The End of Summer

Well it should be the end of summer but the temperatures here have not yet reflected that. It is still pretty darn hot. I shouldn't complain as we have been lucky to have some rain but not be deluged and I am pleased not to be living with the threat of hurricanes. That is something that I will definitely not be missing. But as we continue to "settle" here thoughts of other places we have lived are not far from all of our minds.

Our trip to the Island in August was literally a gulp of fresh north air, if not a bit damp too. It was on reflection a welcome respite to the heat and humidity that we have had here. The fact that I managed to wear a fair isle sweater and wore it! shows how chilly we found it.

But here are the pics from that trip

Back to the leafy roads and blue sky and white clouds greeted us

as well as at the apartment we were staying in, this amazing sight at the front door

This wasn't an easy place to reach, by any means

The saw was in the pine tree on the left and the steps went down several feet!

There really no place quite like this

I love the Douglas Harbor and this diddy boat just perched 

Now I'm thinking that is Mickey Mouse? That can't have been the intention, surely?

Just spectacular

Please note the Policeman and his "white" summer hat (yes they have a summer uniform and winter one!) and the lovely telephone box.

We are here for the Royal Agricultural Show at Knockaloe and the policeman was directing traffic. It was a glorious day for it

I think that these tents at the show look like they are holding the clouds up

Just the best bunting ever

They wheel this beastie out for the event. Pretty cool

They had a crafters tent and these were rather swanky

But this got the first prize

And these chaps too!

I think this should have got first! That is a stella coat

What about that knitting

And this beauty did quite well. Love the udder, that is just too funny

They have classic cars

And of course sheep dog trials...now that's a skill

This of course is not an exhibit but Mr F and we have drifted along the coast to Peel Castle and this happy face made us all laugh!

The great thing about the Isle of Man is the simple things you spot and one day we were in Castletown (ancient original capital on Man) and we see some sail boats out and about

The red sails are really cool

We had to go in the Castle at Castletown and these old windows really intrigue me. I love the build up of the green moss and those wispy cobwebs. That vivid lawn below really is bright!

How about that for a castle spiral staircase. The mix of limestone from Castletown and sandstone from Peel really visible. Just wonder how many people have walked this staircase and helped erode that spine of sandstone?

And here is what lies on one side of that Castle the lovely harbor supplied by the Silverburn River.

I love the colours in this picture and it has a real flavor of Autumn

As we were zipping along I saw this view and I thought that the clouds looked like smoke from a train puffing along...so that's the hill side that is the train. Ok might be a reach but it has the lot, Manx hillside, patchwork field, mists rolling and a hint of the sea.

Off we went to Rushen Abbey, which has been turned into a museum site and has had lots of archeology done there to find out about the Monks that lived at the Abby. This has all been done and excavated since I was at school and the place has a lovely feeling

This is one of the structures that is left standing

I loved the stone work

They have resorted gardens

Benches and oh yes chaps !

This time of year on the Island there is plenty of blooms about

Fabulous sun flower

I have taken a picture of this before, this is the Sea Terminal in Douglas. Known as the lemon squeezer! But it is actually the central part to the other three arms of the building that was designed to be the three legs of man. I think it is quite ugly but beautiful in it's own way, designed in the 60's and at the heyday of Manx Holidays! Great mist behind the building as we look at the other headland

The headland I am on, has this wonderful structure

It also has this impressive lighthouse

As I was snapping away, I saw a little fishing boat out on the water at the foot of the headland

It is hard not to take photos of the vibrant colours of flowers on the Island

There are also some interesting doorways

and windows. Believe it or not the door and window are on the same piece of wall and building. So Gothic meets 60's

But Douglas Head can really be a spectacular place to look out from

The South of the Island, where I am from has equally amazing views and this is one I have often wanted to get. It is us looking towards Castletown and we have been up on the higher hills at the most southern part of the Island

These hills have this amazing neolithic burial site and in the left of the picture is a small tower almost visible on Bradda Head and Port Erin

It really is a special site. The view from here is of the whole of the Island

The gorse was flowering so beautifully up there

But it was a windy cool day. The boys found the WWII bunker further up from the burial site.

On a side note as we travelled the Island we saw these donation clothing boxes. I thought they were wonderful, especially the 'no thanks' side and the no soiled rags, eugh!

Onto more beauteous pictures...what a lovely pastoral scene this is

There were blackberries here, yum!

Lovely little church

From the church yard and small village where it sits is the sea and I saw the end of this wonderfully painted house. Just love that colour

I also took this spookey picture of the church yard.....the crows had just settled. All very atomospheric

Notice on the village post box that this has been here for some time, VR. That would be Victoria then and Not Elizabeth

and the corn field stretching to the sea

OMG I am obsessed with hydrangeas, they are the best plant ever. I have just had some put in my garden (think the summer killed them) and they are white and the ones on the Island were every shade and hue. Just stunning

Need I say more, we saw a lots of these.

