Le Petite Blog: August 2015

So we carried on our airport and flying extravaganza and landed in the Isle of Man. There have been many changes both in the Isle of Man and West Chester since we moved, now 6 years ago. But there are may things that don't alter, the Manx weather and of course the amazing landscape remain the same. I actually miss both those things and I know that a collective groan will sound out from the Manx readers of this, as they don't really get a summer or distinct seasons but the beauty of the Island is breathtaking and it was wonderful to 'plug' into that scenery again!

With both my trips this summer, I have learned a great deal. Some of that is about myself but also about my small travelling band of family members. We have realized what a unit we are and that seeing family you can connect and enjoy the journey so much better. We could be an isolated bunch and I am glad that we're not and for the boys they have been able to re connect with family and form bonds that for years to come they will enjoy. For two weeks we were surrounded by loved ones and I can't believe that we fitted so much in. I am still thinking about my Manx trip in particular and am so happy that my pictures do the Island such justice....it is a great place to call home!

This is maybe my favorite shot of the whole time we were there. I had gone for a walk one morning and it was a gloomy foggy day......it was quite surreal. This tree just looked a little lonely....he once had a farm house next to him and that has long since gone. But he remains....

I love the fact that the scene you are looking at seems set in a milky landscape of nothing....actually this area has lots of fields around it...but today not so much

I'm trying to make a forest scene from a small stand of trees, the fog helps me as it masks where these trees are...

Pretty spooky

How about this for menacing! It's anti dog fouling sign....!

Ah Damian's birthday and Caroline has got the bestest presents!

I love his genuine surprise and wonder at his pressies...he is the best person to give a present to...of course he says that he never wants anything. Well I bet he wanted a spider man lunch bag!

We had Larry with us from the US and he is sitting with my sister Sarah and her husband David....he is in full story mode....no idea what he's saying but it's all action...his hands are definitely saying something

Of course when visiting back home you have to do the "look how tall you've grown" test and Louie is doing that with Uncle Paul.....Paul of course is bending his knees!!!!!

Poor Damian, he is definitely failing the test!

Ah Peel Castle. This was a Larry trip and Peel Castle was a must. It houses St German's Cathedral and many other ruined buildings and these date from the 13th Century. It is also on a small Island called St Patrick's Isle and the beach (Fenella Beach) is where it is now joined to the main land. It has seen much action over the centuries and also has many stories told about it and one of those is to do with a black dog!

This is the main entrance....look at those spikes!

This the dog I was talking about. Well this is a sculpture of him. This is the Moddey Dhoo and he is said to haunt the coast line on the West of the Island between Port Erin and Peel.

The castle and it's buildings are built from a mixture of local stone. The red is sandstone found locally and the grey is slate, also found on the Island.

Larry and me in the grounds. We're doing a fab impression of holiday makers

I was able to get some great close up shots and of course if you're at a castle that's got lots of creepy folklore, your definitely going to find spiders! and their webs.

This is a view from the Castle out to the sea....yes it is surrounded by sea on all sides.

That would be weathered sandstone! It really does get eaten away....but from a visual thingey it's just amazing

The boys tramping about Peel Castle

Great shot of Louie...

The walls of this place are amazing

I love all the colors and textures, it is truly awe inspiring to think that people lived here.

This is inside the ruined cathedral, of Peel Castle. How amazing it must have been when it was intact.

The sea in this picture is just so clear

As you can see the Castle really takes up the landscape

Peel is also know as a fishing town and although the industry is much smaller now...it is the best place for fresh crab and queenies! (small scallops...)

But on this day I was amazed that there were people on the beach and omg is that a volley ball net?

This is Peel's kipper house, where they smoke the herring and make it into kipper. There used to be several of these on the Island during the heyday of fishing.

Caroline (my sister) informs me this is the best place to eat on the Island...I agree

Manx delicacy queenies and bacon...now that is heaven!!!!!

And onto Port Erin. This is a small town further down the West Coast and where I grew up. In this picture you can see Spaldrick Beach, to the right is a headland called Bradda Head and on the top of that is a folly. On the left, the last piece of land before the sea and horizon is not a head land but the Island off the southern most tip of the Island and it is called the Calf of Man.

