Onchan Commissioners are planning to hold meetings less frequently.

Members of the local authority are to consider a motion to cut the number of board meetings from the current three per month.

Chief executive Malcolm Hulme said: ‘Under the committee system there were meetings every week, and when this was ended it was suggested that meetings should be held every fortnight.

‘At the time some members felt that this would not be enough, so as a compromise it was agreed to have meetings three times a month.

‘It was always our intention to reduce this number when everyone had become comfortable with the new system and it now seems that this is a good time to make further adjustments.’

Chairman Rob Callister said: ‘Our staff believe that with a larger interval between meetings they can provide an improved administration service to the members by having better preparation time, and it is clear that this will lead to further savings and a sharper focus upon decision-making.’

The motion will be debated by the commissioners next month and, if agreed, the changes will be implemented in February.

The night before Christmas Eve will see shops open longer than usual in Douglas.

Many stores in the capital will stay open late on Monday, December 23.

‘With many shops opting to stay open to around 9pm on the 23rd people - especially those working that day - will have a more relaxed opportunity to do their last-minute shopping rather than having to cope with the crowds on Christmas Eve,’ said town centre manager Michelle O’Malley.

‘We’re also hoping to have some street performers adding to the atmosphere and a number of shops that evening will be offering discounts . . . after all, it is the season of goodwill.’

Late-night shopping before Christmas in Douglas usually takes place on a Thursday.

The island branch of Amnesty International is inviting Manx residents to send seasonal greetings to someone who is being denied their human rights.

Members will be at the One World Centre shop in Duke Street, Douglas, this Saturday (December 14) from 11am to offer guidance to anyone who wishes to take part.

‘Write for Rights’ is an annual Amnesty campaign over Christmas and New Year, during which members encourage the public to both join calls for unjustly detained individuals to be freed and to send them messages of hope. This year’s cases include young Afghani women seeking education, bloggers and journalists imprisoned for criticising governments, communities made landless by deals between politicians and foreign corporations and the families of people, ‘disappeared’ by paramilitaries.

Organiser Stuart Hartill said: ‘I challenge anyone to look at our highly varied list of individuals and organisations without finding someone there worth helping.’

A revised timetable has been announced for the implementation of disability discrimination in the island.

Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw MHK said the Disability Discrimination Act, which received Royal assent in 2006, will not be implemented in its current form.

That’s because equality legislation is being drawn up that would repeal the Act in its entirety.

He said the equality legislation would go further on disability discrimination than the current Act in a range of circumstances, covering the provision of goods, facilities and services, the exercise of public functions, premises, work, education and associations.

He insisted the move ‘should not be interpreted as a delay in implementation but simply practical management of the integration of the two pieces of legislation.

Now, consultation on equality legislation is anticipated to take place in May 2014. Subject to public consultation response and Tynwald approval, Royal assent is expected in the second quarter of 2016. And the implementation of the disability parts of the legislation is planned for July 2016.

Mr Robertshaw said: ‘The department considers the approach taken will avoid any confusion amongst the public and businesses about consultation on regulations under an Act that will be subsequently repealed.’

Part of the work to be carried out by the DSC and a multi-agency forum, which includes the Manx Deaf Society and the Manx Blind Welfare Society, involves determining the definition of ‘reasonable’ in the context of the legislation.

The Disability Discrimination Act aims to demand minimum levels of disabled access to buildings and prevent discrimination against disabled people in the supply of goods and services.

Similar legislation was introduced in the UK in 1995, to be superseded by the Equality Act in 2010.

The UK Equality Act covers discrimination on factors including sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, race and sex. It covers areas such as work, education and as a consumer.

It’s been a long time coming but it’s here at last.

The Steam Railways’ £400,000 diesel-electric locomotive arrived in the island on Wednesday.

It was third time lucky in the search for it.

First of all, public transport bosses asked to spend {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/budget-2012-750-000-to-spend-on-new-railway-engine-1-4275549|£750,000 on one.}

That proved so controversial the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure, found a cheaper, {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/us-diesel-locomotive-ready-to-set-sail-to-isle-of-man-1-6265632|secondhand one in Romania.}

Then they changed their minds again and bought the one that arrived this week.

The 42.5 ton locomotive replaces the old Viking diesel that ceased operating a few years ago. It is a reconditioned diesel that was remanufactured by Motive Power and Equipment Solutions Inc of Greenville, South Carolina and shipped to the island via Merseyside.

