Derby Road, Ramsey, Isle of Man - Sunset

                                             Mirror image


Skywatch this week, a dusky pink serene scene. Mirror image reflections along the harbour inlet, Derby Road, looking towards Bowring Road. The sun rises over the beach, and sets inland, always casting a myriad of colurs over the harbour inlet, Sulby river and buidlings. No two days are the same, which is great for a photographer on a night time walk. 

To see a sizzling orange fiery sunset of the same view see here. You'll see what I mean about the colours of the setting sun. Unreal, yet natural.

Skywatch images around the world by others can be seen here.

Docked fishing boats

                         Local food source


Unlike a lot of fishing ports and harbours, Ramsey's hasn't closed and become a shopping centre or worse a multi storey car park. It's still a working harbour. The style of fishing may have changed over the years, light mesh trawls used instead of dredging the sea bed, and young queenies thrown back into the sea and protected, but "fisherman" is a still one of the towns jobs for some. Plenty of hobby fishermen too, but the vessels pictured are the working boats of the town. Freshly caught produce from the Irish Sea, can make its way to the restaurants, pubs and cafes of Ramsey within the day, and we still have a traditional fishmongers too. A Manx Queenie recipe


Jane Hards Photography

Part of abc

Canada geese in Ramsey harbour

                                 The visitors


The plan to capture the elusive heron that occasionally fishes these waters, always seems to be a failed one. Plan b, to capture the passing cormorants. They were also a no show. As for the swans, long since passed by, and no seagulls around. Instead the capture of visiting Canada Geese and ducks on shimmering ripples. Lovely afternoon light. The harbour is a wonderful place for coastal birdwatchers, but never plan to capture on camera any specific type. Just enjoy the visitors. I may even spot the even more elusive kingfisher one day. 

For other Isle of Man bird captures see Jane Hards Photography

Image part of abc, where bloggers around the world take a letter a week and see what we find.

Hiding out in the harbour - abc

Highlights on the high seas

I'm beginning to feel like Ross from Friends talking to Rachael. I never deserted the blog. I WAS ON A BREAK. Can I please add not by choice. My psycho laptop, the one with suicidal tendencies had a breakdown and fell into a coma. The nut job laptop is back, motherboard images intact and whatever therapy it needed to cope with me constantly abusing it by uploading soooooooooooooooooo many images we have reached an understanding. So here's the first one to get us back into the groove before I go off at a complete tangent as usual and into a mega rant about island life not being all it should be. A sweet little finish the day off after the rugby on the way home shot of the harbour. Gotta say, it's been all doom and gloom weather wise, but just as the laptop arrived home the glorious light returned to our shores and the wonderful sky blue appeared on the high( ok harbour inlet but let me manipulate the truth as always for purple prose effect and slip in another H) just waiting for me to capture. The vessel moored too nicely weathered and hell I've even got people in there walking to the lighthouse, just to prove I ain't the only one residing here. Just the only one in hiding. Those privy to my FB real persona can vouch for the fact I actually do have a cunning highway woman outfit. Another h, though on reflection not perhaps the most inconspicuous of outfits to wear taking photos.

Well I'm hopefully back, but I'm not a slave to the blog and this is not a to be taken too seriously look at the world I live in. Photography yes, words no. This isn't a travelogue but you will learn more about true island life and quirks than any book/site/or I love the island so much I won't have a word said against it types. It's a love hate relationship after all.

For more abc's see here

View from a bridge

Never wasting time at the dock of the bay

Yes the blog bandits have been at it again, so if you are viewing on an address that is not the above url, stop . Stop it now. Very naughty. Feel free to contact me and pass on the details of the naughty site whose fingers need to me severely smacked. To calm down I had a walk along the harbour on what had to be the best day of the year so far. The light this week has been incredible. I really do mean pretty damn near bloomin' spectacular, as you can see by the above image. The closest I have ever seen the sea and light to the Cote'd Azur, and you know how much I just lurrrrrrrrrrrrrrve the French Riviera. Just wait 'til you see the beach ones next week. By the way, that strip of land you can see on the horizon is England. It was so clear with a slight heat haze that the blue of the sky and the blue of the sea just melded together perfectly. No post production, manipulation whatsoever which is just how I like it. I am the world's laziest photographer. Give me the light, I'll give you the image, then I can waste more time on the beach contemplating how I get a job in the South of France.

