Welcome to the March/April 2026 edition, as always a vibrant celebration of life and style on the Isle of Man. This issue is packed with stories that reflect the heart and soul of our island community, showcasing the people, places, and events that make this corner of the world so special.
One of the standout features is the Women Riders World Relay, a global movement that has united over 20,000 female motorcyclists across 100 countries. The story of Lisa Brain, the Isle of Man Ambassador for WRWR, is a powerful testament to the resilience and passion of women in motorsports. Her efforts to lead the TT Legacy Lap during this year’s festival are a bold step forward for gender equality in the sport.
On pages 28–31, we delve into the fascinating intersection of fashion and folklore with Shannen Samuel’s Shee, a dark coming-of-age short film inspired by Manx culture and her own experiences growing up on the island. Shannen’s creative journey, from sustainable fashion to storytelling, is a compelling narrative that highlights the beauty of the Isle of Man’s heritage and its influence on art and identity. The feature is a celebration of the island’s unique traditions and the creative talent it nurtures.
For those with a taste for adventure, our travel feature on a Bavarian minibreak offers a delightful escape to Munich. With its charming anecdotes and practical tips, this piece is sure to inspire readers to explore the cultural and culinary treasures of Germany.
Finally, music lovers will be captivated by our profile of Joe Martin, a talented singer-songwriter whose upcoming album, Alone in Valentine, promises to be a heartfelt exploration of human connection and the beauty of solitude. His journey from the Isle of Man to Nashville is a story of passion and perseverance that resonates deeply.
Celebrating culture, creativity, and lifestyle. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Disclaimer.
All rights reserved. Any form of reproduction of Gallery Magazine, in part or whole is strictly prohibited without the written consent of the publisher. Any views expressed by advertisers or contributors may not be those of the publisher. Unsolicited artwork, manuscripts and copy are accepted by Gallery Magazine, but the publisher cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage. All material, copy and artwork supplied is assumed to be copyright free unless otherwise advised. Contributions for Gallery should be emailed to editorial@gallery.co.im. Names have been changed to protect the innocent and no penguins were harmed in the manufacture of this magazine, although the new cover colour is called ’penguin white’. Tag us in your pictures at @galleryisleofman and #gallerysmallprint and we’ll give you something.....
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Osteoarthritis Pain Relief
Dr Adrian Dashfield MB ChB Msc MD FRCA FFPMRCA FAcadMED runs the Manx Pain Clinic in Onchan. And all of those letters after his name? They are evidence that you can be sure of gold standard treatment from this Consultant Anaesthetist with advanced expertise and qualifications in pain medicine.
Your phone buzzes, reminding you of your appointments today. Whilst your arms and legs are begging you to stay in bed, your brain is already firing with the list of things expected of you that day.
Hivemind Detox
Last month, OpenAI published The State of Enterprise AI, claiming that workers are now saving between 40 and 60 minutes per day. On paper, that sounds like the world-changing shift tech CEOs have been promising for the last few years.
Joe Martin - New Album
Ana Dawson with Sponsor RL360
Women Riders World Relay to Lead Historic TT Legacy
Words Suzy Holland Images: Lisa Brain, Emily Ashworth, Bikersmag.co.uk
In 2019, the Women Riders World Relay, or WRWR for short, achieved what many thought impossible – a global movement uniting over 20,000 women riders over 100 countries, creating the largest female motorcycle relay in history. Since its inception WRWR has empowered women to connect with others, to challenge themselves and the historic negative stereotypes, and, importantly, to change the world’s perception of women riders.
And on 31st May, the middle Sunday of this year’s TT festival, WRWR is leading out the Legacy Lap of the TT course.
Lisa Brain is particularly proud to be the organisation’s Isle of Man Ambassador because, as she says, “the Island is the beating heart of motorcycle racing.”
“As a single mum of 4 boys, I hope I’m a good role model: being female doesn’t make me any less knowledgeable, less capable or less passionate about bikes, and for me this is why WRWR exists –to change that narrative.”
“Women are often overlooked, side-lined even, when motorcycling is concerned. I come from a family who have always been involved in bikes and motorsports from trials to motocross and circuit racing. My cousin Josh for example a five time winner of the Manx 2 day Trial. So I’ve been around bikes my whole life so it’s genuinely disappointing when I hear misogynist comments from men whose achievements I’ve always admired,” she told me. “As a single mum of 4 boys, I hope I’m a good role model: being female doesn’t make me any less knowledgeable, less capable or less passionate about bikes, and for me this is why WRWR exists – to change that narrative.”
The Women Riders World Relay was started by Hayley Bell in 2019 as one ambitious relay uniting women riders worldwide, but six years on, the physical relay baton has been swapped for a virtual one, linked by a dedicated app which any women rider whether she be a professional racer or a recreational one can access, passing a digital baton from rider to rider, carrying stories, solidarity and momentum as it travels round the world. And in the first three weeks of 2026 more than 7,000 digital batons have been passed – in person, between real women riders—using the WRWR App. Every pass ignites a light beam on a globe within the WRWR app, giving the entire world a visual of exactly how active and revved up women motorcyclists are.
“We’re fed up of being treated like a novelty, mere decoration,” continues Lisa, “and WRWR exists to challenge these perceptions, to connect women riders, to change how we’re perceived and to make sure women are seen not just as addons but as an important part of the motorcycling world.”
Lisa is thrilled to be part of the virtual baton relay at an event at IOM Motorcycles in January, when she announced the women-led TT Legacy Lap. The launch was attended by over 60 people, all excited to take part, and sign up for the virtual baton and pass it on.
“I’ve been working on the woman-led Legacy Lap since I became the WRWR Isle of Man Ambassador last year,” Lisa told me. “After conversations with Carolynn Sells, I approached Sarah Maltby MHK, who helped connect me with the Department for Enterprise’s Motorsport team to discuss the idea,” Lisa explains. “From there it’s been about working collaboratively to make sure the logistics are right so that WRWR can lead the Legacy Lap safely and smoothly. I’ll be staying closely involved as things progress towards TT 2026,” she continues. “We’ve already had support from WRWR VIP Ambassador Carolynn Sells — the first, and so far only, woman to win a solo race on the Mountain Course at the 2009 Manx Grand Prix. And it’s not just racers — there are women involved at every level of the sport, from teams and mechanics to organisers and officials. Even at this early stage, more than 80 women from around the world, including riders travelling from the USA and Australia, have signed up to take part, and we expect many more as TT 2026 approaches.”
The woman-led Legacy Lap will celebrate the power, presence and progression of women riders and the global stage signals a bold step forward for gender equality and visibility in motorsport.
“When we say we want to connect every woman rider in the world, it’s not a slogan. It’s a practical mission. Every baton pass is proof that women riders will show up for each other—across borders, languages, bike styles and experience levels,” said WRWR CEO Liza Miller earlier this year, and it looks as if the Isle of Man is certainly about to play its part, leading out the Legacy Lap on 31st May.
Hayley Bell, Founder of WRWR, has Manx links herself and is excited to be taking part in the Legacy Lap: “The TT course in itself is legendary, but to ride alongside these women, on a lap of the mountain course, which will be broadcast and watched by millions of people worldwide, that is something really special,” she says, “and it’s sure to burn rubber marks in the history books!”
To sign up to the virtual baton relay, log on to www.wrwrapp.com and download the app from your google play or apple app store. If you’d like to jump on your bike and be part of the WRWR lead out of the legacy lap head to the WRWR Facebook group for more information.
THE MANNIN CANCER HELP CENTRE OPEN EVENING
SPONSORED BY BOAL & CO
Mannin Cancer Help were really pleased to hold their first event at the new Mannin Cancer Help Centre at Nobles hospital. The Charity would like to say a massive thank you to Boal & Co who kindly sponsored the event. It was really nice to invite so many people who have helped get the Centre completed including Trusts, the building’s architects Savage Chadwick, builders Tooms Bros and Cubbon and Bregazzi who did the interior design. The Centre which opened its doors to the public in early January is now working together with Macmillan Cancer Support and Minds Matter to offer support to patients diagnosed with Cancer on our Island who need it.