This is my most favorite theatre in the whole world. I say that in all sincerity. The Isle of Man has many secret gems but this is surely the prize one. The Gaiety Theatre in a beautifully restored with an amazing cast of volunteers that for some 30years been lovingly put her back to the original glory she once had. I have been lucky enough to actually tread the boards and to see many amazing shows and plays here. But the setting of all of that is this beauty. We did a back stage tour and wow was it ever worth it!

This ceiling is just awe inspiring

There are so many small and wonderful features. I will just focus on the paper. That has been fully restored throughout by specialist wall paper restoration people and it is hand painted!!!! And look at the stained glass. In the reflection of the sign that says Box Office, you see the elaborate ceiling. Talk about grandeur

The most stunning repro chandeliers very accurate to what was there originally.

This curtain is actually a painting. For years I thought that this was the fire curtain to the stage. On the tour we found out that this is just a curtain that was hung for show. One huge painted canvas. It is utterly priceless to replace and is the original. I absolutely adore it. They store it, as is, in the pulled up  space above the stage for curtain drops, no rolling for this baby. If you can just click on this and see it bigger. What a scene, Sherazade.

These cherubs are on the boxes and yes that is real gold leaf

I love the story behind this find. In the foyer they have this window for box office and this is in the glass above the opening. The chaps were sat one day in the box office and saw this horizontal red paint across the glass. They felt that it looked out of place. So they began picking it off with finger nails to reveal an original enamel sign. This font that was used in this sign then gave them the font to use throughout the theatre and thus keeping all signs just that little bit more authentic.

This is one of the stairwells from the upper balcony area and again lovely glass and unusual shaped windows.

Our lovely Tower of Refuge with fantastic clouds, which sits in Douglas Bay

It was a breezy day in Douglas and you can see all kinds in this picture. We are seeing the cream building originally a house that was demeded very much outside of Douglas at the time of building, now very much inside it and altered and made bigger, the Villa Marina. This is an entertainment venue. Also the bottom of the Broadway and the red building that was once a hotel. I think it is about to be the only red brick hotel left on the Promendade. Then the hills in the distance. But look at that sand on the beach, golden!

I have a love of these railings along the promenade and they were looking splendid on this sunny day as was the sea. Talk about different shades of blue

You're never far from a seagull on the Island and the promenade in Douglas is a favorite haunt

Going past North Quay in Douglas around the corner from the bay, I spied this rather wonderful Norwegian Boat. 

And so to travels up North and to part of the Island that is a left over from the Ice Age, in that it is flat. On the right you can see how the tip of the Island bends .

We were heading for a rendezvous for someones birthday celebrations and my lovely sister Caroline led us on the dunes

Past the lighthouses

Yes this one too

To a dip in the dunes and wonderful party! Such a nice way to celebrate a milestone birthday. 

Even a bit of a lie down for the birthday boy

Banners and smiles all round

But as ever the weather was changing and off we went having thoroughly enjoyed some magic up North

On one of our evenings (and we were staying on Douglas Head, famed for it's view of the Island) and although we were on the East coast, I wanted to capture the sunset. I think I managed that with this. I even managed to get a three legs of Man sign in there hanging off the lamp post and summer lights over head. I call these corpy lights, as Douglas Corporation hang them for loveliness. I have my own version in Canada and they are smaller but give the same happy feelings as these string of lights. I put mine up at Christmas and on my tree.

The sun was going down and this boat was coming in to rest in the harbor

These are part of the barrier along from the lighthouse. Built from concrete stabits. They are definitely bizarre but they act as a sea barrier. They is something rather menacing about them but they have their own beauty. Maybe they are so weird as they have a sort of organic look to them.

We always have to go to this part of the Island, right down to the sea at the southern tip. It has tremendous pull on us and this trip was no exception

It has gully's and hidden beaches. I wouldn't even be able to say how many times I've been here. 1000's and now the boys too. It's a nice place to pass on as special

The lsland showing all the colours and variations in this picture

I rather like this road and South Barrule looming ahead

Onto sunny Ramsey

The harbour is rather jolly and of course the swing bridge

The Mooragh Park was looking particularly lovely this day

and I found more Hydrangeas, this time with a visitor

Just glorious

Don't fall in !!!! Look at that reflection across the boating lake

They have these exercise machines all the way round that boating lake, lots of fun. Keep going Louie!!!

Rather arty shot of the lake and end of the day

This was my last shot of the Island and land left behind. This is actually the most southerly point. It was hard to leave it this time, to uncertain new beginings far away.

But I found on the other side of the biggest pond that being the Atlantic Ocean, that there were interesting things below as we found land on the other side

Even patch work fields

and Islands....so lots to see. I hope to capture some of the new lands next time.