceed people’s expectations but also retain a sense of familiarity, the personal touch is an intrinsic part of what we do at Brightlife." Brightlife have introduce seaweed skincare brand VOYA and have been working closely with VOYA’s team to create a bespoke, organic treatment menu that includes the Foot Retreat Ritual, Ocean Fresh Facial Experience, Ocean Essence Wrap, Lavender and Seaweed Sugar Glow and the VOYA Total Massage Journey to name but a few. Asked why VOYA was chosen over many of the other higher profile products on the market, Suzie states “At Brightlife we have always had a holistic approach to well-being and VOYA’s company ethos echoed ours in many ways. We knew VOYA was perfect for The Spa, the fact that is gentle enough to be used on all skin types only further confirms the outstanding quality of the organic ingredients.”

So what else does Brightlife have to offer? If you are unsure about committing to a weekend of learning and enlightenment, most of the workshops offer a supper night where you can dip your toe in and have a brief insight into what the workshops cover whilst enjoying a delicious array of home-cooked dishes. With a beautifully appointed and newly-decorated boardroom, various breakout rooms, exquisite food and 5* accommodation, Brightlife also lends itself as a high class and bespoke corporate facility for team building, management retreats, meetings and other corporate events. THE SPA IS OPEN TUESDAY TO SUNDAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SPA PACKAGES, WORKSHOPS, SUPPER EVENINGS AND CORPORATE FACILITIES VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT www.brightlife.com

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

BEAUTY

WINE STAINS

SPRING BEAUTY TRENDS TO TRY NOW

GET THE BLUES

Every season has a dominant colour, this time around make-up artists made a beeline for blue, mainly on the eyes. Missoni’s models had opaque cyan eyelids and Issey Miyake’s were daubed with aquatic splatters. Jonathan Saunders opted for smudged Yves Klein eyeliner, while at Chanel an eye mask of powdery shadow was buffed on. TRY IT NOW: Lancome Anthony Vaccarello Hypnose Eyeshadow Palette in Blue Mania, £38, offers a trio of blue hues to play with. (www.lancome.co.uk).

It’s rare that this happens, but almost every beauty trend that surfaced from the spring/summer fashion shows was summed up by the models at Marc Jacobs. Damp, dishevelled hair pinned precariously with a barrette; a hint of blue in the corner of the eye; purposely clumpy mascara and ‘bitten’ lips - it was all there. Sounds kind of a mess, though, doesn’t it? But, examined in isolation, there were some very appealing elements at work on Jacobs’ mussed-up maidens, and techniques that you can - and should - try at home. This season, unleash your rebellious streak and run wild with pretty-punk abandon. WETTER THE BETTER

Marc Jacobs’ wasn’t the only show where models sported decidedly dewy complexions. At Prabal Gurung and Simone Rocha, foundation was ditched altogether in favour of moisturiser and concealer to let the skin shine through, and ‘strobing’ cream products were spotted in many make-up kits. Hair stylists got in on the act too, with slicked back, almost dripping wet locks at Julien Macdonald, and saturated hair curled into an updo at Sophia Webster. TRY IT NOW: Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer, £20.50, gives ample shine without the weight. (www.bumbleandbumble.co.uk).

With all those doe-eyed dolls around, lips mostly took a backseat in the make-up department this season, but there were a handful of notable exceptions. Anna Sui, Givenchy and Burberry all showed gorgeously dense burgundy pouts, chiming with that going-against-the-grain spring spirit. TRY IT NOW: Make it matte with Burberry Kisses Lip Velvet in Oxblood, £26. (www.burberry.com).

BUY IT NOW

Does your skin start to flake at the first sign of a cold snap? Rather than switching to a heavier moisturiser, a creamier serum could make all the difference. Erborian Elixir Au Ginseng, £80, is a light and milky liquid that, applied after cleansing and before moisturising, gives a double dose of hydration. (www.erborian.com). Get to work on your wobbly bits with Champneys’ five-piece skin-smoothing set. Detox-In-A-Box, £30 (though actual contents worth £43.50), contains all the seaweed-infused scrubs, mud and body butter you need, plus a massaging tool. (www.boots.com).

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

APPETITE

RECIPES

Recipes WE’RE ALL ABOUT GOOD RECIPES, AND ABOUT QUALITY HOME COO ING THAT EVERYONE CAN EN OY SATISFY YOUR SOUL WITH THESE DELICIOUS RECIPES TO TRY AT HOME.

MUSHROOM AND CHILLI BEEF LASAGNE n 2tbsp olive oil n 1 onion, diced n 2 cloves garlic, chopped n 1tsp chilli powder, hot or mild n 2tsp ground cumin n 1tsp ground coriander n 500g lean minced beef n 2tbsp tomato puree

n 1 x 390g carton chopped tomatoes n 400g chestnut mushrooms, sliced n Juice of one lime n Salt and freshly ground black pepper n 4 large wholemeal tortilla wraps n 30g low-fat cheddar, grated n 8tbsp half-fat creme fraiche

Heat the oil in a saucepan, then add the onion. Cook for two minutes until starting to soften. Add the garlic, chilli powder, cumin and coriander. Stir well and cook for one minute. Add the beef, coat in the spices and brown.

once cooked. Season with salt and pepper and add a dash of lime juice.