Manx Pain Clinic:
Industry-leading pain relief treatment on the Isle of Man
Long-lasting, proven pain relief for knee osteoarthritis - without surgery!
Dr Adrian Dashfield MB ChB Msc MD FRCA FFPMRCA FAcadMED runs the Manx Pain Clinic in Onchan. And all of those letters after his name? They are evidence that you can be sure of gold standard treatment from this Consultant Anaesthetist with advanced expertise and qualifications in pain medicine. His medical career began at Birmingham University Medical School and he then joined the Royal Navy rising to the rank of Surgeon Commander and tri-service consultant advisor on pain management to the Surgeon General. So if you are suffering from knee pain, but want to stay active and avoid surgery, you can be sure you are in the best hands.
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a long-term condition where the shock-absorbing cartilage is worn away causing bones to rub together and the joint to become stiff, swollen and painful. The knee joint worsens over time resulting in synovial pain and disability.
Synovial pain (synovitis)
Synovial pain is a common symptom experienced by patients with knee OA. This is caused by the inflammation of synovial tissue (the lining) located inside the knee joint, and is strongly linked with the level of pain experienced by knee OA patients.
Dr Dashfield is, as you’d expect, conducting his own research based on the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index) which is the standard pain/difficulty index used by pain specialists worldwide. But Isle of Man patients are not guinea pigs, and although Dr Dashfield will continue to follow their progress over the next few years, over 1.2million syringes of this gel – which, he says, bears a striking resemblance to UHU glue –have already been injected worldwide with no reported adverse side-effects, and no risk to the patient. So, if your knees are beginning to seize up and your GP or hospital consultant has diagnosed osteoarthritis, then why not consider a visit to the Manx Pain Clinic?
More about the facilities and treatments offered by Dr Dashfield and his team can be found at www.manxpainclinic.com where you will also find testimonials from patients.
18A Village Walk, Onchan, IM3 4EB
T: 01624 617101
E: susan@manxpainclinic.com
W: www.manxpainclinic.com
Healthy Knee
Knee with OA / Synovitis
ADORN CARE GROUP SPONSOR MANNIN CANCERS
RED BLACK TIE BALL
What a fabulous night we had at the Adorn Care Group Red Black Tie Ball! We raised a phenomenal £28,000!!!
Could we say a massive thank you to our sponsors Adorn Care Group and to Matt Berry and his team the food was amazing! Thanks to our hosts for the evening Matt & Pippa Matt Fletcher - Hosts & DJs. and The JukeBoxBand who certainly got everyone up dancing, Jo Healey for the gorgeous balloons. Also, thanks to everyone who helped us with auction prizes Ellis at Van Mossel Jacksons IOM, Oliver Dean for donating Liverpool Chemistry lounge tickets, Simon & Louise at RHS Jewellers Ltd for supporting our jewellery, Absolute Scaffold and the Regency for donating vouchers.Thanks to Serena Wood Photography for the gorgeous photos. Finally the lovely team at the Villa who do so much to help our Charity.
All money raised by us stays on the Island and helps patients diagnosed with Cancer. Our next Black Tie event is the Zedra Manx Breast Cancer Support Group Pink Ball in October with Rule the World the no 1 Take That Tribute Band. Contact Jules, Anne or Shebe to reserve your table.
Photography: Serena Wood Photography
SHINY CARS AND SWIM-UP BARS: our Bavarian mini-break
Mention Munich and most people automatically think of the Oktoberfest but there’s much more to this vibrant yet laidback city than beer mugs and oompa bands as I already knew when I travelled there recently with my two children aged 11 and nine. I was lucky to live and work in the Bavarian capital some 20 years ago so I had a good idea about its manifold attractions before our early-evening BA flight from Heathrow touched down in the dark.
Munich Airport is around 24 miles away from the city centre but linked by two frequent S-Bahn (suburban railway) services: ours took just 37 minutes. Hotel Adria in the genteel district of Lehel was our base and we were very pleased with our spacious family suite including two TVs.
After a copious hotel breakfast (a treat reserved for first mornings on holiday only), we set out early the next morning to explore. With only three days in hand, we were determined to maximise our short stay. First, a few hours in the city centre strolling along the main shopping thoroughfare taking in the Lego shop, a huge toy store, Lindt, Lush and the bookshop. We also chanced upon a cool Harry Potter store in the Karlsplatz underground station including a free special effects photo generator. Having brought only small suitcases, actual purchasing choices were thankfully limited, but it was fun to just look at everything including lavish Advent calendars and a mouthwatering array of confectionery. For lunch we headed to Marienplatz, the city square, and Rischart, Munich institution and breadshop extraordinaire. Cakes, pastries, speciality breads, pretzels and, for us, filled rolls and sticky chocolate doughnuts, which we took across the square and ate in the unseasonably warm sunshine, gazing in awe at the truly magnificent Rathaus (city hall).
Suitably refuelled, we met up with a friend for a walk in the Englischer Garten, one of the largest urban parks in the world. The autumnal golden-yellow leaves on the mature plane trees were absolutely stunning and we kept a keen eye out for squirrels. Having reached the
quirky Chinese Tower, we headed away from the park towards the chilled-out student district of Schwabing and chanced upon Ciao Napoli, where we enjoyed what my children said were the best pizzas they had ever tasted – praise indeed!
For our second day I had pre-booked tickets to tour the Audi factory at the car manufacturer’s HQ in Ingolstadt to the north of Munich. Thomas and Annie were very excited to board a double-decker train for our hour-long journey and, despite extensive soundproofing walls along the route, it was lovely to watch the villages and countryside rolling by from the upstairs seats. After a short ride on a bendy bus (more excitement!), we reached the Audi Forum, the prestige carmaker’s glassand-steel customer experience centre. Starting a short introductory film, the 75-minute tour was in English and led us from the deafening thumping and screeching in the press shop, past balletic orange welding robots and along the ever-moving production line, where we watched engines and windscreens being installed in the car bodyshells. This was the fourth time I have toured the plant and I never cease to be amazed by the complexity and sophistication of today’s manufacturing industry.
After careful logistical planning, on our third and final day we vacated our room at the Hotel Adria and took the S-Bahn north to Altenerding followed by a 15-minute walk to Therme Erding, the world’s largest thermal spa and flume complex. Covering an area of 185,000 square metres, it comprises 40 indoor and outdoor pools, jacuzzis and grottos including a huge wave pool, two lazy rivers and numerous swim-up bars, plus 20 water slides (more in summer), plenty of food outlets and no less than 8,500 lockers! As our visit coincided with Bavarian school holidays, the complex was extremely busy, especially the flumes, but we had marvellous fun for three hours, particularly enjoying the swooshing wave pool, fresh smoothies in the steam of an outdoor pool and, afterwards, the body dryers.
The final destination of our break was Munich Airport visitor park, which includes a shop, exhibition, eatery and an imaginative playground. The main attraction,
however, is a 28-metre hill overlooking the airport and runways: plenty of scope for my son to indulge his passion for planes. I defy anyone not to be impressed by the sight of an A380 thundering down the runway and climbing into the air. Then, after supper and an early night at our airport hotel, we too were hurtling down the tarmac and saying auf Wiedersehen to the fantastic city of Munich.
Germany’s third-largest city may not be an obvious choice for a family holiday or urban break, but it ticks all the boxes for both with a fabulous choice of world-class museums, art galleries and theatres, plus a zoo, swimming pools and plenty of outdoor leisure opportunities. Munich has a comparatively safe, compact city centre that is easy to navigate, and a calm, laidback ambience that makes for a relaxing holiday. Cheers! – or ein Prosit, as they sing at the Oktoberfest!
1. a miscellanies plural : separate writings collected in one volume b : a collection of writings on various subjects 2 : a mixture of various things
mis·cel·la·ny mi-sə-lā-nē
Fresh Starts.
With February almost done, we’ve reached that time of year when most New Year’s resolutions have already imploded. In a desperate attempt to cling to your sense of self-worth, you’ve convinced yourself it’s not you, but your unattainable standards that are to blame. But let’s be honest: does it really take a mental guru to summon the motivation to run three times a week? Is it possible it’s not your ‘unattainable’ goals, but you?