MY RAMSEY POSTCARD?- SKYWATCH

Wish you were here?

Skywatch

This definitely wasn't today but a recent image. Sometimes the blue skies benefit from cotton wool clouds. This is one of the harbour from yesterday photographed further out standing on one of the two jetties. I photographed it with the bench slightly in and not tucked into the corner to show you perspective and scale.Wish you were here don't you. On a day like this I'm glad I'm here. What do you think of this as a postcard? It just has that kind of UK seaside look. I may keep this just for me though. I just like it. Simple as that.

So I promised to reveal all today. I was at the Manx Super Third Thursday meeting of the Social Media club concerning the new Social Networking site manxgraduates.im. In a nutshell (Babooshka speak to you) it's place for Manx graduates and Isle of Man employers to find each other and encourage islanders ( think just left University or working in the real world) back to the island for those prestigious jobs. What has that got to me with me, well nothing but the blog is a great vehicle, as it's become so popular, for letting Manxies abroad know they are needed back here. So that's why I had to break cover. You try explaining to people you are Babooshka and no that's not my real name and glaring at the photographer( hypocrite, how bad am I?) for taking your image. Very naughty I took my name off for the photos. At least he had a Nikon. Weird to have people say they follow your blog in person, even weirder telling people not to reveal who I am. It would be easier being a spy!

Anyway I'm back undercover tonight. Many thanks goes to Sherrilynne Starkie from Strive Notes for organising the hoopla and the invite. What you don't know folks is Sherrilynne has been a huge supporter of the blog for a while and it was about time I showed my face at one of these functions. The lure of strong black coffee was all it took.

So safely back home and back to the job in hand of sifting through the images. I'm trying to decide what image to have as a new business card. Also maybe branching out into ghost writing other blogs, paid of course which I've been approached to do. Not sure about this and wondered if any of you writers out there do this at all or know someone who does. Don't even get me started on Consultancy fees. All new to me, how about you? Advice always appreciated.

Skywatch watchers can be found here. Many thanks to Dot for the inspirational idea, Tom for the first care taking and the My world gang for looking after skywatch now.

Babooshka ramsey daily photo http://dalyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/

ELLAN VANNIN, EAST QUAY, EVENING- ABC E

East Quay, Ramsey Harbour

Can you guess where I am standing to take the image? Hands up all those you said the Swing bridge. Right in the centre looking down onto the Sulby River which would flow behind me and out to the Irish Sea. That doesn't tell you what the E's are though. Well the E's are good ones, at least they are for me.

Evening - Get the first one out the way. Low tide Early(ooh another E) Evening. Got to say the light was beautiful and fluid so the camera was very happy.I could have taken many here for skywatch with pastels on show, and I of course I did.

East Quay - Looking back behind behind the other side of the bridge would be East Quay near Mona Street and the cranes I showed you last week. You usually see me refer to Ramsey Harbour or Harbour inlet in generic terms without breaking it down into specifics. On my right the walk would take you to the beach and Mooragh Park on the left the town.

Ellan Vannin - Isle of Man. That is it's Manx name and that's the island I live on, on the East coast too. I'll never be short of E's then for the as so many pubs bed and breakfast are called Ellan Vannin.

As some of you have noted I am having a very quiet blog week and having some time out doing some very mind numbing activities. Normal service soon. That's the eclectic mix tonight. Just noticed empty too for the river. For more Abc's see the lady with the letters Mrs N.

MONOCHROME ODDSHOTS - 4 HEADLESS SWANS!

Duck Babooshka's here with her camera again!