Once the meat has browned, add the tomato puree, tinned tomatoes and mushrooms. Fill half the empty tomato tin with water and add this to the pan, stir well, then cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. It should be thick, not watery,

Pre-heat the oven to 180c/ Gas mark 4. Place two of the wraps in the bottom of the dish, top with half the beef mix followed by a handful of grated cheddar and a few dollops of creme fraiche. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and beef, finishing with cheese and creme fraiche, then bake for 25 - 30 minutes. ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

APPETITE

GOAT’S CHEESE FRITTATA WITH ROCKET GREMOLATA

(Serves 4) n 8 eggs n 250ml single cream n 250ml milk n 80g finely grated Parmesan n Sea salt and cracked black pepper n 200g soft goat’s cheese or goat’s curd n 2tsp lemon thyme leaves For the rocket gremolata: n 90g rocket leaves, shredded n 20g flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped n 1 heaped tbsp finely grated lemon zest n 1 generous tbsp extra virgin olive oil Preheat oven to 180C. To make the rocket gremolata, place the rocket, parsley, lemon zest and oil in a bowl and stir to combine. Set aside. Place the eggs, cream, milk, parmesan, salt and pepper in a bowl and whisk to combine. Pour into a 1.5L ovenproof dish. Top the frittata with spoonfuls of goat’s cheese and sprinkle with the thyme. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the frittata is almost set. Remove from the oven and stand for five minutes. Cut the frittata into wedges and serve with the gremolata.

SHERRY-ROASTED LAMB (Serves 6-8)

n 16 sprigs thyme n 16 sprigs oregano n 1 x 2.2kg lamb leg, trimmed n Sea salt and cracked black pepper n 500ml sweet sherry n 2 generous tbsp apple cider vinegar n 250ml beef stock 2 heaped tbsp brown sugar n 1tsp juniper berries n 12 cloves garlic, skin on n 8 shallots, peeled Preheat oven to 200C. Tie the thyme and oregano around the lamb using kitchen string and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the sherry, vinegar, stock, sugar, juniper, garlic and shallots in a baking dish and top with the lamb. Roast for 20-30 minutes or until the lamb is golden. Turn, cook for a further 20 minutes, turn again and cook for a final 20 minutes, or until the lamb is cooked to your liking. Remove the lamb from the baking dish, cover and set aside. Skim the fat from the surface of the pan juices and discard. Slice the lamb and spoon over some of the pan juices to serve.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

APPETITE

The Origin of the Cocktail Jamie Lewis takes a look at the alcoholic origins of the increasingly popular Cocktail and offers an ‘Old Fashioned’ experience along the way. Cocktails! Seen by many as the art of throwing bottles around aimlessly, mixing them in the shaker from the back of the kitchen cupboard and hoping the end result is something palatable. The cocktail’s origin is, however, so much more than that. Its origin can actually be traced back thousands of years BC, when ancient Egyptians used to brew and flavour alcohol with herbs and fruits for medicinal purposes. As time progressed, so did alcohol and by the 16th century alcohol was being produced and consumed on a larger scale for recreational purposes, think Game of Thrones-esque mead fuelled debauchery. In 17th century Britain, the most common causes of death were water-borne pathogens, the only known prevention of which being a daily dose of alcohol. A typical ‘balanced’ and ‘nutritional’ breakfast for example consisted of a small porridgethick, unfiltered beer around 2 per cent ABV. Following a year of good harvests, the nation was left with a surplus of grain. In 1688, following the Glorious Revolution, King William of Orange ascended the Throne and declared “for the health of the nation” a reduction in distillation taxes, almost overnight turning a nation of ale and cider drinkers to neutral grain spirit distillers, with around 500,000 gallons being produced the following year. By today’s standards this is around 2.7 million bottles of gin!

Recipe: Old Fashioned

Ingredients: 60ml Bourbon Whiskey (I like Evan Williams or Maker’s Mark) 1 x Demerara Sugar Cube 1 x dash Angostura Bitters 1 x dash Orange Bitters 1 x cocktail cherry & orange (for garnish) Method: 1) Place all ingredients in a mixing glass, break up the sugar cube and continuously stir until all the sugar has dissolved. 2) Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir for approximately thirty revolutions to achieve the perfect dilution. 3) Strain over fresh ice into a 10oz whisky tumbler and garnish with a cocktail cherry and a twist of orange peel, spraying the oils from the orange peel over the glass for aroma. 4) Drink 5) Repeat steps 1, 2, 3 & 4. Jamie Lewis is general manager of Bath & Bottle in Douglas

The sudden abundance of hard alcohol meant that in subsequent years crude versions of punches, toddies and slings continued to be consumed both socially and medicinally, to prevent and cure all sorts of ailments. Over the next four decades the lines between social and medicinal consumption continued to blur and by the 1720’s it was estimated that one in every four ‘habitable structures’ in London housed a working gin still.

good intentions, the city was plunged into an 18th-century equivalent of a crack cocaine epidemic. Over the next 30 or so years, higher taxes were imposed on the production of gin in an attempt to tame the ensuing havoc. It was this epidemic that earned gin the pseudonym ‘Mother’s Ruin’; noting that not even maternal instinct had survived the ravages of gin.

