What is known as the run-up to Christmas by journalists like me who can’t think of another word for it is always made more bearable by our seasonal gift from a kindly Douglas Corporation and Department of Infrastructure: the free parking on the walkway of Loch Promenade.
We’ve had it since the beginning of December and I’ve been first driver on to it five times so far which is more than I scored last Christmas.
There are often other cars loitering near the way in for the opening time of 9.30am.
I like to beat them to it.
It’s not that I’m desperate to go Christmas shopping in Strand Street.
I’m more likely to be desperate to avoid doing that.
What I enjoy, when I am in first, is having the walkway all to myself, an open uncluttered highway to whisk me without stopping to my workplace at Manx Radio.
There’s something here that appeals to the child in me, doing something you’re not usually allowed to. I don’t drive fast, of course. I like to relish the experience.
This year all the usual features are in evidence – apart from my favourite, the sign which used to say: ‘BEWARE PEDESTRIANS’.
This always signalled to me that gangs of pedestrians, outraged at having their walkway desecrated by motorists, would be out to get us, hauling us out of our vehicles in the cause of a little assault and battery.
This has never actually happened. But you never know with pedestrians, do you?
This year there have been plenty of them on the walkway, apparently at peace.
They often include some of the dedicated Young Mothers of Man, with their offspring in pushchairs, enjoying the sea air.
They are a delight to the eye, especially the callipygian ones. But I prefer to keep my eyes on the road ahead.
I might be in enough trouble already with the authorities for not using the facility for the intended purpose of parking up and heading for the shops.
There are now eight more walkway driving days to Christmas.
Next year I suggest that the traffic wardens who man the walkway should be dressed as Father Christmas.
Then, when they nick somebody who has parked there for more than the allotted three hours, there will be merry cries of: ‘Ho Ho Ho!’
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A petition has been launched to try and prevent the old red telephone boxes in the Isle of Man being removed, now that the mobile phone has made them redundant. Well, they are good-looking historical monuments. Why not?
But then what will we do with them? Give me a ring if you have any ideas.
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On Manx Radio John Houghton MHK spoke of converting an old building in Greenfield Road, Douglas, into a centre for teaching Isle of Man College students the ‘chrushibles’ of a working life in engineering.
That’s a pretty good neologism. Alert the OED.
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Manx crossword clues are still coming in, including this from Richard Hetherington and the Daily Telegraph: Dwarf of isle, one with special role in film (8) – Stuntman.
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This week’s extract from letters to local authorities: ‘Will you please send someone to mend the garden path. My wife tripped and fell on it yesterday and now she is pregnant.’