Sounds like the macabre version of the 12 days of Christmas doesn't it? Four Headless Swans and one hunted Wren from yesterday's St Stephen's Day Post here Not at all just the way the photos fall. A walk along Ramsey Harbour, here) with camera is always a sheer delight for the photographer. I do mean real photographer, not snapper too but that's a matter for another day. At least acknowledge me you amateur!(you know who you are)

An image that begged to be shown as a black and white and the odd part well, all swans just swan diving at precisely the same time is a gift. Serendipity the photographers greatest friend lending a helping hand again.  You ignore serendipity at your peril. As you can see another natural image with all the debris that flows in and around the harbour left in the frame.  Why clone out something from an image that is perfectly natural just because it is slightly ugly and not perfect? Another time for that discussion on perhaps another blog.

Bad news again. Gary's laptop has died too. Now we are back to sharing one laptop that is borrowed until next week only.  You can appreciate a photographer and artist need a laptop each so blogging will take a back seat for a while. I will post as best I can, but it is difficult presently, work I'm afraid comes first, especially when people are still trying to clone my very being. 

Want to join the weird world of Odd Shots Monday? Then see KATNEY

Want to join the beautiful and creative world of MononchoromeMonday? Then see Aileni at LOOSE ENDS

JACKDAW, RAMSEY HARBOUR- CRITTERS SUNDAY

Jackdaws love my big sphinx of quartz

Jackdaws, a member of the crow family are a very common birds on the Isle Of Man, especially around Ramsey Harbour. This one settled on the rope lines of a moored boat and seemed to be oblivious to my camera

 and I. Good. It meant I could get an image of the lovely plumage. Note the variety of colours from deep magenta to iridescent blues and greens.  A quick look they look all black but the plumage does have these very subtle change of colours. The throat and back of the head plumage have a lovely shimmering silver grey tone.  This one seemed to be very interested in something, but I have no idea what it was but I can guess it was shiny.

Jackdaws have a reputation like the magpie for theft of precious objects. They are known to have a penchant for shiny objects and swoop down to steal the item that capture their attention and fly off to the safety of their nest or other desired safe place. Fortunately the camera is matt black and I had gloves on so no distracting shiny items for the Jackdaw.  Actually they I have never seen one behave at all badly. Even our garden ones tend to be well behaved and queue for food. In fact I seen tiny siskins and goldfinches chase a Jackdaw away.

or more cute and crazies see MISTY DAWN and her own beauties and others

BEN VARREY - FISHY MERMAID TALE!

My World
Ben Varrey in Ramsey Harbour

Recently I stopped by one of my regular blog stops only to find the Ben Varrey, the ship above was docked in their harbour in Barrow. I had noticed it had left Ramsey Harbour but no idea where it had gone so thank you Enitharmon for posting the ship. Where though does the Ben Varrey get it's very unusual name? Back to the island myth and legend.


Ben Varrey is the Manx(Manx is the language of the the Isle Of Man) name for a Mermaid. Ben Varrey was a bit of a naughty mermaid. A beautiful mermaid she used to lure sailors to their death around the Isle of Man by the ususal method of the siren's song in the pursuit, whereupon the Ben Varrey would collect her shiny jewels and any more form the shipwrecks. Naughty mermaid!


I did look for Ben Varrey, but I couldn't see her. Instead I give you the cargo ship that is named after her and owned by The Ramsey Steam Ship Company. The Red Cross you see is the companies symbol. The Ben Varrey is a working ship, as Ramsey is still a working harbour. It's a cargo ship carrying mainly grain and bale around the Irish Sea and near Continenent trade. No jewels though, which is perhaps why it's namesake the Ben Varrey, mermaid doesn't bother with her, no precious shiny jewels.


Like to see the Ben Varrey in Barrow click the HERE.


For more my entries click MY WORLD and thank the skywatch gang once again for another inspired idea.

