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 The Isle of Man in a quirky place. We have our Manx Fairies who live under Fairy Bridge. We have words you can't say like, rats - we say longtails, because it's bad luck. We have a language called Manx, which derived from gutteral Irish/Celtic, with the odd Viking word thrown in. We have our own currency. We are part of the British Isles, a Crown Dependency, but not part of the UK. I could go on. One of the strangest sights of all though are the palm trees. I mentioned to Laurie GLIMPSES OFSOUTH PASADENA that we have palm trees on this funny little island sat in the middle of the Irish Sea after viewing hers. Now in a warm climate you'd obviously expect them, but here? It's cold, damp, we even had snow this week. Hot sunny days are few, very few, yet these palms above thrive, mainly tree lined walkway though the park, but these above are adjacent to the harbour inlet. I snapped just the palm tops and kept the chimney pots and telephone wires in so you can place the palms in context of the island setting, which is certainly not South Pasadena. Obviously this was also on one of our brighter days. Thanks for all the suggestions for online photo printing. Home printing as suggested by GABRIOLA, SNAPPER would be ideal, but logistically it's getting the right quality paper on the island as online ordering also has it's pitfalls on a small island. Delivery charges astronomical, or even getting companies to deliver in the first place. I'm sure I'll sort something it's just I was very happy with my last company withrange of products, price, turnaround and paper until they ahem, improved things. No you didn't Photobox, that's why you've losing your professional clients.
 ABC - O is for oystercatchers. If you are inland you may never of heard of this bird, or sub specices of bird. A common sight around Ramsey Harbour, and the Promenade and a wonderful sight to see in flight, with the white underbelly, and black overwing. The oystercatchers are a group of waders; they form the family Haematopodidae, which has a single genus, Haematopus. They are found on coasts worldwide apart from the polar regions and some tropical regions of Africa and South East Asia. The exception to this is the Eurasian Oystercatcher and the South Island Oystercatcher, both of which breed inland, far inland in some cases. In the past there has been a great deal of confusion as to the species limits, with discrete populations of all black oystercatchers being afforded specific status but pied oystercatchers being considered one single species. So is this a bird you know or is it a bird you have only ever seen virtually? I was not at all familiar with this bird until I first moved to a coastal setting. Now I am so used to seeing these birds patrol the pebbled shores and sandy beaches of Ramsey, or passing overhead that they are as familiar to be as the garden sparrow. I am currently offline a lot this week due to having find alternative printing arrangements for my photos. I am definitely going to try Red Bubble, but I'm still looking for somewhere on line that will do reliable prints at a reasonable price over a range of products as I was before. I want my images to still be affordable in varied forms, and don't want anyone being ripped off. So if you know of a reliable print sales site, good quality at prices you would consider paying let me know. It is impossible to get this done on the island. Thanks in advance. Want to join ABC got the lovely hostess with the mostest, MRS NESBITT'S PLACE
 Skywatch - Ramsey Harbour SunsetEver heard of Fletcher Christian? As a special request to laxeylass a recap of the old tale, and a promise of a Laxey pic next week. Please someone remind if one doesn' t appear. Fletcher Christian. Now there's name synonymous with all things mutinous and apparently Manx, that is the Isle of Man. Ooh er. How exciting! Fletcher Christian was born In Cumberland in England, however he was related to The Christians of Miltown Ramsey. So explodes the first myth he was a Manxman. Afraid not! His family though did at one time, including the man himself, seek refuge in Ramsey to escape bad debts in England. As we all know Fletcher Christian( Marlon Brando to me) instigated the Mutiny on the Bounty (more Isle of Man/Bounty links for another time) settled with a load of mutineers on the Isle of Pitcairn(many Manxmen amongst them) and then it all gets a bit hazy. In other words here starts the myth and fact nightmare. Always the way with the Island. John Adams the last surviving mutineer gave several accounts of Fletcher's whereabouts, changing his story several times. Fletcher had committed suicide, he was killed by Pitcairn natives, or he escaped back to England, an onto the the Isle of Man. The poet Wordsworth was distantly related to Fletcher Christian