In stark contrast to King William’s original

The origin of the word ‘cocktail’ itself is

the subject of much contention. One theory holds that the name is said to have derived from the term “cock tailings”, the practice of a tavern owner combining the dregs (tailings) of empty barrels together - the spout through which the tailings passed was called the ‘cock - to create a more stimulating serve. It wasn’t long before people started referring to mixed drinks as cocktails and it was around the mid 1800’s that classic cocktails such as the Sazerac and the Martinez arrived on the scene, ushering in a new wave of mixology and a new generation of cocktails to boot. In 1862, the first book to contain a section of cocktail recipes went into print. Jerry Thomas’ Bar-Tender’s Guide earned the American the title of the father of modern bartending, his book is still in print today. The original definition of the ‘cocktail’ remains somewhat unchanged even today. All cocktails contain an alcoholic, sweet, bitter and water component, combining to create the desired balance. One cocktail that sums up this ideology perfectly is the ‘Old Fashioned’ (recipe below). The ‘Old Fashioned’ was born from the 1806 definition, its formula was tampered with over the years and by the 1880s its original recipe came back into vogue as people began to ask for the old fashioned version of their favourite whiskey cocktail. The 20th century marked the pinnacle of the cocktail’s golden age, a time when Americans and Europeans alike learned to love mixed drinks. Creative serves, theatrical presentation and new interesting flavour profiles helped build enthusiasm for alcohol. Bartenders around the world today remain ever thankful for the foundation laid during this period in history, the classics they say, never truly die. ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

APPETITE

Haworths at The Regency Words: Suzy Holland

also snacks or the full dinner menu as room service, all at the same impeccable standard of modern cuisine. And the bill won’t make your eyes water – fine dining isn’t cheap, but Carl knows that whatever your budget, if you leave feeling you haven’t had good value for money you won’t return. This is not the first time Carl and Renée have run a hotel restaurant, and they are delighted to now be at The Regency.

Chef Carl Haworth and his wife Renée have been running the restaurant at The Regency Hotel on Queen’s Promenade in Douglas for nearly six months, and are relishing the opportunity to be part of The Regency ‘family’, and to be able to offer modern, fine dining to both hotel guests and a wider public. The restaurant at The Regency has long been a benchmark of excellent cuisine, and arguably the best kept secret in the Isle of Man. Carl and Renée – working with established restaurant manager James – know that being out of the hustle and bustle of Douglas is actually a big advantage: you might not just wander in on a night out or for a quick lunch, but you’ll be very glad you made the effort. Carl’s menus include standard fare – steaks, fish & chips –all cooked to perfection. Or you can select from a more elaborate a la carte menu which changes according to the season and the best ingredients available. BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

Whichever you choose, Renée and James agree customer service is part of the whole dining experience – they are on hand to advise, or, if you prefer, leave you alone. Haworths also offers lunches, private dining or bar snacks, and even a full-service breakfast for those important breakfast meetings – and for hotel guests there are

“Running a hotel restaurant is a very special challenge”, says Renée. “Guests, many of whom stay in hotels around the world, already return to The Regency time and time again because of the welcome they receive, and we know that Haworths plays a big part in that.” “But we don’t want to keep Haworths a secret,” she adds. “We want to extend the Regency, and Haworths, welcome to the Isle of Man’s own discerning diners with food you’ll love, and an extraordinary level service which will make you feel like part of our family.”

APPETITE

WORDS | Anne Berry | The Wine Cellar

CO-OPERATIVE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT PAST, THE WORDS ‘CO-OPERATIVE WINE’ GENERALLY INDICATED A WINE THAT WAS OF LOW QUALITY, WOULD INVARIABLY BE INEXPENSIVE, DULL AND MOST LIKELY HEADACHE INDUCING! Thankfully, changes in attitudes and winemaking ability mean that modern co-operatives are now seen as sources of excellent quality wines In some regions of Europe, co-operatives offer the perfect solution to small producers who cannot afford to or do not wish to invest in their own equipment. The partnerships between growers and winemakers are long term and both trust each other to have the desire to produce the best quality wine possible. A winemaker cannot make a good wine if his raw materials are not good to start with. One such example is in Alsace, a region made up of small villages, each with numerous growers owning plots of land in varying sizes. Many of these long established traditional family growers would not survive individually in the current market. Sharing the production and marketing costs with other like-minded growers and passionate winemakers means allows them all to survive, and even thrive, with the support and back up of the well established co-operative. For 60 years, Cave de Turckheim has been operating from the village of Turckheim, situated to the north west of Colmar. It is widely regarded as one of the best cooperatives in the world, and has established itself as a quality-focused producer. Their senior winemaker has been there for over 25 years and, during that time, has developed excellent working partnerships with the 216 member growers. The winery benefits from state-of-the-art equipment and now produces around 8 to 10 million bottles per year. The region’s uniquely dry terroir has allowed the cooperative to successfully implement a more environmentally friendly approach.

