The Swan

                               Bird's eye view


This week my Skywatch image is a place familiar to readers of the blog from the early days, The Swan Pub.  A large public house situated on the corner of Lezayre Road and Parliament Square, a regular drinking hole for locals and a one Isle of Man TT tourists will recognize as a place to watch the motorbikes race round the route through Ramsey. Sunset, optional, pint and pub lunch compulsory, karaoke depends on who is singing. 


Jane Hards Photography - the people, the pub views

Image past of Skywatch, where people join one  day a week to show their skies.

Manx Taxis, Albert Road

                              The quiet time


The building to the right of the image, where the lights are on inside, is the base for Manx Taxis, situated on Albert Road. Even small towns have taxi firms for late night revellers, early morning airport runs, school runs, hospital runs and I'm having a taxi because it's raining and this shopping is heavy runs. After the school run and before the evening pub crowd go out shot. The quiet time for the night shift before the door to pubs runs start. 


Jane Hards Photography

Ramsey 79 vs Helsby 0. Rugby

                      Try, Try, and Try again


Ramsey may have dropped a division since last season, but so far the first team are on a winning form. Four out of Four wins, and as the scoreline suggest pretty comprehensively too. Rugby is one of the many sport event taking place any weekend on the Isle of Man. Ramsey's home ground overlooks the sea on one side and the mountains on the other. Both first and second team are sponsored by local business. The players are all volunteers, and the club house bar and events too are run by volunteers. All games are free to watch. Local sport is often at the heart of a small town and community, and Ramsey is no exception. Always a good day watching/photographing the rugby, even better one when you capture the winning action, from the winning team. Commiserations to Helsby, but congratulations to Ramsey, back to winning form.

Isle of Man, Skywatch sunset

                Brighten up my Northen Sky
 

The sun rises over the beach in Ramsey (the North East of the island) which is brilliant for seascape sunrises, but unfortunately not for seascape sunsets. So, I do the reverse of the morning capture and wander onto the beach as far out as I can (tide times allowing) and look back towards the town itself and capture the setting sun over the Ramsey landscape. Either way I get wet feet. Small price to pay for natural beauty.
  

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The Britannia Pub

                     Gone but not forgotten

A few years a go I posted a round up of Ramsey pubs, which are the hub of this small town community, and featured the pub in the photo, The Britannia, known locally as the Brit. Sadly this pub served its last pint a few weeks ago, along with a few other island pubs owned by the local brewery. A shame to see a Ramsey institution close its doors and shut up shop, but a sign of the times. Hopefully this will be the only pub in Ramsey to close, and local bands can find another suitable venue to gig. See other posts to read how thriving the Brit once was.

The Central

                             Fancy a pint?


The Central is our local and favourite pub in Ramsey. This was taken just after the pub had a complete overall and upgrade from a run down on its last legs place to a thriving hub of the drinking community. A change of staff and management completed the makeover and unlike other pubs in Ramsey, (and the island for that matter) this one has survived the cull and indeed goes from strength to strength. Anyone visiting for the Isle of Man TT has to visit this pub for one of the best vantage points to view the action while supping on the local brew or whatever your tipple is.