RAMSEY HARBOUR OR DON'T TAKE PHOTOS WHEN YOU HAVE HAD ALCOHOL!

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?

RAMSEY ROCKS OUT ON JULY 4TH

As Ramsey Week officially starts later today, I thought I'd kick things off with an archive Ramsey Rocks Pic. When I upload this post it will still be July 4th across the pond so I thought this one would go nicely with something Manx/American I have recently discovered. Not a phrase I ever thought I'd be writing on this blog!

NAMA, I mentioned in a previous post, is the North American Manx Association. Here's a little about them.

The North American Manx Association (NAMA) is a non-profit, ethnic and cultural heritage institution founded in 1928, as a successor organization to Mona's Relief Society of Cleveland, Ohio. NAMA is a group of Americans and Canadians dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of the Manx culture. Most of NAMA's 850 active members are second and third-generation North American. In the U.S., there are chapters in Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Rocky Mountain; Galva, Illinois; the Greater Washington, D.C. area; Minnesota; Nebraska; Northern California; Utah, San Diego, California; and Wisconsin.

In Canada, you will find Manx groups in Ontario; and in Vancouver, British Columbia. NAMA is interested in helping Manx in all areas get in touch with local chapters or assisting those who want to start new chapters.

NAMA publishes the quarterly NAMA Bulletin, sent to each of its enrolled members.

For those interested in their Manx forebears, NAMA has Calvin Quayle as a resident genealogist. He serves as an archivist and information-dispenser. Please contact him to find out how to submit your research findings so we can build a greater Manx family tree. Please do not contact him to do genealogical research for there are just too many of us. But he will point you in the right direction.

For more Manx genealogy, there is the Isle of Man Family History Society (IOMFHS)

Will have to check this one out in depth. Could prove to be very interesting for this parochial little blog. Any members out there, your're more than welcome to stop by and educate me.

Gary and I were due to go for a drinkies tonight, but never got there. Good job as I noticed the sky was awesome, so I dragged him (not litereally caveman style, but figurativley you understand) over the nature reserve at 10pm. Quite what the neighbours thought when I was breaking world sprint records before the light went altogether in my scruffs I don't know. I snapped until the battery went, but got loads for next weeks skywatch. We don't get skies like this often so hey , a photographer's gotta do what photographer's gotta do and a cartoonist has to accompany her, even though it set his hayfever off. Thank you Gary for indulging me, yet again.

WHAT IS RAMSEY WEEK?

Ramsey week occurs round about this time each year and is as it says, a week of events and activities dedicated to the town that bears the name of this blog. This year the dates fall from 5th July to 13th July. After the TT this will be my busiest camera time as there will be something different to photograph daily. Obviously I can't attend all events, but I'll certainly snap were cameras are welcome, not overlapping or when I can attend.

The list is subject to change but basically there are events as diverse as Lifeboat Day, vintage photographic exhibitions, coffee mornings, motorbike displays, plays, fetes, Farmer's Markets, Manx Singing competitions, Classic Car rally and much more. Ramsey Rocks is my favourite, a one nightly event of live music along the harbour, a street party. This year we are supposed to be having not only the bands, but belly dancers. Now that in Ramsey is a sight I'd like to see and most definitely photograph!

This week always tends to be a success. I think it's one of those times when the town lets it hair down and the locals show the fun side of themselves. Good news for me is I won't be the only one with a camera so I can mingle inconspicuosly amongst the revellers, looking out for some lively locals to immortalise, virtually in blogland. So ladies, gents and kiddiwinks, be on your best behaviour, smiles at the ready, I want to show the world Ramsey Rocks!