Members have reduced the use of pesticides, soil treatments, water and energy consumption which ensures the sustainable production of high quality grapes with minimal environmental impact. Riesling Vieilles Vignes 2011 Cave de Turckheim (£11.25)

rather severe and arid, with hot dry days, and cool nights - which allow optimium acidity levels to be maintained within the grapes. Garnacha thrives in these conditions and represents 80% of total production. Borsao has access to a large selection of vineyard plots at different altitudes, and hence to a wide range of great quality grapes. They are recognised for their easy-to-drink inexpensive wines as well as for their premium wines, in particular the iconic, multi award winning Tres Picos. Borsao Garnacha Tinto has to among the best value wines in the UK, at just £6.35 a bottle.

Produced from selected 35 year old vines this is a wine of immense concentration and depth of flavour. Although dry, it is rich and full of citrus and exotic fruit flavours. While it would be very easy to drink this by itself, it would also be the perfect accompaniment to Thai food, Sushi and richly flavoured risottos. Another country where co-operatives have changed beyond all recognition during the last decade is Spain. Bodegas Borsao was establised in 1959. In 2001 it joined with two other progressive co-operatives in the Campo de Borja region. Grapes are sourced from over 700 member growers covering 2,400 hectares - nearly a third of the region’s total. Vineyards lie in the undulating foothills of the Moncayo mountain, ranging from 350m to 850m above sea level. At lower levels vines are newer and may undergo some irrigation, but higher up the slopes the vines are older, unirrigated bush vines. The climate is

Packed with intense and well-defined rich plum and red berry flavours with balanced tannin and acidity. It is an easy drinking red that can be enjoyed on its own but also works well with grilled meats, cheese and general tapas. Tres Picos is an example of serious Garnacha. It has a wonderful bouquet of mature red fruits with floral notes that are typical of the best Garnachas. The palate is rich and wellstructured showing flavours of blackberries, strawberries and tones of leather and vanilla all perfectly combined with a sweet and pleasant tannin leading to a fresh, balanced finish. It tastes far more expensive that its £14.25 price tag and is a shining example of how far Co-operative wines have advanced in just a few years!

THE WINE CELLAR • TENNIS ROAD • DOUGLAS • IM2 3QW TELEPHONE: 01624 611793 • EMAIL: anne@thewinecellar.im

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

SPORT

WORLD MOUNTAIN BIKE TRIALS ATHLETE TO APPEAR IN ISLE OF MAN CYCLEFEST ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME One of the UK’s most successful Mountain bike trials athletes, Andrei Burton, will be bringing his spectacular stunts and tricks show to the Milntown Estate on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May as part of the inaugural Isle of Man Cyclefest presented by Isle of Man Bank festival. Andrei has competed all over the world and takes part in over 100 events every year. His CV includes Guinness World records and appearances on the Top Gear Live World Tour. He competes for Team GB and in 2013 placed sixth in the UCI World Championships and 4th in the UCI European Championships, the highest placed elite rider in both events. Andrei is currently appearing on TV screens across the UK, competing in the second series of Ninja Warrior UK. So far he has ISLE OF MAN CYCLEFEST PRESENTED BY ISLE OF MAN BANK qualified 3rd in his heat and is through to the Semi-finals which is beingTO screened WORLD MOUNTAIN BIKE TRIALS ATHLETE APPEAR IN ISLE OF MAN onENTERTAINMENT ITV on SaturdayPROGRAMME nights. Andrei has CYCLEFEST also appeared in a number of high profile One of the UK’s most successful Mountain bike trials athletes, Andrei Burton, will be bringing commercial films including work with Sony 14th andHe also pioneered educational shows his spectacular stunts and tricks show to the Milntown Estate on Saturday Sunday andofpromotional Northern Ireland and was the first trials rider to take 15th May as part the inaugural Islefilms of Manfor Cyclefest presented by Isle ofas Man Bank festival. part of the Giro D’Italia. He is also instantly this incredibly engaging sport into the Andrei has competed all over the world takes part in over 100 events every year. His CV includes Guinness recognisable asand the stunt rider on the education system. For 5 years Andrei World records and appearances on the Top Gear Live World Tour. He competes for Team GB and in 2013 placed Brompton Bicycle in the Berocca television worked alongside Devon County Council sixth in the UCI World Championships and 4th in the UCI European Championships, the highest placed elite rider in both events.advert – ‘You but on a Good Day!’. using trials to encourage people of all ages Tuesday 9th February 2016

Andrei is currently appearing on TV screens across the UK, competing in the second series of Ninja Warrior UK. So far he has qualified 3rd in his heat and is through to the Semi-finals which is being screened on ITV on Saturday nights. Andrei has also appeared in a number of high profile commercial films including work with Sony and promotional films for Northern Ireland as part of the Giro D’Italia. He is also instantly recognisable as the stunt rider on the Brompton Bicycle in the Berocca television advert – ‘You but on a Good Day!’.

to get out and be active, this soon spread across the UK and further afield. Speaking about his Isle of Man Cyclefest appearance, Andrei commented: “I’m really looking forward to coming to the Isle of Man and putting on a show for everyone at Isle of Man Cyclefest. It looks a brilliant event and I’m really pleased to be a part of it in its first year. We’ve got loads of new tricks and stunts to show and Milntown looks a spectacular place to do them.” Andrei’s stunt show is part of a comprehensive two-day festival at Milntown which will also include live music and premium quality artisan food. The festival is part of the inaugural Isle of Man Cyclefest presented by Isle of Man Bank Cycling festival that also includes the professional Pearl Izumi Tour Series Races and Community Races around Mooragh Park. The four day event also includes the Storm the Tower Hill Climb fuelled by the Isle of Man Creamery, the Battle of Sky Hill Mountain Bike Race and an 80 mile round island Gran Fondo. For the full entertainment line up and tickets, that are now available, visit: www.iomcyclefest.com ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

SPORT ACTIVE

2016/17 ISLE OF MAN SPORT AID AWARDS ANNOUNCED Athletes supported by Isle of Man Sport Aid continue to publicise the Isle of Man on the world stage.

