Time for another richly deserved spell of R&R which I usually use as an excuse to prise open my Funnies File full of the things people and organisations say and do and might well wish they hadn’t.
But first there are matters from last week which demand attention.
First I reported some additions to my collection of the things tradesmen and others in the Isle of Man like to say on their vans and other vehicles in order to shout their wares.
For instance, I said my favourite among them was a painter and decorator rejoicing in the trade name ‘Mr Bit.’
This brought in another such from my Examiner editorial colleague Stephen Parry who has a friend, a window cleaner, who likes to call himself ‘Seymour Clearly.’
If anybody has others I will be glad to have them.
I have also had a call from my old friend and fellow ancient broadcaster on Manx Radio Jim ‘Jazzman’ Caine who told me that he had seen a story in the Examiner saying that the Douglas Choral Union was founded in 1869. It wasn’t. It was in 1896.
A serious error. I’m surprised the Examiner hasn’t heard from them, at the tops of their beautiful voices.
Next I had a call from Captain Paul Quine, Flybe pilot, referring to a photograph in the Examiner last week of the telephone box at Derbyhaven which was threatened with de-commissioning. The story with it says Malew parish commissioners have nobly decided to save it and maintain it at a cost of £300 a year.
Strangely, however, next to the telephone box the picture shows an advertising sign saying: ‘Heritage Homes. To Let. Tel: 835252.’
Now who would want to live in a telephone box?
Next a letter from a reader who wishes to remain anonymous saying: ‘Would you please encourage your readers to pronounce 2014 as Twenty Fourteen and not Two Thousand and Fourteen. We never used to say Nineteen Hundred and Fourteen.’
A proper point to make in Twenty Fourteen. Let’s not fight over it.
There is now time for a quick rummage in the Funnies File before I head off for R&R. Usually in these circumstances I start off with something that was in the Examiner some time ago.
It had a report by the great social columnist Fenella, otherwise the late Eunice Salmond, as follows:
‘Progressing well after a major operation in Noble’s Park is Mr Dennis Jeavons who is hoping to return home next week.’
It must have been all that fresh air.