If so, don’t fret. Many repeat the old truism that a leopard never changes its spots; but we are not leopards. Why not change who you are on a whim? If standard self-improvement methods aren’t cutting it, perhaps it’s time to try something more radical. Below is a curated selection of ways to go into 2027 as an entirely new person, and maybe, if you’re lucky, develop the mental determination you needed last month.
1Sell Your Organs on the Dark Web
Figuring out how much of your internal décor you can auction off while staying alive is arguably the ultimate side hustle. Just log onto a Tor browser, and suddenly you’ll realise that kidneys are the Bitcoin of the human body. This subculture of entrepreneurial selfharm thrives on questionable ethics and a willingness to declutter unnecessary baggage. It’s a radical reset, but one that’s sure to make you become, if not feel, incredibly lighter.
Invest in the Stock Market
There is no form of gambling more openly encouraged by polite society than this one. Entering the world of investing invites immediate unsolicited coaching from friends who probably haven’t read a book since GCSE English, yet are suddenly fluent in ‘acronym’. It’s capitalism’s version of rehab, where finfluencers yell “diversify your portfolio!” in your face at least six times a day, as you desperately stab in the dark at ‘the next biggest investment opportunity’. You’ll feel like the Wolf of Wall Street for about eight hours, until your favourite tech startup spontaneously crashes overnight, and you notice your big toe is still poking through a hole in your only clean pair of socks.
Go on a 10-Day Silent Retreat
This is a fresh start for those with everyday middle-class problems looking to experience psychosis. Weather-worn modern professionals pay extortionate fees to live like Victorian orphans for ten days, forbidden from speaking, reading, writing, or making eye contact with fellow inmates. Meals are beige. Rooms are beige. Emotions are beige. Mandatory silence amplifies your internal screaming (which is encouraged). By Day 7, you’ll probably find ‘clarity’ crying into a bowl of lentils, upon realisation that you subjected yourself to torture to get over minor inconveniences such as your partner’s loud chewing.
Become a Hippie
I have never met a dissatisfied hippie. Their inner landscapes appear permanently bathed in golden-hour sunlight. If you’re a cynical bastard who can’t imagine rewiring your entire brain, worry not: total transformation is as simple as one industrial-strength dose of ayahuasca, pummelling your neural pathways into spiritual mashed potato. Becoming a hippie is the fresh start for people who want inner peace and like the idea of going off-grid, but never followed through with actually deleting Instagram. After all, how else would they brag about their sizeable incense collection and newly awakened sense of self? All past trauma is swiftly cured via crystals mined by underpaid pre-teens in India, and as your food becomes more fermented, so your emotions become more valid. Now you think of it, every conversation begins and ends with how you feel, swaddled within the safety net of knowing there’s always an external factor you can blame for why you became the way you are.
Illustration: Zara Le Cornu
5
Start Sea Swimming
The Spectator once described wild swimming as “being cold and wet for Guardian readers,” which is bold, as one would usually assume even their nemesis has the sense not to dress like a neoprene-wrapped suppository at sunrise. But if there’s any hobby likely to completely transform your personality, it’s this one. Serious neuroplasticity must be gained by flinging yourself into hypothermia every morning and not shutting up about it. With dopamine spikes apparently equivalent to a line of cocaine, the sea swimmer and the cokehead share similar levels of general elation, differences in circulation aside. Both parties can testify that their hobbies have turned their lives upside-down, and sea swimmers can brag that they spend more time worshipping the Tides webpage than Outlook, Duolingo, and social media combined.
6
Join a Pyramid Scheme
7
Buy a Thermomix
The Thermomix is the middle-aged equivalent of using AI: why enjoy cooking when you can automate it like your child automates their homework? The hard part isn’t overcoming the loss of a human touch, it’s spending £1,200 on it and then convincing your offspring that the chicken curry you accidentally blended “tastes exactly the same”. Owners insist it’s an “investment”, as though their time is so astronomically valuable that half an hour at the stove must be repurposed into “more productive things”. These “things” typically include binging Netflix originals or trolling strangers on the‘Good or Bad Businesses’ Facebook pages.
8
Become a Digital Nomad
Becoming a digital nomad is a slightly less insufferable way of announcing an existential crisis than starting a podcast. Why confront your inner demons when you can pop on a pair of linen trousers and spend your meagre earnings in a country with a far lower GDP? Digital nomads thrive on pretending they’ve hacked the system, when in reality they spend 87% of their energy hunting cafes that won’t evict them for treating a single matcha purchase as monthly office rent. This money was better directed into their £400 backpack that can “fit their whole life,” provided they ignore the closet of unresolved issues they left at home.
9
This is a fresh start for stay-at-home parents who regret quitting their careers, so decide to wrap their finances up in exquisite branding and watch it blow up in their face. All you need is unwavering delusion, 200 bottles of ambiguous collagen-acid hybrid substances, and a pitiful amount of dignity. Success isn’t measured in income but rather in how many acquaintances you’ve alienated through relentless Instagram reels, or how many people avoid making direct eye contact with you on Strand Street. Promotion is always right at your fingertips, provided you maintain regular manifestation and have a plethora of meek cousins to rope in if necessary.
Run a Marathon
This is the least original way to process a life crisis, which is probably why it’s so popular. It’s likely caused by the general lack of creativity remaining in the worn-out souls resorting to this drastic measure, where the best they could do was take ‘I need to run away from my problems’ literally. Since then, every flavour of existentialism - mundane mortgages, ‘what am I doing with my life’ vertigo, retiring early from a corporate job physically but not mentally - has been treated with the same prescription: a rigorous programme of kneedestroying physical activity. The real event, however, is not the 26.2 miles of exercise; it’s the mental challenge of spending four uninterrupted hours with the voices of your inner demons.
Gallery presents the wedding of Sarah & Dom
Sarah & Dom were married on the 26 July 2025
Ceremony: The Royal Chapel of St John the Baptist, St John
Reception: Milntown Estate
Photographer: Amoré Du Plessis
Gallery presents the wedding of
Mr & Mrs
Mealin
Annabelle & Chris Mealin were married on the 16 August 2025
Ceremony: St Patrick Church, Jurby
Reception: Ballamoar Castle
Photographer: Amoré Du Plessis
Gallery presents the wedding of
Mr & Mrs
Sam & Lucy Royle-Walker were married on the 9 August 2025.
Ceremony: Kirk Braddan Church
Reception: Amisfield House Photographer: Revi Del Rosario
Royle-Walker
Kathleen & Lee Mclver were married on the 21 December 2024
Reception & Ceremony: The Comis Hotel
Contributor: Victoria Callin
The Danger of Being Reliable
Vrrr. Vrrr.
Your phone buzzes and shrills to wake you from your slumber. Half asleep, you press the snooze button.
Vrrrr. Vrrrr.
Your phone buzzes again, reminding you of your appointments today. Whilst your arms and legs are begging you to stay in bed, your brain is already firing with the list of things expected of you that day.
Vrrrrr. Vrrrrr.
Your phone buzzes and shrills once again, your last reminder to get out of bed. It takes every bit of scraped-up motivation to lift yourself from your bed and begin the day. Another day that somehow seems oh so long, yet not long enough. And you get up. Just like you always do.
You move through the motions on autopilot: shower, clothes, coffee and run out the door. Each action performed with the precision of someone who has done this too many times to count. Your body is present, but your mind is already racing ahead, bracing itself for the day. Emails to answer. Deadlines to meet. People depending on you to show up, deliver, fix, hold things together. There is no room for hesitation. No space for collapse.
This is what high-functioning burnout looks like. It doesn’t announce itself with missed deadlines or breakdowns. It hides behind competence. Behind reliability. Behind the quiet pride of being the one who can always be counted on. You still perform well. You still smile when asked how you’re doing. You still say “I’m fine” because from the outside, you are. You’re functioning. And in a world that rewards output above all else, functioning is mistaken for thriving.
And if you are just about functioning, are you really living?
Identifying high-functioning burnout can be difficult, especially whilst holding yourself to an unsustainable standard. Suddenly, those sums that you are usually able to answer straight away are taking longer. Your brain feels like it’s a storm cloud, and your patience for anything less than perfect dwindles.