by marriage. It is rumoured that Wordsworth and Christian met in Bristol and Fletcher recounted details of the mutiny to him. Subsequently the Rhyme Of The Ancient Mariner was written by fellow poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and rumour has it, the Ancient Mariner was Christian himself. The reason was the poem bore uncanny details to certain events of the mutiny and time there after that were never for public consumption. The date or place of Christian's death is still unknown. No remains have ever been found. Could he in fact of died on the island, with his Miltown Ramsey relatives? Who knows, but it's a great tale either way. The Bounty has many Isle of Man links, which will keep for another post. Just think, on Pitcairn though, there are lots of little Manx descendants. Get around don't we! To go with the tale a Pitcairn sky, well a Pitcairn coloured sky over Ramsey, Isle of Man. Sometimes taking an image underexposed and failing light intensifies the colours much better. Gary has designed his new website. Take a peek, if you can, at GARY BARKER ILLUSTRATION as I will be designing the same template for my new photography site and wondered how easy on the eye, and to navigate you find it. To join skywatch go to SKYWATCHThe concept was Dot's, the next host WIGGERS WORLD the guardians of skywatch now are Tom, Imac and Sandy
 It's Skywatch Friday again and that means it's going to be Ramsey Harbour and Ramsey Swing Bridge for me this week. As they say if it isn't broke don't fix it, so what else should I bring you after a black and white shot yesterday but a pretty sunset for skywatch. It's taken on the same day as last week, only at a slightly different time an further over to the right. It will soon be too dark and cold for me to take these shots so I am making the most of them before it's cold wet and even more miserable than the already horrid summer we had this year. I expect I will be showing you dramatic cloud shots soon. Also I've been confined to the house with the flu thingy and it's been a week of archive images. Today though I have been out and about meeting a very sweet black cat who posed nicely, photographing empty shops(don't ask) a few other little quirky little manx oddities and cranes. Lots of cranes. Why cranes? Well Gary is workiing on a project that involves cranes. He's also working on another hush hush project that involves a cinematic icon likeness and a well known phrase. It's all cloak and dagger isn't it, but I can't reveal more as yet. For a sneak peak you can catch his latest art work at BARKER BITES BACK! and drop a word or two. Scarlet, tune in tomorrow for neme and some of you some blog awards. To join skywatch go to SKYWATCHThe concept was Dot's, the next host WIGGERS WORLD the guardians of skywatch now are Tom, Imac and Sandy
 Ramsey Harbour Sunset. Got to post an archive tonight. Still having a sort out of images and this is one from my little Olympus point and shoot. The colours are really intensified as it was quite late when I took this and the camera hasn't quite got the best setting for the evening light and colours. That's why they are a little too rich, especially the purple tones for me . It's a very popular image though as it's so vivid, so who am I too argue. with the buying public. Tends to be used as a postcard. Wonder if they write wish you were here on it? The bridge in the background is Ramsey Swing Bridge. Another reason for posting this was for those that had asked for a bridge shot in full view. So that's it in the distance, under the setting sun. Next week I will show the bridge in full but closer. I won't include this in my 1 00 shots as it's too far away. Now for something completely different! Have I ever told you about the escaped wallaby. No? Well it was supposed to have escaped from the wildlife park years back. There have been sighting of it along with flying pigs and white elephants of course. Really though, the wallaby has been seen crossing the Mountain road, leaving Ramsey so I thought I might try and track it down. I know it 's not a Yeti or the Loch Ness Monster but we are a small island and a wallaby isn't to be snifffed at. Don't forget we have Manx fairies too. Honest. They sprinkle the colours into the sunset. To join skywatch go to SKYWATCHThe concept was Dot's, the next host WIGGERS WORLD the guardians of skywatch now are Tom, Imac and Sandy