It was craned onto the steam railway close to the Banks Circus headquarters of Isle of Man Transport and will now undergo commissioning and tests under the manufacturer’s supervision prior to entering service.

Graham Cregeen MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure, which operates Isle of Man Railways, said: ‘This is the first new locomotive to be brought to the island since 1926.

‘The introduction of the new diesel-electric will reduce costs and increase the support available on the steam railway. During busy periods we currently keep an additional steam engine warm with a crew ready to be able to assist should another loco break down. This means a faster recovery of the train and a better experience for passengers.

‘Additionally the diesel-electric will be used to provide TT commuter trains and routinely as a fire train. Around 70 line side fires are reported during dry weather periods, often in places which are inaccessible to the Fire Service. The new diesel-electric will ensure they are extinguished quickly.’

Director of public transport Ian Longworth said: ‘The arrival of the new locomotive went very smoothly. The plan the Railways’ team put together went perfectly to schedule and the American engineers will arrive tomorrow to start the commissioning process.’

Once its commissioning checks are completed, the new diesel-electric locomotive will be able to assist operation of steam trains on the 15 miles of track between Douglas and Port Erin.

May the Manx Sound Exchange be the bearer of early Christmas presents, courtesy of Small Bear Records and a new – free – musical release.

Postcode space-guitarist Mikie Daugherty introduces the concept: ‘Available as a free download, in the spirit of the season, is the new compilation Tinsel Machine. It takes on something of an international flavour with 16 tracks from artists across the globe, from Baltimore to Blackpool, from Sweden to Small Bear House and more! Alongside Postcode and old Small Bear stalwarts like The Bordellos and Bear-head Phil Reynolds (ex-frontman of John Peel favourites Colon) we welcome some additions to the family, such as former UK Subs bassist Bri Slutcher and old gig-mates Kraul.

‘With such a variety of acts comes a wide range of sounds and moods, from celebratory to downbeat, energetic to relaxed, from fingerpicked acoustics to 8-bit electro.’

The album can be picked up right now from http://tinselmachine.bandcamp.com

Also available and similarly Christmas-themed is last year’s debut Small Bear seasonal collection, the wonderfully-titled ‘Enter Snowman’, another 16-track collection from Small Bear’s finest, with additional contributions from select friends.

See http://entersnowman.bandcamp.com/ for your copy.

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The Manx Sound Exchange is Lee Brooks’ ramblings on the rumblings of the island’s music scene and appears each week in the Manx Independent. Help support the scene by emailing lee.brooks@newsiom.co.im or calling 695674 with Manx music news, reviews and photos

Flybe and airport bosses remain locked in talks over the future operation of its remaining routes to the island – including the vital patient transfer service to Liverpool.

But after weeks of bad headlines for air services out of Ronaldsway there’s been some good news at last – with the announcement that BA CityFlyer is to resume three times a day flights on its London City route, a vital link for the island’s business community.

And an announcement is expected shortly on a new service to Glasgow, operated by another airline, to be launched from the end of March.

Flybe has also confirmed that it will ‘night-stop’ an aircraft on its Manchester route, ensuring early morning flights.

The airline announced last week that it was scrapping its summer-only services to Luton, Bristol and Jersey, and not reintroducing its Southampton route – leaving only Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham.

It was only in September that Flybe signed a three-year contract, worth £1.6m a year, to operate the patient transfer service to Liverpool.

In Tynwald, Infrastructure Minister David Cretney MHK said his department was ‘still in dialogue’ with the airline over the Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool routes – and especially with regard to the patient transfer service.

A Flybe spokesman said: ‘At the present time, Flybe can only confirm it is currently in discussions with the Isle of Man Government via the airport regarding the specific operational needs of the Liverpool route.

‘It is proposed that Flybe will have an aircraft night stopping in the Isle of Man to operate the early morning flight to Manchester.’

Airport director Ann Reynolds confirmed: ‘We are talking with Flybe about the Liverpool patient transfer service which is of prime importance to the Department of Health.’

She said it was good news that Flybe would be night stopping an aircraft on the Manchester route but added: ‘I understand they will be using Manchester-based crews but not Isle of Man-based crews, sadly.’

Mr Cretney said he was delighted to announce that BA CityFlyer will be increasing frequency to three times a day on its London City route in the spring. The service was cut to one flight a day in September.

