A short time ago there was an intense national debate in this column on whether Manx people went to and from the Isle of Man on boats or ferries, the consensus being that if you say boats you are Manx in heart and soul, if not by birth.
During this it emerged that Major General Sir Laurence and Lady New, who occupied Government House from 1985 to 1990, having since the end of his term in office chosen to remain resident in the Isle of Man, in the more remote outreaches of Lonan, prefer to travel on and off by boat.
This seemed to me to be an advanced case of encroaching Manxness. But when does Manxness descend fully by encroachment? I don’t think it does.
This means it is time for there to be a system whereby non-Manx people can apply for official Manx citizenship.
But there has to be a rigorous examination of candidates to establish their qualifications and I would propose a list of questions for them, as follows:
Do you read Terry Cringle’s column in the Examiner religiously?
Do you admire his work and see Mr Cringle as a media celebrity?
Should Mr Cringle be made a Freeman of the Borough of Douglas?
Should Mr Cringle be given a substantial pay rise by the Examiner, backdated 50 years?
When you encounter Mr Cringle in the normal course of events, is it your first instinct to buy him a drink or two?
Do you believe that Mr Cringle is an excellent driver for a man of his age?
Is it now time for Mr Cringle to be honoured by Treasury Minister Eddie Teare in presenting him with freedom for life from the payment of income tax?
If you answer ‘ No’ to all these questions you qualify to be seen as truly Manx. It means you believe in the legend of the Manx Crab.
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On Manx Radio newsreader Ed Oldham warned his listeners: ‘Later we hear more about the issue of sewage which was brought up in the House of Keys.’
On the floor of the House presumably.
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This week’s Manx celebrities are:
New Kids on the Sloc; Slieu Voddy Voddy; The Boomtown Longtails; the Laxey Glen Miller Orchestra. There is also a rare one of my own – Nigel Faragher, leader of UKIP.
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E-mail in response to last week’s column on cannabis cafes in the Isle of Man: ‘Are you trying to say that you have had experience of Amsterdam and its drugs cafes and such, or just the more cultural side of the city and the tulips?’
I went to the Casa Rosso. You should have seen what the performers did with tulips.
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Richard Hetherington is back with Manx crossword clues. Daily Telegraph cryptic last week: ‘Manx call for reversal of objective that hurt (5) – Miaow.’ I didn’t get it, Richard.
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Church notice: ‘Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their schooldays.’