In 2020, an online survey and a series of neuropsychological tests were held by the University of Amsterdam to review how nonclinical burnout affects the ‘Central Executive’ of the brain, which is essentially how the brain can coordinate complex tasks. It found that highfunctioning burnout is less visible in routine decisions, but when a complex or high-pressure task is faced, the brain struggles to decipher it.
So what are the warning signs of your highfunctioning burnout developing into something more unmanageable? The University of South Wales’ School of Psychiatry used a pool of 622 ‘burnt-out’ individuals to find common denominators.
Here is what they found:
• Decreased work performance
• Insularity (the technical term for becoming ‘closed off’)
• Depressed mood
• Empathy loss
• Exhaustion
Unfortunately, women in their 20-30s are theorised to be more susceptible this, especially in care-giving roles. (BMC, MONICA Study)
The hopeful truth about high-functioning burnout is that it is not a personal failing, nor a permanent state. It is like a warning signal, telling us to care more about ourselves, and the only way you can combat it is by creating firm boundaries. Recognise your triggers and create reasonable measures to preserve your health, and continue doing what your love and are good at. Talk about it with those who can make the most of a difference, whether that be your friends, family, work colleagues or more. That way, when your alarm buzzes again tomorrow, with your awareness, support, and compassion, the shrill does not dictate how you live. Only remind you that you are still here, and still allowed to choose yourself.
NOA NOSTALGIA Shoot/Cover
Credits: Ashley Christian (photographer)
Amy Melbourne @_ amywiththegoodhair (hair artist)
@franco_aroa (MUA)
@gaptoothdj @staunfox @ misscherryn (models)
Shannen Samuel has been flying the Manx flag in the worlds of fashion, sustainable fashion and costume design since graduating in 2016 and is now back on the Island to make Shee, a dark comingof-age short film inspired by Manx folklore and her own experiences growing up in the Isle of Man.
“I’d say that the Art Foundation course at UCM was a pivotal moment for me. Course leader Billee Saade was inspirational,” Shannen told me, “and that led directly to my degree in Fashion at the University for Creative Arts in London, and particularly my interest in sustainable alternative fashion.”
In the years since graduating Shannen has been busy: she opened her own store on Brick Lane, East London where she worked on a wide range of collections including an initiative reusing tights, which, she says, “are the fashion industry’s plastic bottle caps as they can’t be recycled”, and in 2022 her TT-inspired collection using recycled motorbike leathers and motorsport materials was featured in the Official New York Fashion Week. She is also Creative Director of bleaq, a platform for emerging designers in sustainable fashion from around the world.
So why Shee, and why now? Shannen has been mulling over this story since she unexpectedly returned to the Island during Covid, not as a misunderstood teenager but as an adult who remembered her time growing up in Douglas but with a wider appreciation of the Island, its beauty and unique folklore. She’s now back again, with the benefit of a few years’ experience and ready to develop what started as a staged performance piece into this short film – with the help of Somewhere Films, a female-led production company based in London & LA (@somewherefilms).
Shannen Samuel
Rehab Show Credits: Ashley Christian (photographer)
Shee touches upon several topics, but identity and escapism are at the heart of it. Protagonist Roxy's is a 16-year-old girl trying to navigate life with a turbulent relationship with both her appearance and her emotions, an intense reminder of the fragility of youth battling with an inner self. Is she pretty? Ugly? A Chav or an Emo? The more she battles with her identity the more she is overwhelmed and seeks escapism into the ‘realm’, a raw surreal space where she faces her inner self which manifests as the Shee, a spectral half-faerie being that, like teenager Roxy, can take many forms.
“I’d say that the Art Foundation course at UCM was a pivotal moment for me, and that led directly to my degree in Fashion at the University for Creative Arts in London, and particularly my interest in sustainable alternative fashion.”
‘Shee’ is a Manx Gaelg word for both ‘faerie’ and ‘peace’ and, of course, has a double meaning which can be applied to one’s inner or wider self. The film is set in 2006 and follows Roxy and her two friends Dan and Breesh on a typical Friday, skiving school and if you grew up in Douglas you might recognise some of their haunts - playing pool in the old arcade, watching films in the one dusty cinema, hanging out in Dukes, drinking tea and smoking indoors. They live for the weekend, which starts at the war memorial at 6pm on Friday with the chavs, the goths, the emos, the skaters - all of whom set themselves apart from the children they once were and the adults they are yet to become. But this Friday is different - Roxy ricochets between real life and an other-worldly state, ‘the realm’, and tonight is the night she comes face to face with the Shee. What happens next? You’ll have to wait for the film, which shoots later this year.
Shee is also a celebration of the beauty in the mundane, islander life and the importance of heritage and roots by contrasting the seedy bedsits, cheap booze and gritty chaos with the ethereal mysticism of the realm where Manx superstitions and idyllic scenery of the Isle of Man rule. Shee uses Manx culture and superstitions to explore the tension between the external and inner self whilst capturing the bittersweet conflict of adolescence.
The Shee fundraiser campaign is to be launched in March, where Shannen, her cast and other members of the production crew will talk more about the film, and how you can get involved. Shee is entirely self/ public funded so this launch is a call to action, a fundraiser as well as an opportunity to drum up excitement for this new film which will be shot on the Island later this year. And there might be an opportunity for you to be actually in the film: Shannen is on the lookout for actors and supporting artists to play:
• Dan - playing age 16/17, male presenting
• Breesh - playing age 16/17, female presenting
• 30 x 16-25 year olds extras for 1 scene, mixed genders
• 3 x ‘The Lads’ (18 - 20 year olds), male presenting
For supporting artist / extras enquires please contact: Shee Casting at sheefilm2026@gmail.com
For further details of this fundraiser, when and where it will take place and more information about Shee, keep an eye on Shannen and the film’s socials - @shannenmariesamuel and @theshee_film
Costume & Creative DirectionShannen Maria Samuel @shannenmariasamuel
Model - Emily Quilliam
BTS & Production AssistantRhea Antrobus
MUAH & Styling Assistants: Cushlin Christian
Evelyn Killey
Lilian Brodie
Life of Leathers Credits: Photographer: Alex Mazzotta Models
Modern Easy Living
Douglas is welcoming a fresh chapter in city living with the launch of The Waterside at Quay West, a contemporary new residential development by award-winning Island developer Dandara. Marking the first major new-build apartment scheme in the capital for some years, the development brings much-needed, thoughtfully designed homes right into the heart of the city
The Waterside offers a stylish collection of one and two-bedroom apartments, ideal for modern urban lifestyles. Positioned close to the marina and harbour, residents will find themselves moments from Douglas’s cafés, bars and restaurants, as well as key employment hubs and everyday amenities. Unsurprisingly, early interest has been strong, reflecting growing demand for high-quality, energy-efficient homes in central locations.
The development occupies the former site of a sawmill and timber yard, transforming a long-derelict industrial space into a contemporary riverside neighbourhood. Sustainability sits at the core of the project, with apartments carefully arranged to maximise natural daylight and solar gain, helping to reduce energy consumption while enhancing everyday comfort.
Architecturally, The Waterside nods to Douglas’s historic harbourside buildings, blending modern design with a sense of place. Materials have been chosen for longevity and low environmental impact,
including locally manufactured concrete blocks and durable cladding, roofing and glazing. Windows, doors and paving have all been produced using 100 per cent green energy, supporting a low-carbon build from the ground up.
Inside, the apartments are designed for relaxed, modern living. Open-plan kitchen, living and dining areas create light-filled, flexible spaces, complemented by Miele appliances, low-energy lighting and waterefficient fittings to help residents reduce their environmental footprint and running costs.
Austin McGuire, Managing Director of Dandara, says: “This development reflects our long-term commitment to the Island and our focus on creating places where people genuinely want to live. Sustainability has been central to the design from the outset, both in construction and in helping residents manage ongoing energy costs. We believe The Waterside will be a positive and lasting addition to Douglas.”
Prospective buyers can explore the design and layouts at the show apartment, located at Dandara’s Sales & Marketing Suite on Victoria Street. The suite is open Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 5.30pm, and Friday and Saturday from 9.30am to 4pm For more information, call 615000 or email thewaterside@dandara.com.