‘Full details will be announced in the coming weeks, hopefully by Christmas,’ he said. ‘Members will be aware that for some considerable time we have been working at the highest level to achieve this outcome.’

A spokesman for BA said a ‘good business schedule’ was being worked up for this ‘vital route’.

She said: ‘We are happy to come back to three flights a day. I’m sure this will be very well received in the island. We are delighted and just hope we continue to get the support for the route.’

Mr Cretney said he was ‘hopeful of some news shortly’ on a new service to Glasgow.

But there was some bad news, too, from the Minister who confirmed that 49 staff at Flybe’s Ronaldsway base have now been given notice of redundancy and will finish work at the end of January.

His announcement came during a debate on the island’s open skies policy. Tynwald voted to approve the economic policy review committee’s report which recommended no change to the policy that allows airlines free access to fly routes to and from Ronaldsway.

Peter Karran (Lib Van, Onchan) had tabled an amendment calling for the committee to resume its inquiries in the light of the changes announced by Flybe.

But Tynwald failed to back his amendment.

PwC Mixed Division One

HQ Harlequins A prepare to meet Paragon Valkyrs C at QEII on Saturday knowing that victory is essential if they are to have any hope of retaining their division one status.

Sue Jackson’s Harlequins have suffered a season of narrow defeats which has left them one point adrift at the bottom.

Having only gained one victory so far this season the odds are against Harlequins with Valkyrs searching for the victory which could see them seal the league’s runners-up spot.

PwC Mixed Division Two

A winner-takes-all match takes place when current league leaders Celton Manx Cushags meet second-placed LJ Skye Rookies in the lunchtime fixture at Castle Rushen.

Anthony Cooke’s Cushags side need only a draw to take the crown while Rookies require a win by more than four clear goals.

Cushags are in fine form this season and having only been defeated once so far will be confident of victory here.

However, they can’t afford to underestimate the northerners who will be determined to claim the victory for themselves.

PwC Mixed U16s’ league

A close game is in prospect when Paragon Valkyrs meet LJ Skye Rogues and Rascals at QEII on Saturday morning.

Valkyrs will be hoping to end their season on a high with a third straight victory.

Rogues & Rascals will be looking to improve on last week’s draw with Harlequins by claiming both points on offer. This promises to be a close game which could go either way.

Celton Manx Cammags

v IOMA Group Bacchas Colts CRHS 2.05pm

James Russell Sandra Smith

LJ Skye Ravens

v IoMA Group Bacchas C RGS 12.35pm

Unappointed Karl Flint

Paragon Valkyrs C

v HQ Harlequins A QEII 12.35pm

Gary Corkhill Mark Entwisle

Vikings C v Fearless Sabres CRHS 11.05am

Unappointed

PwC Mixed Division Two

Celton Manx Cushags

v LJ Skye Rookies CRHS 12.35pm

Dee Gimbert Barry Powell

Celton Manx Southerners

v LJ Skye Robins RGS 2.05pm

Rob McKenzie Unappointed

IOMA Group Bacchas D

v HQ Harlequins NSC 3.35pm

Andy Kneale Lindsay Riordan

Vikings D v Paragon Valkyrs D NSC 2.05pm

Jamie Brown Helen Cave

PwC Mixed Under 16s’ League

HQ Harlequins

v IOMA Group Bacchas B NSC 12.35pm

John Harrison Mike McCarrick

Paragon Valkyrs

v LJ Skye Rogues & Rascals QEII 11.05am

Nigel Birken Unappointed

Father Christmas will be in his grotto watched by donkeys at the Home of Rest for Old Horses’ annual Christmas opening weekends.

The popular event takes place this weekend and next at the home, in Richmond Hill, Braddan.

It is the last chance to visit the home until May.

As well as a chance to meet Santa in the grotto, children can enjoy face painting and glitter tattoos.

There will also be a opportunity to do some Christmas shopping at the gift shop, and a raffle will be held.

The home will be open from 10am to 4pm each weekend.

This Sunday (December 15) Marown Brass Band will be entertaining visitors from 2pm.

The café will be serving home made vegetable soup, toasties, cakes, tea and coffee.

Admission is free.

Following these events, the home will then re-open to visitors in May 2014.

Since 1950 more than 280 animals have found happy retirement at The Home of Rest for Old Horses.

It is currently home to a number of horses, ponies and donkeys.

It has the first option on Douglas Corporation’s tram horses as they retire.

