Black Eye Friday

                                                                         All end in beers

What can I tell you about the curiously named "Black Eye Friday" that you can't actually surmise from the title. After a beer or several the residents of the town usually end up brawling. So what's it all about then?

Once a year this strange phenomenon happens, the last main pay day for most folks before Christmas a little earlier than usual. Now most of us are used to being relatively civilised and seem capable of going on a Friday night, let your hair down pub crawl, end of the working week type of thing we normally do. Costumes, hats whatever maybe worn week in week out. So no change there. Black Eye Friday though all hell breaks lose, and the younger folks tend not to be the idiots involved. Oh no, it's those middle aged men who go out once a year, can't hold their beer, miffed at their lives who are fully intent on causing a brawl....ending up with mass punch ups, a few smashed windows, pubs barring people and probably more arrests than for the last six months. Also the next day you will pass these shame faced idiots sporting the badge of dubious honour....the black eye.... hence the name "Black Eye Friday." Thankfully this idiotic behaviour occurs once yearly but does make me wonder is this sort or event unique to our island?

Tomorrow is another day

                        The remains of the day


Northern skies on the Isle of Man can be dreary grey washouts, or cinematic Gone with the Wind sunsets bursting with colour. To be honest even the washout greys can be moody and atmospheric.  Silhouetted building, one of the suburban parts of Ramsey, May Hill Road, leading out of town.




Image part of Skywatch, where other skies around the world can be seen.



Have a good weekend folks, and happy skywatching.

Weather bomb and waves

                                  Waterworld

The recent weather bomb, fortunately didn't cause the tiny island I live on, as much as damage as last Winter floods. Apart from a watery walkway, we had no major incidents in the town. No one needed a canoe to go shopping this time, as local shops survived without closing until refurbished. Tidal flooding, crashing waves, are part and parcel of living in a coastal town Waterworld one day, walk on the beach the next.


Image part of abc around the world

Location, Queens Promenade, Ramsey, Isle of Man

Melting ice

                                Winter blues
   

It's that time of year again when the harbour freezes over The last remnants of the frozen over Sulby river melting under the (surprisingly warm for this time of year) winter sun. Taken from Bowring Road, Ramsey Harbour, Isle of Man. This time next week, who knows tidal flooding or snowdrifts

Image part of Our World Tuesday 

More of the Isle of Man images can be found on my facebook photography page

Suntrap

                        Good morning sunshine


Insomnia has benefits. Looks like I wasn't the only one up so early, one of the local fisherman setting sail.

Image part of Skywatch, click to view others around the world


Queens Pier, Ramsey, Isle of Man. 



For Simonetta

Valentino Rossi's Parade Lap, Parliament Square

                             Isle of Man TT 2009

Another one for Denise Nesbitt, as she is a regular visitor to the Isle of Man TT Road Races, which takes place May/June for two weeks each year. Denise, and motorbike fans will instantly recognise the "Doctor" Valentino Rossi. Following him was another motorbike and TT legend, Giacomo Agostini. They both completed a slow parade lap of the island wide route, prior to one of the races. 

Over 200 photos of the two weeks racing and visitors can be seen here 

More abc's around the world can be found here 

Snow fell, not Snaefell

                      Not enough for a snow day

First snowflakes of the winter appearing on the mountain, North Barrule, as viewed from Mooragh Park. Not enough for a snow day, so pack those sleighs away for a few more weeks and get back to school. That's the adults btw.  When it hits the urban areas, the towns of the island, and the roads, then everywhere will come to a standstill and the island will be taken over by snowmen. My Icelandic friend, the Norseman will understand the Snaefell, snow fall on the snowy mountain zzzzz. He will also call this mountain a hill. It's blogging thang.

Part of Our World Tuesday posts. Others around the world can be seen here

Ramsey Park Hotel

                              Room with a view

Set looking over Mooragh Lake, is Ramsey Park Hotel completed in 2012. The hotel overlooks, both the park and seafront. On a clear day you can see Scotland and the Lake District, Cumbria. The hotel caters for both business and leisure, wedding, private functions, and has it's own dining area, Lake View Restaurant which is as it says, an dining experience with watery view.


Further details can be found here
 

Skywatch, golden sunrise

                               Good Morning
 

Sunrise over the beach, is never the same two days running. Image part of Skywatch, a group of people all over the world showing their skies. Click here to join or view. 

You can view more of my photography on facebook here 

Upside, of tide out........

the unusual vantage point to photograph from

Yesterday I posted the aftermath of tidal flooding, an occurrence that thankfully only happens every few years or so. Today is the opposite tide action. Not just normal tide out, but extreme tide out. Where I'm standing to take the image is usually underwater. Occasionally the tide is out so far, you can walk from one beach to the other beach, without having to cross the harbour bridge. Often see horses being exercised around this time too on the beach. Unusual sight, like the tide out to this extreme. The next day it can be as high as the walled harbour, and completely under water. No two days are ever the same in a coastal town.

Moe abc's around the world can be seen here

Fireman and flooding, Theme Day, Worker

                           All in a days work

Earlier this year, the town of Ramsey and other parts of the Isle of Man suffered from high tide flooding. No amount of sand bagging the doorways of local business can completely save the properties from the tidal deluge and ensuing damage. The town was easier to canoe round than walk round for a day. In fact some people did canoe home with their shopping. This is Market Place, right near the harbour. The fireman and crew were busy not putting out fires, but pumping the tidal flooding from the local corner sweet shop (pictured) and other business premises along there, such as the local nightclub, cafe, and pub on the corner. All in days work for the local firemen. Thanks to the fire brigade and other services, most businesses were up and running within the week, though some suffered and closed until refurbishment work had been completed.

Image part of CDP theme day, and Our world Tuesday others around the world can be seen here and here