MONOCHROME ODDSHOTS - RAMSEY HARBOUR, THE JANE

Ramsey Harbour Silver Shimmer

Well the monochrome bit is obvious but what of the odd? How often do you see sunrises or sunsets without colour? Think of all those skywatch shots we all see every Friday, mainly sunsets. Isn't it the colours mostly that prompt us to leave complimentary comments? Does sunset or sunrise look odd to you without layers and ribbons of colours? In fact without colour in an image can you still relate to the image, in this case being a sunrise? Back to the harbour.


Whilst undertaking further research about Ramsey Harbour and it's past I happened upon many a quirky tale. One, I am really hoping to post sometime, but I want to separate the myth, legend and fact. History remember isn't always what actually happened but who committed it to paper.


Ramsey Harbour still is a working harbour, though not the grand shipbuilding harbour of yesteryear. I've mentioned previously of The Star Of India known as the Euterpe as the most famous ship built here but not of The Jane.


Mid 19th century Ramsey it seems led the way in shipbuilding. The first ship designed to carry bulk oil, commonly known as an oil tanker was built at this very harbour and name "The Jane." Apparently The Jane transported oil around various places of which the only one I have found named is Philadelphia in 1853. Again I find out a cute little story and find the trail ends abruptly.


I've asked about The Jane before. No further news on it . Any ideas anyone?

Want to join the weird world of Odd Shots Monday? Then see KATNEY

Want to join the beautiful and creative world of Mononchorome Monday? Then see Aileni at LOOSE ENDS

CORMORANT TO GO! - CRITTERS

Cormorant, Ramsey Harbour

Very early followers of Ramsey Daily Photo know all about Babooshka and the family of cormorants that hang around Ramsey Harbour. These are my nemesis bird! I am constantly chasing them to shoot(I should add with a camera, not a gun!) and the results are shown here.
When I have the big camera and all the lenses, great weather conditions, they are no where to be seen. When I have the big camera, wrong lenses and poor weather conditions ie bad light of course they appear, flapping around showing off, diving for fish- a real bag of tricks and an abundance of photo opportunities. Typically I didn't have the telephoto lens, the light was oppressive and here he was messing around in Ramsey Harbour saying look at me Babooshka. Ok he was actually saying that, cormorants don't actually speak, not even Manx ones but you get my drift.


Cormorants are shore birds. I know last time I uploaded a cormorant I had lots of comments from inland dwellers and some of you from certain countries echoed they had never seen one too as they are not natural inhabitants. As the world's climate is changing and a lot of shorebirds are seeking refuge inland, while at the same stroke a lot of familiar garden birds are seeking alternative food arrangements along the beach. Have you noticed any changes with your wildlife?


Like to know more about the cormorant or see my other pics, including a young cormorant?
Click links below.


Wiki- Cormorant
Young cormorant
Babooshka and the cormorant

For more wonderful camera critters see MISTY DAWN Camera critters and be sure to leave a nice comment for Misty' s own outstanding posts.

RAMSEY HABROUR SUNSET

Skywatch - Ramsey Harbour Sunset

Ever heard of Fletcher Christian? As a special request to laxeylass a recap of the old tale, and a promise of a Laxey pic next week. Please someone remind if one doesn' t appear.

Fletcher Christian. Now there's name synonymous with all things mutinous and apparently Manx, that is the Isle of Man. Ooh er. How exciting!

Fletcher Christian was born In Cumberland in England, however he was related to The Christians of Miltown Ramsey. So explodes the first myth he was a Manxman. Afraid not! His family though did at one time, including the man himself, seek refuge in Ramsey to escape bad debts in England.

As we all know Fletcher Christian( Marlon Brando to me) instigated the Mutiny on the Bounty (more Isle of Man/Bounty links for another time) settled with a load of mutineers on the Isle of Pitcairn(many Manxmen amongst them) and then it all gets a bit hazy. In other words here starts the myth and fact nightmare. Always the way with the Island.

John Adams the last surviving mutineer gave several accounts of Fletcher's whereabouts, changing his story several times. Fletcher had committed suicide, he was killed by Pitcairn natives, or he escaped back to England, an onto the the Isle of Man.

