SKYWATCH - THE UNBALANCED MANXMAN

Click to enlarge.

No fiery sunsets this week. It's been pretty dull grey and wet. Today( about 4pm in case you saw me) we had a slightly blue sky a little flash of sun through clouds a light breeze and and camera. I have been on the hunt for weeks for the Isle of Man flag to be flying in full to show you and today it was. Also a chance to play around with angles. Wanted the flag full on and the lamppost to cut from corner to corner, just to break up the sky. This was the second shot. The sun flash on the first was too garish. Why photoshop, when you can just take another shot.

A Manxman is a resident of the Isle of Man. It's also the name of an old black and white silent Alfred Hitchcock film he made prior to moving Hollywood.

The Manxman

The Manxman is a 1929 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Based on a romantic novel by Hall Caine, the director began work on the film just two weeks after the birth of his daughter, Patricia Hitchcock. This was the last silent film Hitchcock directed before he made the transition to sound.

The film tells the story of two childhood friends, a poor fisherman, Pete Quilliam (Carl Brisson), and a lawyer, Philip Christian (Malcolm Keen). Pete is in love with Kate (Anny Ondra), but when her father, Old Caesar (Randie Ayrton), refuses to consent to their marriage, Pete sets off for Africa to make his fortune, asking Philip to take care of Kate until he returns.

In his absence, Kate and Philip fall in love. When news reaches them that Pete was killed, they begin planning their lives together, as Philip prepares to assume the position of Deemster, the island's chief magistrate. The news is false however, and Pete returns to the island a wealthy man. Old Caesar agrees to let Kate marry him, and neither she nor Philip have it in them to break Pete's heart. As the wedding party proceeds in an old mill, Old Caesar sternly warns the newlyweds to remember how serious the vows of marriage are.

Kate is still in love with Philip. Shortly after a daughter is born, she decides to leave Pete, leaving him both the child and a note saying that she loves another man. However, Philip is about to become the Deemster and is unwilling to give up his career for her. Frustrated, she returns to Pete to take the baby, telling him that he is not the father, but he refuses to believe her or hand the child over. Distraught, Kate leaves and attempts to commit suicide by throwing herself off the quay, a crime on the Isle of Man.

Kate is brought to trial on the first day that Philip serves as Deemster. He is reluctant to sentence her, and when Pete appears in the courtroom to plead for his wife, he agrees to hand her over to him. Kate refuses to go, and Old Caesar, who is watching, gets up and condemns Philip for being the "other man". Philip admits this and leaves the court.

In the final scene, Philip and Kate prepare to leave the Isle of Man and come to Pete's house to pick up the baby. In a shot reminiscent of the theater, Kate picks up the child, while Philip and Pete stand at opposite ends of the room. She brings the child over to Pete to say one last goodbye, and he breaks down, having lost everything. Philip and Kate leave the cottage to the jeers of the villagers, who have been watching the scene.

I dedicate this post to all the unbalanced Manxman, and many more who think I should stop the blog. What good have you done for the island lately?

If you want to participate in skywatch see the new blog we have, SKYWATCH
Only genuine skywatchers need apply. None of your advertising for sales sites please. This is for enthusiasts only and hosted by Jane & Tom of the fabulous WIGGERS WORLD

Ps. Does anyone know anthing about a site called feedage as it it a good idea to have a rss feed for your blog? I am on feedage but I didn't add myself.

SYWATCH FRIDAY - SNAEFELL A VIKING MOUNTAIN

Snaefell is the tallest mountain on the Isle Of Man, and again named by our Viking friends. In the photo it's the middle mountain, the one with the TV masts on. It's in perspective, ie far away and this is the view from Ramsey. Below is the Wiki link with the stats, links, and view of the railway tram which takes you to the summit should you not want to walk that far.

It is true on a very, very clear day you can see the UK, the sea below, and the heavens above. A great place to survey the Island as the Vikings would have seen it. It also takes on a very magical spooky feeling when a fog or mist descends. I took this view with the Barrule peeking through on the left and on the right the start of Skyhill so you would see how the Vikings would have viewed it from Ramsey free of modern housing and shops and business premises. I can see all this from my house either front or back. Therefore I am always under the shadow of the Vikings.

If you want to particpate in skywatch see Jane & Tom at WIGGERS WORLD.
Only genuine skywatchers need apply. None of your advertising for sales sites please. This is for enthusiasts only and hosted by Jane & Tom of the fabulous WIGGERS WORLD

SKYWATCH FRIDAY- QUEENS PROMENADE

This is not the image I originally wanted to upload but my poor laptop has a faulty cable and died on me earlier. Unfortunately my new photographs are on there, so I have had to use an older one from a back up disc and borrow my partners laptop to upload and publish the Skywatch post. Had to publish earlier than usual as he needs the laptop back sharpish as he's on a deadline for the BBC to get his cartoon in for friday. Fun and games. So aplogises in advance for not responding to emails and comments as frequently as usual. Hopefully we should be a 2 pc household by next week, and there's always he local library pc's if all else fails.


Thanks for the emails re the orchid I couldn't identify. The answer may have been found, as it looks very likely it's a Heath Spotted Orchid. Thanks for the orchid name goes to Dragonstar
who kindly left the information in the comments section yesterday, you're a star.

The image is looking onto the jetty from Queens Promenade, Ramsey not to far from the pier I posted earlier in the week.

If you want to particpate in skywatch see Tom at WIGGERS WORLD.
Only genuine skywatchers need apply. None of your advertising for sales sites please. This is for enthusiasts only and hosted by Tom of the fabulous WIGGERS WORLD

SKYWATCH FRIDAY - STORMY WEATHER

Despite the blue skies we've had here in Ramsey and the Isle of Man in general, I still find myself photographing storm clouds. Image taken outside Shoprite, supermarket. You can imagine the looks I received when I pointed the camera to the heavens and began snapping, especially when framing the image to include the cute lampost no one else is remotely interested in.

Since participating in Skywatch I have noticed how the light changes around the world. Here it's definately opaque and dense. Grey, purple hues are the norm. When the sky is blue, it's a rich deep hue. The sunsets vibrant oranges to vivid reds. Whatever the colour, it's always appears treacle like and opaque. Some Skywatchers seem to have a soft clear liquid light, usually pastel pinks and blues in tones, almost fluid such as Louis La Vache's SAN FRANSICO BAY
Looking at the big sky for skywatch around the world is certainly never dull.

If you want to particpate in skywatch see Tom at WIGGERS WORLD.
Only genuine skywatchers need apply. None of your advertising for sales sites please. This is for enthusiasts only and hosted by Tom of the fabulous WIGGERS WORLD