A decade ago Pullyman - aka Michael Cowin - was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, a condition that affects people in different ways. Michael discovered writing and Island Life is featuring some of his musings. Sometimes topical, sometimes nostalgic, read about life through the eyes of Pullyman

I was listening to Manx Radio the other morning when I heard the news item that told us that the air-space above and adjoining the TT Course was now a no go area for the flying of drones.

Now just in case any of the island’s bee keepers start looking up their MHK’s phone number, the news item referred to those helicopter things that buzz around taking photographs or videos of whatever it is that the operator takes a notion to.

True to form, our national radio station followed this news with a listener’s question.

Did anyone know, he or she asked, if a householder was permitted to shoot down one of these flying objects if it invaded their personal airspace?

Now that, I thought, is a very good question, but sadly the radio presenter disagreed, and that was the end of that.

But after breakfast when I sat down to work on an idea for a column, the thought of shooting a down a drone just would not go away.

Now before we go any further I must make it very clear that I have no secret plans festering away in the back of my mind to build a surface to air missile.

I harbour no bad thoughts about drones, or their owners.

In fact, I can honestly say that I have only ever seen two of the things in the air. (And one of them crashed).

But, if one of them lived next door, it might be a different story.

I do find that some of today’s garden gadgets are just a tiny bit irritating.

To my mind, a couple of hours spent sitting in the sun on what should be a pleasant Sunday afternoon listening to a family of newly hatched blackbirds busy chattering to each other is time well spent.

But listening to the racket created by the average gardener somewhat changes the mood.

Lawn mowers are not too bad, but strimmers with their persistent and continuous high pitched buzzing are anti social.

And have you heard one of those leaf blowers at full throttle?

Throttling of a different type comes to mind.

I’ve never quite understood the point of a leaf blower.

I can see why a strimmer earns its keep.

It trims the edges of the lawn and the lawnmower picks the grass up, but the leaf blower just moves the pile to somewhere out of sight and when the wind changes, it all blows back.

But anyway, that’s all by the way, let’s get back to these drones.

Now I don’t know at what range a drone can operate from.

Logically, I suppose that it depends on the size and strength of its transmitter and receiver.

But when you consider the fact that they have been banned from buzzing over the TT Course and the airport, they must be capable of reaching a fair height.

So picture the scene; you’re sitting in the garden on a warm, sunny afternoon.

You have a large glass of chilled white wine in one hand and a dish of stuffed olives in the other.

Your mind is drifting back to a favourite bar overlooking a marina in Palma, and you have a difficult decision to make. Will it be a stroll through the marina to a certain fish restaurant and a plate of grilled sardines, or that scruffy cafe just around the corner that does those slightly charred, succulent lamb cutlets?

And then this loud buzzing noise gets closer and closer until it’s just overhead and doing a slow lap round your garden.

It’s a drone.

You almost drop your glass, you’re wide awake.

You are miles from Palma, you won’t be strolling through any marina any time soon.

It was a dream, I’m wide awake, I’ve still got Parkinson’s.

Shoot down a drone? What do you think?