VAGABONDS’ YOUTH TEAMS RECEIVE DANDARA SPONSORSHIP

Dandara is delighted to announce its sponsorship of Vagabonds Rugby Club’s youth teams this season. As the club celebrates its 50th anniversary, this will be the first year the whole youth section will have the same sponsor. All the youth players will wear the new Dandara-sponsored ‘old school’ style Vagabonds kit, which will help mark the significant milestone in the club’s history. The support package will also cover the cost of new equipment, some of which will be used to start-up the island’s first under 4 rugby sessions – Vagatots. Anyone interested in joining Vagabonds youth rugby section should email head youth coach Gail Smalley: vagabondsyouth@gmail.com BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

That is the comment from Chris Quine, Sports Performance Co-ordinator with Isle of Man Sport, as the body announces the recipients of Sport Aid awards for 2016/17. Fifty individuals from 17 sports, as well as Isle of Man Cycling’s Regional School of Racing, will receive support. An award typically provides a combination of financial support towards travel and equipment and support at the Isle of Man Sport Institute at the NSC. ‘Sport Aid has played a vital role in the development of most of the Island’s sports stars,’ said Chris. ‘A significant number of recipients have gone on to compete at the highest levels including world championships and Olympic Games. 2015 saw three current recipients win medals at world level. ‘The Isle of Man’s Strategy for Sport

highlights performance athletes as not only credit to the Island, but also a major asset by publicising the Isle of Man on the world stage. Isle of Man Sport Aid is a registered charity and partners include businesses, individuals and the Isle of Man Government. Awards will be presented at the 2015 Isle of Man Sports Awards, sponsored by Isle of Man Bank, which take place on Wednesday 23rd March 2016 at the Villa Marina. British boxing great and Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison MBE will be the guest of honour. See the full list of athletes at: www.isleofmansport.com

SPORT

DUST OFF YOUR BIKE, GRIT YOUR TEETH - GRANITEMANN IS BACK FOR A THIRD YEAR The Children’s Centre’s off-road triathlon GraniteMann is back again this year and the date of Sunday 2 October is confirmed, thanks to the on-going support of sponsors PwC. Last year 120 competitors swam, cycled and ran the routes at the Cringle Reservoir either as individuals or as a team, and Lisa Motley from The Children’s Centre would like to see even more

ISLE OF MAN DARTS FESTIVAL

Things are hotting up as the island prepares for an invasion of the biggest names in darts and a chance to play them for a total prize fund of £30,000. Sponsored by Pokerstars and organised by the English Darts Organisations and associate sponsors Dartscorner, this year's event is offering the biggest prize fund yet including a cash prize for the furthest local male and female players, and a No Hopers & Cabbages competition giving first round losers a second chance. For the first time in 30 years, the Festival will be streamed live, and the incomparable Lakeside MC Little Richard Ashdown will also be making his long awaited Isle of Man début. International entrants include recent Lakeside finalist Canada's Jeff Smith and Australia's Corrine Hammond who will be playing alongside British legends of the sport, local players and darts hopefuls from all over the UK and Europe. The event is held at the Villa Marina in Douglas and starts on Thursday 10 March 2016, concluding Sunday 13th March with four days of non stop darting action. If you love a bit of bully check out the website for more details www.isleofmandartsfestival.com or find us on Facebook.

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men and women come forward this year. She says: “Entries are restricted to 40 teams and 60 solo participants, and The Children’s Centre is delighted to announce that entries can now be accepted, so I hope it will fill up quickly. And entering is easy – just go online to www.my4.raceresult.com/49377/?lang=en .” www.thechildrenscentre.org.im

ISLE OF MAN STEAM PACKET COMPANY SUPPORTS MARATHON EFFORT BY THE CHILDREN’S CENTRE A marathon fundraising effort by The Children’s Centre has received the backing of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. The charity, which develops, manages and pioneers initiatives and services for children, young people and families, is planning to take a team of 11 runners to compete in the Asics Greater Manchester Marathon on 10th April. Each runner is to pay £135 for travel, marathon entry fee and accommodation, as well as committing to raising a minimum of £300 for The Children’s Centre. The Steam Packet Company is helping by giving reduced travel rates to all those who sign up with the charity. Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘The Children’s Centre does a tremendous amount of very important work with young people in the Isle of Man, and works tirelessly to raise money to fund its initiatives and services. We always try to help where we can, and we are delighted to be able to assist with the cost of travel for the Manchester Marathon, which will hopefully encourage more people to take part.’ The Asics Greater Manchester Marathon starts and finishes near Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium and will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. Last year a field of more than 7,000 runners, ranging from charity fundraisers to elite athletes, took part.

