Tynwald will be asked to back a feasibility study into the creation of a single resident record.

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas MHK says holding basic information about individuals centrally would save people from having to establish their identity every time they deal with a different government department.

But he accepted some will have serious privacy concerns about the storage of personal information, and the risk of this data being leaked. ‘We have to make sure that safeguards are adequate from a legal, practical and computing point of view,’ he said.

There are currently some 60 main databases and over 200 separate systems used across government that store basic personal information.

Wholesale collection and sharing of all personal information held by government, including medical or tax records, is not being considered. Instead the record will include basic details like, date of birth, gender and address.

Mr Thomas stressed it was just a feasibility study at this stage. He said: ‘All government is saying is the potential public benefits are such we should at least examine the proposal and its implications.’

Many Clouds returns to the scene of his greatest triumph ay Aintree tomorrow (Saturday).

The popular nine-year-old is owned by island businessman Trevor Hemmings, pictured above with the horse.

The horse’s trainer Oliver Sherwood reports Many Clouds is ready to return to action in the Betfred Lotto ‘£100K Cash Giveaway’ Chase at Aintree at 2.40pm tomorrow. (Saturday).

Many Clouds won the world’s greatest steeplechase, the Grand National, at Aintree in 2015.

Lambourn trainer Sherwood has had tomorrow’s three-mile-one-furlong contest in mind for some time as the starting point for the National hero, as he builds up for another crack at the famous race in April.

The gelding was second in this race 12 months ago behind Don Poli, but had the benefit of a previous outing having finished sixth to Cue Card in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Many Clouds has not run since finishing 16th to Rule The World in his attempt to retain his National crown. But he had a racecourse gallop at Newbury recently.

Trevor Hemmings is very fond of Many Clouds and the horse has stayed at the businessman’s Ballaseyr stud in the north of the island for summer ‘holidays.’

Mr Hemmings has made no secret of his love for National Hunt jumps racing and has also won the Grand National with Hedgehunter and Ballabriggs.

A memorial service to the 21 crew and 14 passengers of the SS Ellan Vannin, who lost their lives when the ship foundered then sank near the Mersey Bar lightship off the coast of Liverpool on December 3 1909, will be held on tomorrow (Saturday) at 3pm at the Ellan Vannin memorial on West Quay, Ramsey, the spot from where the vessel set sail for England.

The service, which marks the 107th anniversary of the loss, is open to everyone and will provide opportunities for wreaths to be laid and the names of all those who died to be read out.

Our picture shows the service to remember the 100th anniversary.

The centenary of the Ellan Vannin tragedy

Food and drink businesses are being invited to sign up for marketing workshops.

They are being held as part of the government’s food business development strategy, ‘Food Matters’.

Geoffrey Boot, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘We would welcome representatives from all areas of the food and drink industry, including farmers, retailers, artisans and restaurants wishing to gain a better understanding of marketing.

‘Marketing is a critical part of running a business and this course will provide new starters and more established set-ups with a range of tools and techniques to improve their profitability.

‘Developing a sustainable, competitive and profitable food and drink industry is important to growing and diversifying our economy.’

Workshops take place over four Thursday evenings – February 23 and March 2, 9 and 16 at the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture’s headquarters, Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s.

They will be run by Heather Blackley, a marketing consultant who has 25 years’ experience with both large and small businesses on and off the Isle of Man, including the food and drink industry.

Previous participants have rated the workshops highly and commented on their value in developing their enterprises.

Kirree Callow, who runs the Andreas-based Dairy Shed, said: ‘The marketing side of the business was something I was completely unfamiliar with. However, after going through the process week by week at the workshops, I felt much more confident that I had the tools to formulate a practical plan to take the enterprise forward.

‘I would highly recommend the workshops to anyone involved in, or thinking of becoming involved in, the food industry.’

The DEFA meets half the cost of the workshops, so participants pay £30 per session.

To inquire about/ book places on the workshops, contact Audrey Fowler, DEFA marketing officer, via audrey.fowler@gov.im or 685856, or complete the application form here by January 30.

