Men or women. Who are the best drivers?

Obviously, it is a rhetorical question.

A proper question would have to be posed in a more scientific way and include, for arguments sake, a wider range of demographic groups.

And if this question was to be answered honestly, it would always boil down to how many folk vote.

Now that sounds rather obvious. Of course it depends on how many people vote. But if you are a woman you are predictably going to vote in favour of women to be the best, and vice versa if you are a man.

Also, to have a considered opinion on such a subject, I think that we all should agree that in order to judge someone on their ability to drive you must have, at some time, been a licensed, qualified driver yourself.

So, things are starting to sort themselves out. We have reasonably decided that, in order to get a valid result that actually means something, we have to exclude men and women who are, at present drivers on the grounds of being biased.

We will have to exclude those who have never been drivers and, I suppose, that we should also think twice about giving the vote to anyone who has ever been convicted for careless or dangerous driving, or any other serious misdemeanour.

This means that, apart from a few others who are protected by whatever rule or regulation is sure to apply, and myself, as an interested party, there is no-one else left to vote.

So we shall just have to call the whole thing off and change the subject.

Now from time to time, you may have noticed that the debate about women’s pay and employment opportunities still rumbles on.

Apart from one brief comment on the subject, I have nothing else to say. Simply, in my opinion, if a person is employed to perform a particular task or duty that is appropriate or suitable for either a man or woman to do, the salary or employment package offered to the worker, (man or woman) should, by right, be the same.

However, I personally think that, if an employer has a position to fill and would prefer either a man or woman as an employee to fill it, then that employer should be free to make their own choice.

It has to be said that there are certain jobs which are suitable for either gender and some which are not.

I hope that I am not thought to be patronising if I was to say that I can’t imagine a large queue of women waiting to fill a vacancy in the septic tank emptying department.

And likewise with regard to men who have a genuine dream of a career in made to measure ladies underwear.

There always has been, and probably always will be, certain jobs that are traditionally filled. Most jobs in retailing, for example, are filled by women.

This could be because shop work lends itself to part-time or varied hours.

But who knows. Someone, is sure to get it wrong.

And finally, a quick word for the Highway Board.

Now that the weather is starting to show a bit of promise, and summer is just around the corner, I’ve got ’Pullyman 1’ ready to roll.

The plan is to try a few long distance runs. For example, Onchan to Douglas, along the Marine Drive to Port Soderick and back along the Old Castletown Road to the Legion. Some light refreshment and home to Onchan.

Sounds good.

But there is one snag. My problem is the type of gate that is designed to make life difficult for trail bikes.

There are two on the Marine Drive and one on the footpath that runs from Signpost Corner to Governors Bridge.

Scooters don’t bend in the middle.

If there is a few quid left over from the Prom job, d’you think that you can fit some new gates?

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 as seen through the eyes of Pullyman