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BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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MOTORING NEWS

RAIN, MIST AND MUD – PERFECT CONDITIONS FOR THE FIRST 4X4 CHALLENGE OF 2016 A predictably dull and wet Sunday in January saw the first Mylchreests Motors 4 x4 Challenge of 2016 – near perfect conditions for the shakedown event, with a mixture of seasoned stalwarts and new competitors attempting around 30 sections laid out at South Barrule Quarry. The course, which had to be completed within the allotted 4 hours, was set up by Jason Kyle so it’s somewhat ironic that he was caught out by a massive stepped boulder on both entry and exit, leaving him stranded with all four wheels off the ground. Both James Mylchreest (in a Land Rover 90) and Bob Boyde struggled to find the clippers and get a decent grip in some of the slippier sections. But ‘incident of the day’ went to Craig Wyers who, while negotiating a narrow gorge section in reverse flipped his bobtailed Range Rover in the narrowest, steepest section. Thanks to the compulsory roll cage there was no significant damage to the vehicle and he emerged with just his pride dented. But he did lose the best part of an hour and valuable points, ending up well down the leader board.

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Results: Extreme Class Jason Kyle 330, John Kerr 290. Clubman Class David Gurney 250, Ross Moore 240, Mike Turner 240, Ryan Jones 235, Bob Boyde 235, James Mylchreest 230, Craig Wyres 230, Mark Turner 230. The next event in the Mylchreests Motors 4x4 challenge is on Sunday 20 March at Greeba and begins at 10am. www.4x4.im Spectators are welcome.

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FERRARI CALIFORNIA T MODEL Ferrari has responded to criticism of its touring-biased California T model by offering a new Handling Speciale upgrade package. The stiffer suspension springs and dampers ‘reduce ride comfort but lend an extra edge,’ specifically for twisting roads. The dampers have been set up to respond to bumps faster and give more control in

fast cornering, allowing the car to punch out of corners with more sharpness and speed. The springs themselves are 16% and 19% stiffer at the front and rear respectively. As part of the modifications, the exhaust noise also gets louder at high revs compared to the standard car, while the gearbox shifts faster than before.

BRAND NEW VAUXHALL ASTRA MK7 MARKS NEARLY 30 YEARS OF LOYALTY Not many people can say that they’ve never lost faith in their cars, but since 1987 when government worker Paul Mylchreest bought a Vauxhall Cavalier, he’s never looked at any other make. And astonishingly, he’s owned one of each generation of the Vauxhall Astra. In 1988 he bought his first, a MK2 Astra and last week he took ownership of the new MK7 at the local dealership, Mylchreests Motors in Douglas. “Does this make me an Astra obsessive?” laughs Paul “Probably, but for good reason. It’s a fine car, comfortable to drive and fits my life-style perfectly. Every new generation Astra is an improvement on the last – why wouldn’t I want one?” Mylchreest Motors’ David Mylchreest (who, he is keen to stress, is not related to his customer) agrees. BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

Audi has revealed a futuristic concept powered by hydrogen and assisted by a battery, four-wheel drive and the world’s largest in-car solar panel. The solar panel on the h-tron’s roof can generate enough power for an average of 1.7 miles’ driving per day, as long as there’s enough sunshine. We can’t see many being sold on the Isle of Man then! Meanwhile, the hybrid battery system is used for boosting acceleration on demand and storing recuperated energy that’s gathered under braking.

“It’s always exciting to see someone pick up their new car, but this was a very special handover. The new Astra MK7 is, in my opinion, the best small family car on the market and Paul has driven tens of thousands of miles in his Astras, and knows the brand better than anyone,” said David. “The fact that he has stuck with the Astra, despite increased competition in that sector of the market, is a real vote of confidence in Vauxhall, the Astra and in Mylchreests.”

The super-advanced drivetrain could be on European roads by 2020, with or without the solar assistance. Three hydrogen tanks supply enough fuel for around 372 miles of very gentle driving. However, using around a kilogram of hydrogen per 62 miles corresponds to a claimed efficiency rating of 60% - better than any combustion engine. Peak power from the complex system is 282bhp, and a huge total torque quota of 408lb/ft allows the heavy car to reach 62mph in under 7 seconds and go on to a 124mph top speed.

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GADGETS

PALM-SIZED PARTNERSHIPS For anyone that has read one of these articles in the past, you’ll probably be expecting a lengthy, almost Homeric outburst in this introduction about the negative and damning effects of Valentine’s Day and the impossible standards of love and beauty that the farcical holiday perpetuates in young people each year. However, I’ve done that before. As everybody knows, I write these articles month after month for the joy of all 2 of my loyal fans, and so in their interest I will not simply repeat my words from this time last year; I will strive to be better.