 ABC WEDNESDAY - H IS FOR RAMSEY HARBOUR. Last minute post. This is Ramsey Harbour, the working end as I call it. Not often you see it like this empty. Always boats moored obscuring the the view of the quayside. The solitary boat, serendipity and the buoy just bobbed into shot. A very dreary day so it went straight to monochrome. One thing about a grey day is you already have plenty of greyscale tones so they convert to B&W painlessly. Don't overdo the contrast. You end up with no shadow details and a harsh flat white. The colours tones should blend not fight each other. What I like about this area and why I've tried to capture it boat free is it refers back to what I was saying the other day about dating a place by it's skyline not ground level. From the modern (well not that modern) flats to the mix of houses, pub and business premises in front you can see a timeline developing. I've covered this in two posts before but Radio Caroline, Pirate radio station, was moored here and The Euterpe, or Star of India, tall ship was actually built here. A blog search will lead you to those posts. It' a bit mad here at the moment. Gary has to do five drawing this week, instead of one. Can't go into details, but if you're in the UK, Sunday BBC1 Politics show. Watch or record. All I can say for now and no Gary will not be on it's the pics, but I can't say anymore. Sad news today. Another British Pier has burnt down. What's really sad about this one is it's Fleetwood Pier, Gary's old hometown and where friends and relatives still live. Who said insurance job. The thought has occurred. Seems to be happening to a lot of properties in the UK at the moment. Want to join ABC got the lovely hostess with the mostest, MRS NESBITT'S PLACE
 Oh dear, that title! Looks more like an Abc Wednesday than a toned down Tuesday. I am having a clear out of images at the moment. There gets to a stage where you have to take stock and rethink the image library. Is it selling, have I put it for sale, can it be used on a project or campaign etc. The main question is why haven't I used it. Sometimes I simply forget and file away say 100 sunsets for a rainy day on a disc just as back up. Mostly though they are gathering virtual dust because they aren't right. This is one such image. I have better versions of it that are in the sales market. So why this would be no use for me? The horizon isn't straight, it dips slightly on the right. The sun has too much of a white glare. The top corner edges are a little pink, not in keeping with the golden tones. The boats are neither silhouetted or showing enough detail, sought of caught in the middle. Overall it's a "nice" snapshot, but it's not viable for sale. Not for me anyway. I could use software to alter it but you would lose on one hand to gain on another and the image isn't worth it. It would still be not quite right. So what to do with it? Well I found a use for it here. Purely an exercise in being brutal with your images if you are considering trying your hand at selling them. As this blog is primarily about Ramsey I am happy can make blog use of it here. It shows another view of Ramsey Harbour from an alternative area, at a different time of day. In essence, what the daily photo is all about. A snapshot of the area I live, titled in the blog. So normally this image would be dumped, but it has escaped the axe as it's probably more in keeping with the nature of the blog than most images I've shown. Should I show more snapshots, or should I show finer work? My best never go on here anyway. It isn't a photography blog, but it is hard to pull back and not show images that I am 100% happy with. So I put the question to you. Should I show more that I wouldn't sell and tell you what's wrong with them, as photographic tips or show the finer more creative work? Apologises for answering no emails today. The internet has been a nightmare. My poor partner has had an ordeal with his own artwork uploads and I have crashed most sites.
 The image today is strictly for me. Purely selfish I know, but Ramsey has been under torrential rainfall for over a week now. Just wanted to remind myself what a blue sky day looked like. Ooh look it looks like that (insert your own adjective) image above. I know it could have a contender, you know a waterfront image for skywatch, but well my needs to see a touristy image today are greater. The Sulby River as we have mentioned before is one of those lovely viking names they left their mark with on the island. I know this upsets a few Manxies out there, but you know some you of you are viking stock you can't deny it. Anyway the Sulby. It's the largest river in the Isle Of Man. Starting at the hills of Tholt y will, through, Sulby Glen and Village, through deep and shallow, pooling into waterfalls, past Lezayre, Ramsey, into the harbour, and into the Irish sea. It's apparently good for salmon fishing when it's been as wet as this. Well yippe for those fisherman but bad news for me. My walkway down by the riverbanks is under water at the moment. Teckie bit. Manual, Wide angled lens, zoom full ISO 200 Sunny F4 Ah wasn't that nice! So for posting such a pretty, yummy shot of Ramsey with sensible(almost) writing you do know I will have to post an ugly Ramsey pic soon. All in the name of balance of course.
