The simple steps for registering a car

For this post, I thought I'd share about the process of getting a non-Manx car registered over here. Some of the pain is IOM government procedure and some is undoubtedly my own doing. But if it's painful reading, imagine the fun I've had living it.

Go to register car. Need road-worthiness approval certificate.

Apply for road-worthiness test. Fill out form, send back to test centre, await an appointment. 

Miraculously, car passes test. I'm not sure how because every time we start the car it seems that something else stops working optimally. Also the heater doesn't work so the windscreen fogs up every time it gets too warm or cold. The test takes all of 10 minutes so I'm not entirely convinced of its thoroughness, but car and I take the certificate and bolt.

Vehicle Licence Form ... need insurance certificate... 

Realise that not only do I not have the certificate, I have forgotten who I insured car with and all correspondence was sent to my old work address (ROOKIE MISTAKE). Consider whether it is illegal to have 2 insurance policies at the same time.

Attack filing in an attempt to find a record of it on a bank statement. Two hours later, find letter with insurer's details in one of many "organised piles".

Call insurers. Get through with minimal phone automation. Find out that they won't insure the car here.

Find new insurance. Discover "All cars may be insured with a valid IOM registration number". 

Head to post office to hand in Vehicle Registration Form. I'm asked for registration documents (was this form not said document?) and... insurance certificate. A pattern of unhelpful and inescapable circles is swiftly emerging. 

Be very jealous of new friend E, whose car failed the test, but which means she will just buy new car on island therefore simplifying process hugely.

I tell my plight of vicious circles. Helpful lady takes pity on me and gives me a registration number they will hold for 4/5 days or so, and tells me to go and sort the insurance out and then come back. Also with the documents that prove my ownership of the car - ah, THOSE registration documents. (Oh..uh, where are they?)

Call third insurance company. Get reasonable quote. Am not asked for registration number.

Return to now orderly filing, to search for car registration document. Search through various suitcases, files and drawers. A flash of inspiration leads me to check alternate handbag. Bingo. 

Now, all that remains is to hand everything in.... and then go through the rigmarole of changing my name for all of this...

Tour Guiding and TT racing

The roads are open once more, the bikers have headed home and TT is over for another year. My brother Dave came over to stay last week and timed his visit well with the racing week. If you've ever wondered what motorbikes racing past at speeds of around +150mph look like, then this is it...

This video is taken at the top of Bray Hill, just down from the grandstand where the riders start and finish. You'll notice the race wardens stay bike side of the race barriers....

Dave ready for the bikes to come along

Just a few of the many, many, many bikes parked along the prom for the last 2 weeks

Evening entertainment outside Bushy's beer tent. We're still not quite sure what the objective was, apart from circling around and making a lot of noise, but it was good entertainment!

This video is taken on Senior Race day, a bank holiday on the island, and this race is the main event. We were up near the Creg Ny Baa pub, has great views of the road coming down from the mountain road and then on towards Douglas. This is about 4/5 of the way round the course and thanks to the radio over the loudspeakers and tracking the helicopter, and obviously the increasing noise, we had a lot of notice of the bikes approaching. Bikes are going super speedy here!

Chilling out trackside... "sorry, what do you mean health and safety?"

Yes, it was sunny enough for sunglasses and T-shirts. Not for long, though.

As well as racing, Dave and I also went to explore Castletown, where we found a tardis-like castle and some exceptionally good ice cream. Castle Rushen was one of the last Royalist strongholds in the British Isles. The castle was the seat of the Viking Kings after they moved from Peel in 1250 and then the later Lords of Man. At the time of the Civil War, the Lord of Man was James Stanley who left the castle in his wife's hands so he could go and fight for the King. Unfortunately, he was beheaded in 1651 and, beset by doubters in her court and the onset of the Roundheads, Lady Man surrendered the castle fairly quickly after that.

Castle Rushen, and probably the most punters this pub will see all year

The view of Castletown harbour from the top of the tower

Exceptionally good, locally made ice cream - so much joy to behold!