Spring Refresh: Discovering Characterful Wines Beyond the Familiar
Words: Anne Berry – Wine Down
Everyone loves a Spring clean and that’s just what we are doing that with our range of wines.
Many of the buildings are made from the same white stone. This is expressed in the wine labels from the winery, Stina. Stina is the Croatian word for stone and it is so named to reflect this important element that defines Brac. Plavac Mali means ‘small blue’ which refers to the shape of the berries. The wine is rich, deep and full flavoured with black cherry, fig, spice and herbs.
Our wine selection is ever changing, both on the shelf and on our wine list. We love to bring you new grape varieties from different countries and to tell you all about the wines and the people who produce them. We pride ourselves on the relationships we have developed with the producers of the wines on our shelves, who share our passion for good wines made with care and not simply made to meet a specification set by an anonymous buyer. These are wines with character that express the place where they are produced.
This year we are bringing in wines from grape varieties such as Plavac Mali from Croatia, Forastera from Italy, Karmrahyut from Armenia, Roditis from Greece and Pugnitello from Italy. These will join the Vranec, Smederevka, Favorita, Timorasso, Cal Karasi and Voskehat that are already on our shelves.
The Plavac Mali comes from the Island of Brac just off the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia. Brac has a very distinct white chalky limestone soil. From a distance, you’d think there had been a freak snowstorm in the vineyards.
Costa delle Parracine Forastera comes from the tiny volcanic Island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples. This native grape variety faced decline in the 20th century as many larger wineries replaced it with popular international varieties. In recent years, a small number of producers in Ischia are reviving it, recognising the quality that it can produce when grown in the maritime climate and the volcanic soils. The vineyards are surrounded by low dry stone walls built from the local green tuff rock extracted from Mount Epomeo, the highest mountain in Ischia.
This is a crisp, dry and refreshing Forastera, with delicate citrus and green apple notes complemented by a distinctive almond character and a mineral note that comes from the volcanic soil.
Armenia is one of the oldest wine growing countries in the world. Karmrahyut translates as red juice and is a variety found almost only in Armenia. It is unusual in that it has dark juice. Most red grapes have white juice and the colour of the wine comes purely from the skins. This new rose is deep in colour with fragrant aromas of wild red berries and rose petals. It’s refreshing and soft on the palate with distinctive flavours of strawberry and juicy red cherry.
It’s always exciting to try these varieties, which have been cultivated for many years and have adapted perfectly to the climate and soil of the region. We still love our Chardonnay and Malbec and always will, but we also love to bring in these less well known grapes which add an eclectic mix to the range.
Stina - Grabice Vineyard
Vigneti Carosello Crop
Panorama a Brac
Protecting The Island’s Spirit Of Generosity
The Isle of Man is widely regarded as one of the most generous places in the British Isles, with considerable sums raised each year to support good causes at home and abroad.
We really do punch above our weight when it comes to the level of charity fundraising per head of population.
This spirit of kindness and compassion has a hugely positive impact on society, both locally and internationally.
The Island’s charitable efforts continue to support a diverse range of projects, whether it’s paying fuel costs for those in need, safeguarding animal welfare, or building schools for children living in remote areas of developing nations.
Much of this success is made possible by the hard work, energy and commitment shown by the volunteers and trustees of what are known internationally as Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs).
An NPO might be a small charitable group set up to help a particular section of the local community or part of a well-known UK or global organisation that manages substantial levels of income and budgets.
Unfortunately, there can be a darker side to such noble intentions, with terrorist groups seeking to exploit legitimate charitable activities to finance their campaigns of terror.
While it’s important to state that there have been no cases of terrorist financing involving Isle of
Man NPOs to date, the possibility of charity funds falling into the wrong hands has been identified as a potential national risk.
The threat posed by bad actors is especially relevant where Isle of Man NPOs disburse money internationally or work with compromised partner agencies in higher-risk countries.
The Island’s authorities are aiming to stay ahead of such risks by progressing a package of measures aimed at protecting NPOs that operate overseas from abuse by terrorist groups.
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) and Department of Justice and Home Affairs have joined forces with a view to assessing the terrorist financing risks faced by Island NPOs and applying sensible safeguards that do not discourage the fabulous work that takes place.
Feedback was recently invited via a public consultation on plans to modernise the Island’s Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) framework for the NPO sector.
Central to the proposals is a new definition of a Specified NonProfit Organisation (SNPO) set out as part of an updated Code that will align the Isle of Man with international standards. Other countries around the world are carrying out similar work or have already taken action to ensure they are compliant with current requirements.
Crucially, this update is intended to assist SNPOs by making the implementation and operation of CFT measures simpler and more proportionate. Subject to approval by Tynwald, the outcome of the changes will be a slightly broader population of SNPOs operating under risk-based requirements, with enhanced support and oversight.
To help the small number of impacted SNPOs to continue doing what they do best – raising funds for worthy causes – the FSA is rolling out an extensive programme of outreach and education.
A drop-in session took place in February to encourage NPO volunteers to have a chat with officers over a cup of tea and biscuits, while ongoing support is being offered through access to free CFT training, dedicated webpages, guidance, Frequently Asked Questions and videos.
Templates for terrorist financing risk assessments and other key documents will also be available to help Island SNPOs meet the requirements of the new Code.
The only additional cost to SNPOs is an investment of time to enhance their awareness and understanding of the revised framework and expectations. SNPOs are required to register with the FSA but are not charged an application fee or annual registration fee by the FSA, while training and outreach is being provided from within existing government resources.
The need to update the Island’s legislation was highlighted in a risk assessment of the NPO sector published as part of national efforts to combat financial crime and uphold international standards.
The NPO Terrorist Financing National Risk Assessment is included in a suite of sectoral and topic-based risk assessments produced to inform national policies and focus resources where they are most needed.
David Baker, Senior Manager in the FSA’s AML/CFT Supervision Division, said: ‘As a responsible jurisdiction, our message is clear: we
Isle of Man NPOs
in
will not tolerate those who seek to commit crime either on or through our Island. While the Isle of Man is a safe place to live and work, we must do everything within our power to ensure terrorists cannot exploit our businesses or NPOs to finance their destructive activities.’
He added: ‘Being domestic facing, the overwhelming majority of NPOs in the Island present very little risk and will see no changes. Our focus is on protecting NPOs that may be at an inherently higher risk of being used to facilitate terrorist financing because of the countries they operate in and the type of work they carry out. We are ensuring that comprehensive support, including ongoing outreach and training, is available to assist those who so generously contribute to good causes to benefit people less fortunate on-Island and overseas.’
If you volunteer for an NPO that may be impacted by the changes, please get in touch with the FSA via its dedicated email address: snpo@iomfsa.im
numbers
87.8 raise and disburse funds exclusively within the IOM 5%
7.2
% % raise and disburse funds within the UK, and Crown Dependencies
raise and disburse funds in overseas jurisdictions
A day in the life of a trainee at KPMG in the Crown Dependencies Meet Raquel Amoedo
based in the Isle of Man office
Growing up Spanish and having lived in several sunny countries, rain used to feel like something to escape. Now, it feels like novelty. The day starts under a soft grey Isle of Man sky, umbrella up, rain gently falling, a quiet contrast to the sunshine I grew up with, and a surprisingly calming way to begin the morning.
Once I arrive at my desk, the real start of the day begins with a hot chocolate in my favourite KPMG mug. It’s a small comfort, but one that makes settling into emails, planning the day ahead, and finding my rhythm feel that much better, especially as I dive into client work and focus on the details that shape the rest of the day.
Lunchtime means switching things up and heading down to the gym in the KPMG office. Stepping away from my desk and moving my body is the perfect way to reset, clear my head, and recharge. Even a short workout makes a big difference to my focus and energy for the busy afternoon ahead in the Deals team.
After lunch, it’s time for a team meeting. Wednesdays come with an extra splash of pink. Our team’s Pink Wednesday tradition brings a fun pop of colour into the office and adds a playful twist to the afternoon meeting. It really reflects out team culture: collaborative, supportive, and not afraid to enjoy the lighter moments of the day.