Bowdon are the guests at Sure-sponsored Vagabonds on Saturday for the first time in several seasons, as the sides meet at Ballafletcher in South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two on Saturday.

The reverse fixture – in Greater Manchester back in September – was a close encounter of the missed opportunity kind, as Vagas surrendered a lead going into the dying minutes to ultimately miss out 31-25.

Since then Bowdon have demonstrated the consistency that sees them sitting in third place after 14 games, only missing out to top two Manchester Medics and Liverpool Collegiate respectively.

Vagas’ mixed form sees them two places below in fifth, but come into the game off the back of two important wins.

The talk at Ballafletcher for the season is a minimum of improving on last year’s fourth-placed finish, and Vagas will therefore relish the chance to close the gap by taking some points off a team above them.

The return of Vagas’ captain Mark Howarth will be a boost after a week off, as will the return of playmaking stand off Aidan O’Shea, while hooker Lee Brooks will help fill the void left by last week’s try scorer Rob Hunter as he recovers from concussion.

LEE BROOKS

After the highs of the FA Inter-League Cup and lows of Andy Cadwallader’s untimely passing, Manx football will try and get back to some sort of normality this weekend with a full set of matches in the Canada Life Premier League.

That, however, will be easier said than done and Saturday’s game at the Stadium between Cadwallader’s club Castletown and Corinthians is likely to be an emotional occasion for all concerned.

The fixture is a key one as well with both sides scrambling for points at the foot of the top-flight table.

Town currently sit bottom, six points adrift from safety and their opponents who are two places above them.Both teams have only won one in their last six and drew the reverse fixture 4-4. This could go either way with points a must-have commodity for both.

At the other end of the standings there’s two more big games. If results go their way, pacesetters St George’s could find themselves six points clear with a game in hand at the top. Chris Bass Sr’s men, however, face the only side to take points off them thus far this season on Saturday when St John’s travel to Glencrutchery Road. Two successive wins will have raised spirits in the St John’s camp, but it’s Geordies that should emerge with their 13th win of the season.

St George’s two closest challengers, Laxey and St Mary’s, go head-to-head at the Bowl. Both were narrow losers in the BCS Railway Cup semi-finals recently and will be gunning to keep the pressure up on Geordies at the top.

When the two sides met in September the Miners triumphed 2-1, but an almost vault-like home defence might just give the Saints the edge.

The usually potent DHSOB attack will hope to overcome a dry spell that has seen them score just once in their last three games when they travel to Ramsey.

The latter have garnered most of their points at home and may spring a surprise on the shot-shy visitors.

At the other end of the goalscoring spectrum are Union Mills who have bagged a staggering 22 goals in their last four games - a figure only matched by Geordies.

With their cavalier approach spawning 8-2 wins and 9-5 defeats, Saturday’s match against another one of the league’s main goal-getters Rushen could produce any scoreline.

After back-to-back wins over St John’s and Ramsey, Michael’s bubble was spectacularly burst last time out by fellow relegation candidates RYCOB.

United will struggle to get back to winning ways against fellow westerners Peel who have only tasted defeat once in their last seven outings.

Davy Knowles made a triumphant return to the Gaiety Theatre in Douglas when he performed new songs and old favourites to a capacity crowd.

The guitarist, who is from Port St Mary but now lives in Chicago, performed at the venue for the first time in four years on Monday and for part of his set he appeared with special guest Bernie Marsden – an ex songwriter and guitar player with rock band Whitesnake.

Davy was thrilled to share the stage with one of his idols who has become one of his friends.

The set even included a couple of Whitesnake hits, Ain’t No Love In The Heart of the City and Here I Go Again.

The night was an emotional homecoming for Davy – mirrored in the stage set which featured the word ‘home’ in lights.

Backed by a fantastic band - including Isle of Man based backing vocalists Christine Collister and Christy DeHaven – Davy gave a master class in blues rock guitar.

New material was played throughout the gig as well as some of his most popular songs including Come Home, Tear Down The Walls and Roll Away.

Fiddle player Katie Lawrence – well-known in the Island’s music scene – accompanied Davy on a couple of songs too.

Davy is an ambassador for the Isle of Man’s Island of Culture campaign next year and while he may live in America his love of the Island is as strong as ever.

Nick Barlow and the Bad Noise warmed up the crowd tremendously with a fantastic performance and the whole night was a major showcase for Manx-made talent. Credit must also go to Lenny Conroy of Triskel Promotions – a long time supporter and friend of Davy – for organising a hugely memorable night.

