Car Wash

A new experience for me today.

We attended a funeral service this morning in Douglas, then drove down to Port Erin for a lunch get together with the friends and family of the deceased.  The widow of our friend wanted it to be an uplifting, pleasant occasion and so it turned out. There were many funny stories of our friend from everyone there and lots of shared, happy memories.

On the way back, P said that we needed to fill the car with petrol, plus, as he had been given a voucher at our local petrol station for a free car wash, we would use the one in Port Erin.

Well, I have to admit that in all my 63 years, I have never been through an automated car wash before today.

As we arrived, a rather large BMW 4X4 nipped in front of us and drove onto the car wash ramp. The driver then got out and went to buy his ticket. (We had already exchanged our voucher for a ticket before driving round to the car wash).  He returned to his vehicle, punched in the code to get the machine started then moved his car up to the "Start" position. Once the machine started up, we were surprised to see him open his door and get out.  The act of opening his door appeared to trigger a sensor that stopped the machine from running. The driver didn't notice and went back into the service station shop. We waited for a while then P said he had better go in and tell him that nothing was happening with his car and we were waiting!

He came out and got back into his car and a garage employee also came out and had to reset the machine as it had stalled.

We then had fun watching the driver make several attempts to reposition his vehicle on the ramp in order for the wash cycle to restart.

Eventually he got it started and then it was our turn.

It was strange being inside the car with the water jets and brushes moving backwards then forwards over our car. Looking out of the side window it sometimes seemed that we were moving and I had to check that the handbrake was still applied, much to P's disgust.

When we arrived home I took a quick look at the car and noticed that there were still a few mucky bits. 

I am glad that we hadn't paid for that!

Clocks

On Sunday evening we were invited to a friend's house for her birthday celebration meal.

Although we have known this couple for ages, and socialised with them on many occasions it was the first time that I had been inside their house.

They live in a lovely old traditional Manx stone cottage, with a huge inglenook fireplace and lots of intriguing nooks and crannies. 

One of the rooms leading off from the dining room has been converted into the Clock Room.  Her husband has a passion for repairing and restoring clocks and over the years has amassed an eclectic collection of beautiful and interesting clocks of all types.  (I counted at least 10 Grandfather clocks dotted around the house).

He showed me around the impressive collection  displayed in the Clock Room.  When I asked him how many he had in there he thought for a moment and said, probably around 200.   

When I asked my friend how long it had taken her husband to change all his clocks back an hour for the weekend, she said that he had started on Friday!

Now, that is a passion.

(It seemed too intrusive to ask to take a photograph, so this is just a photo copied from the web...)

South Barrule

 This morning's walk was through the plantation at the South Barrule Forest Park, as we thought that would be more sheltered from today's gusty winds.  It was a lovely sunny morning but certainly breezy!

We met at our usual spot at the car park in the village of St Johns and one of our group then drove three of us up to the Forest Park car park, as there is limited parking space so one car would be better than four.  The fifth member of our group was already there waiting so we set off straight away.

The plantation is named for the nearby hill, South Barrule, one of the most prominent of the Island’s southern hills. The word Barrule comes from Wardfell, the hill of the ward or watch where men were stationed, day and night to watch for invading ships.

It was a reasonably flat walk through the trees but quite muddy in places after our recent heavy rain.

The plantation is very popular with walkers, mountain bikers, dog walkers and horse riders so it was quite busy there today, being a sunny Sunday.

After our hour and half walk we returned to the car park and enjoyed coffee and cake at the Coffee Cottage before the drive back to St Johns to pick up our cars.

Our friend who offered to drive us there and back made quick work of the journey;  as an experienced rally driver she doesn't hang about.  I found that I was gripping the edge of my seat most of the way.

Time for a rest this afternoon before joining our friends for dinner later to celebrate a birthday.

Enough excitement for one weekend.

Too Good To Last

This summer an airbridge was introduced between our island and Guernsey, as both nations were COVID free and had similar entry and quarantine restrictions in place. The airbridge meant that residents could travel freely between the two islands on a direct flight without the need to self isolate at either end.

Today it was announced that this airbridge has had to be suspended as there are now seven active cases in Guernsey's community, amongst residents who have not recently travelled off-island. This means that is is likely that someone else has brought the virus in with them and probably not followed the isolation rules, thereby introducing it into the local community

There are currently emergency plans being drawn up to safely bring back our residents who have recently flown to Guernsey for the half term holiday. They will all be required to self isolate for 14 days on their return.

At the brief press conference announcing this news,  our Chief Minister advised that he is currently quite unwell, as are several other ministers, although he says this is only "man flu" and not COVID. He caught the virus earlier in the year and says that he still has antibodies according to his latest blood test.

I hope that there are no more instances here, similar to the one reported in the local news last week, of  a young man who arrived back here on the ferry from the UK and, instead of self isolating, walked with a group of mates across town to McDonalds . He says he forgot that he was supposed to be isolating. He is now resting in prison.

Muppets

 This morning I was volunteering at the gift shop so P went to visit a friend, to take him a newspaper, have a chat and fix his smoke alarm.

They are both gentlemen of a certain age, of slightly irascible temperament and not used to holding back their opinions.

The friend's wife calls them Waldorf and Statler...