Once the workday wraps up, I head to the driving range for a little golf practice. It’s the perfect way to switch off and focus on something completely different and I’m very lucky to work for a company that genuinely encourages work-life balance. Ending the day this way leaves me feeling refreshed, reenergised, and ready for whatever comes next.
To find out more about a career at KPMG in the Crown Dependencies, visit: kpmg.ws/careers-at-kpmg
LOCAL START GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY
Where will your KPMG journey take you?
Apply for our trainee intake and become a Chartered Accountant with KPMG. Meet fellow students, build work experience, and earn an income as you study towards your professional qualification.
Find out more: kpmg.ws/Trainees2026
At Isle of Man Bank our Business and Commercial teams are here to support you with all aspects of your banking needs.
Across the Isle of Man we’re proud to help our customers, spanning from sole traders and SMEs to large corporates. Our dedicated team of experienced Relationship Managers are on hand to offer support and guidance.
The local team are introduced below, with each being a key member of the Isle of Man Bank team…
Meet
the Corporate, Commercial and Business Banking team from
Isle of Man Bank
Ian Perry
Head of Corporate, Commercial and Business Banking
E: Ian.Perry@iombank.com
T: 07624 455166
Ian brings over 36 years’ experience within NatWest Group. Starting his career in Great Yarmouth, Ian ran a network of branches in East Anglia before moving to the Isle of Man in 2004. Since then, Ian has held several senior roles including Head of Retail Branches, Premier and Mortgages. Ian is now Head of Corporate, Commercial and Business Banking and a regulated officer for Isle of Man Bank.
He commented, “One of the highlights during my time in the Isle of Man is seeing businesses grow and thrive, supporting the local economy. I’m very proud to lead this team of outstanding Relationship Directors.”
Outside work Ian is an active member of the Manx golf and hockey community, having been Chairman of Vikings HC for over 10 years.
Andy Baxendale
Corporate Relationship Director
E: Andy.Baxendale@iombank.com
T: 07624 375058
Born and bred in Chorley, Lancashire, Andy has worked for NatWest Group since 1987 and moved to the Isle of Man in 1994. In his present role as Corporate Relationship Director, he is responsible for the management of a portfolio of both Corporate (turnover of £25m+) customers and Commercial Real Estate clients.
Andy is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) and possesses a Diploma in Lending Skills and an Applied Diploma in Corporate Banking. In his spare time, Andy is a Director of Manx Birdlife; Treasurer of the Church Parish of St George and All Saints Douglas; Independent Account Examiner for Crimestoppers IoM, CAMRA IoM and the Manx Ornithological Society; enjoys race-walking and holds a season-ticket for FC Isle of Man.
Shaun Gritton
Business Relationship Manager
E: Shaun.Gritton@iombank.com
T: 07624 409401
Born and educated on the Wirral, Shaun moved to the Isle of Man in 1991 with Barclays, who he worked for until 2005 when he secured a role with Isle of Man Bank. Shaun worked as a branch manager before he began his role as a local business relationship manager in 2013. He always aims to build strong partnerships with his business customers. “I love the opportunity to work with my customers to help them grow and develop, to be there to help them through the tough times too. I pride myself on offering the best service to our customers to help them now and for the future.” In his spare time Shaun has been a long-standing volunteer with the Isle of Man Football Association.
Mark Holt
Commercial Relationship Director
E: Mark.Holt@rbsint.com
T: 07624 472812
Brought up and educated in the Isle of Man, Mark is a Commercial Relationship Director responsible for the management of a portfolio of local trading businesses and Commercial Real Estate clients. Since joining NatWest International in 1990, Mark has built up extensive knowledge and experience which includes 25 years of working with clients in the Business, Corporate and Commercial sector. Mark possesses a Diploma in Lending Skills and is passionate about helping businesses thrive.
Outside work he is a keen golfer and for the last 3 years has been a Trustee of a local charity which assists new business start-ups.
Lindsay Leece
Business Relationship Manager
E: Lindsay.Leece@rbsint.com
T: 07624 473838
Lindsay moved to the Island in 1999 and joined RBS International in early 2000. Since then she has gained more than 15 years’ experience working in the business and retail sector teams. Lindsay prides herself with high standards in all areas of local knowledge and customer communication, ensuring clients receive an exceptional standard of service. A key driver is the forming of close working relationships with her clients, establishing a partnership with them, and helping to form and meet their short and long-term financial goals. Outside of work Lindsay loves a challenge, such as white collar boxing or climbing a mountain but most weeks, she can be found at the side of a pitch watching her two boys play football.
Juan Quayle
Commercial Relationship Director
E: Juan.Quayle@iombank.com
T: 07624 463497
Born and educated in the Isle of Man, Juan brings 27 years’ banking experience with NatWest Group to the role, including 20 years in relationship management roles, looking after the needs of local Premier and Commercial clients.
Juan understands the market we operate in and the needs of our existing and prospective customers. He commented, “I take pride in delivering great customer service to my local customer base, helping them achieve their financial goals and long-term aspirations.” Outside of work Juan is a keen golfer and a member of Peel Golf Club.
I recently binged Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus. Once I put the post-binge shame of consuming 8 hours of content in a worryingly short window behind me, I was struck by the parallels from the story to the AI armageddon that we are told to worry about.
Spoiler alert
Carol, the main character, rails against the hivemind virus that has infected humanity. She despises the collective consciousness, eventually driving the entire human race to tears and causing millions of deaths just to break free. But when the hivemind finally leaves her, the silence is deafening. Carol realises how alone she is without them. It’s the absence of them that puts into sharp focus what they’ve added to her life.
It sparked a thought - what would my working day look like if I couldn’t use AI? Would I notice it? How much more work would I have to do?
Last month, OpenAI published The State of Enterprise AI, claiming that workers are now saving between 40 and 60 minutes per day. On paper, that sounds like the world-changing shift tech CEOs have been promising for the last few years. But looking at my own schedule, I wondered: is that time actually saved, or have I just swapped ‘real work’ for an hour of prompting and editing?”
In my case, I’m a bit of an AI evangelist. Three years ago, when ChatGPT first hit the mainstream, I was so persuaded by it, that I quit my job and set up a design & web agency (now operating out of Gallery HQ).
Since then, AI has become the silent partner in nearly every business process I have. Going cold turkey is likely to be a painful detox, but I’m keen to find out the truth: without the hivemind, will I crash and burn? Will I feel liberated? Or, like Carol, will I simply feel worryingly alone?
Words: Toby Balderson Illustration: Jamie Willow
"MORNING - THE GREAT SILENCE"
My rules for this experiment are simple:
No Large Language Models (LLMs)
No Image Generation
No “Smart” Coding Assistants
No AI Writing / Editing
However, in my naivety, I realised this was harder to enforce than I first thought when I came to draft my first email for the day and Gmail had already automatically drafted my response: “Hi Jim, I’ll sort that now”. A truly groundbreaking, timesaving activity to kick the day off. Viva La Revolution.
Following my email from Jim, I now tackle his problem. After 30 minutes of scrambling around in AI generated comments in the code and a frustrating search through StackOverflow, I fixed Jim’s issue. My initial pride at the fix is quickly dulled by realisation that I, (or Gemini), could have fixed the issue in minutes.
Next, coffee break, after all that heavy lifting. Is this how people used to work?
New Email from my Daughter’s nursery. Request for less milk, more nappies and more wipes next time she comes in. Usually at this point, I’d revert to the third parent in my marriage, an LLM, (Christ, how sad) for answers to the big questions like “What’s a normal amount of milk for a 12 month old to drink?” or “Does my baby sh*t too much?” or “Respond politely to this email”.
But no, three Googles later and I’ve come to the conclusion that Mumsnet thinks my baby drinks way too much milk and Reddit thinks that normal nappy usage runs in the dozens per day. No nearer to a good response, I file this email under “Respond later with wine”.
Is it lunch yet? I suppose I better shuffle some shapes around in Figma. This is actually one of the few things that I’ve left untouched in my processes. Maybe I’m clinging on to the metaphorical vinyl crackle of design. But I do think that good design remains a distinctly human activity. You can feel when something is designed by AI.
