Two Tear Society

On two consecutive days, a couple of weeks ago, I was very nearly reduced to tears and for once, it wasn't my wife that was the instigator.

Ending last Saturday, Douglas Choral Union have just finished their rendition of 'Miss Saigon.' I urge any of my Blog readers to make the effort to see their production next year because once again the standard was so magnificent that you would hardly believe that all the performers, barring a couple of the orchestra were amateur.

Indeed this is the second time that they have been the first non-professional company allowed to present one of Cameron Mackintosh's musicals(the first being Les Miserables) and if his scouts were in attendance as I'm sure they would have been, I very much doubt that it will be the last.

Congratulations to the director, Tara Wilkinson (who will be missed by The Welbeck Cribbage School) and all the cast but it was definitely a 'Tearjerker.'

You'd probably have to be living under a rock up at Cranstal not to have heard of NEETs who are big news at the moment on the other side of the water as well as here. Not in education, employment or training is how the acronym was derived and it is pretty sad that as a society we have managed to create a whole new class of people.

Not only is it sad but also expensive. Apparently, on Island it costs around £20,000 per annum to support one of these persons on benefits and that's before the effects of their boredom and frustration drive some of them into contact with the Police and Courts etc.

Therefore, the Department of Economic Development has engaged former Director of Tourism, Geoff Le Page and training consultant, Angelena Boden to run a course to try and engage a group of so-called NEETs into the hospitality industry.

This involved intensive education in 'Customer Care' but importantly, also concentrating on their responsibilities to their colleagues, employers and the impact that they can have both positively and negatively on a business.

I was fortunate enough to be asked to meet the trainees on one of workshops and then to be invited to their graduation ceremony where their new found confidence was show-cased in a 'Dragon's Den' scenario where they presented business ideas to a panel of local luminaries. It was more than inspiring and the second source of damp eyes for me in less than twenty four hours.

Now, it is crunch time, as the young people who didn't quite fit into the boxes that society prepares for various reasons will be assimilated into our industry. I really hope that the experiment is successful and that these supposed misfits can express their talents and prove their value to our community on many different levels.

Sunrise on Marine Drive

This post is especially for our friend Caroline who is unfortunately, one of those SAD people whose mood is greatly affected by the long dark nights stealing our mornings and early evenings during the winter.

Spring is officially on the way! Over the last three weeks on Wednesday mornings, thanks to Alex & Nina taking the strain at the Hotel, I've been up and instead of going to work, hitting the road to go training.

One of my favourite place walk is the Marine Drive, so taking advantage of the quiet roads at such an hour, I usually I head out along the Old Castletown Road (Can the New Castletown Road really still be described as such. Perhaps they should be renamed the 'Ancient' and 'Middle-Aged') through Port Soderick Village, before turning on to the road where the railway station is and towards the sea.

For those uninitiated to the Island, the great attraction of the route for the sportsperson, apart from the beautiful views is that because of rockfalls in the 60s and 70s, a small section is closed to through traffic, so that you can exercise in pace and relative safety.



Unfortunately, it has also greatly restricted the bay as a tourist attraction and although it remains very pretty, there are now no facilities, the buildings deteriorate and childhood memories of a vibrant little resort fade in the memory.



Every Wednesday, it is brighter and so, Caroline, there really is light at the end of the tunnel; in fact a blooming great big one called the Sun. Not having to rush back home yesterday enabled me to take these photographs on my mobile 'phone but I can tell you that although we've been far luckier than the U.K. with our weather over the last few days, it was far too cold to hang around.

The last few pictures show the 'Broogs,' at Little Ness, the favourite place of my Dutch friends Martijn, Cisca and Alex who are returning once again to compete in the Parish Walk after being absent since 2009. This time they are bringing another of their compatriots who will be attempting our 85 mile course for the first time, Antoine Hunting. We will also be joined by Belgian walker, Ludo Schaerlaeckens who will be travelling with his wife Martine.