In Search of Tranquility

The Telegraph has come out with their list of Britain’s Most Tranquil Places and there at number six is the Isle of Man, a fact that they chose to illustrate with a rather disappointing photograph of the Calf Sound:

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That image really doesn’t do it justice. Some of the other photos on the slideshow (link above) are very pretty though.

But looking at the rest of the list, remoteness and simplicity is key for inclusion. That’s something that we can almost take for granted in South Africa, but the UK is packed and there are far fewer places where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of normal daily life.

Interestingly, it appears that I have lived in both the quietest (Oxford) and noisiest (Newcastle) cities in Britain. Being generally of average volume, I’m not sure that I did anything to contribute to either of those achievements. Plus, I haven’t lived there for 10 years, anyway.

The Isle of Man is also home to:

the largest concentration of Dark Sky sites in Britain. Dark Sky Discovery Network announced in 2014 that the island has a total of 26 designated “Dark Sky Discovery Sites”.

Again, we’re spoiled for this in SA, once you’re anywhere outside the big cities. The difference and detail that one can see in the night sky between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas is a good case in point. It’s not quite that simple in the UK, as generally, once you’re a sufficient distance from one city, you’re generally approaching another.

So, where are your quietest spots in SA (or wherever you are)?

Half a World Away

Not the REM song, but an interesting thought as the UK and the Isle of Man face flooding, while my biggest problem is burning my feet on the way to the fridge to get another beer:
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As you can see, it’s another gorgeous day down in Agulhas, and its sad to think that we’re heading home tomorrow – just in time for Sunday’s welcome(?) rain in Cape Town.

And so to bed…

I spotted this photo by David W Lang on the Visit Isle of Man Facebook page.

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It’s the last regular Steam Locomotive of the season being put to bed in Port Erin – Purt Chiarn in Manx – for the winter (Special Events not withstanding). The steam railway on the Island is not just a tourist thing though, it supplements the bus service and is especially well used by commuters during the TT Races.

I’m pretty sure that this steam engine is the CH Wood, which transfixed my little boy back in July 2009 (bigger here):

I hope he has a happy hibernation.

Paul Marriott Isle of Man Photography

I’ve been stalking following Isle of Man resident and photographer Paul Marriott for a while on Facebook and he continues to produce some amazing photographs of my island.

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He has a website too, which is well worth a visit, because while the images might mean a bit more to me because I recognise the places he’s ‘togged, you should just go and enjoy some beautiful photos of a beautiful place (especially this one and this one – my particular favourites).