Has anyone got solar panels fitted to their house ?

I’m wondering if you think the investment is worth it in the IoM (how much did you pay for it, what do you generate and how much does the cover of your actual consumption).

Given the weather can be pretty grim at times, I’m wondering if the investment is worth it for a 5-10year outlook.

I appreciate install cost may be higher than the rest of the UK.

Hi, does anyone know if you can still fly between Dublin and the Island using your license as ID? It was fine when I flew back in February.

Dear r/IsleOfMan,

I've seen a bunch of Facebook posts where folks seem to be pretty agitated about a (proposed) wind farm off the Island. Without all of the context, I'm having a hard time trying to tease out what the positions and precise objections are.

I think I've got the following, but would appreciate some additional local insight to understand it better.

In the "Against" camp, you have a couple of different positions, namely:
1) NIMBYs (Not in my back yard) - aesthetic injury to the area, could also include "noise" (I don't know how loud they are, and whether the sound would travel).
2) Ecological concerns - damage to the sea-bed, potential pollutions (from breakages/repairs).
3) Economics - the "deal" itself, that is the lease money isn't "enough"

In the "For" camp, I could only see comments pointing out that renewables are the "future", and so these folks are also in the "Ecological concerns" bucket, but on the other side.

Am I missing any relevant positions?

Also, I have a few questions - for the "Against" group, what is inherently wrong with diversifying away from fossil fuels? I would have thought that less dependence on imported oil/gas/fuel would be net positive for the island?

Is the economic deal really that bad, and if so, why are the folks in the "For" camp not raising this as an issue? Bad economics would be bad for everyone on the island, not just those opposed.

Lastly, how big of a deal is this? It is hard to calibrate something based on excited posts on social media - I'd love to hear the perspectives of others to be able to form an informed opinion.

Hello. I am an American expat, currently living in Germany for the last twenty years. My marriage has just ended, and I *hate* living in Germany! Is there anyone that I can speak with about moving there? I am an auto mechanic by trade, so I imagine finding work shouldn't be too difficult. I'm more concerned about housing, my cat and my driver's license. I'm not in the financial bracket that lets me buy a house, so I would be looking more for a long-term rental.

I don't have a timeline at the moment, I'm just at the beginning of this...... And as I said, I appreciate any help one would offer.

EDIT- I am a Veteran on a pension (retired military), so citizenship anywhere is out of the question. I do have a Residence Permit (ILR- as some have labeled it) in EU.

I’ve been saving up to buy my wife a Steam Deck or Nintendo switch but the prices have increased too much.

Is anyone selling either?

I’ve checked the usual places online like facebook marketplace etc. but none at the moment.

TIA

I’m moving to the Isle of Man next week (for 2 years) and I’m aware I need to register my car, and put it through the roadworthiness test as it’s over 5 years old. I know I also need to declare it to customs within 14 days of arrival.

However - what’s the timeline for permanently registering it? The roadworthiness test is £189 so would prefer to do it after 4 weeks of living here when I get my first paycheck if possible. How long do I have before I have to register it?

Edit:
For context, I’m keeping my car insured at my parents’ house at present - and this is in England.

Ideally it’ll be easier to go to Liverpool on the SeaCat and get a train from Lime St but not confident it’ll sail in April

Hi everyone,

My previous insurance company have informed me that they will no longer be insuring Iom properties for the upcoming year.

Can anyone recommend a decent alternative, my house was just valued at 360k and my previous policy was around £300 for the year.

Also, can anyone tell me the rebuild cost on this valuation ?

Many thanks in advance

Does anyone know what happened to Tidbits? I visited when I was in Cork and really enjoyed their crispy pork belly and the overall atmosphere. I noticed Google Maps now says they're permanently closed. Have they relocated, or have they closed for good? I'd love to know what happened.

Hello everyone,

I’m moving to the Isle of Man next week! I’m looking for a gym that I can access 24/7 (I sometimes go at 5am) - I’m aware there’s Elite Fitness, but was wondering if there are any cheaper options.

I have asked a lot of questions on this subreddit as I’m about to move to the Isle of Man. Welcome to question number whatever…

Anyway, I am moving to the Isle of Man for 2 years as a doctor - sadly cannot open a UK ISA. Which bank do you recommend opening a savings account with?

To provide some background - I do not think I will stay in IOM long-term (who knows, I might change my mind) but would like to buy a small flat in 2-3 years across to get myself on the property ladder, so really want to be on top of savings.

I don’t know whether to open an international savings account with HSBC/Lloyds or to open one locally in IOM. I would like the flexibility to move my money somewhere else after the 2 years.

Hi all, I've been considering getting an electric car and am curious about people's experiences owning one over here. Are there many charging places about the island, or is it the kind of thing I'd have to ensure it's charged at home every night? I've seen a couple of charging points around, but not as many as you see in England. Also, how does the cost of using one compare to the mileage you get from regular fuel?