I love this picture as it really shows the colors that day and the white quartz rock in the foreground is probably from the mines at the foot of Bradda headland. They mined tin and lead there.

This is just a slightly different view of the headland and a place where as a child I would do my ballet dancing for a neighbor friend of mine, an older lady called Mrs Perkins and of course I needed no encouragement....I was probably about 5 or even younger....I had no shame!

This is the beach in Port Erin and the lighthouse on the sand. I love that you can see the boats in the back yard and the flying washing....

Here is some of the family on the upper prom and you have nephews and my niece (and her baby) plus older sisters. I like the picture as the youngsters are all making sure baby Luke is comfy and they are all focused on him.

Oh Baby Luke...how fantastic is he!

My sister Sarah and husband David....we all love the Hungry Caterpillar...

nephew John with his nephew Luke!

What a lovely baby...truly beautiful and he was just so good...well he didn't keep me awake :)

This picture made me laugh, everyone is active with those hands!

This has to be the sweetest picture of all. I don't know who is the cutest!

My sister Caroline certainly has a great way with babies....but you know who Luke is looking at, he isn't so sure of me..

This was another trip out, this time to Cregnesh. This is located at the most southerly part of the Island and the land furthest away is the small island of the Calf of Man. The village of Cregnesh still has original housing from when the crofters lived there and they are thatched cottages that have been kept in that style. This village is lovely and we often like to visit here.

Of course I spied a very old post box

and the quintessential phone box...they had years ago painted this bottle green, so pleased that they painted red!

I loved this grit box's graffiti in the village

a sort of secret view of the Calf of Man through an old farm yard

Yup that's a Manx cat strolling around the village without a tail, born like that and in this case as he has a bit of a tail, he is a stumpy.

A sign in Cregnesh village that spied

lovely Thatched cottage that a long time ago my mum, dad and three of my sisters lived in!

this Manx cat just totally wanted her picture taken

Bit of an arty shot of the cottage window. You can see the great reflection of the hill side and of course on the outside of the building you can see the stones embedded into the white washed walls that are anchors for the thatch and the ropes holding it down.

This stone cross is in the church yard of the chapel at Cregnesh

This is the chapel

and here are some stained glass windows....

This is showing the carving that they found on the Calf Of Man...showing both the crucifix and Celtic elements. Thought to date to the late 8th Century.

Here is a stained glass window in the chapel showing the traditional thatched cottage

More days out and this time we are off to the most Northerly part of the Island, the Point of Ayre

managed to take this picture while driving past.

also this is taken as we drove along and this traditional cottage is on the way to the Point of Ayre

we have arrived and here we see the lovely heather and gorse that is the vegetation up north!

This is the beach at the point of Ayre

Bit of a Panoramic shot

Mr F preparing for skimming stones. The perfect place and day for that!

This is another lighthouse at the Point Of Ayre

and onto Ramsey, this is on the East Coast of the Island north of Douglas.

Such a lovely picture of Mr F

Ramsey's promenade

and harbor....

I think that this is such a funny picture, first the name of the restaurant and then the fact that you can see both my and Damian's reflection and they are quite funny silhouettes.

My favorite shop in Ramsey...Shakti Man...couldn't buy the lovely stuff but thought that a picture would at least show you the loveliness

More fantastic post boxes...this one has a fresh coat of paint!

More family doing great family things...

John and James. You know they have just said something totally naughty!

agh what is that! really in the Isle of Man

family moments...love the posing sisters (Elizabeth and her family is in the background and Caroline) and the youngsters in the back all focused on that beautiful baby.

sometimes it is a bit grim there but somehow it is beautiful too.

now this sad old post box definitely needs painting!

fushia grows everywhere on the Island the climate just suits it

so you see these hedges all over

ah me, what is Damian doing, either he has shrunk or that's a giant lamp!

Isaac and me selfie

Douglas Bay

The promenade

and yes it was that windy!

what's that another post box on a stick this time

fantastic pastoral scene

and now onto the last day on the Island and the wedding that we had to get to. Outfits seem ok for last minute pulled together. The boys are laughing in Caroline's glorious summer house...think I'm making fun at Damian, from Isaac's totally lost it laughing! face.