Very Vintage @ Patchwork

Very Vintage


A PANEL of judges from Douglas Licensing Court have granted Patchwork Cafe in Port St Mary permission to show matinee performances.

In an extension to the existing cinema supper club nights which run on Thursday evenings, owners Rich and Adrienne Ashcroft are now set to serve afternoon tea accompanied by a classic movie every Sunday afternoon.

‘The idea of enjoying a home made afternoon tea with friends whilst watching old movies sounded so utterly beguiling, we immediately knew we had to change our license’. Said Adrienne, 39, from Castleknock in Dublin, Ireland.

‘Because it’s afternoon tea and a classic film we decided to name the event ‘Vintage Sundays @ Patchwork.’ She continued.

Co-owner, Rich explained that within the classic film heading they intend to show absolutes - must see films - from genres such as film noir, romance, western, war, silent and fantasy.

‘Although, being such a small venue, we are always happy to take recommendations.’ He said.

Doors open at 4pm each Sunday and the price of £8.95 per person includes sandwiches, cream scones, cake selection and a pot of tea or coffee.

To join and receive their fortnightly film newsletter, subscribe to the mailing list on www.patchwork.im or telephone (01624) 836 418 for more information.

Royal Wedding Street Parties on the Isle of Man

For lot's more pictures taken at all seven street parties on the Isle of Man please visit my facebook page...

http://www.facebook.com/#!/rich.ashcroft

Thanks,

Rich

SUCCESS IS MANIFEST FOR MANX WHIZ KID

A STUDENT who’s A-level project has been shortlisted for international innovation challenge has received commercial interest in his prototype whilst he prepares for the finals in Silicon Valley.

St Ninians year 13 pupil, Liam Carter-Hawkins, who has developed a completely bio-degradable portable eco-toilet has so impressed Barry Fearon, Production Director from Mannifest, that the festival impresario has placed an advance order for the imaginatively named ‘Pe-U’.

Design and technology student Liam, developed the idea whilst researching the philanthropic work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he discovered that two out of five people in the world lack proper sanitation.

The 18-year-old from Dukes Road in Douglas described his concept saying: ‘Form and functionality was critical, as was biodegradability, however, to meet the needs of humanitarian organisations, it also needed to be highly portable, easy to assemble and cheap to make.

‘Having put the prototype out for speculative feedback, I am delighted that we have already received an order, which is an unexpected and exciting development. ’

The prototype can be assembled from flatpack without glue in a matter of seconds and, once up, the rugged cardboard construction can withstand over 100 kilograms. The interior is lined with a biodegradable plastic and contains an absorbent sawdust briquette.

Barry Fearon explained why he was placing an order, saying: ‘Congratulations to Liam on a fantastic concept with truly global potential. When we first heard about it we immediately thought it would be perfect for festival goers. Since then, we have been in touch with Liam with a commercial proposition for this years Mannifest event.

Liam was one of two island students who made the trip to NASA space school in Houston, Texas, last summer thanks to an annual sponsorship scheme from ManSat.

The Spirit of Innovation finals at the NASA Ames Research Facility in Silicon Valley, includes keynote speaker Tim Berners-Lee - the British inventor of the internet.

The former pupil of Murray’s Road Primary School is busy preparing to pitch his ‘Pe-U’ for the finals at the innovation summit which runs from April 28 until May 1.

With global entries and run by the Conrad Foundation, the challenge for students is to create commercially viable solutions to real world, 21st century problems. They will compete for a grant of $5,000 (£3000) and be recognized as Pete Conrad Scholars.

One of Liam's hero's, legendary industrial designer Yves Behar, will be attending the event and he is looking forward to a scheduled ‘fireside chat’, with the tech-guru.

Liam said: ‘It’s amazing to have got so far in this competition. I kept backing myself and I did a huge amount of work, so I am absolutely delighted. If I get through I will be able to put my prototype into production’

Team ‘Pe U’ are one of three manx teams who will compete at the Awards which have, for the first time, been extended to the island thanks to a link-up with Isle of Man-based space company ManSat Ltd.