The poet Wordsworth was distantly related to Fletcher Christian by marriage. It is rumoured that Wordsworth and Christian met in Bristol and Fletcher recounted details of the mutiny to him. Subsequently the Rhyme Of The Ancient Mariner was written by fellow poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and rumour has it, the Ancient Mariner was Christian himself. The reason was the poem bore uncanny details to certain events of the mutiny and time there after that were never for public consumption.

The date or place of Christian's death is still unknown. No remains have ever been found. Could he in fact of died on the island, with his Miltown Ramsey relatives? Who knows, but it's a great tale either way.

The Bounty has many Isle of Man links, which will keep for another post. Just think, on Pitcairn though, there are lots of little Manx descendants. Get around don't we! To go with the tale a Pitcairn sky, well a Pitcairn coloured sky over Ramsey, Isle of Man. Sometimes taking an image underexposed and failing light intensifies the colours much better.

Gary has designed his new website. Take a peek, if you can, at GARY BARKER ILLUSTRATION as I will be designing the same template for my new photography site and wondered how easy on the eye, and to navigate you find it.

To join skywatch go to SKYWATCH
The concept was Dot's, the next host WIGGERS WORLD the guardians of skywatch now are Tom, Imac and Sandy

RAMSEY HARBOUR, ISLE OF MAN

It's Skywatch Friday again and that means it's going to be Ramsey Harbour and Ramsey Swing Bridge for me this week. As they say if it isn't broke don't fix it, so what else should I bring you after a black and white shot yesterday but a pretty sunset for skywatch.

It's taken on the same day as last week, only at a slightly different time an further over to the right. It will soon be too dark and cold for me to take these shots so I am making the most of them before it's cold wet and even more miserable than the already horrid summer we had this year. I expect I will be showing you dramatic cloud shots soon. Also I've been confined to the house with the flu thingy and it's been a week of archive images.

Today though I have been out and about meeting a very sweet black cat who posed nicely, photographing empty shops(don't ask) a few other little quirky little manx oddities and cranes. Lots of cranes. Why cranes? Well Gary is workiing on a project that involves cranes. He's also working on another hush hush project that involves a cinematic icon likeness and a well known phrase. It's all cloak and dagger isn't it, but I can't reveal more as yet. For a sneak peak you can catch his latest art work at BARKER BITES BACK! and drop a word or two.

Scarlet, tune in tomorrow for neme and some of you some blog awards.

To join skywatch go to SKYWATCH
The concept was Dot's, the next host WIGGERS WORLD the guardians of skywatch now are Tom, Imac and Sandy

RAMSEY HARBOUR, SUNSET- SKYWATCH

Ramsey Harbour Sunset.

Got to post an archive tonight. Still having a sort out of images and this is one from my little Olympus point and shoot. The colours are really intensified as it was quite late when I took this and the camera hasn't quite got the best setting for the evening light and colours. That's why they are a little too rich, especially the purple tones for me . It's a very popular image though as it's so vivid, so who am I too argue. with the buying public. Tends to be used as a postcard. Wonder if they write wish you were here on it?

The bridge in the background is Ramsey Swing Bridge. Another reason for posting this was for those that had asked for a bridge shot in full view. So that's it in the distance, under the setting sun. Next week I will show the bridge in full but closer. I won't include this in my 100 shots as it's too far away. Now for something completely different!

Have I ever told you about the escaped wallaby. No? Well it was supposed to have escaped from the wildlife park years back. There have been sighting of it along with flying pigs and white elephants of course. Really though, the wallaby has been seen crossing the Mountain road, leaving Ramsey so I thought I might try and track it down. I know it 's not a Yeti or the Loch Ness Monster but we are a small island and a wallaby isn't to be snifffed at. Don't forget we have Manx fairies too. Honest. They sprinkle the colours into the sunset.

To join skywatch go to SKYWATCH
The concept was Dot's, the next host WIGGERS WORLD the guardians of skywatch now are Tom, Imac and Sandy

RAMSEY HARBOUR

ABC WEDNESDAY - H IS FOR RAMSEY HARBOUR.