Get into the festive spirit with a Christmas dash that’s going to be taking place around the streets of Ramsey.

The event is the brainchild of Andrew Cubbon and Zoe Chestnut, a couple who opened Quay Fitness gym in the town in March.

Andrew explained: ‘We wanted to do something fun for Christmas and fitness related, and also something that the whole town could get involved in. ‘We have been lucky to have the support of the commissioners, police and the business community of Ramsey and it is looking like it’s going to be a great fun afternoon.’

He added: ‘We hope to make this an annual event that will grow and grow.’

The race takes place on Saturday next week (December 10) from 2pm, starting and finishing at Ramsey Town Commissioners’ car park on the corner of West Street and Derby Road.

The route will see participants run, walk or skip their way along West Street, past Quay Fitness, and then down the town’s main shopping street, Parliament Street.

When they reach St Paul’s Square they will then turn left and back to the start along West Quay. In total, it’s just under a mile.

Christmas-themed fancy dress is compulsory!

Young runners are welcome to take part as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

There will be prizes for the winner, fastest competitor under the age of 16 and best fancy dress.

The deadline to enter is Monday (December 5).

It costs £5 for adults and £2 for children.

Proceeds from the Christmas dash will be split between two Manx charities, Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation and Ramsey RNLI.

Entry forms are available from Quay Fitness and all outlets in Ramsey town centre displaying the Christmas dash poster.

Seasonal refreshments will be provided for all competitors.

Meanwhile, Castletown’s first annual Santa Dash takes place this Saturday at 3pm.

Its sponsored by Castletown Chamber of Commerce and Castletown Ale Drinkers, will all proceeds going to a charity within the town of the CADS’ choice.

Starting from the Market Square, runners will head towards The Quay, up Bank Street and then back along Malew Street to the square.

Sponsor forms are available from Loui’s Barbers, in Arbory Street, and in the pubs around the town .

It coincides with the Christmas lights being switched on at 5pm that day.

Haven Homes can convert the historic Port St Mary railway station building and goods shed into offices and car parking following a successful appeal.

Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot has approved the bid (16/00535/B) at appeal despite the independent planning inspector recommending the appeal be dismissed due to concerns about a reduction in facilities for railway passengers.

The process to enter the goods shed and station building in the Protected Buildings Register, originally by the DoI and now DEFA, is on-going more than a year on but Mr Boot said it would not be appropriate to defer a decision on the appeal indefinitely.

He said creating a ‘viable use’ for the buildings would help to secure their future.

The Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association, Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society and Port St Mary Commissioners had all raised concerns about the reduced provision for railway passengers and said that a planning decision should not be made until the registration process was completed.

The station building dates back to 1898. Works include removing some of the modern brickwork, removing a lean-to to reveal an original window and forming a first floor balcony.

Toilet facilities for railway passengers will be reduced to a single wheelchair accessible cubicle. A smaller, open-fronted waiting area will be provided on the platform.

The goods shed dates back to 1901. A mezzanine floor will be created above the railway track, which will be retained together with the internal platform. Doors at the eastern end will be converted to windows and the double door on the south elevation will be replaced by French windows.

A new car parking area with 26 spaces will be created.

In his report, inspector Michael Hurley said: ‘There is clearly much to be said for the conversion to office use of those parts of the appeal premises that are no longer required for railway purposes.

‘However, on balance, I consider the appeal should be dismissed, because of the inadequacy of the proposed passenger facilities; and because of the opportunity to retain superior facilities by excluding the existing waiting room, and the male and female toilets, from the proposed scheme.’

The qualifying and race schedule for the 2017 TT will remain unchanged from this year.

The 2016 event saw records tumble as the fierce rivalry between Ian Hutchinson and Michael Dunlop saw the pair dominate proceedings, taking five race wins between them, with the outright lap record for the Mountain Course obliterated by both men.

The 2017 TT will commence with a week of qualifying from Saturday, May 27. The race schedule will open one week later with the Superbike on Saturday, June 3, followed by the first of two Sidecar races.

