Year: 2020

Tynwald has sat for what they promised is the last time this year, here is what you need to know. I wish we’d closed earlier Chief Minister HQ has told members he wished the gov had closed the borders a week earlier at the start of the pandemic. Mr Quayle […]

WELL GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE HOPE YOU HAD A NICE CHRISTMAS  DR HENNY IS ON HAND TO CHAT ABOUT THE OXFORD VACCINE AND WE HAVE DAVE CORLETT (BREXIT BRAIN) MAKING HIS DEBUT TO HELP OUT WITH ANY TOUGH BREXIT Q’S FIRST UP – BREXIT – THE BASICS THERE WAS A REFERENDUM  […]

New Years’ Dip A dip in the freezing sea is a great way to start 2021 and in Douglas, dippers can help raise money for two Manx charities as well. With the dip being started by Health Minister Ashy, who may or may not be going in himself. This year’s […]

The Chief Minister says the UK’s deal with the EU represents what the Isle of Man wanted when negotiations started. Speaking to Tynwald HQ outlined what it means for our island and outlined the risks we faced at the start of the process. The risks These included that if there […]

Shining a light on the island’s sports stars The Isle of Man Sports Awards will be held in front of a live audience in 2021 to celebrate the achievements of the island’s leading athletes, coaches and teams. Despite the 2020 sporting calendar being limited by Covid-19 restrictions, the evening will […]

On Christmas Eve, the UK and EU formally agreed a post Brexit trade deal, but this is full of jargon, even its name the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, sounds far from simple, so we’ve created this explainer that will hopefully help outline all you need to know going into […]

A limited number of European fishing boats will be allowed  to fish in Manx waters as part of the Brexit trade deal. The free trade agreement, announced today by Prime Minister Boris Johnson ensures tariff and quota-free trade with the EU will continue for Manx produce. While the Isle of […]

Ponies join carol service Staff from across DHSC, Hospital and Community Services formed a united choir to sing Christmas carols at Noble’s Hospital this week. Carollers sang to a packed atrium while just outside, five Shetland ponies and their handlers – dressed as elves along with three wise men – […]

GP changes to stay GPs across the island will continue to offer a mix of in-person and telephone appointments in line with an agreed approach to keep patients, staff and the wider public healthy and safe.  Health and Social Care Minister Ashy said: ‘By making a decision about whether a […]

Isn’t it wild that the most effective safe sex campaign for young people on the island is the free Pasante you get when you order a ‘Shag on the Prom’ from Peggy’s? Sixth-former Mitzi Danielson-Kaslik, 16, is on a mission to improve the sexual health of the young people on […]

Liberal Vannin leader Lawrie Hooper MHK has told Gef of his mixed feelings over the new covid and border restrictions announced by the Chief Minister today. You can see Gef’s roundup of the gov update here. Mr Hooper said: ‘Whilst I applaud the government for taking quick action following reports […]

Chief Minister announced changes After wishing us all a Merry Christmas and promising to see us in the New Year, HQ, Ashy and Dr Henny were called back to explain what the worsening situation in the UK means for the island. They announced a wide range of measures which will […]

HQ, ASHY & HENNY UK UPDATE THERE HAS BEEN A RAPID DETERIORATION REGARDING THE UK’S COVID SITUATION THEY’RE AT THEIR HIGHEST DAILY TOTAL OF CASES TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN UK TO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE REACHED 2M ON WEDNESDAY ON MON 14TH DEC THERE WAS A NEW, MORE CONTAGIOUS STRAIN […]

What happened in the world today Border restrictions being reviewed Ministers are considering changes to the island’s border policy following the rapid spread of the new strain of Covid in the UK. A decision is due to be announced on Tuesday as to whether any changes will be made. Chief […]

What happened this weekend V-Day Health Minister Ashy confirmed that the island’s V-Day won’t be until January 4. He said the delay was because of ‘a small number of critical issues’. There had been hope the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine rollout would have begun today. Busy weekend for the police The […]

The gov has confirmed January 4 2021 will be the island’s V-Day. Health Minister Ashy said: ‘We had thought it might be possible to start vaccinating from Monday, but with a small number of critical issues outstanding, the practical option is to start on the next available date, January 4 […]

In a week when we had the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine and a man on a jet ski got everyone talking, we’ve got the latest skeet…   Jet ski man A love sick roofer made headlines around the world as Dale McLaughlan arrived on the island by jet ski […]

Seven things that happened in the world today that we thought you needed to know: Santa Claus is coming to town After Douglas held its Santa Dash on Wednesday, it’s Ramsey’s turn this weekend. Taking place at 11am on Saturday morning the town’s Santa Dash is in aid of the […]