 A couple of weeks ago I posted the black and white version of this image. Blue and purple light on the monochrome image are quite pronounced as a stream of white light. This is the image as shot. For the monochrome I simply used photoshop " desaturate" to strip the colours from the image. Again it's just been re sized for the blog. You will notice I shoot a lot over, near, by or onto water. It's because it's so reflective and can really enhance tones and hues. The colours are reflections from the harbour boatyard. Also shooting towards the sun helped to elongate the magenta light onto the gravel. These two swans were again a fortuitous shot. I had been snapping away at one of the elusive cormorants. It just wasn't happening. Cormorants are shorebirds with dark feathers, almost black, but on closer inspection you see green, blue and purple when the light hits. Very poor light and basically the wrong lens for the distance meant time call it a day. I Always take the opportunity to take a few spontaneous shots on these days. I had noted the swans were about to pass near to the better light, the reflection, and as they are white knew they would make up for the cormorant. The magenta light onto the gravel I like purely as it's unbalanced for the shot. Again I could of cropped just for the swans, but personally I'm just a sucker for purple. As some people really don't get my humour I have gone for a very straightforward post with a smattering of photography tips, without the patronising tone of you could never take this shot. On the contrary. It demonstrates that there are some days when you just can't get the shot you want, but if you improvise, know one will ever know. Well not unless you're me and you shoot and tell. For more camera critters see MISTY DAWN Camera critters.
 RAMSEY HARBOUR - WORKING BOATS AT RESTBY BABOOSHKASo can you see the longtail? Think it might help to enlarge the image? Afraid not! Why is that then Babooshka? It's because there are no longtails in the image. They are probably scurrying under foot and over the bridge, following the Pied Piper! You think Babooshka has her fairy tales mixed up don't you? Well not if you live on the Isle of Man! Longtails are better known as Rats. One of the first things you learn when you move here is do not say the word Rat or Rats out loud. There are other words, but this is today's mad one. Straight from Wiki. Read on. On the Isle of Man, longtail is a euphemism to describe a rat, as a relatively modern superstition has arisen that it is considered bad luck to mention this word. The origins of this superstition date to sea-taboos, where certain words and practices were not allowed to be mentioned aboard ship, for fear of attracting bad luck (or worse, bad weather). Although this particular sea-taboo was one amongst many and didn't apply on land, it has become a popular modern myth that the word is somehow "unlucky" and has been adopted by some as a typical Manx practice, despite the fact that the old Manx had no qualms in using the word, or its Manx gaelic version "roddan". In modern times, even non-local and non-superstitious people will refrain from using the "r" word in an effort to fit in with those who take it seriously, or may adopt the superstition in an attempt to become more "folksy". Local, and socially acceptable alternatives for the superstitious also include joey, ringie, queerfella, iron fella and roddan (a Manx word). Until I moved to the island I used to say the R. word. Not anymore. I have seen 3 since I moved here( which I have called all Basil!) but none when I lived on mainland Great Britain. Newcomers to the island can often be found laughing at the cheeky squirrel they nickname stumpy as they think it's lost it's tail. Not so. We have no squirrels on the island, just cheeky longtails. Is there anything in your town that you can't say due to superstition?
 TO THOSE NAUGHTY PEOPLE WHO PINCH IMAGES. HANDS OFF, IT'S WATERMARKED, IT'S LOW RESOLUTION, IT'S MINE. YOU WANT THE REAL DEAL BIG HIGH RES IMAGE YOU ASK PERMISSION, YOU PAY. GET THE PICTURE!