Monday, June 5 will feature the first Supersport race and the Superstock TT, while a packed Wednesday will get underway with the second Supersport event, followed by the Lightweight and Zero race for clean emissions machines.

The newly-tagged ‘championship day’ on Friday, June 9 will fire up with the second Sidecar race and conclude with the traditional Senior six-lap solo event.

lintin and mercer

to team up at rc express

Bristol-based RC Express Racing have announced that twice TT winner Ivan Lintin will again spearhead their assault next year alongside new team-mate Steve Mercer.

Having won the Lightweight (Supertwin) race for the past two years, Lincolnshire ace Lintin will attempt to take a rare treble in what will be the 32-year-old’s third season with the team.

Mercer deputised for the injured Lintin at the Ulster Grand Prix in August where the Kent rider adapted well to the Kawasaki machinery to secure eighth and ninth places in the two Superbike races as well as setting his best lap round the 7.4-mile Dundrod Course at 131.423mph.

‘It was great working with the team,’ said Mercer. ‘There was an immediate connection between us.’

A charity has come up with an alternative to sending Christmas cards.

For £25 a personal message could feature on the ‘Giving Tree’ at the Manx Blind Welfare Society’s headquarters in Onchan.

The ‘Giving Tree’ was unveiled earlier this year as part of the society’s 80th anniversary celebrations, to provide an opportunity for permanent tributes and recognition of support to be displayed.

The large wooden sculpture, which has taken pride of place at Corrin Court, was handmade by the Manx Workshop for the Disabled and funded by a bequest.

Since April, people have been buying specially-made acorns and leaves and having them engraved with a personal message to be added to the sculpture as a lasting commemoration of people’s support for the society.

So far almost £4,000 has been raised to fund the society’s work providing free services and support for hundreds of blind and visually-impaired people across the Isle of Man.

Manx Blind Welfare Society events organiser Debbie Thomson said: ‘Individuals and organisations have been making donations in exchange for a leaf or an acorn and having them engraved with the names of people, organisations and businesses, memorial tributes or just simple messages. Whatever the words chosen, each has been added to the Giving Tree ensuring every contribution will always be part of our future.’

She added: ‘At this time of year we know many people decide to make donations to charity instead of sending out cards, and are looking for Christmas gifts they can give which have real meaning. Purchasing an acorn or leaf for the Giving Tree on behalf of a friend, family member or other loved one is not only a unique gift, which you can personalise with any message, but will also make a huge contribution to helping the society.

‘Money raised by the Giving Tree helps fund the provision of assistive technology, sporting activities, social inclusion, our audio library and recorded news service, as well as many more life-enhancing services.’

To find out how you can contribute to the Giving Trees, contact Debbie by emailing dthomson@mbws.org.im or calling 674727.

Donation forms can also be collected from Corrin Court and downloaded from www.mbws.org.im

Police are investigating the death of Onchan man David Howarth.

The 42-year-old’s body was found at his home on Thursday and his death being treated as ‘unexplained’.

Officers are appealing for anyone who may have had contact with Mr Howarth on the evening of Wednesday, November 30, to get in touch with the CID department at police headquarters, Douglas, on 631212.

Alternatively, call the anonymous Crimestoppers line on the free phone number 0800 555 111.

A drunken man who hurled an empty glass Doritos dip jar at his girlfriend has been bailed by a court pending sentencing.

Kenneth Andrew O’Connell had been drinking all evening with his girlfriend at Kerroo Coar, Peel, before the entree-inspired 1am assault.

Hazel Carroon, for the prosecution, said O’Connell’s girlfriend fled from the house, running to a neighbour. An ambulance was called and she was taken to hospital for treatment to an inch-long gash on her head.

She was kept in hospital overnight for observation but discharged in the morning.

Meanwhile, O’Connell was arrested. He told police he had thrown the dip jar, hitting his girlfriend on the head, but offered no other comment during interrogation.