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I like to think that I have grown as a person, and a writer, in the last 365 days, and I am now above the wild accusations and insults that I used to employ to subtly undermine everybody’s happiness. Instead, I have chosen to simply avoid the subject of Valentine’s Day altogether. Not just because I feel guilty for bringing everyone down, but because I do not want to deal with the constant questions from family concerning my own happiness and “engulfing loneliness” that last year’s article inspired. So, do not fear dear reader, I have no intention to bring you down with a crushing realism this month. In the place of nigh on nihilistic diatribe about the condition of love in the postmodern era will be an ode to the beauty of partnership and allegiance. Unfortunately, I’m not great with human emotion and interaction so this will be about gadgets.

the two cornerstones of every healthy relationship. Given the prevalence of smartphones these days, it seems pertinent to focus specifically on the gadgets and tech that you can buy to improve the experience of living your life through a

That’s right, this month we will be celebrating the wonderful moments in which technology from across the world combines to create what could be referred to now as a “power couple”. In an era in which Google’s Chromecast and your TV are the new Brangelina, the Sonos sound system and your iPad were the noughties’ Kimye, and your iPhone and pretty much everything made after 2006 are today’s Percy and Mary Shelley, we see that companies across the world have created a technological haven in which your gadgets bring you closer to the world around you through teamwork and compatibility,

touchscreen with a better definition than the human eye (I’m not sure on the facts but that is almost certainly an exaggeration). Oh, and don’t worry my sentiments about keeping the readers happy does not apply to the creators of these gadgets, they are still fair game for misery.

“That’s right, this month we will be celebrating the wonderful moments in which technology from across the world combines to create what could be referred to now as a ‘power couple’.”

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Botiful for iPhone The gadget that will always stick with me throughout my time with this magazine is one that people may not expect. Many months ago I wrote a piece on Upcycled gadgets, essentially broken tech that was reused to fulfil other purposes. Overall, I didn’t appreciate the gadgets in that article, simply because I didn’t see the point in the projects. However, there shone a bright light in the dark, a light that cast a shadow shaped eerily like an empty case from an old Macintosh computer. That’s right, the converted shell, used as a cat bed, will forever inspire me or several reasons. I admire any gadget that aids animals in their search for comfort, but more so I admire the beauty and elegance of a gadget that is so simple and yet so revolutionary in its field. For this reason, the Botiful has skyrocketed itself to the top 10 of my gadget list, amongst the greats like the literate toaster and the world’s largest speaker. The Botiful is a prophetic vision of the future, it is a piece of technology that could transform human interaction, and it is completely pointless.

people that you want to talk to. Simply attach your Android phone to this device and you can control its movements from the comfort of your chair, using the Skype application to eliminate the need for actual human contact, because who wants to be around people all the time? They bring nothing but strange

smells, and judging looks when you’re only wearing sweat pants and a vest in public. There’s a slight sense of impending doom in the irony that this combination of technology will eventually lead to the complete disconnection of people themselves, but we can cross that bridge when the human race reaches it. For now, I like this simply because it doesn’t really seem to serve any kind of purpose. In fact, it’s inconsequential existence is perhaps encompassed best in the review of the product itself, which claims “what’s even more fun here is that you can also explore everywhere that your big human body cannot reach with this feet-sized robot.” WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT?!? To buy this sensationally trivial gadget, you can simply search online and pick one up for £100. That may sound like a fair bit, but when you consider that there are people out there that will spend $1,000 on an app that reminds you you’re rich it puts it into perspective.

This Roomba-esque gadget (which will not clean your house) is simply a way to avoid actually being around

NODE Chroma I am no artist. I can spin a sentence that will put down the most self-confident tech CEO, but ask me to draw anything more intricate and detailed than a windowless house and my skills resemble those of a 6-year-old with broken fingers. So, including colour in my drawings is something that I can only dream of, thus this gadget goes somewhat over my head. This one is for the perfectionists, the kind of people that, after creating something that looks to the untrained eye like a perfect replica of the Sistine Chapel, will torture themselves over the fact that one of the talons of a distant bird is at an angle of about 5 degrees different to what they intended. Needless to say, this is a relatively niche product, with the only other target demographic being indecisive expectant parents who cannot seem to settle on a perfect shade for the bedroom of a new born child who won’t be able to pronounce “aquamarine blue” for about 3 years. For all of these people finding the perfect colour is a constant journey of false hope and disappointment, where inspiration can strike at any point, whether it’s seeing a well-painted wall in a friend’s house or

a particularly well produced poster on the street. In the dark ages (pre-iPhone), attempting to recreate these colours simply by eye and comparison led to results that tormented artists by being a slight shade off. Now, the combination of the the iPhone and the NODE Chroma are here to put an end to the incessant turmoil that all artists face. By simply placing the device on top of the colour that you have found, you will be given some kind of detail about the colour that distinguishes it from others. That is quite literally the most detailed review I can give with my current knowledge of colours and art itself. I’m sure to some this is a revelation of technology and the best invention of the century, however for me it’s simply an example of how combining your gadgetry can produce a relationship that overcomes all obstacles. Now tell me two people that can do that!

As always, online is the best place to find these things, with my research showing you’ll pick one up for about £75. It may not be a cheap way to end the struggles of perfecting your art, but isn’t happiness worth any price (please don’t take that literally)?

>>> BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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...CONTINUED

iPhly Some gadgets are made to entertain, some are made to challenge, some are even made to improve your life. However, every now and then a gadget comes along that is made with the sole intention of changing the world. This gadget belongs in this final set.

Mini Cinema for iPhone Come on. Seriously? You can’t be this stupid. Well, yes you can, but you shouldn’t be. Look at this thing, then imagine buying it and showing it to another human being. Now imagine how quickly said human being’s estimation of you as a person would plummet to levels equating you with such outstanding Philistines as Honey Boo Boo and the rap virtuoso Dappy.

