RAMSEY LOCALS AND MANX MONEY.

Ooh look people! Today I pulled back from going for the artsy photography just to show you what you all asked for, people. OK they aren't exactly close up and in yer face, but here's the deal. I have to live here. You want to see the locals, so the best I can do is these kind of glancing long shots, walking briskly with the camera and snapping quickly.

Notice the lady at the cashpoint? That's actually the Isle Of Man Bank. I know our own bank. We even have our own toytown money. Prepare to be confused! We have our own Manx money to use on the island. We also have Euros introduced in some shops, but not all. UK sterling is spendable here along with any other currency that has the word "sterling" on such as Scots or Channel Islands. Manx money though can only be used on the island. Don't forget we are a Crown Dependency of the "British Islands" and not part of the UK, which is why our cash is trash there. No way can you pay if Manx it say. You can imagine what it's like when we go on holiday, the conversions.

To go off at a complete tangent now, but what do you notice about the pavement and road? No chewing gum, no fag ends, no litter. I'm not saying it's like this everywhere, but how many town high streets do you come across that are like this? We may have empty shops, but we have clean streets. Please also note the christmas lights are always there, just not switched on 'til December.

Off to have words with my laptop which seems incapable of closing down pages I am not using, Why? Who knows.

SULBY RIVER, POYLL DOOEY, MONOCHORME ODDSHOTS

At a distance this image always looks like like a shipwreck at low tide, along Sulby River. This image had been under water for a month or two now due to the heavy rainfall, but when the riverbanks relented, the rain ceased, this strange scene was still there. This is as close as I can physically get to it without actually going down onto the river bed, which you shouldn't do anyway. There is a path along the river for a reason. To walk on! The river is to look at.

A far as I can tell it's actually tree branches embedded into the riverbed with what appears to be seaweed of some kind draped across it. When it's icy this area always takes on an otherworldly charm, like Narnia. It's not icy just yet so I went for a mono shot( just a straightforward desaturate colour) to see if it would appear ethereal and for me it has in a odd eerie way. Something ghostly about the whole innocuous scene. It could be perhaps those Manx fairies have draped there shimmering attire over the deadwood. Who knows? They are a little cheeky.

Blogger was off for sometime today, so was my server too hence little activity this end. Gary has just built his new website, my turn next. Why is it when you plan to undertake certain work on your laptop it all goes awry. Naughty Manx fairies again possibly? Perhaps they don't want me to show you the fairy magic they weave throughout the island or is Manannan out with his cloaking devise( Star Trek baddies merely borrow it) to thwart prying eyes.

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

CRITTERS SUNDAY - WHITE CAT MYTHS

This is the same friendly cat I photographed for Critters Sunday in a previous post. What is it about cats and gutters? Is it the best place to have a good scratch. It must be because this one always seems to be lounging around the gutters of Ramsey along with the black cat I had last week. So we all know about black cat mtyhs, but are there any white cat myths and superstions? Apparently yes there are, but very few.


In cat lore white cats are a symbol of light and good.
In the UK a white cat crossing your path is considered unlucky.
It America it is considered lucky if a white cat crosses your path.
Also too though in America it is considered unlucky to see a white cat at night
To dream of a white cat is considered a fortuitous omen, a portent of glad tidings, creativity and a contented spritual life.
To kill a white cat leaves your soul to the devil.
A white cat is often considered an angel, say hell0 and they will watch over you.

Unlike the black cat myths, the white cat has little attached to it in mythology. In some versions of the tale of Rapunzel she had 3 white cats to help her spin her hair into a golden ladder for her lover. Unlike the Manx cat and the black cat, the white cat seems to be relatively myth free. Perhaps you know of a white cat myth of superstition in your part of the world?

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, WHAT'S GOING ON!

For those of you who were expecting a pretty skywatch image, it's the post underneath. This is back to reality Saturday. Want a virtual walk round the notice board? Read on!

As you can see this is a straight forward image of a Ramsey Community Notice Board. Just on the right you can see the blue hoarding from a previous shot of the children's murals along Parliament Street. We have several of these dotted about town. One at Shoprite, the library and various local shops. To me these are an excellent way to find out what's going on. A newcomer to the town wishing to integrate into the community would be advised to take a peek at one of these boards. A little something for everyone.

Fancy keeping fit, try Pilates, a Hoe Down, or is Kick Boxing more your idea of working up a sweat? Want a more peaceful activity? What about a Whist Drive and raffle? A gentle Rotary Club sponsored walk pique your interest or perhaps making your own Christmas cards? Reiki to relax? Are you a beader or an auction buyer. Room for Rottweilers? Church or theatre? It's all there and more. One time only, click to enlarge and take a virtual tour of the Notice Board to see what this small town has to offer over Autumn. Surprising isn't it?

I'm a big fan of this type of free advertising in a community. The board is open to all, so no activity is overlooked. Do you have anything like this in your part of the world, and do you use it?