Defending him, Dawn Jones described the incident as an ‘instantaneous grabbing and throwing during an argument’ and said no major medical intervention had been required.

She reminded the court 38-year-old O’Connell had admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, following the November 18 incident.

Recording a conviction, Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes noted bail was being sought on O’Connell’s behalf and the prosecution did not oppose it.

Bail was granted subject to conditions and approval by the deemster at a separate court hearing the following day. The case was adjourned for an all options report until January 10.

He was bailed to his home address, Peveril Street, Douglas, subject to a £500 recognisance. He is to observe a 10pm to 7am curfew, with doorstep checking conditions, he must not enter on-licensed premises, buy alcohol or drink in public, and he must not contact the victim. He must not enter Kerroo Coar or leave the island without the court’s permission.

The 15th Festival of Trees, held in aid of Save the Children Isle of Man, is now under way Ronaldsway airport.

The annual event was launched on Friday, and will run until January 6, with people being encouraged to vote for their favourite as well as make donations.

Guests enjoyed a performance from King William’s College choir and were welcomed by director of ports Ann Reynolds.

Lieutnant Governer Sir Richard Gozney, who was accompanied to the event by Lady Gozney, then conducted the official opening before taking a look around this year’s entrants.

A total of 20 trees are on display, representing a combination of companies, charities and schools, while Noble’s Hospital is represented by the oncology department, and Hospice Isle of Man also has a tree.

As well as being a charity fundraiser, the event also has a competitive element, with visitors being asked to choose their favourite. The winners will be unveiled at a special dinner to be held in the new year.

John Cuddy, from Save the Children Isle of Man, said: ‘We are hugely appreciative of the support once again shown by everyone at the airport.’

Former Ayre United striker Niall Cummins is in Emirates FA Cup second round action for Curzon Ashton on Sunday lunchtime.

The Conference North side’s game with League One outfit AFC Wimbledon will be shown on BT Sport, with the television schedulers sensing a cupset.

Cummins who also played for the Isle of Man FA representative side, moved to Curzon a couple of seasons ago after spells with fellow non-league sides Burscough and AFC Blackpool.

The former Ramsey Grammar student was sweating on his availability for the weekend’s tie after incurring a suspension.

The FA Trophy game against Worcester this was meant to be served in was postponed last Saturday because of a frozen pitch, but was quickly rearranged for Monday evening meaning the 29-year-old is in contention to partner ex-Liverpool striker Adam Morgan in attack on Sunday. Cummins and Morgan both scored in the Tameside outfit’s replay win over Westfields in the first round.

The game kicks-off at midday.

St George’s and St Mary’s will contest Boxing Day’s Cu-Plas Railway Cup final after the pair won their respective semis on Saturday afternoon.

Geordies edged past Peel 1-0 thanks to 16-year-old Adam Long’s goal in a tight encounter at Colby, while in the day’s later kick-off St Mary’s beat Corinthians 3-2 at the Bowl.

In the latter match Tony Cain’s 28th minute goal gave the hosts a slender lead.

Josh Ridings levelled things up for the Whites 10 minutes into the second 45 only for Steven Priestnal to restore the Saints’ lead barely 60 seconds later.

Priestnal doubled his tally and the St Mary’s advantage in the 65th minute to make Ste Corlett’s last-minute header for the Whites nothing more than a consolation.

In the Canada Life Premier League, Colby put further space between themselves and the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at Douglas Athletic. Dave Cadwell and player-manager Chris McKenna struck for the Moonlighters who are now eight points clear of second-bottom Union Mills with a game in hand.

Ayre remain rooted to the foot of the standings after losing 8-0 at Laxey, who move up to fifth.

In JCK Division Two, Braddan won the day’s big match with Castletown 4-0 at Victoria Road, but it’s Douglas Royal who remain top after they edged past RYCOB 4-3 at Ballafletcher.

Elsewhere, Foxdale returned to winning ways with a 6-1 win at Malew, while Marown triumphed 5-2 at Governor’s Athletic.

Michael United remain rooted to the bottom of the division after they went down 6-2 at the hands of Pulrose.