Last minute post. This is Ramsey Harbour, the working end as I call it. Not often you see it like this empty. Always boats moored obscuring the the view of the quayside. The solitary boat, serendipity and the buoy just bobbed into shot. A very dreary day so it went straight to monochrome. One thing about a grey day is you already have plenty of greyscale tones so they convert to B&W painlessly. Don't overdo the contrast. You end up with no shadow details and a harsh flat white. The colours tones should blend not fight each other.

What I like about this area and why I've tried to capture it boat free is it refers back to what I was saying the other day about dating a place by it's skyline not ground level. From the modern (well not that modern) flats to the mix of houses, pub and business premises in front you can see a timeline developing.

I've covered this in two posts before but Radio Caroline, Pirate radio station, was moored here and The Euterpe, or Star of India, tall ship was actually built here. A blog search will lead you to those posts.

It' a bit mad here at the moment. Gary has to do five drawing this week, instead of one. Can't go into details, but if you're in the UK, Sunday BBC1 Politics show. Watch or record. All I can say for now and no Gary will not be on it's the pics, but I can't say anymore.

Sad news today. Another British Pier has burnt down. What's really sad about this one is it's Fleetwood Pier, Gary's old hometown and where friends and relatives still live. Who said insurance job. The thought has occurred. Seems to be happening to a lot of properties in the UK
at the moment.

Want to join ABC got the lovely hostess with the mostest, MRS NESBITT'S PLACE

RAMSEY HARBOUR DAWNING DELIGHT

Oh dear, that title! Looks more like an Abc Wednesday than a toned down Tuesday. I am having a clear out of images at the moment. There gets to a stage where you have to take stock and rethink the image library. Is it selling, have I put it for sale, can it be used on a project or campaign etc. The main question is why haven't I used it. Sometimes I simply forget and file away say 100 sunsets for a rainy day on a disc just as back up. Mostly though they are gathering virtual dust because they aren't right.

This is one such image. I have better versions of it that are in the sales market. So why this would be no use for me? The horizon isn't straight, it dips slightly on the right. The sun has too much of a white glare. The top corner edges are a little pink, not in keeping with the golden tones. The boats are neither silhouetted or showing enough detail, sought of caught in the middle. Overall it's a "nice" snapshot, but it's not viable for sale. Not for me anyway. I could use software to alter it but you would lose on one hand to gain on another and the image isn't worth it. It would still be not quite right.

So what to do with it? Well I found a use for it here. Purely an exercise in being brutal with your images if you are considering trying your hand at selling them. As this blog is primarily about Ramsey I am happy can make blog use of it here. It shows another view of Ramsey Harbour from an alternative area, at a different time of day. In essence, what the daily photo is all about. A snapshot of the area I live, titled in the blog.

So normally this image would be dumped, but it has escaped the axe as it's probably more in keeping with the nature of the blog than most images I've shown. Should I show more snapshots, or should I show finer work? My best never go on here anyway. It isn't a photography blog, but it is hard to pull back and not show images that I am 100% happy with.

So I put the question to you. Should I show more that I wouldn't sell and tell you what's wrong with them, as photographic tips or show the finer more creative work?

Apologises for answering no emails today. The internet has been a nightmare. My poor partner has had an ordeal with his own artwork uploads and I have crashed most sites.

SULBY RIVER, RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN

The image today is strictly for me. Purely selfish I know, but Ramsey has been under torrential rainfall for over a week now. Just wanted to remind myself what a blue sky day looked like. Ooh look it looks like that (insert your own adjective) image above. I know it could have a contender, you know a waterfront image for skywatch, but well my needs to see a touristy image today are greater.