We will know V-Day date today We will know by the end of the day when the island’s vaccine roll out will begin. Health Minister Ashy told the House of Keys this morning that the paperwork provided by the UK gov is now being considered by the island’s Attorney General. […]

The festive period should be a time of joy, but with the island having closed borders this year, many people face a potentially lonely Christmas. This year, local girl Sarah Mercer is encouraging us all to make the most of Christmas by embracing the #TogetheratChristmas campaign. The campaign intends to […]

HQ, ASHY & HENNY GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE JET SKI STORY IT HAS BEEN AN UNUSUAL FEW DAYS AS THE LOVESICK JET SKIER STORY WENT NATIONAL MANY REPORTED IT AS TONGUE AND CHEEK, A LOVE STORY BUT THIS INDIVIDUAL BROKE THE LAW THINGS COULD HAVE ENDED UP VERY DIFFERENTLY, ESPECIALLY THIS […]

Six things that happened in the world today: The vaccine has landed This biggest news on the island today is the arrival of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Delivered early on Wednesday morning, the gov is putting the final preparations in place for the roll out to begin, starting with care homes, […]

The Cosy Nook cafe in Port Erin has been given a stay of execution by Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot, Gef looks at the history of this quirky historic building. What is the Cosy Nook? Today the Cosy Nook is a closed cafe which evokes childhood memories of train rides to […]

tray of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine phials The first batch of the island’s share of the Covid-19 vaccine is here and we’re close to a roll out starting, so here’s a little explainer. How and when did it get here? The vaccine was delivered by a courier in the early hours of […]

Five things that you need to know today: Emergency GP appointments only tomorrow afternoon Routine GP appointments will not be available between 1pm and 6pm on the afternoon of December 17 as GPs attend their latest education session.Anyone who needs to see a doctor urgently should ring their surgery for […]

Gef understands that the gov is working towards a major change in its testing and isolation policy. Currently all arrivals in the island are subject to a mandatory 14 day isolation. With the exception of key workers, arrivals must either be able to isolate alone or their whole household must […]

Five things Gef thinks you need to know today: No new equipment from the Chinese firm Huawei can be installed in the island from the end of this year. The government, alongside Jersey and Guernsey is working to safeguard the island’s telecoms networks and address the ‘risks associated with the […]

Five things Gef thought you needed to know today: Three new cases of Covid-19 have been identified in the island, bringing the total number of active cases to four. The three new cases were confirmed as of 4pm on Monday. Two of the cases are returning Manx residents and the […]

In a week when the post office released triangular stamps and tractors lit up the island, we’ve got the latest skeet…   The Post office releases first ever triangular stamps You can’t reinvent the wheel, but you can reinvent the stamp. The Isle of  Man post office has released four […]

In a week when a vaccine was approved and TT 2021 was cancelled, we’ve got the latest skeet… Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine gets approved The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine has been approved by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) , the body responsible for regulating medicines meaning […]

In a week when Wobble and Bobble return to the sea and there was some progress on the prom, we’ve got the latest skeet… Drug gang banged up A drug gang who plotted to bring £500k worth of cannabis to the island have been sentenced. Among the gang was a […]

In a week when Serpent, Reef and MHKs got additional funding, we’ve got the latest skeet… Brand new head teacher for Ramsey Grammar With Annette Baker retiring next year, Ramsey Grammar have appointed a new head teacher , Sarah Findlater. Devon-born Mrs Findlater has an impressive C.V, having worked in […]

Money, money, money, must be funny in the Tynwald world. Okay so they weren’t singing about MHKs but who doesn’t love a bit of ABBA on a Friday. So, this week Tynwald voted to follow the recommendations of a panel including former Chief Min Sir Miles Walker to boost MHKs’ […]

Winter can be an isolating time for us all. With the days becoming shorter and shorter, finding the motivation just to go out and get a coffee can be difficult. It can be made all the worse if you find yourself uncomfortable at the thought of sitting alone at a […]

Us Manxies love a drink, especially around Christmas. And while getting together and catching up over a few pints can be a highlight of the festive season, it can also be a stressful time for people working in the night-time economy, emergency services, public transport and security services (i.e. everyone […]

In a week when there was a suspected bomb in Braddan and the island’s most wanted fugitive returned,  we’ve got the latest skeet… Bomb disposal team come for FALSE alert Last Sunday, an unidentified object was found at Middle Farm industrial estate, meaning the bomb squad were called from the […]

In a week when we were told to pick up our sh*t and the UK went back in to lockdown, we’ve got the latest skeet…   Squirrel Dan gets a court date When it comes to sustainability,  Squirrel Dan is your man. For the last 18 months, Squirrel Dan (aka […]