John Wright

At least three of you up for a joint award. Ive only been dipping in this last week as I've been doing some serious travelling, not much WiFi about and MT data roaming is switched off.

If it was Brigadoon it'd only be one day in 100 years.

Nothing like they found in Ballanard Road

"Really sensitive" and "raw nerve", spring to mind

I was teasing you, as you we'll know. Sensitive, much?

Dilli has a strange ethos about opinions on the character of people he knows and doesn't know. Male, known, rapist = ok guy Female, unknown, theft/breach of trust = see above. Sexist? Poor judge of character? Who knows?

And more conspiracy theory stuff.

Nah. They don’t sell any. Just have them on display at crazy prices

Conspiracy theory without foundation. For RBSI international to have been given permission to register IoM Bank as a Business Name the Registrar of Companies and the Regukator will have required that IoM Bank Limited changed its name. If it had stayed as IOM Bank it would have had to be registered with the Regulator and supervised at not inconsiderable cost. Theres no suggestion it will be liquidated. Just fevered imaginations in tin foil hats.

I have the advantage of living here and travelling frequently, even during TT. There’s lots of non TT passengers on the boats and planes. You are vastly over estimating the number of days that boats and planes are at full capacity and the number of passengers who travel on those days who are travelling for TT. You started at 50k then jumped to 70k. Both are way out. By between 25% and 75% The official figures, which are widely accepted as fiddled upwards, registered 46k last year. The figure in reality is nearer 40k. The occupancy/load/seat figures and full days and quieter days support a 40-45k range. Your figures are pulled out of the air. You’re well qualified to make up the visitor survey for DoI

It’s a poor guess, because you have your facts wrong. Ben has capacity of 630 and Mannanan 860. They do two round trips per day each. But it’s a slow build up with space on inward sailings until the Friday of practice week, before the races proper, start and on the Thursday and Friday of race week. There’s always space. So it’s 6 or 7 days full, 4 days at 75% and 3 days at 50%. There’s no justification for your 90% projection as being TT fans on planes or the boats. Possibly 75%. You know we Manxies still travel to and fro, even during TT fortnight. For flights the build up is much the same. With nothing like as many in practice week as in TT week, and with race days morning flights being busy with day trippers. Again there are lots of locals and there are always seats. At a price. The limiting factor nowadays is accommodation If I had to “guess” I’d say 45,000 tops. More likely closer to 40,000. DoI claim 46,000 in 2019, the highest since records in present format began. DOI are known for wildly optimistic over estimation. So it won’t be more than that. And the true figure will be considerably lower.

And I’m just pointing out that free or £50 ( and the two I’ve had to have recently to travel cross border in Europe cost €135 each ) the effect is not worth it for the 4-6 days of continuing restrictions. It’s window dressing. As for the suggestion it’ll make people in your household feel safer? How so. By the time you’ve spent 7 days together they’ve been exposed and will have to do 14 days isolation if you’re positive. Plus you’ll have to start the 14 days all over again.

7 day test only if returning resident. Not applicable to visitors

So, that hypothetical family of 4 has to shell out £200 ( if it’s possible - which it isn’t, see below and the link). If they’ve arrived over the weekend they have to wait for a Monday and the results may not be available within the hopes for 24 hours. Then for between 4 and 6 days they can’t go to public indoor venues such as pubs, restaurants, cafes, theatres, gyms, swimming pools and nursing homes. Oh you May be able to return to work, if employer agrees and you aren’t in a public facing role ( not much good for a visitor ). You can’t even go and have a crab bap at Peel Breakwater cafe or an ice cream as al fresco dining is forbidden. You can’t even use public transport. Its not all that brilliant, even if you’re a resident. BUT you are overlooking one important facet of the 7 day testing regime. It doesn’t apply to visitors. Only returning residents. Visitors have to do 14 days isolation. https://covid19.gov.im/general-information/day-7-testing/

I’m starting to think about my return and how I’ll transit England and get on boat, least risk to self and others. I’ll fill up with fuel in Spain before getting on ferry. Then no need to stop between Portsmouth and Heysham apart from a comfort break. Ive a cabin on both the Cap Finistere and the Ben. Drive off Ben and straight home. Ive thought about the test on day 7. As I arrive home over a weekend the test would be day 8 with results on day 9. Then there are still restrictions. I work from home, so there is no rush to get back into an office. I’ll probably give it a miss.