I keep mentioning the Isle of Man....Ellan Vannin in Manx Gaelic.....and various place names , so for those who are not too sure where it is, what it is and how big it is , here goes. Briefly, it is an island, approx. 30 x 10 miles in size , very mountainous and the geographic centre of the British Isles and plumb in the middle of the Irish Sea . It is a self governing , Crown dependency with its own language, currency and laws and is not part of the UK. It has the longest , continuously running Parliament in the world, originally set up by the Vikings when they invaded the Island and settled here 1000 years ago.
The present population of approx. 80,000 [ about half Manx born and the remainder made up from an influx of new residents over the years ] seems large but as the Island has to raise every penny it spends, this is understandable.. Income tax is comparatively low with a free Health Service for all, this being paid for by a small deduction from wage earners during their working life. Though tourism was a main source of income for years , this has lessened in recent times and now the Island is an Off Shore Financial Centre which generates about 30% of the Islands total income .
I could go on all day about the Island's history, folklore , haunted castles, it's many myths and stories but I think this is enough for the time being . Maybe another time !
Another picture , this time from Peel Hill looking South down the West Coast towards Bradda Head with the Calf of Man in the far distance. As Peel lies mid way along the West Coast you can see that the Isle of Man is not such a very large place and as I have said so often before....drive too far and you fall into the sea .! Peel, as we know it today, started of as a jumble of old fishermen's cottages and twisty, narrow streets built on a sand spit alongside Peel's river, the Neb . Dating from late 18 th Century, most of these old houses are still standing , indeed all are renovated with all mod cons. Peel is built on sand, in fact the whole area is sand. Want some? Dig down a foot or so in your back garden and there it is ! Most of old Peel is built of the local red sandstone. [see earlier photo in this blog ] but it doesn't weather very well so all buildings are cement rendered.. The Cathedral is built also of the red sandstone, but of a harder variety which erodes less and the whole Church glows pink in the setting sun .... History lesson over !!! Double click on the picture to enlarge.
Just a few more pictures going back, well, quite a few years .. The single line railway track, on which my son is 'playing at trains ' has now gone and is now the Heritage Trail between Peel and Douglas.....the path I cycle along. I like my mother's outfit in the horse picture [ this was when she still lived on the farm ] .....you never know, that style may make a come back .!! My Grandparent's photo, outside the little hill farm where they all lived .........well, obviously it was all planned....kids are in their Sunday best and the photographer must have come up from the nearest town...probably Castletown . As stated on the picture , three of the kids eventually left the Island to settle in Topeka Ks. along with Wilfred, the youngest, yet to be born. I know some of those who may view this blog, that this will be of no interest to them whatsoever, but there will be some family members , here and in the US, who may like to read my little stories.
As I add more items to this account, earlier posts drop off the bottom and go into an ' older posts ' file. Just click 'older posts ' at the bottom of this page and that file will open . Also , if anyone wishes to, they can enlarge any photo by double clicking on it . And if any one would like to leave a comment on any of the posts, please feel free to do so.....no rude ones please....lol
Weather here today....warm , a bit close [ humid ] and a warm sea breeze.. I must admit, as some of you know , I don't like the warm weather, I would rather shiver than sweat.....and it plays havoc with my hay fever,...I sniffle and sneeze and wheeze all summer long.
Anyway , to all my faithful viewers, keep logging in ....you never know what fascinating, interesting and unforgettable snippets of information you may find here ......lol !
And if Ron and Elaine should read this blog, well, hope you and your family are all well over there ....and what do you think of Katie now? [ video ].
