A bright and breezy day -

on the Isle of Man!

We went down to Douglas port this morning to buy a bus and rail pass, complicated slightly by the fact that there is to be a bus strike for the next two weeks but having been assured there would be a service we bought a 3 day one. The top left picture is the sea in Douglas Bay - pleased we weren't on it as we should have been today if not for Chris's error buying an overnight crossing by mistake and therefore having to change our crossing for a day earlier.

We then went for a bracing walk in the South of the island to Braaid with great views all around - down over Douglas and the Bay and across to Snaefell and the mountains in the centre of the island. We went to look at the remains of what were Celtic and Viking homesteads of the first millennium AD. There were large stones which were used to support the walls of what had been a long house and round house and also some cattle sheds. The walls would have been filled with earth and the roof made out thatch supported on wood. It was built around a natural spring and as you can see had great views over the central area of the southern Manx countryside.

The hedgerows were full of primulas, some pale pink as well as yellow, blue, white and pink bells and little wild violets.

A lovely walk to start our short break. Chris has gone off to see the bikers in the Southern Classic around Castletown, practice starts tonight and this is what he has come for. We ladies ( 3 of us) have already had some prossecco so the weekend starts here.

Have a great Bank holiday weekend UK blippers and Happy weekend to everyone else!