I'd love it if anyone could share any knowledge about driving electric and/or hybrid cars here, and whether you think they're worth it or if I'm best off sticking to good old-fashioned petrol for now. Bonus points for make/model recommendations. I've done some research online, but am looking specifically for what they're like for IOM drivers. Thanks!

Hello!

We're moving to Port Erin in September and I'm interested to hear what are the primary schools like in the area. Our son is 5 and is a bit shy so we feel he will be better in a smaller school.

I read about Rushen primary school and it does seem a large school. Does anyone know how many children are in a class there?

Any reviews of the schools in the area are very welcome!

Thank you!

I am looking for large bathroom mirrors like the one in the picture. Bnq doesn’t seem to have one large enough. Is there anywhere else I can get large mirrors?

Im visiting from ireland to do a bit of research for my college thesis around scarlett, just outside of castletown, but im staying in Douglas. I was wondering what the situation with the busses is, would i have to spend the 60 pound on a 7 day go explore card or can i just pay as i go? I would be getting a lift from a friend for most of those seven days so id feel like it would be a waste if i had to spend all that money, only to use it like twice. Any alternate modes of transport would also be a great help

Hi all,

I will keep this short, sweet and on topic as best as I can. I don't need a full rundown or an academic detailing about what I need help with, I just need constructive answers please.

I have my big bike test coming up on Wednesday. So far I have done three pre-test lessons with RideSafe and will be doing one more tomorrow. My concern(s) is if in the actual test I will be asked Highway Code questions or "Show Me, Tell Me" as others have referenced it, for those that I have spoken to there seems to be a conflicting opinion that I will/will not be asked these types of questions so I'm a bit confused about it. How can there be this amount of confliction or differences when those I spoke to have passed within the last few years?

Should I revise for the test or not?

If you have passed the test recently or are in the same boat as me with a test coming up please comment.

Cheers, TIA!

Hi, we’ve made the decision to move back to the UK in the next 3-4 months after nearly 4 years. Many reasons for this which largely match what others have touched on in the past - high house prices which mean we can’t afford to find somewhere bigger as we now have 2 kids, lack of choice in almost every aspect of daily life, high travel costs, more difficult and expensive raising a young family here and to be closer to family across.

We’re drawing up a list of everything we need to have in order before moving, but would be interested in other people’s experiences and things I might not have considered yet?

We have a house which we’ll put up for sale shortly, our bank accounts are all still with UK banks so no issues having to close IOM accounts.

I have some investments on T212, would it be best to sell up and start them again in the UK with a stocks and shares ISA?

Thanks

Just got this text from Sure.. looks like we’re finally getting 5G later this year. This is the first I’m hearing of it after all these years. Haven’t heard a peep out of Manx Telecom and a quick look through their website and social media tells me there’s been no similar announcements.

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are seriously considering relocating to the Isle of Man with our family, and we’d love to hear from people who have been through a similar journey.

We are originally from Egypt, and we’re a secular/non-religious family. We have three children, and one of the biggest reasons we’re attracted to the Isle of Man is the peaceful lifestyle, safety, strong sense of community, and the idea of raising our children in a calm environment surrounded by nature.

My wife is a paediatrician. She has already obtained her MRCPCH (UK) and is currently completing her GMC registration. Our hope is that she can eventually work as a consultant pediatrician (or follow the appropriate pathway to get there).

Financially, we’re fortunate to be in a stable position. We have savings of around US$500,000, so we’re not looking for a place simply because it’s cheaper. Our goal is to build a long-term, stable life. Initially, I probably won’t be working, so my wife’s career will be our primary source of income.

From your experience, do you think a consultant's (or specialty doctor's while progressing) salary in the Isle of Man is generally enough to support a comfortable life for a family of five?

I’d also love to hear from anyone who:

• relocated to the Isle of Man as a doctor (or with a doctor spouse),
• moved there with children,
• or simply chose the island for its quality of life.

How has your experience been? Has the move been worth it? Is there anything you wish you had known before relocating?

Thank you so much. Hopefully we’ll be calling the Isle of Man home in the near future. 😊

I've been curious about the fairy folklore on the Isle of Man. Do most people believe in the fairies, or is it more of a fun local tradition?

I heard about the Fairy Bridge and the custom of greeting the fairies, so I was wondering if anyone has had any unusual experiences or stories, or if it's generally just seen as folklore.

Hi! I'm planning an early November daytrip from London by plane (LGW-IOM), maybe arriving by 10AM and leaving by 7PM. I recently found out that trams and steam trains will be closed by November 1. Too bad since IOM's transport system was the highlight I was looking forward to. Since I'll be travelling solo, I reckon that renting a car to drive around the island will be too over the budget for me, so I'd be dependent on public transport.

Is a day trip in early November still worth the flight? If I still decide to come, what's the overall vibe like in November? Is it worthwhile to see parts of the island in a single day just using the regular Bus Vannin network, or am I better off saving IOM for a future spring/summer trip when everything's running? Thanks!