Ramsey Swing Bridge No 6( I am not a number I am a free bridge! Apologises to fans of the prisoner, including me. Babooshka is feeling like No 6 today!) For those that don't know Blah, Blah!, photographing the Bridge 1 OO times. Don't ask why or see an earlier post. I live in Ramsey, it's something to do. I have cabin fever living on an island. Someone said I couldn't show so many different views. Anyway, Here we go again. Same bridge, but here's the (yawn) reason it's called the Swing Bridge, it er swings out to allow boats and ships with taller masts to pass through the harbour. No way dude! How cool is that. Exciting isn't it. SCHWING! I seriously need a break if I am quoting Wayne's World. Oh yes some really interesting photo stuff. As jennifer Aniston would say, here's the Science bit. Manual setting again, wide angled lens, F4, ISO 200. Um let me see anything else. I shoot all images in Raw, Big files, and convert to Tif or jpeg later and re size. Oh I'm bored with all the technical stuff, but I did promise I'd do this more often. Oh yes I cropped a smidgen of the bottom of the pic for balance, otherwise no sharpening, brightening or colour change. Best tip, think before you alter colours. Over saturated images loose, shadows and detail. Leave natural when you can. Can I stop now? Re yesterday's funky, groovy psychedelic skywatch pic( see post below.) Why you should never shoot into the sun with a naked lens. One you can damage the lens and secondly, more importantly your eyesight. Told you it was a naughty shot, and that was why. So what little gem of a tip would you like to pass on photography wise that you have discovered?
 I know it's a really bad pun but I couldn't resist it. Ramsey Harbour, Birds File 5 Having a sort out of the photos and came across this one hiding amongst Birds file 5. As it's been a pretty bad week for birds and animals around Ramsey, and atrocious weather, I went for a reliable image. I like these kind of shots. Best left as they were taken. As you can see it was grey light day but his dramatic entrance really livened things up . To the person who commented "do I always have a camera with me," in the main yes, and this kind of shot is why. You can't plan these they just happen and are best left as taken. I'm still looking for the escaped wallaby from the wildlife park, but no luck. It could be a myth of course but apparently there have been some reliable sighting. No seriously, there is an escaped wallaby roaming the hills outside Ramsey. Possibly with the Loch Ness Monster, a flying pig and a pink elephant entering the local pub. Sounds like a bad joke! For more camera critters see MISTY DAWN Camera critters.
 I hadn't realised until yesterday that today was not only the usual Friday Skywatch, but also August Theme Day - Metal. Doh! So I decided to combine the two with this one from a dawn shoot of Ramsey Swing Bridge. I take hundreds of images a week of this transporter bridge, and every time it's different. In fact my intitial post was a full length shot of the bridge on a very, very dull day. It did have the backdrop of the mountains though. Today is Daily City Photo Bloggers' Theme Day: Metal Click here to view thumbnails for all participantsOr click on individual cities listed below Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Baruch, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Brantford (ON), Canada by Nancy, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chesapeake (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Cincinnati, USA by Erik Laursen, City of the Blue Mountains, Australia by Richard, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Edmonton (AL), Canada by , Evry, France by Olivier, Folkestone, UK by Piskie, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Gabriola, Canada by Snapper, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Hanoi, Vietnam by Jérôme, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by 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USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Stephanie Craig, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Pretoria, South Africa by Sam-Ruth, Quezon City, Philippines 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 Whilst undertaking further research about Ramsey Harbour and it's past I happened upon many a quirky tale. One, I am really hoping to post sometime, but I want to separate the myth, legend and fact. History remember isn't always what actually happened but who committed it to paper. Ramsey Harbour still is a working harbour, though not the grand shipbuilding harbour of yesteryear. I've mentioned previously of The Star Of India known as the Euterpe as the most famous ship built here but not of The Jane. Mid 19 th century Ramsey it seems led the way in shipbuilding. The first ship designed to carry bulk oil, commonly known as an oil tanker was built at this very harbour and name "The Jane." Apparently The Jane transported oil around various places of which the only one I have found named is Philadelphia in 1853. Again I find out a cute little story and find the trail ends abruptly. No photos or even many write ups about this once famous oil tanker. I put a sepia tint on one of harbour images to again set the tone of the post. So why the interest to me? The other Jane of Ramsey is the author of this blog. So it must be destiny to continue the blog after all. Has the trail ever run cold on your town research?