Great, now it’s lunch. Sandwich and soup secured. For detailed sandwich reviews, please see Gallery Edition #105 for my debut article. The tried and tested pathway for all tech columnists to begin their writing careers. The path of yeast resistance if you will.
AFTERNOON - ALONE, SO
Most of my afternoon is carved out to write a proposal. My approach for this is usually to blend a decent proposal I’ve written before and my meeting notes from the prospective client into an LLM. Then edit and adjust from there.
After persevering with writer’s block for an hour or two, what I came out with was rough, but it was real, and dare I say, considered. It’s not that the words that are AI generated and then edited aren’t considered. But there’s a difference when you’re taking the time over the placement and flow of every word. There’s a temptation with blocks of AI content that look generically good to just drop it in with minimal edits. But I find that it ends up all sounding a bit beige.
A quick scroll through the news leaves me feeling existential thanks to a certain Trumpian fascination with arctic regions. Through previous existential crises, I usually send an LLM off to perform some deep research into the best places to live in the event of nuclear armageddon. This comes back with a nice report about where and when my family should relocate.
Given our mundane and conservative geopolitical position, you might wonder why I’m worried about nuclear war. If you must know, I’m concerned our proximity to the jet stream leaves us over exposed to nuclear radiation. It might be time to uninstall Twitter from my phone.
Thankfully, today’s existential crisis is reassured by Ben and Steve's new Gallery nuclear war protocol. Which involves us buying (or stealing) copious amounts of tape and water and then hiding in the disabled loos. I’m assuming the tape is for gaps in the doors, but I didn’t ask.
"EVENING - PARENTING AND HUSBANDING"
Work over. Home now. Into the full flow of non-tech, noAI, human stuff.
Nappy changes, bath time, more milk?
My wife is a teacher, so I’m regularly faced with complex issues in the education system. Usually, I can offer considered, well-researched, and comprehensive advice thanks to my team of AI bots. No such luck tonight.
Following what feels like hours of manual lesson planning, crafting polite email responses, and calculating grade boundaries—my day is done.* Reflecting on my day of “AI sobriety,” I accomplished far less than I usually would. But I discovered real joy in the labour of creating, designing, writing, and fixing. I think we always assumed machines would take over the tasks we didn’t want to do.
But with this latest technical shift, they’re starting to take the stuff we actually like doing.
*That was a legitimate use of the em dash that was not AI-generated. #bringbacktheEM
Ana best golfer
- quite possibly the
the Isle of Man has ever produced.
Born on the Isle of Man in 2000 and growing up in Peel, Ana was a prominent figure on the Island’s Amateur Golf scene as well as in the UK as a junior. Since winning the 2014 and 2021 Isle of Man Ladies Golf Championships Ana has become a well known figure in golf on the Isle of Man and further afield.
Following an impressive junior career Ana was awarded a golfing scholarship at the University of Memphis, where she spent 4 years in the US College system, playing across the U.S. at a variety of courses which enabled her to gain valuable golfing experience as well as a degree in Sports Management.
After a Covid interrupted College career she returned to the UK in 2022, winning several tournaments as an amateur, including the Faldo Series Wales Girls Championship and the Faldo Series Grand Final in the United Arab Emirates, turning professional in late 2022. Ana joined the 2023 Ladies European Tour and then played on the LET Access Series in 2024, where she finished 3rd at the Ahlsell Trophy. In 2025, she finished top-5 four times and finished 22nd in the LETAS season rankings, earning full status for the 2026 Ladies European Tour by finishing tied 16th at Q-School.
Hello Ana, tell me about yourself.
I’m Ana Dawson, I’m 25 and I’m a professional golfer.
Where do you live?
It’s probably easier to say where I don’t live! I’m Peel born and bred, my family is there but now I’ve qualified for the 2026 Ladies European Tour, I live where ever I’m playing.
Do you come from a golfing family?
My Dad played, but both my parents worked full time so when I was younger my sisters and I spent every school holiday at my Aunt’s – she was a teacher so was available to look after us in the holidays. Our cousins were part of the thriving Peel Golf Club junior section so we could either just hang around on the golf course or learn to play! I soon became hooked and I consider Peel Golf Club members as my ‘golfing family’.
Fast forward a few years, you were awarded a golf scholarship to the University of Memphis.
Yes, I went there after my A levels at QEII – it was a four year degree in Sports Management so I had to do some academic work but it was basically golf, golf, and more golf and I loved my time there. Unfortunately Covid meant fewer competitions, lockdowns there and of course on the Island. I was actually at home when the Island locked down in 2020 so I was unable to leave. But it wasn’t all bad – obviously the lockdowns were less severe here and I was able to be with my Dad who by then was seriously ill.
Proudest golfing moment?
Getting my card for the 2026 Ladies European Tour, which is actually a bit of a misnomer as the tour takes us as far afield as Australia, Saudi and South Africa, and not all the qualifiers are from Europe. But it does mean that all being well I’ll gain enough points to qualify for some of the biggest tournaments in women’s golf.
As you read this, Ana will be in Australia competing in some of the first 2026 Ladies European Tour tournaments. We wish her well and will be waving a Manx flag in her honour.
Do
you have any rituals or superstitions?
You mean do I have lucky socks? NO! I’m far too busy travelling, practicing and playing to have time to worry about anything like that!
Are there any players you look up to?
Charley Hull and Nelly Korda are not only great golfers, but great advocates for the women’s game, and I aspire to be on their level. I’d like my name to be mentioned with theirs when people look back and see how the women’s game has grown this century. Although even in my short lifetime there’ve been improvements, there’s still a very long way to go until we are on a par with the men.
Golf is seen as a very solitary sport. Do you ever get lonely?
Obviously your success is up to you, but there is a certain camaraderie in the women’s game, mostly because we’re all in the same boat. It’s easier and cheaper to share the driving, share an Airbnb, cook meals together etc. It also helps that my boyfriend is also a professional golfer, so even when we’re not on the same continent, we can celebrate the successes and encourage each other through any disappointments. And my family is a massive support network - my Mum is hoping to get out to some of the tournaments this year too.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Not any specific golfing advice, but my Dad instilled the idea of working hard, and staying positive. Yes, there will be disappointments, but my Dad always encouraged me not to dwell on those but to look forward to the next challenge. He wasn’t what you’d call a pushy parent, but when I used to get him up at 6am to take me to the club to practice before school he didn’t moan, or at least, not to me! He died in 2022, and I miss him terribly - he was the first person I wanted to share my 2026 Ladies European Tour card with.
And what’s the
dream?
The British Open! This year it’s at Royal Lytham & St Annes at the end of July. Obviously I’ll have to make the cut, but the conditions there are the most similar to those I’m used to on the Isle of Man so it would be so fun to do well there!
Sponsored by RL360
- Ana Dawson with CEO Rob Allen
When we talk about “being healthy,” exercise is usually the first thing that comes to mind, but true health is far more holistic than simply moving more. A healthy body is built on several interconnected pillars: a nutritious wholefood diet that fuels and repairs us; consistently good sleep that allows the body and brain to recover; low, well-managed stress levels; regular social interaction that supports mental wellbeing; and a balance of both strength training and cardiovascular exercise. Each of these components plays a vital role, and when one is missing, the others may suffer.
Cardiovascular exercise has long been recognised as essential for heart health, metabolic function, and longevity. Running, cycling, swimming, and brisk walking are all excellent ways to strengthen the heart and lungs, but while we know cardio is good for us, knowing and doing are not always the same thing.
The Time Problem
Modern life has a habit of squeezing our schedules so tight, exercise suffers. Between work, family responsibilities, social commitments, and the need for rest, finding time for long runs or extended bike rides can feel unrealistic for some people. Many people simply don’t have an uninterrupted couple of hours to dedicate to cardiovascular exercise several times a week. As a result, cardio is often the first thing to be skipped, even though we know it’s important.
This is where High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT, comes in. HIIT offers a time-efficient addition to your cardiovascular training that delivers many of the same, if not greater benefits as traditional steady-state cardio, but in a fraction of the time. For people who feel stuck between wanting to exercise more but not having the time, HIIT may be the perfect solution.