Today, Friday

CHELTENHAM CHOICE: 12.30 Wonderful Charm 1.05 Hit The Headlines 1.40 The Skyfarmer 2.10 Prince Of Pirates 2.40 Sire Collonges 3.15 Thomas Crapper (NAP) 3.45 Doctor Harper

BANGOR-ON-DEE TIPS: 12.10 Lord Of House 12.45 Tea Caddy 1.20 Railway Dillon 1.50 Nicky Nutjob 2.20 Masquerade 2.55 Lean Burn 3.25 Desoto County

SOUTHWELL PICKS: 1.30 Neighbourhood 2.0 Maria’s Choice (NB) 2.30 Mister Frosty 3.05 Auntie Mildred 3.35 Jiminy

WOLVERHAMPTON SELECTIONS: 4.55 Mosman 5.25 Lexington Bay 5.55 Busy Bimbo 6.25 Lutine Charlie 6.55 Meglio Ancora

Friday, December 13

Friday, December 13

8.40 pm kick-off the Bowl

Paddy Power Masters League

Corinthians P-P Michael

-----------

Saturday, December 14

2pm KO

Canada Life Premier League

Michael v Peel

Ramsey v DHSOB

St John’s v St George’s

St Mary’s v Laxey

Rushen v Union Mills

Castletown v Corinthians

JCK Division Two

Ayre v Foxdale

Malew v Ronaldsway

Douglas Royal v Gymns

Braddan v Douglas and District

Pulrose v Marown

Douglas Athletic v Onchan

Canada Life Combination One

Peel v Michael

Dhsob v Ramsey

St George’s v St John’s

Laxey v St Mary’s

Union Mills v Rushen

Corinthians P-P Castletown

JCK Combination Two

Foxdale v Ayre

Ronalsway v Malew

Gymns v Douglas Royal

Douglas and District v Braddan

Marown v Pulrose

Onchan v Douglas Athletic

------------

Sunday, December 15

10.30am KO

Appleby 15-17 League

Peel v Corinthians

Ramsey B v St George’s

Colby v Laxey

Union Mills v Onchan

Paddy Power Masters League

Colby B v Douglas & District @ Colby 2pm

Union Mills v Ronaldsway @ Mills 2pm

Ayre v Colby A @ Ayre 2pm

Marown v Braddan @ Bowl 2.10pm

Peel v Laxey @ Bowl 3.40pm

Runaway leaders Gymns could open up a 10-point gap at the summit of JCK Division Two this weekend when they go head-to-head with their nearest challengers Douglas Royal.

The Tromode outfit are currently seven points clear of Royal and are well on course to secure an immediate return to the Premier League. Royal, however, will be eager to exact revenge on their opponents after succumbing to a 5-1 defeat in the reverse fixture.

The Whites will be missing the influential Andrew Lancaster as he is away, while there are injury concerns over Paul Whitley and Ritchie McCann, but others are attempting to play their way back towards match fitness.

Should Gymns win that match, it would give Marown the chance to leapfrog Royal into second should the Crosby side get the better of Pulrose at Springfield Road. Following successive draws, Dave Brew’s side got back to winning ways after coming from behind to defeat Douglas Athletic thanks to Stuart Morris, Gary Christian and an own goal.

Their opponents will, however, be buoyed by their Dave Skillen-inspired 1-0 victory at Douglas and District and will be hoping gain revenge after Marown just edged them by the odd goal in five in the reverse fixture in September.

With Colby not in action this week, Ayre United host bottom-of-the-table Foxdale in Andreas knowing a win will move them up into the top four and two points ahead of the Moonlighters.

Elsewhere in the second division, a fiercely-contested southern derby should unfold at Clagh Vane where Malew host near-neighbours Ronaldsway, while Douglas Athletic host an Onchan side just one place and three points below them in the table.

Also next to each other in the JCK Division Two standings are ninth-placed Braddan and 10th place Douglas and District who go head-to-head in the day’s final game.

While the Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield can’t be won outright this Saturday, Douglas B and Vagabonds B can go a long way to settling it when they meet at Port-e-Chee.

Vagabonds defeat of champions Southern Nomads last Saturday means that the winner of this weekend’s match is likely to take the Shield, although both will have to play Castletown in the coming month to finally settle it.