 It happened one night! What I'm not quite sure but , one minute I was fine the next I felt like I 'd been kicked in the stomach by a mule and then being held in a vice grip. Now it was it was either, the curry, a bug, or what I suspect the booze. Not to much, I hasten to add, but the pipes not being cleaned properly. Put it this way next time I'm in a certain pub, I 'll play it safe and have spirits. Anyway, we had to cut short the night out but not before I simply had to take some photos. I just couldn't resist the light. I know not very sensible but maybe it was because I was feeling a little delirious that I started to see the most wonderful shadows, shapes and lines. The colours seemed particularly golden too. So after about50 photos later we finally went home. As for Ramsey Rocks well I do have some, but the night was shorter than planned and so was the photography. So the moral of the tale is well I'm not sure really. I 'll let you be the judge. Would I have noticed the golden tones? Would I have decided I simply had to photograph on bended knee through the boat masts. Not sensible in a skirt and killer heel boots may I add. Would I have even noticed those lines if I hadn't been bent double in pain and so low to the ground? Who knows? So was it worth it? So, what lengths have you gone to get a shot, and were the results worth it?
 This is the world famous Nightlife. Ok, it's not at all world famous (or even infamous), more island famous. It's Ramsey's one and only nightclub, imaginatively entitled Nightlife. It also has alternative names locally of "fightlife" and er another name, not for a family blog. Just substitute a letter with a "sh" and I believe you will arrive at it's other not so pretty alternative name. This is where when the pubs close, you will find the local wildlife after hours dancing round their handbags , spilling beer, falling over and having a fab time in this building right along the harbour. It's also where the world famous Patrick Swayze was found to be dirty dancing, not putting anyone's baby in the corner when he was filming "Keeping Mom" a couple of years back. Patrick by the way described the island and the people as magical. What he thought of Nightlife has never been recorded, or if it has disclosed. I'm sure he thought it was magical too. Ahem! Of course it has done nothing but rain here, with the odd dry spell. Typical! Ramsey Week and the camera isn't witnessing much action of it. Putting a few bits and pieces together and will plod on and get the locals somehow. Awards time. I have been given 3 lots of awards recently so it's a bout time I dished them out. I recieved this one twice. First one was from Quin at LENSES AND VISIONS called Arte Y Pico award.   1. You have to pick five blogs that you consider ‘deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and which contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language they are in’. 2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone. 3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given him/her the award itself. 4. The award winner and the one who has given the prize has to show the Arte y Pico blog so that everyone will know the origin of the award. 5. To show these rules.
So first five today are,
365 BRETT TRAFFORDBIBI BELGRADEGENEVADUSTY LENSKNOXVILLEJust copy and paste the rules above, copy and paste the pic award above quin on the right, go pick your five. 
