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.

ODD SHOTS MONDAY- BABOOSHKA AND THE SISKIN

Back to the birds. No Vikings or historical snippets about the island and it's inhabitants today I'm sorry to say. Most important thing was to rescue my photos from my laptop. If in doubt about what shot to use I can always rely on my trusty bird shots, especially for odd shots!

For the eagle- eyed( no pun intended) you can see my odd shot today is one of the mad male siskins that have a habit of flying into the patio windows. You all know the story by now, but for nubies this one was in a bad way, hopped onto my hand a stayed long enough for me to grab my camera and try out my new macro lens one handed. Eventually of course he took flight as they always do. By the way, this isn't the same as the other two siskin in the hand shots( go back and check the post) but one of about 20 I took that day for times when I need a back up shot, er like today for instance. A bird in the hand is worth more than one in the bush for me!

Can I please point out that I am not a Manx witch or fairy and I have no idea why birds do this to me as I have cast no magic spell upon the island's critters. Well actually I have but don't tell them or they will throw me off the island for not having a work permit to be a Manx witch, when there are plenty of locals who could do the job, but just to lazy to turn up for work, or qualified, but who cares they're Manx. Meooow! Fetch me a saucer of milk.

Want to join Odd Shots Monday?

Then see KATNEY

BATTERED BUT NOT BROKEN

How many of us feel like this boat? know I do at the moment. I have camera fatigue presently. I also have something called P.T.T. S. It's not serious, but it does stand for Post T.T. Syndrome. Perhaps a fit of the blues would be more apt, and less dramatic.

Since moving here 5 years ago, 5 T.T.'s have resulted in this melancholia. I love the buzz, the atmosphere, the friendly tourists and bikers. The island comes alive, good customer service occurs and the sun always shines. Reality check today. Buses late, shop service poor, weather inclement and photographers viewed with a suspicious eye. Afterall, what could you possibly want to photograph now the TT is over? Oh I don't know, maybe everyday real life for future generations to see how their ancestors lived. It just doesn't compute.

So basically I'm sifting through photos for sale re TT for just about every country in the world, apart from the one that is home. This I find depressing. It's ironic to me that this blog is largely ignored here, yet foreign magazines, musuems and tourists are after my pics and follow the blog.
I have tried to raise the profile of the Isle of Man, but it seems the island is only interested in Manx failures. If this blog folded, and I was Manx, the the island would be happy as it could blame the world for ignoring it.

Fortunately, like Tigger, me and my trusty camera will bounce back within a day ot two.

ODD SHOTS MONDAY- BIRDCAT

This is why the bird table is going to be replaced with feeding poles! How cheeky can you get? This is not one of my better photos. The colours too bright, the contrast is wrong, the horizontal crooked. I could go on. It's just one of those point and shoot efforts, more for the subject, rather than the composition. It's the first cat I've had on my soon to be dumped bird table, which to me qualifies it to be odd.

Any cat owners out there ? Do you own a act born wih no tail or have you heard of such a creature? They are called "Manx" cats and originate from here where I reside, the Isle Of Man. Another odd shot if I spy one, but not on my bird table.

Want to join Odd Shots Monday?

Then see KATNEY

Katney's Kaboodle is the place to join Odd Shots Monday and see other wierd and wonderful shots from fellow bloggers.

LAZY SUNDAY AFTERNOON

What to do in the lsle Of Man on a sunny spring day? As little as possible.

Spirng flowers are budding and blooming. The baby birds are exploring a world beyond the nest. Luckily for me that tends to be my back garden. This baby blackbird sat perched on this branch for quite some time. Obviously having no human contact before, he has no sense of fear. Soon, unfortunately, he will learn that not all humans can be trusted, and I won't have an opportunity like this again for quite some time. Not with this one anyway.

No Manx history lesson today. It's sunday, will shall take a break. We like to take our sundays at a leisurely pace here. The Manx for good evening is "Fastyr Mie," and that's what I wish you tonight.

SKYLIGHT OF RAMSEY

I took this yesterday afternoon as I knew today it would be too wet for the camera today. It's only good weather for ducks outside this friday, and even they have gone into hiding.. So a quick trip over to the nature reserve, at the back of my house, to snap this.

The Isle Of Man has (arguably, but it's claim is generally considered to be accurate) the oldest Parliament in the world, called Tynwald. The word again is Norse( as are so many relating to the island), and means meeting place or assembly. Founded in AD 979 it is definately the oldest continuous Parliament, with the 5th July, Tynwald day itself, not only a day of ceremonies at Tynwald Hill, but also a Bank Holiday for Manx residents.

Like the TT we suspiciously usually have good weather. Must be the Manx Fairy Folk working their magic.