Cu-Plas Railway Cup semi-finals

Peel 0-1 St George’s

St Mary’s 3-2 Corinthians

Canada Life Premier League

Laxey 8-0 Ayre Utd

Douglas Athletic 1-2 Colby

JCK Division Two

Michael Utd 2-6 Pulrose Utd

Marown 5-2 Governor’s Athletic

Braddan 4-0 Castletown

Malew 1-6 Foxdale

Douglas and District 0-2 Gymns

Douglas Royal 4-3 RYCOB

Canada Life Combination One

St George’s P-P DHSOB

Colby 1-1 Douglas Athletic

Union Mills 2-3 Peel

JCK Combination Two

Pulrose Utd 10-0 Michael Utd

Governor’s Athletic 6-3 Marown

Castletown P-P Braddan

Foxdale 2-3 Onchan

Gymns 2-0 Douglas and District

RYCOB 5-2 Douglas Royal

The Ramsey Eco-Active work party will meet tomorrow (Sunday) to complete the conversion of a mountain bike trail at Claughbane plantation into a children’s trail.

Volunteers should meet at Ramsey hairpin at 10am, while late arrivals should head for the middle of the plantation.

The work party will be helping with step building.

The event will continue until 2pm.

Refreshments, tools and gloves all provided.

For more information contact project manager Andree Dubbledam on andree@manxwt.org.uk or 434251.

The Young Magicians of Mann were thrilled to be invited to a lecture by French magic star David Stone at the Columba Club.

David is internationally famous for his magic, and recently received a standing ovation when he lectured at The Magic Circle in London.

Most of the island’s magicians attended the lecture, arranged by the Magicians of Mann with support from the Isle of Man Arts Council.

Chairman Paul Martin said: ‘David Stone is revered by magicians worldwide for his originality and humour. He was an inspiration to the Young Magicians of Mann, who are staging their own magic show at the Youth Arts Centre in Douglas on the afternoon of Sunday, December 4.

‘David was so supportive of them, and his lecture will definitely help them to put on an another entertaining and fun-filled afternoon of magic.’

Secretary Mike Clague added: ‘We have been able to bring some fantastic wonder-workers to the island, but David was probably the best of them all.’

For information about their show, called Finale, leave a message on 878328. Tickets cost £7.

A sporting event for secondary students will become a firm part of the school calendar after it encouraged them to get active and sign up to clubs.

The Community Games was launched in 2016 with support from Microgaming through its PlayItForward initiative.

Aimed at 11- to 18-year-olds who don’t belong to a school, club or island team, the games were attended by students from the Department of Education and Children’s five secondary schools.

Manx Sport and Recreation (MSR), which ran the games, says the event will be called the Microgaming Community Games in future to further highlight the company’s support.

The 2017 games will take place on Wednesday June 21.

Education and Children Minister Graham Cregeen MHK, who oversees sport, said: ‘The games give students the chance to try sport in an environment where the emphasis is on enjoyment and not results.

‘Participants are encouraged to stay involved with sport and to join community clubs.

‘Joining clubs offers young people many benefits,’ Mr Cregeen said. ‘The health advantages of being active are clear but membership of a club can lead to lifelong friendships. It can open doors to officiating, coaching, sitting on committees and developing skills that give young people confidence and self-esteem to flourish away from sport.’

The inaugural games featured 10 sports – glow sport, badminton, basketball, girls’ football, golf, judo, netball, rugby, snooker and swimming. In 2017, hockey, bowls, squash and rifle shooting will be added.

After the inaugural games, sports are already experiencing an upsurge in membership from young people.

Ken Kinrade, chairman of the Isle of Man Billiards and Snooker Association, said: ‘We held follow-up coaching sessions for games participants which attracted two new players. Resulting from these sessions, we attracted four other juniors through word of mouth and even two new adults. This is in no small part due to the showcase provided by the Community Games.’

Roberta Cannell, who chairs the Isle of Man Badminton Association junior committee, said: ‘We picked up six new youngsters after the games. We ran a follow-up session in October and 14 new players attended.’