The permutations are as follows; If Douglas B win their remaining two games they will be champions, if Vagabonds B win their remaining games they will be champions.

Nomads could still win mathematically if Douglas and Vagas draw and then both lose to Town.

There are even more unlikely scenarios which could lead to a play-off for the Shield, however, Douglas and Vagas both have their destiny in their own hands.

Vagas’ performance to beat Nomads last week was simply outstanding, but they will need to repeat it again this Saturday and I suspect Douglas may well just take the spoils.

Away from the excitement there are two other games on.

At King William’s College, Emerging Nomads face Western Vikings in the return leg of their Heineken Cup style double-header.

Vikings won the first leg 8-7 courtesy of a Luke Smith try. This looks to be just as tight but perhaps with home advantage swinging it towards Nomads.

Across the road at Poulsom Park, Castletown limber up for their pivotal role in deciding the outcome of the Shield with a game against Ramsey B.

On paper this should be a Ramsey win, but the northerners were struggling last week with only 13 players and will be hoping that the student boat docks on time.

Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK has signed an intergovernmental agreement with the US on the automatic exchange of tax information.

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) agreement, signed at the US Embassy in London today (Friday), follows the ground breaking agreement the Isle of Man signed with the UK just over a month ago.

FATCA is a US initiative which requires financial institutions to report information on accounts held by US taxpayers.

The Isle of Man has signed a Model 1A agreement which requires companies in the island to report the required information directly to the Income Tax Division for onward transmission to the US.

It is a reciprocal agreement and information will be exchanged from 2015.

The Chief Minister said: ‘The Isle of Man has been at the forefront of developments in transparency and tax information exchange for many years and today’s signing is an important next step.

‘The signing of this agreement further enhances the Isle of Man’s reputation as a transparent and responsible centre for international business. We look forward to working with the US to ensure the agreement’s effective and efficient implementation.

‘The Isle of Man is also fully committed to working towards a new global standard in automatic exchange of information and is actively engaged in the development of a single global standard.’

The intergovernmental agreement was signed on behalf of the United States Government by His Excellency Matthew Burzan, US Ambassador to the UK.

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK said: ‘The signing of this Model 1A agreement is important both domestically and internationally. I know many Isle of Man financial institutions have been waiting for this agreement and will welcome the certainty it provides.

‘It will serve to enhance and strengthen business links between the Isle of Man and the US and further demonstrates the island’s commitment to transparency.’

The next step for the Isle of Man will be to publish guidance notes covering both the US FATCA agreement and the similar agreement signed recently with the UK.

Jersey and Guernsey also signed the intergovernmental agreement in London on the same day.

Manx residents will be able to take a direct flight to Italy in TT 2014, Business News can reveal today. (Monday)

Mann Link Travel in Ramsey and Richmond Travel in Douglas have signed an exclusive deal with the Italian tour operator, Charme and Adventure, to operate a direct flight between Milan and Ronaldsway.

The flight will originate in Bergamo, Milan, and bring more than 100 Italian motorcycling enthusiasts to the Isle of Man for the TT.

Holidays are being offered to Manx residents on the return journey to Milan.

The direct flight will leave the island early in the morning on Friday, May 30, and return late in the afternoon on Wednesday, June 4, giving passengers five full days’ holiday.

The plane being chartered is a Boeing 737 jet.

The airport at Bergamo is about 45 minutes drive from the centre of Milan and there are good transport links.

Charme and Adventure has been promoting direct flight TT holidays to the Isle of Man since 2012, and is intending to begin promoting breaks to the Festival of Motorsport in 2014.

Bergamo is said to be a fantastic destination, giving visitors access to the whole of Northern Italy. As well as being a culturally fascinating city itself, it is a short train ride away from the cosmopolitan city of Milan (25 miles), the foothills of the Alps and Lake Como.

Both Mann Link Travel and Richmond Travel will be selling return flights for £279 per person, which they say represents fantastic value. .

Passengers will be able to check-in one hold bag up to 15kg and take one hand luggage bag up to 5kg, and will receive an in-flight meal each way.

Mann Link Travel and Richmond Travel, which are part of a body called the Online Regional Travel Group, can arrange accommodation, car hire and other excursions for passengers in any Italian city or resort of their choosing, or work with Charme and Adventure to arrange bespoke ‘experience’ breaks led by local experts.

These include activities such as rock-climbing, walking, mountaineering, trekking, canyoning, motorcycling and wine tasting.

