MANANNAN'S CLOAK

RAMSEY DAILY PHOTO
BABOOSHKA

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 show 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.

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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!

THE TALE OF THE MODDEY DOO MYHTICAL DOG, THE MODDEY DHOO MOTORCYCLE CLUB AND A KNOXVILLE GIRL

What is this all about then? Six degrees of separation that's what. How confusing is the title? I suppose I had better explain. Are you sitting comfortably, then I'll begin.

KNOXVILLE GIRL sent me and email about a couple she met called Marie and Dave in Knoxville. They just happen to be from the good' ole Isle of Man, and get this they know acquaintances of our very own cdp KNOXVILLE GIRL. .They are also the founders of the infamous MODDEY DHOO MCC .Well known around the island and in biking circles worldwide and by all accounts a rip roaring bunch of biking folks. Where else would you find this lot but on the Isle of Man, the home of the TT Road Races. The aims of the club are.

1 - To enjoy all aspects of motorbiking in the company of like minded people

2 - To attend and organise social functions as a group

3 - To help other members in any way possible

4 - To have a bloody good time

Now you can't argue with that philosophy can you now.

So where does the name come from, and the slightly different spelling. Ah, that would be the tale of the mythical Moddey Doo black dog. Read on.

During the reign of Charles II of England and Charles, Earl of Derby, king of Mann, Peel Castle was guarded by soldiers. The guard-room was just inside the entrance gate of the castle and a passage used to lead from it, through one of the old churches, to the Captain of the Guard's room. At days one of the soldiers locked the castle gates and carried the keys through the dark passage to the captain, in turns daily. The soldiers began to notice, sometimes in one room, sometimes in another, a big Black Dog with rough curly hair. He did not belong to any person there, and nobody knew anything about him. But every night when the candles were lighted in the guardroom and the fire was burning bright, he would come from the dark passage and lay himself down by the hearth. He made no sound, but lay there till dawn, and then he would get up and disappear into the passage. The soldiers were terrified of him at first, but after a time they were used to the sight of him and lost their, fear, though they still looked on him as something otherworldy. While he was in the room the men were quiet and sober, and no bad words were spoken. When the hour came to carry the keys to the captain, two of them would always go together.

One night,one foolish soldier had drunk more than was good for him, and he began to brag and that he was not afraid of the dog. It was not his turn to take the keys, but to show how brave he was he said that he would take them alone, daring the dog to follow him.

'Let him come,' he shouted, laughing; 'I'll see whether he be dog or devil!'

His friends were terrified and tried to hold him back, but he snatched up the keys and went out into the passage.

The Black Dog slowly got up from before the fire and followed him.

There was a dead silence in the guardroom-no sound was heard but the dashing of the waves on the steep rocks of the Castle Islet.

After a few minutes, there came from the dark passage the most awful and unearthly screams and howls, but not a soldier dared to move to see what was going on. They looked at each other in horror. Presently they heard steps, and the soldier came back into the room. His face was ashen and twisted with fear. He spoke not a word, then or afterwards. In three days he was dead and nobody ever knew what had happened to him that fearful night.

The Black Dog, (Moddey Doo) has never been seen again!

The image is one that Gary quickly drew for me for the blog. Again you will see varied spellings but you get the Manx drift. There are many black dog myths around the world, and this is ours. Hound of The Baskervilles sound familiar? Also quoted in Sir Walter Scott's "Lay of the Minstrel"

Quote,

For he was speechless, ghastly, wan

Like him of whom the Story ran

Who spoke the spectre hound in Man."

So there you go, from black cats, to black dogs thanks to KNOXVILLE GIRL . Now if I can just find the escaped wallaby and a manx fairy I'd have the full set.

ABC WEDNESDAY- C IS FOR CELEBRITY CARTOON, VICTORIA BECKHAM, BY MY CELEBRITY ,CARTOONIST ,COHABITOR

Enough C's for you .

Celebrity Cartoon, By Celebrity, Cartoonist/Caricaturist and my Cohabitor


No, Victoria Beckham, Posh Spice isn't in Ramsey, but she has been lying on my living room floor for the last few hours. Figuratively speaking that is, on paper. Gary is now doing David Beckham as I type this up. It was quite interesting watching her taking shape. What starts as a rough sketch of disjointed lines, a puzzle you can't fathom suddenly takes shape when the inner eyes are drawn, the pout, those sucked in cheeks or the flick of the hair.

What's really exciting though is seeing the Political cartoons take shape. Being privy to an editorial cartoon lampooning the Government for the BBC. Not being able to tell anyone what Gary is working on until it appears , knowing the controversy they will cause. Believe me photography is easy compared to this line of work, as many of you artisits out there will know.

So that's my C, a bevy of them. Thanks to NEW YORK, MING and his Serendipity post for giving me the idea for today's post.

Check these links for more of Gary's work. Please tell him to tidy his workstation up too, namely my floor. I need to hoover again and I wouldn't want David Beckham to me sucked up into the Dyson.

BARKER BITES BACK!
BARKER GALLERY BBC
CLOUDED YELLOW

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