RAMSEY WHAT A WASTE OF SPACE!

Jacob's ladder maybe?

If you are here for skywatch it is the post below. I always like to have a reality check with the images. Pretty skies need to be balanced withe cold light of day photos. One from the socio economic pile- in other words the crappy side of life. 

Stairway to heaven, hell no

This is about as downtown as it gets. It's the harbour, West Quay a big chunk of nothing. I have no idea what used to be there and no idea if there are any plans for this space now. It is just there. The last thing we need here is more designer flats/ apartments that won't sell due to the economic downturn. We already have a pile of those empty quayside. What we could do with in this space is affordable accommodation mini market/cafe/fishmongers/grocers... anything but an empty space.  As for the ladder it was there for days just propped up against the wall.  I'm clueless about that too but it sort of suits the image, senseless, aimless, going nowhere.  Roll up with those metaphors and analogises.

Road to nowhere?

What is the oddest of all about this is the cleanliness of the place. Usually a space like this has graffiti scrawled over it, beers cans and chip wrappers discarded. Look at it. Almost as  if someone has swept it and washed the walls down.  To be honest I find that a little freaky.  In keeping with the sort of spooky scene I overexposed the sky just to have cast that white blast over the scene to give it an unsophisticated look. It reminds me of '60s British cinema( when we made proper films) when the working class found a voice and we recognised not everyone lives in London wears a bowler hat or is a chimney sweep. Well it would do if it wasn't so freaky clean, er like a film set.

Wish you were here?

Any suggestions what you think this Ramsey waste of space should be maybe like a drop in centre for addicted to toadstools(?) Manx Fairies then do have your say and I'll be sure to put it to tender. 

Read between the lines

Is there anybody out there? Just doing it My way.  Whatever that is.

HOW SAFE WOULD YOUR WASHING BE?

I often write about Ramsey and the Isle of Man in general being a different way of life, a step back in time. I've looked for images that are universal, that reflect this nostalgic image without being overtly sentimental. This is the kind of scene I wanted to depict.

Behind the harbour docks are a series of alleys with rows of terraced houses. No cars or bikes cluttering the roads, nothing to indicate anyone lives along them. Not usually anyway, but this week I was fortunate to spot signs of life. It may not have any locals, but it's definitely their washing hanging out to dry.

You may need to enlarge the image to see it properly, but just behind the plant pot is washing hanging out to dry. I would say it's hanging on something called, from my part of the world, a "clothes horse." It's also refered to as a "maiden " in certain parts of the UK. What would you call it in your part of the world? To me it's something I have never witnessed in my lifetime until I moved to the island, but recall from old '60's British black and white films, which I love. Washing hanging out to dry, in a public area that wil not be stolen. Now how much of a step back in time is that?

Do you ever come across washing left to dry in a public area, a back alley say? Do you do this yourself? Is this image a sign of past times? Like to hear your thoughts again on this one.