(Image with thanks to Marianne McCourt)

Hey everyone we're doing a charity ride out for Age Concern Isle of Man on Sunday, June 26 at 1pm.
Meet at the Grandstand for a lap of the TT course
Entry just £5 per person.
See you there : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgfHIVvHH0A

The Pope's Toilet (El Bagno Del Papa) Film Review

El Bagno Del Papa

"The Pope's Toilet"

Reviewed by Rich Ashcroft

There's the palpable crackle of nervous expectation in the air for those downtrodden inhabitants in the rural Uruguayan hamlet of Melo, as they fervourishly prepare for the imminent arrival of Pope John Paul II and his many thousands of hungry and thirsty followers. This is a bitter sweet drama co-directed by City of God (2002) cinematographer Cesar Charlone, and factually based upon the tour of South America by the man himself in '88.

Lead character Beto (a kind of Uruguayan Les Battersby) has been using his "thinking cap", and as locals prepare to profit by retailing mountains of fritters, chorizo and patties, Beto plans to cater for the other side of the business - by building a public toilet and charging for the pleasure. Dependent on a fraction of the throng using either the half or full service he estimates to earn enough pesos to send his daughter to college, settle a long overdue electricity bill for his wife, and finally afford a long dreamed of new motorbike for himself.

What happens next is a comedy of errors, anything that could possibly go wrong does, in a frenetic rush to finish preparing papa's pissoir in time for his holiness' arrival. As the on screen hysteria mounts, so do our hopes that his hair-brained scheme will come to fruition

Charlone and his co-director Enrique Fernandes collaborated closely in their endeavor, more evidence of the burgeoning nature of independent South American film. Simplicity and emphasis on film being a thing of beauty rather than a 'cash cow' pays rich dividends for the viewer. Though it would be fair to say the budget wouldn't compare with the likes of Hollywood, it matters not, because the cinematography and setting for this film is so perfectly judged (Charlone spent much of his youth in Melo). A convincing blend of trained actors and ordinary local Uruguayans, pumps up the credibility and provides pitch perfect performances. Notably, El Bagno del Papa has 'swept the boards' at numerous South American film festivals in 2007, ample evidence that it could be worth spending a penny (or two) on this fab foreign flick.

Hasta la Vista follicles

New Recruit at Douglas Super Clinic says it’s hasta la vista follicles!


After 25 years in the business, what Adrienne Ashcroft doesn't know about hair removal could be etched on a hair tip.

Richmond Hill resident Adrienne, recently arrived from Dublin, commented upon her experience, saying: ‘My background in waxing hails back to 1992 when I opened Sohomen, London - the first male grooming salon in the UK. At the time it was a very new phenomenon and so I regularly appeared on national TV demonstrating waxing for men - bringing male grooming out of the barber shop - much to the amusement of most women!

‘Moving back home to Dublin in 1998 I opened my own salon - Top to Toe - where I perfected bikini waxing, brazilian and hollywood and so on.’

‘Looking back over nearly 20 years of waxing I have come across numerous very common issues such as ingrowing hairs, strong growth and the dreaded folliculitus (AKA waxing or shaving rash) on an almost daily basis. The scarring and appearance of these conditions is a major psychological issue for clients, so whilst in Dublin I decided to train on a diode laser - when I saw the results the progression was logical.’

‘Hair really doesn't stand a chance in the face of a laser,’ she said, ‘I spent twenty years as a waxing specialist, but when I bought my first laser machine, it quickly earned me the nickname of the ‘hair annihilator’ from my Irish clients.’

Mother of two Adrienne now joins the team at the Kensington Road Super Clinic where she offers both permanent hair removal and specialist waxing.

But diode lasers aren’t cheap, according to a UK distributer, the ‘average’ laser costs more than £65,000 and stringent safety procedures, servicing and training come on top of this.

However, such is the intensity of the light pulse that it zaps both hair and follicle. You can even hear a slight pop as they are ‘annihilated’.

‘Nine out of 10 women are fearful at first, but the treatment is incredible efficient and not nearly as painful as they imagine.’ Adrienne explained.

‘The machine I use at the super clinic is exactly the same as the one I have used for many years in Dublin. It’s powerful and permanent - so it’s hasta-la-vista to unsightly body hair!’