The iPhly has been developed in order to remedy one of the most common problems that man faces today. One that renders us victim each day to our own folly and television-induced cognitive lethargy. That problem, my friends, is the loss of the remote. Whether you’ve found yourself unable to change the channel whilst mindlessly staring at the monotonous drone of infomercials, or locked out of your remotecontrolled garage door, everyone knows the severity of the despondency that can only come from a lost remote. With the iPhly, this utter dejection and incomprehensible grief can be avoided simply through the partnership of technology. That’s right, cyber loving has once again forced its foot into the closing door of despair and allowed us to live our lives without fear of sadness and frustration. Simply by linking the iPhly with your iPhone, you can take control of almost all remote devices in your home from one piece of technology (there must be an extensive list of products that this won’t work for, but for the sake of selling the product I’m going to stick to my statement), simply with a touch of your screen. Now, for anyone that actually follows up these reviews and checks the websites of the gadgets (seriously, get out the house), you’ll find that this product is billed predominantly as a way to control RC cars and

remote control airplanes. However, in the interest of maintaining the interest of my target demographic (somebody, anybody please read this!) I’ve tried to keep the focus on the opportunity that this product offers in solving a universal problem that has plagued man since that fateful day in 1955 when Eugene Polley created the “Flashmatic”, and introduced to the world the remote control.

I’ve got nothing to say about this product. It’s rare I’m left speechless, but this gadget (if it can even be called that) has truly drained any inspiration from me, even for vitriolic rhetoric against its creator. Just don’t buy this, please, for the sake of future generations if not for yourself.

Once again I find myself recommending the internet in your search for this phenomenal product (a reflection on the Islands tech market perhaps?). To find this you simply need to search around for the best deal, and with prices starting about $70 (around £45 from my best calculation, however discrepancies may arise given the fact I’m shopping for these things in Canada), this is a bargain that you simply can’t afford to miss, especially if your blood boils at the thought of searching behind sofa cushions for lost remotes.

“With the iPhly, this utter dejection and incomprehensible grief can be avoided simply through the partnership of technology.”

>>>

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PHONE HOME

LUMIA 950 AT THE HEART OF YOUR LIFE!

BLACKBERRY PRIV MEANS BUSINESS Introducing, Blackberry’s first ever Android smartphone Blackberry Priv means business. Priv provides a professional platform for working on the go, providing an effective tool for productivity, privacy and communication.

The Microsoft Lumia 950 is a phone for business and a phone for leisure. It can be your personal assistant in the boardroom and the perfect accompaniment on holiday. As far as powerful allround phones go, few match the Lumia 950.

n 5.4 inch touchscreen n 18 megapixel camera + 2 megapixel front camera n 32GB internal memory n 1.44GHz Quad-core & 1.8GHz Dual-core processor n Android OS n 4G Ready

Built by Microsoft and powered by Windows 10, the Lumia 950 seamlessly brings together your life in the office and on the road. Synchronising documents, spreadsheets, emails and images across your devices, Windows 10 ensures that everything you need is always just a click or two away.

Debuting on the Blackberry 10, the Blackberry Hub is back. The one stop shop for all of your communications - the hub brings together all of your phone calls, messages, emails and social media updates; allowing you to view and respond to everything in on handy app.

Connect to a Windows Display Dock and the 950 will work with an external keyboard, monitor and mouse to give you the full PC experience from your phone.

Get the best of both worlds and slide the smartphone down to reveal a physical keyboard for speed and precision, or slide back up to use the virtual keyboard. With the impressive dual-curve display protected by durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass, a battery life of 22.5 hours with mixed usage, a quality18 MP dual-flash camera, and access to over 1 million apps on Google Store – it is without doubt the best Blackberry yet.

Along with Windows 10, the Lumia 950 comes equipped with Cortana, Microsoft’s personal digital assistant that can help you navigate the world around you, sending you location-based reminders just as you arrive at your destination. But don’t think for a second that the Lumia 950 is all about work. With a blur-free 20Mp camera and super-sharp Quad HD display, this phone helps you create the images, see the films and play the games that keep you and your world moving.

The Blackberry Priv is available from Manx Telecom – the islands leading 4G network - FREE @ £65 per month over 24 months on Smartphone Unlimited, which includes 10,000 minutes, 10,000 texts and 50GB of data. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: WWW.MANXTELECOM.COM/SHOP CALL: 624624 OR POP INTO THE STORE IN STRAND ST. BEST RICES GUARANTEED BY MANX TELECOM PRICE MATCH PROMISE.

35 STRAND STREET, DOUGLAS 4 ORCHARD WALK, PORT ERIN 10 PARLIAMENT STREET, RAMSEY WWW.WEB.SURE.COM/ISLEOFMAN

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at a glance

Experience the Microsoft Lumia 950 for yourself in one of the Sure stores today.

android OS

5.4”

plus physical keyboard

plus 2MP front camera

plus up to 200GB on microSD

22.5

HRS

average (mixed usage)

1.44GHz Quad-core & 1.8GHz Dual-core processor

ready

from free (24 months Smartphone Unlimited plan)

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