Claire Coleman, head of Microgaming PlayItForward, said: ‘The inaugural Community Games was a great success and we are proud to see it in the school calendar again in 2017.

‘This year we saw first-hand how much fun students had trying new sports in a relaxed and non-competitive environment. I have no doubt the 2017 event will be just as successful, if not more.’

Novus Brass Quartet, featuring Manx musicians Illiam Quane and Bobby Corkish, will be performing in the next Ramsey Music Society concert.

The Manchester quartet will be performing at St Paul’s Church, in Ramsey, on Monday (December 5) from 7.45pm.

The quartet also comprises two of Illiam and Bobby’s fellow students at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Sam Lovatt and Daniel Thomas.

They describe themselves as a versatile brass quartet specialising in performing new and diverse pieces.

And the concert programme certainly reflects that. It features everything from Illiam’s arrangement of Beethoven’s first movement from Piano Sonata op. 2 no. 1 to Daniel’s arrangement of contemporary composer Django Bates’s My First Scooter.

There is also a nod to the Isle of Man with an arrangement of Ellan Vannin, and Illiam’s own composition, Ohfa Fuh.

Illiam’s musical tuition began at the Ramsey Town Band in about 2002, and he has since been the principal cornet of the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

He is currently in his fourth year of study at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), having graduated from Manchester University with a degree in music this year.

He recently enjoyed performing with the Halle orchestra, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra Academy and the London Sinfonietta Academy.

Bobby is in his final year of study at the RNCM. He is currently playing first horn for the Fairey Band in Stockport.

He has enjoyed many competitions and tours with the band, including Germany and France.

Sam is in his fourth year of study, on trumpet, at the RNCM. He plays front row cornet for Black Dyke Band and is a former member of James Shepherd Versatile Brass. Daniel has been playing the euphonium for more than 12 years. While studying at the RNCM he became second euphonium player of the Brighouse and Rastrick Band.

Port St Mary Commissioners have bought Manxonia House, which is on the corner of the Promenade and Bay View Road in Port St Mary.

The precise figure paid for the property is unknown. There was no response from the commissioners’ office to a request made by this newspaper for the exact sum.

In the summer the authority petitioned the Department of Infrastructure about buying Manxonia from Decorum Ltd for £190,000.

Decorum Ltd is controlled by the family of the last occupying owner, who operated a legal business from there.

More expense will be required to refurbish the building to bring it back into use as a shop, a flat and an office.

Commissioners’ chairman Bernadette Williams said: ‘The last government invested heavily in the regeneration of the centres of our towns and villages. With this considerable investment we are following that lead and supporting our local retailers by making the village centre a more desirable place in which to shop.’

The Manx Museum’s galleries came alive thanks to children from St Thomas’ School.

On Friday, pupils from years five and six (ages nine to 11) took over the running of the museum for the day, sharing with visitors their detailed knowledge on everything from Viking crosses to the life of marine biologist Edward Forbes.

They also helped to develop an Archive Code Cracking Challenge, which invites code crackers to track down secret clues hidden around the galleries, crack the code and learn more about MNH’s archives.

The Take Over the Archives Day followed three months of preparation by the children.

Isle of Man Newspapers was taken on a tour of the museum by Poppy Elvin, dressed as a newspaper boy, who had essential information on cards hidden inside her socks, in addition to her already encyclopaedic knowledge.

The first stop was a hospital ward, where Maddie Haworth and Amy Willetts explained that the Manx Museum building was originally a hospital.

Tylerjane Shields was on hand in the Viking gallery to talk about Thorwald’s cross, which shows Odin being eaten by the wolf Fenris.

Lizzy Jenkins told us about the life of Illiam Dhone, asking as the story was about to reach its conclusion: ‘Do you want to hear gory or not?’

Meanwhile her sister Catherine Jenkins invited us to pore over the Act of Revestment manuscript, dated 1765, displaying King George III’s royal crest.