What Is HIIT?
High Intensity Interval Training is a style of workout that includes a warmup followed short bursts of very intense effort followed by longer periods of rest or low-intensity movement. The “high intensity” intervals are performed at maximum or close to maximum effort, while the recovery phases allow the body to recover before the next round.
A HIIT workout might look like a 5 minute warmup followed by 30 seconds of fast sprinting followed by 60 seconds of recovery walking, repeated for 10 to 15 minutes followed by a 5 minute cool down. Or a 15 second effort followed by 45 seconds recovery. The same sequence could
Why High Intensity Interval Training Might be the Smartest Workout You’re Not Doing
also be done on a stationary bike, cross trainer or rowing machine at the gym. In a home gym or home setting, it could involve bodyweight exercises such as burpees, star jumps or kettlebell swings performed at high intensity. The exact exercises are flexible as long as there’s the alternation between hard work and recovery. The important component is intensity which should be close to or at maximum effort.
Time Efficiency Without Compromise
One of the best benefits of HIIT is how little time it requires. A full HIIT session can be completed in as little as 10 to 15 minutes, making it far easier to fit into a busy schedule. Despite the shorter duration, research consistently shows that HIIT can improve cardiovascular fitness to a similar or even greater degree than longer sessions of moderate-intensity exercise.
This efficiency removes one of the biggest barriers to regular exercise: the belief that a workout “isn’t worth it” unless it lasts an hour or more. With HIIT, even a short session can be highly effective.
Cardiovascular and Heart Health Benefits
HIIT places significant demand on the heart and lungs, forcing them to adapt and become stronger. Over time, this leads to improved oxygen uptake (VO2 max is the volume of oxygen consumed each minute), better circulation, and a more efficient heart. These changes are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and other metabolic disorders, lower resting heart rate, and improved endurance in daily life. VO2 max is also an accurate predictor of longevity.
Because HIIT challenges the cardiovascular system in a dynamic way, it trains the heart to respond efficiently to varying levels of effort, something that steady-state cardio doesn’t always provide.
Fat Loss and Metabolic Boost
Another well-known benefit of HIIT is its effect on fat loss and metabolism. High-intensity exercise increases calorie burn during the workout, but it also elevates metabolism for hours afterward through a phenomenon known as excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC). In simple terms, the body continues to burn extra calories as it recovers.
HIIT has also been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, making it particularly beneficial for metabolic health. When combined with a balanced, wholefood diet, HIIT can be a powerful tool for improving body composition.
Strength, Muscle, and Functional Fitness
Unlike traditional cardio, HIIT often incorporates
resistance-based or bodyweight movements. This means it doesn’t just train the heart, it also helps maintain and build muscle. Exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups, and jumps improve strength, power, coordination and balance.
This crossover between cardio and strength training makes HIIT very effective for overall functional fitness, helping people move better and feel stronger in everyday life.
Mental Health and Motivation
HIIT workouts are fast-paced and varied, which can make them more engaging than repetitive steady-state exercise. Many people find that the shorter duration and sense of accomplishment boost motivation and adherence. It’s also beneficial to do HIIT training with a training partner so you can motivate each other.
There’s also a mental health benefit. Like other forms of exercise, HIIT releases endorphins, reduces stress, and can improve mood and confidence. Knowing you can complete an effective workout in a short window of time can also reduce the mental barrier to getting started.
Why HIIT Works So Well
HIIT is effective because it aligns with how the human body adapts to stress i.e. short, intense efforts followed by recovery. It maximises results while minimising time, improves multiple aspects of fitness at once, and can be adapted to suit different fitness levels and environments.
A Final Word of Caution
While HIIT offers impressive health and fitness benefits, it is demanding on the body. The high intensities involved place stress on the heart, joints, and muscles. Anyone with underlying health conditions, particularly cardiovascular issues, joint problems, or metabolic disorders should take care and before introducing HIIT into your routine. It is strongly recommended to seek medical advice and ensure you are medically cleared for high-intensity exercise. Starting gradually, focusing on good technique, and allowing adequate recovery will help make HIIT safe and effective.
When approached sensibly, HIIT can be a powerful addition to a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Even when time is limited, health doesn’t have to be.
Words: Martin Malone – Personal Trainer/Sports Nutritionist at Simply Nutrition
MARTIN Joe
Finds Beauty in the In-Between on Alone In Valentine
There’s something timeless about a songwriter who travels light: a guitar, a notebook, and a sharp eye for human detail. Joe Martin is very much that kind of artist. A modern-day troubadour with one foot planted firmly in the golden age of Americana, Martin has been quietly but steadily building a reputation on both sides of the Atlantic, playing shows across the UK and Europe while making regular pilgrimages to the spiritual home of songwriters—Nashville, Tennessee.
It’s there, among the dive bars and legendary studios of Music Row, that Martin’s forthcoming second album Alone In Valentine began to take shape. His journey has already seen him collaborate with some of Nashville’s most respected writers and musicians, including Johnny Garcia of Garth Brooks’ band, hit songwriter Jill Collucci, and Aaron Raitiere at RCA Studios. These experiences didn’t just polish his craft—they affirmed his instinct to put storytelling and lyricism front and centre.
Martin’s sound is steeped in classic American songwriting traditions. You can hear echoes of Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and James Taylor in his melodic sensibility, alongside the emotional grit of Townes Van Zandt, Jason Isbell and Kacey Musgraves. But Alone In Valentine is no exercise in nostalgia. Instead, it acts as a bridge between generations, taking the warmth and honesty of ’70s countryfolk and filtering it through Martin’s own quietly confident voice.
The album’s creation reads like a Nashville fairytale, complete with chance encounters and a touch of absurdity. During a 2024 visit to the city, Martin was introduced by a mutual friend to Cornelius “Gooseman” Webb—son of legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb—at local haunt Bastion in Wedgewood. A “beer-powered” push-up competition outside the bar (which Martin won) led to an impromptu guitar performance later that night. One song in particular, Man You Need, stopped Webb in his tracks.
The following day, Webb introduced Martin to Cal Campbell, son of the late Glen Campbell. The chemistry was immediate. Martin took a leap and asked if they would consider producing his next record. They said yes.
What followed was an intensely human recording process. Alone In Valentine was recorded at the Campbell residence in Nashville, with Cal Campbell assembling some of Music City’s finest players. Most of the album was cut live over just seven days—no shortcuts, no digital smoke and mirrors. “Made by humans, for humans,” as Martin puts it. In an era dominated by AI-generated music and hyper-polished production, the result feels refreshingly alive.
Musically, the album moves effortlessly between eras and influences. There are moments that recall the heartland sheen of Tom Petty, the emotional drama of Roy Orbison, and the raw modern Americana of Chris Stapleton, John Paul White and Colter Wall. It’s an album that rewards close listening, inviting you into its stories rather than demanding attention.
The title Alone In Valentine emerged from a co-write with filmmaker and songwriter Steve Anderson, whose career has included working with Jon Favreau, Sean Bean and Billy Connolly, and directing the acclaimed documentary 10 Year Town about Nashville’s songwriter scene. Together, they crafted a song about a woman driving alone through the American Southwest—initially framed as a tale of heartbreak, but ultimately revealed as a story of grief and love enduring beyond loss.
One line sealed its fate.
“Tequila in the evening, alone in Valentine.”
Valentine, a tiny town in West Texas, fit the geography and the mood perfectly. The phrase stuck with Martin instantly. When Anderson half-jokingly suggested they should actually travel there for the artwork, Martin took it seriously. Soon enough, a beat-up Silverado was crossing the desert from El Paso to Marfa. The album artwork was shot at the Texas Valentine Bar, in a town with a population of just 73.
That sense of place—lonely, beautiful, and deeply human—runs through every track. Alone In Valentine feels like the album you didn’t know you were missing, but once it arrives, it stays with you.
Alone In Valentine is set to be released in April accompanied by a northern tour with Joe and his band, including a date at the Peel Centenary on the Isle of Man www.joemartinmusic.com/live
GALLERY
GALLERY
Black and White and read all over the Isle of Man. Since 2011.