I'm hoping to build a new website over the weekend, my new photography sales site. No doubt I will be tearing my hair out by tomorrow night when things aren't behaving as they should.

MANANNAN'S CLOAK

RAMSEY DAILY PHOTO
Jane Hards


Manannan is the mythical god of the sea, lord and protector of our land, Isle of Man. Manannan appears in many other Pagan and Celtic myths and legends but for us he is the guy who put the "Man" in the Isle of Man, and why you sometimes see the spelling of Mann aswell. What is Manannan's cloak though?

Manannan's cloak is a mythical shroud of mist that Manannan would throw over the island to shroud us from our enemies in times of trouble. The cloak would roll in from the sea over the land, covering all from prying eyes, keeping us safe from unwanted visitors. The cloak takes the form of a tinged grey and purple fog slowly enveloping the land, until Manannan is safe to lift the shroud when the unwanted visitors have passed by. Mannanan was also known to be a shapeshifter, so next time to you ask a local the way, be polite. It could just be Manannan and if decides you aren't a worthy visitor he will shroud and protect us from you.

We still get the mist descend upon us. The image shows a rolling mist on the mountains, sometimes it rolls in from the sea. It is an awesome sight, especially when caught my sunlight. Sometimes a white blanket, a gold sheet, or a lilac candyfloss gently engulfing the island.

The island has had crisis talks today due to the financial situation. Remember we are not part of the UK, but geographically part of the "British Islands." We have our own government, and we are an off shore banking solution. Due to the collapse of Iceland finacially, many Manx residents are worried about their finances, business, jobs and the survival of the island as a major player in the financial world. As you know Gary works for the BBC,(BARKER GALLERY BBC POLITICS SHOW) and his weekly political cartoon which is usually submitted by tonight is still ongoing due to the ever changing situtation. No wonder Manannan thought so wisely to shroud us in his protective cloak this week, we need it. Just to be even more confusing MANNANAN'S CLOAK spelt differently yes is the website from yesterday's post.

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 SWING BRIDGE

Ramsey Swing Bridge No 9 of 100
RAMSEY DAILY PHOTO

This was actually taken last week on a fairly blue sky day. It's no 9 in the series of same subject different view. It's been a while since we had the bridge so today it's bridge day. I wanted a fresh one taken today as it was so glorious, but there were funny little men with cones working very diligently and attentively so I thought best to leave them to it. Instead I took some of those pubs you asked for,a gorgeous ship called The New Wave and the odd person sneaking into the shot. OK, should say who I've sneaked into shot.

Ramsey Swing Bridge was built in 1892 by the Cleveland Engineering Company at a cost of £2o,325(what would that be in today's terms?) primarily to transport people to the other side of the harbour, to the newly built housing that had emerged around this time.

The bridge is still the main access route across the harbour. At certain times of the day the bridge is closed to cars and pedestrians when it is swung out to allow tall mast boats through. It was also featured in another British Film called The Martins, Staring Lee Evans and Kathy Burke. It's also going to feature heavily in this blog as I never get bored of photographing it.

The two paragraphs above were from one of my own earlier narratives. It's perfectly fine to plagiarize oneself, it's just others I take an exception to text images or ideas. To add a little coincidence to the post and the weird world of blogging take Mrs N. of MRS NESBITT'S PLACE .Her husband did his apprenticeship with the very same Cleveland Engineering Company, and yes Mrs N. is coming again next year for the TT. Spooky.

It's busy Wednesday here, always is. Gary is working on the cartoon for the BBC tonight, so my main job is supplying cups of sugary coffee. Obviously with the economic climate as it is this cartoon is a very important one. Lots of huffing and head shaking from him and a floor full of sketches. It's going to be a long night. Artists!

L IS FOR LIFEBOAT AND THE R.N.L.I.

I'll give you the words in red of MANNANAN'S CLOAK who is the expert in this area and was able to fill in the blanks for me last time I posted about the lifeboat and R.N.LI. He just happens to be a dedicated member

"The old tub looks great . For the record she is a Mersey class named Ann & James Ritchie after the very kind people who funded her. She has recently arrived back in Ramsey after having a major refit during which time we had a relief boat on"

Another chance for me to post about the importantance of the R.N.L.I. What is it read on.

As you can appreciate The RNLI is godsend to those in peril upon the sea. Manned by volunteers around the Isle Of Man and Great Britain the brave men and woman who give up there free time to train and save lives lives, and sometimes sacrifice their own are a wonderful testament to the better side of the human race. This island of sea lovers alone owes a lot to this institution. In fact one of our bloggers is a volunteer and you can have a better insight into the RNLI through words and images at their Ramsey website MANNANAN'S CLOAK

A straightforward image today in keeping with the text. Thanks for all the lovely thoughts for 200 posts yesterday.

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