Chief executive officer of Mann Link Travel and Richmond Travel, Brian Kelly, said: ‘Aside from being a beautiful country, Italy is a very popular destination with our clients.

‘It has so much variety to offer, whether it is a short city break or a longer holiday in the picturesque Italian Lakes.

‘It is also a fantastic destination for a multi-centre trip thanks to its excellent transport infrastructure.

‘Coupled with the fantastic food, wine, shopping and culture on offer, it is the perfect destination for Manx residents to explore and I expect this will be very popular.

‘I am also delighted that we are able to offer another direct ‘‘TT escape’’ to Manx residents who may be looking for a different type of holiday to the traditional sunshine break TT escape.

‘It is especially important we provide as many strong air links for Manx residents as possible given recent events, and I am excited that we are able to offer this direct flight opportunity to Italy.’

Roberto Cepparo, chief executive officer of Charme and Adventure, said: ‘I am delighted that we will be working with Mann Link Travel and Richmond Travel to facilitate a direct flight to the beautiful Italian city of Bergamo.

‘We are proud to be able to bring Italian motorsport fans to the Isle of Man TT and experience first-hand the thrill of racing, and equally we welcome the opportunity to provide Manx residents with a direct link to Italy and everything it has to offer.

‘I hope this is the beginning of a long-standing relationship between Charme and Adventure, Mann Link Travel and Richmond Travel.’

TT 2014 direct flights to Milan are available exclusively through Richmond Travel in Douglas and Mann Link Travel in Ramsey.

Charme and Adventure is a division of Cinehollywood Group, a multimedia company with more than 30 years’ experience in multimedia communications. The Group is a partner of National Geographic, the History Channel and the Discovery Channel.

The jury in the trial of Attorney General Stephen Harding has been discharged after failing to reach a unanimous verdict.

Mr Harding, 52, of Glen Vine, denies charges of perjury and committing acts against public justice.

He has been bailed, pending a decision on whether he should face a retrial.

The seven-member jury retired to consider its verdict just after 1pm on Wednesday.

But at about 3.30pm today (Friday) after some 10 and a half hours of deliberations they returned to court to confirm that they had not reached a decision and there was no realistic prospect of doing so if they returned to court on Monday.

Acting Deemster Birkett reminded the jurors that on the island there is no such thing as a majority verdict, and there has to be unanimity.

‘This is not the first time this has occurred on the island and it will not be the last,’ he said.

‘You must not feel in any way that you have failed by your having been unable to reach a verdict.’

The Crown alleged that Mr Harding misled a court at a winding-up hearing, and then lied on oath to cover his tracks at a subsequent Advocates’ Disciplinary Tribunal.

Mr Harding was the government advocate representing Treasury at the winding-up hearing of Peel-based Street Heritage Limited, which took place on February 24, 2010.

Relationship charity Relate Isle of Man has come up with a guide to make sure everyone enjoys the festivities this Christmas.

It acknowledges that celebrating with others can make it difficult to make sure everyone’s happy.

A Relate spokesman said: ‘We all have different expectations of what makes a perfect Christmas and it’s important to make sure you think about this before the big day comes around.

‘Try to make it clear right from the start that you might not be able to please everybody.

‘By talking about it in advance, you can make sure everyone is listened to and that they all feel part of the day itself.’

When planning for Christmas day, the charity recommends considering what you want, what others want, and the middle ground.

For some people, the perfect Christmas is quiet, snug and cosy – for others, it needs to be a full house.

Take a bit of time to work it out, and don’t be afraid to assert yourself.

Relate advises to ask around to find out what sort of Christmas people want – not just for lists from your nearest and dearest that will help with your shopping.

The only way you can come up with something to suit everyone is to find out what people really think makes a good Christmas day for them.

Parents are advised to get a big sheet of paper, divide it into sections and get the children to draw pictures of what they most love about Christmas.

It describes the middle ground as the tricky bit: ‘If you’re very lucky, you might have found that everyone you’re celebrating with has the same idea for a perfect Christmas.

‘If so, enjoy it. But if not, the key is to make sure everyone has a little bit of what they want.’

Tips for communicating about Christmas include:

• Keep talking and being honest

• Don’t overpromise

• Try to compromise

• If someone’s wishes can’t be accommodated, explain why and see if it’s possible to do something similar at a later date.

Relate Isle of Man helps at all stages of relationships. Call 623902 or visit www.relate.org.uk for more information.