The Sulby River as we have mentioned before is one of those lovely viking names they left their mark with on the island. I know this upsets a few Manxies out there, but you know some you of you are viking stock you can't deny it. Anyway the Sulby. It's the largest river in the Isle Of Man. Starting at the hills of Tholt y will, through, Sulby Glen and Village, through deep and shallow, pooling into waterfalls, past Lezayre, Ramsey, into the harbour, and into the Irish sea.
It's apparently good for salmon fishing when it's been as wet as this. Well yippe for those fisherman but bad news for me. My walkway down by the riverbanks is under water at the moment.

Teckie bit.

Manual,
Wide angled lens, zoom full
ISO 200
Sunny
F4

Ah wasn't that nice! So for posting such a pretty, yummy shot of Ramsey with sensible(almost) writing you do know I will have to post an ugly Ramsey pic soon. All in the name of balance of course.

RAMSEY HARBOUR ,COURTING SWANS, CRITTER SUNDAY

A couple of weeks ago I posted the black and white version of this image. Blue and purple light on the monochrome image are quite pronounced as a stream of white light. This is the image as shot. For the monochrome I simply used photoshop "desaturate" to strip the colours from the image. Again it's just been re sized for the blog. You will notice I shoot a lot over, near, by or onto water. It's because it's so reflective and can really enhance tones and hues. The colours are reflections from the harbour boatyard. Also shooting towards the sun helped to elongate the magenta light onto the gravel.

These two swans were again a fortuitous shot. I had been snapping away at one of the elusive cormorants. It just wasn't happening. Cormorants are shorebirds with dark feathers, almost black, but on closer inspection you see green, blue and purple when the light hits. Very poor light and basically the wrong lens for the distance meant time call it a day. I Always take the opportunity to take a few spontaneous shots on these days. I had noted the swans were about to pass near to the better light, the reflection, and as they are white knew they would make up for the cormorant. The magenta light onto the gravel I like purely as it's unbalanced for the shot. Again I could of cropped just for the swans, but personally I'm just a sucker for purple.


As some people really don't get my humour I have gone for a very straightforward post with a smattering of photography tips, without the patronising tone of you could never take this shot. On the contrary. It demonstrates that there are some days when you just can't get the shot you want, but if you improvise, know one will ever know. Well not unless you're me and you shoot and tell.

For more camera critters see MISTY DAWN Camera critters.

RAMSEY HARBOUR

RAMSEY HARBOUR - WORKING BOATS AT REST

BY BABOOSHKA

So can you see the longtail? Think it might help to enlarge the image? Afraid not! Why is that then Babooshka? It's because there are no longtails in the image. They are probably scurrying under foot and over the bridge, following the Pied Piper! You think Babooshka has her fairy tales mixed up don't you? Well not if you live on the Isle of Man!

Longtails are better known as Rats. One of the first things you learn when you move here is do not say the word Rat or Rats out loud. There are other words, but this is today's mad one.

Straight from Wiki. Read on.

On the Isle of Man, longtail is a euphemism to describe a rat, as a relatively modern superstition has arisen that it is considered bad luck to mention this word. The origins of this superstition date to sea-taboos, where certain words and practices were not allowed to be mentioned aboard ship, for fear of attracting bad luck (or worse, bad weather).

Although this particular sea-taboo was one amongst many and didn't apply on land, it has become a popular modern myth that the word is somehow "unlucky" and has been adopted by some as a typical Manx practice, despite the fact that the old Manx had no qualms in using the word, or its Manx gaelic version "roddan". In modern times, even non-local and non-superstitious people will refrain from using the "r" word in an effort to fit in with those who take it seriously, or may adopt the superstition in an attempt to become more "folksy".

Local, and socially acceptable alternatives for the superstitious also include joey, ringie, queerfella, iron fella and roddan (a Manx word).

Until I moved to the island I used to say the R. word. Not anymore. I have seen 3 since I moved here( which I have called all Basil!) but none when I lived on mainland Great Britain. Newcomers to the island can often be found laughing at the cheeky squirrel they nickname stumpy as they think it's lost it's tail. Not so. We have no squirrels on the island, just cheeky longtails.

Is there anything in your town that you can't say due to superstition?