 The sea is normally calmer than this around Ramsey Promenade, but today it was a on the choppy side. I took a few just for stock/wallpaper and thought I'd use one for a fellow blogger. It's been a tough week for a few bloggers out there for one reason and another, but one especially has had it just that bit harder than most. Being caught between a rock and a hard place is just about how her emotions are at the moment, and like the sea today awash with the blues. No names, no pact drill, just to say it's rough at the moment, but the the tide will turn around and the way to blue, will be bryter later(intentional spelling, re Nick Drake.) Going off at a complete tangent about older posts. When I put a piece together I do my resaearch. One of my earliest posts featured a piece of artwork that I could have been graffiti could have been artwork. I posted the pic and asked the question which did the reader think it was. I drew a blank on the image, which has subsequently been painted over and put the post to bed. Thanks to MANNANANS CLOAK , I now know about the piece in question. It was indeed artwork. Here's the messgae I received. " Anyway the picture in question was taken in Douglas of a wall painting which now you say has sadly been painted over. Great piccie by the way as they always, are but I know the artist, Well not so much know the artist as my wife knows her. G, my wife is 99.9% certain that it was painted by her friend Sheena Graham-George who used to be a resident of the island. In fact she lived in Ramsey off North Shore Road but left to live in the Orkneys a few years back. G got to know Sheena as when we first came to live in this fantastic place she didn't work and instead went to art classes where Sheena was the teacher. Anyway thought you'd like to know.....Cheers"So thank you MANNANANS CLOAK for taking the time and trouble to let me know about this. It had bugged me that no one could even allude to who had created the work. I will try and follow this lead up aswell as I do have another image from the same place. At least it's now been documented by myself and hopefully others out there. Have you ever had a post that someone has contacted you about to fill in the blanks for you?
 Radio Caroline was an illegal "Pirate Radio Station" born in the 60's that used to broadcast offshore from several ships and international waters off the UK. When researching Ramsey Harbour I discovered, to my surprise, that one of these broadcast locations was Ramsey Bay, just off the Harbour. Radio Caroline was founded by Irish music industry business man Ronan O'Rahilly in 1964, it 's first broadcast was 28TH march 1964 was from the ship Fredericia. The station( and remaned ship) were named after Caroline Kennedy, J.F.K's daughter after O'Rahilly read an article about the family whilst buying supplies in Dallas. Radio Caroline merged with another Pirate Radio Station, Atlanta in 1968 and The Fredericia moved to Ramsey Bay, broadcasting as Radio Caroline North. A celebration of It's 4oth Radio Broadcast from the island is to be held later in the year in Ramsey. Radio Caroline has had many incarnations and still exists today. With the advent fo BBC Radio One and later Commercial Radio the need for Pirate Radio Stations subsided. Caroline therefore is no longer docked in Ramsey, but for a short time The Isle Of Man, and Ramsey itself played it's part in the formation of the of the current radio structure we have now. Isn't it plesantly surprising what you find out about the place you live in when you undertake the City Daily Photo. What have you discovered about your place I wonder?
 I've taken this image several times and each time I show someone they always ask the same questions. What country is that in, and what are they? When I tell them it's actually here, the Isle of Man, in fact the road along Ramsey Harbour Inlet, they always look at me bemused. They always assume it's an image from countries as diverse as North America to India, not a city, but a small town you pass through on the local bus. They are just telephone wires, along Ramsey Harbour Inlet. Something we pass daily, use daily, and don't give a second thought to. Maybe I notice these parts of my town beacuse I am a photographer, just mooching for an innocuous object to capture. Maybe I'm just plain curious. I wonder then what do you notice in your hometown that goes without a second glance each day?
 Out and about again early. Not a soul around to photograph so one of Ramsey Harbour and quay looking out to sea. Ramsey,the East side of the island is the place for sunrises over the sea, and Peel on the west is best for sunsets over the sea. We have very mediterranean sunset in the Summer, that's when it's not raining. Yesterday was the lsle Of Man's first smoke free in public/work places day. A year later than the UK, but the ban is now in place. No verdict on how the islands smokers will take this, but the cafes seemed just as busy at lunchtimes, minus the ashtrays of course.
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The Isle of Man in a quirky place. We have our Manx Fairies who live under Fairy Bridge. We have words you can't say like, rats - we say longtails, because it's bad luck. We have a language called Manx, which derived from gutteral Irish/Celtic, with the odd Viking word thrown in. We have our own currency. We are part of the British Isles, a Crown Dependency, but not part of the UK. I could go on. One of the strangest sights of all though are the palm trees.