Maddie Needham and Ellie Johnson, wearing matching bonnets, spoke about the reasons why many Manx residents chose to emigrate in the 1800s.

Rhys Dowling and Preston Cooper were dressed as Victorian holidaymakers, and explained about the populaity of the island’s holiday camps as well as the devastating Summerland fire.

In the folk life gallery, Reuben Thiagarajan showed us replicas they had made of a number of old newspapers that the Manx Museum has in its collection, dating back to 1792.

This task turned out to have been one of the children’s favourites, using a blend of coffee and tea to make the papers look authentic.

Robert Docherty was dressed as Captain John Christian, an officer in the Royal Manx Fencibles, to talk about the local defence army that was set up during the Napoleonic Wars with France.

The contribution that 8,000 Manxmen made fighting in the First World War was highlighted by Aalish Dooley.

She invited us to compare the two different uniforms on display.

Finally, wildlife lover Hollie Hazell had chosen to position herself in the natural history gallery, where she spoke about marine biologist Professor Edward Forbes.

Did anyone miss me last week? No? Well fair enough, Heaven forbid that I become big-headed.

That was the first Pullyman column I have missed in nearly three years of slaving over a hot keyboard. Some 750 words every week for 154 weeks.

That’s almost as many questions as Peter Karran asked in Tynwald and the House of Keys in the same time (only joking, Peter).

The truth is, the Pullyman and Friends concert was just about ready to burst into life at the Gaiety Theatre and I ran out of time.

I was going to send the editor a note to say the dog had chewed my notebook but he might know that we don’t have a dog. So I told him the truth, I’ve had a week off, and here I am, pencil sharpened, refreshed and ready to go.

Anyway, I’m sure you can’t wait to find out how the concert went down. Well I’ll tell you, it was f f f f f f antastic.

I defy anyone to stand on the stage in that beautiful theatre in front of such an enthusiastic, capacity audience and not be inspired.

It was a night to remember and I’m sure we all will treasure the experience. Thank you. But time moves on and nights to remember are sadly soon forgotten.

In the weeks and years to come, if you asked anyone in the world what was the most important event that happened in November 2016, Pullyman and Friends would be fairly low on the list.

To the delight of some, to the dismay of many and to the obvious surprise to himself, Donald the Trumpeter became the President Elect of the United States of America.

Now I know nothing about Mr Trump, apart from what I have read in the Daily Mail and it was obvious he was not on their Christmas card list.

Likewise I know nothing about Mrs Clinton, except for the fact that she has a husband called Bill, who most categorically ‘did not have sexual relations with that woman’. Or so he says.

The lady in question being a certain Miss Lewinski, who once found it necessary to change her dry-cleaners because they were returning clothing to her that were still stained. As I say, given the limited amount of information I had on the candidates, if I was an American I would rather have voted for Miss Lewinski.

The public behaviour of Desperate Don and Hopeless Hilary left a lot to be desired.

The whole campaign was a farce. The Donny and Hilly show was more like an episode of The Simpsons, with each one trying to out-do the other.

Mrs Clinton at least had some idea of the enormity of the world-wide responsibilities of the President of the USA .

In my opinion, Mr Trump, who I’m sure never thought he would be elected, was just playing games.

‘Vote for Trump and see what happens.’ I think he just wanted to see how far the hare would run before it was caught.

And then it happened. He won and the hare is still running.

And if I can borrow a quotation from one of our longest serving local politicians, Peter Karran, who I hope is enjoying his well earned retirement: ‘All his white elephants are now coming home to roost.’

There is one thing that we should never forget. Mr Donald Trump is a very clever, very shrewd and very successful business man.

He does know how to get things done but he has made some very big promises. He has also started to learn how to back-pedal on some of his more interesting ideas,

One question I would like to ask: Does he know how many bricks it will take to build his Mexican wall? Can the world produce enough cement? I doubt it but I think I have the solution. Roller shutters.

He can create thousands of jobs in new factories to make enough shutters to surround the whole of the USA, and he can open or close them every time he changes his mind.