It is one of those days of childhood spent gazing out of the window at the rain. The interminable rain. We never stop being kids so the reference to childhood is valid. On this occasion we will not be playing Monopoly to while away the time. Firstly there are only two of us. Me and THG. Then we don’t have a Monopoly set with us and I’m not driving to Douglas to see if I can buy one. No way Jose. Not even sure I could source one in Douglas anyway.
There is bugger all in Douglas nowadays. Very poor compared with somewhere like St Helier in Jersey, a comparable island tax haven. When we were over last summer there was a cruise ship in town. I remember seeing some of the somewhat ancient passengers wandering around. Their mistake being to opt for a walk around Douglas as opposed to a coach trip to somewhere more interesting like Peel or Laxey. Or Castletown or the Sound or a trip up Snaefell. Or the Point of Ayre.
On the occasion of this wet morning a full Manx is called for. This is the same as a full English/Welsh/Irish/wherever except the ingredients are definitely locally sourced. All except the baked beans, I imagine but that exception might possibly apply to any of the above referenced repasts. Where do they make baked beans?
Wigan. They are made in Wigan. I just looked. Couldn’t leave that one hanging. The haricot beans are however imported from North America so even in a full English the baked beans are arguably not English. Also the bacon is probs Danish if you bought it from a supermarket. Full of water and white preservative crap.
Anyway mine will be a full Manx with a hint of American grown beans finished and tinned in Wigan. Definitely not American bacon @Huw.
Ordinarily I don’t mind the rain. However when all I have to see through is my pair of prescription sunglasses the lower light levels that rain causes makes it more of a strain to see. The problem is when I type on the laptop I need my specs as the writing on the screen is otherwise a blur.
If I was a caveman I’d be dead by now. Savaged by a sabre tooth tiger I didn’t see lying waiting in that long grass. Ug.
It is appropriate to take your time when preparing breakfast when on holiday. At oh eight thirty five I have consumed the remaining half a cup of grapefruit segments and am sipping a black cawfee prepared by THG herself. The main event has not yet started.
All is well.
…
The weather has definitely made a turn for the worse. Sea conditions deteriorating. We are on an island here. Fenland Beach Is deserted with only two other cars in the car park. Hardy souls out walking. I see one person sat in his car enjoying the scene. The sound of rain on the car roof.
En route I passed a bloke in a superman tshirt and black shorts carrying a large black umbrella. Then a party of very young schoolchildren in hi viz jackets trooping in single file along the quayside past Deveraux’ kipper shop.
THG and I have changed our return boat to Heysham on Friday instead of Liverpool on Saturday. I fully expect the Liverpool boat to be cancelled. Winds are forecast to be over 40mph gusting to over 60. The revised sailing is an hour later at oh eight fifteen and therefore slightly more bearable. Also we have a large cabin with double bed and balcony. Somehow don’t think it will be balcony weather.
Whatever might be written about it the rain is very calming.
At the breakwater nothing stirs. There is usually someone upon the wall. Nobody sat outside the cafe. It is a sun trap when there is sun. I can’t even see if it is open. Must be.
Peel promenade edges the beach across the water. No sign of movement although my vision is very much impaired by the blurry windscreen.
Someone in black waterproofs has appeared from a truck on the quay and is hauling a catch up in an orange plastic bucket from the fishing boat down below. No idea what it is. I’ll brave the rain and go and have a look. It wasn’t fish. It was his lunchbox and other such items. There was a guy down below stowing ropes and cleaning dredging equipment. Chains. Anzac of Ramsey. They have both now departed in the truck.
The Anzac is moored next to Peel lifeboat, normally kept safely in the boathouse. It seems to have been moored at the quayside since We got here last Friday. The engine is running and someone is onboard. Brew on the go, studying charts and waiting for the call.
The caff was open as was the fish bar at the end of the prom next to the swing bridge taking you to Fenella. Very slow day.
No parking spots anywhere near the House of Manannan museum. I want to buy a book by my old PE teacher Brian King. Mr King. In the end took the disabled spot in front of the entrance. Only took me a couple of mins to nip in and buy the book. Inside I realized why there were no parking spots available. Everyone had driven and was in the House of Mannanan cafe.
The new arrangement on the quay is not good though. Double yellows everywhere. The three free spots In front of the Creek have vanished. They were quite handy for nipping down for a swift couple.
Back at the end of the prom the slate green sea looks uninviting. Time to go home and read my book.