CHAFFINCH HAS WOMAN'S ARM TRANSPLANT!

Obviously there has been no such Frankenstein type transplant. It's the chaffinch that flew into the window the other week, the one I mentioned with the siskin photo.Today is all about my barmy birds. Now, my little feathered friends I love you all dearly, you keep me sane in a mad world but, lets face it your're a bit of a nightmare aren't you?

1. Stop pooping on my washing. It's very fustrating to find your birdy dropping on my freshly washed clothes. It's not big and it's not clever!

2.Learn to share. You know there is a never ending supply, so queue in an orderly fashion, and then peck away.

3.Sort out your air traffic control. It's a window, not a drive through mcbirdies. I will not always be around(or Barker) to rescue you when you've flung yourself headlong at the window, fall onto your back and can't get onto your feet. I haven't really got 3 hours to sit with you until you come round and then run round the garden with you teaching you how to fly. Besides that, it's hard trying to explain to the neighbours, er yes it's another poorly bird, too coincidental for them.

4.Stop having mass orgies in my garden. Really, the noise. Chasing each other, groups, not practising safe sex, promiscuity. Please I'm going all "NIMBY"with you birds, Not In My BackYard.

5. Last but not least, stay bloddy still when I'm trying to photograph you, yes you mr grey pied wagtail, it's not a race, chill out.

So the pic is me and my poorly chaffinch, the one that wouldn't fly off, the one that I was running up and dwon the garden with flaping my arms to encourage him to fly. So get the tripod out, set the pic up, and click the timer.

WALLABY WATCH!

Warding off those naughty cats without bells who try and kill my pretties, my birds. It suits him working outdoors as he can have a fag anytime.

WHEN GOOD FRIDAYS TURN BAD!

It all started so well. Barker and I both off, no photography today, no cartoon for the BBC for Barker to summit this week, so we headed for the pub, The Plough, with the Flying Flynn in toe.
Hundreds of packets of crisps and several lagers( no spirits, having a spirit free day) later I discovered my beloved West Bromwich Albion, a football team I have been following since I was in the womb were playing, and it was on the pub big screen. Then it went downhill.

We drew 1-1. Bugger. Ok not a disaster,but it was a game in hand wasted. As it's Good Friday, a chippy dinner, so Barker can have his fish, and I can escape negotiating the cooker when inebriated. Then it happened. The taxi never turned up. This has happened on several occasions and today i wasn't accepting this without a fight.

So we headed on foot for home, with me on redial to the taxi firm( Island taxis to name and shame) until they answered.20 mins later some smug git answered, and he got it with both, drunken barrels. Don't upset a drunken Babooshka, it is not a pretty site. One humiliated radio controller later and I passed the phone to Barker. Having turned the controller into a gibbering wreck, Barker calmly negotiated our next move, the very next taxi we book will be a free ride. God help him if he fails to turn up, because i will be straight in the office.

Bad customer service is annoying, no service at all is intolerable. Being British. I am supposed to bite my stiff upper lip and grumble, but not complain.Well balls to that. Wake up Isle of Man services, and get with the programme. Even here we have alternatives and message to Island Taxis, I can always use Crennalls.

On a lighter note here's the pic. It's called "Still Blue", taken early evening at Mooragh Park. Photographing over water is always good because the light bounces which intensifies colours, hence the blue hue, so no need for filters. Ooh, real photography advise for a change.

WALLABY WATCH!

He nicked my taxi.

VERTICAL SKYLINE

This blog started out as a "mainly photography" blog with others items thrown in but seems to have meandered. So, here's one of my proper, arty farty, photographic images, obviously black and white and a ironic title.

No, not the Isle of Man either, ( shocked aren't you?) but Nice in France. Here's the science bit. Stood as close as i could to the foot of the building, lent back and shot at a slight incline upwards.This emphasized the vertical lines and horizontal lines that break into curves, almost gripping the buliding like hands.Or is it me that just sees that?Obviously had to be a black and white to give it that retro, but timeless feel. Hope you agree?Do you really care? Should i get back to the pretty colours and escaped Isle of Man wildlife? Answers please.

Todays link is my own stumbleupon. Do think this i great site, you can come across the most amazing sites. Try it, you'll like it!

Added a poll if you'd like to check that out too, about Amy Whinehouse, just for fun.

Todays tip, don't write anything on facebook when drunk. I have done, it sure ain't pretty.

WALLABY WATCH!

Well, a sighting. Wallaby crossing the mountain road on the approach to Ramsey. This was a fairly upstanding member of the teaching community, who wishes to remain nameless. Of course teaching is stressful and he could of just imagined wallaby. All getting a bit Donnie Darko isn't it?

The voices in my head are telling me to go and get a coffee, so bye for now.

J

LOU REED, WAITING FOR THE MAN.

We may or not have escaped wallabies, but we do have Pop Icons visiting these shores.
Here is Lou Reed, taking a " Walk on The Wild side"(sorry, couldn't resist the pun) at the Villa Marina Douglas 2006. This concert was held during the TT road races fortnight.


The other top attraction that week was Alice Cooper, which also went down well.


The Lou Reed Concert was outstanding considering all the songs bar one were unfamiliar as they were all relatively new. Shouts and requests for the obligatory "Walk on the wild side" and "Perfect day" were ignored but we were treated to "White light, white heat". The man himself may have been taciturn but the music more than made up for this.

The music scene in general is bustling and brimmimg with new and old talent, local and international, on any night in at any venue. The Villa Marina is now a mainstay on the concert circuit for established bands, with the pubs highlighting local talent.

Todays link is for my own photobox gallery, where over 30 photos of the Lou Reed concert can be found and bought along with other examples of my work.

Wallaby Watch.
No sighting today. Have you seen it? Let me know.

J.

LAXEY HEAD

Laxey Head taken from Laxey Beach late afternoon.

Laxey comes form the Norse Lac-saa meaning "salmon river."

Laxey is home to the yearly "Laxey Blues festival," which is celebrating it's 10th event this year.
For confirmation of dates and artists playing this year see the link, "Bushy's Wheel Blues Festival."

A good tip is to check out the smaller venues and pubs at the festival during the day as these tend to be free, and an ideal taster for the evening events.

MOORAGH TWIGHLIGHT

Photo today is entitled "Mooragh Twighlight."Image taken at Mooragh Park, Ramsey Isle of Man on a warm summer evening. An unusual tree that just had to be photographed.

The Isle of Man is home to the oldest motorcycle road races, known as the TT(Tourist Trophey) which celebrated it's 100 years in 2007.

DAILY PHOTO -- WHITE ON BLACK

I will be displaying a photo daily
This is entitled "White On Black"

Todays news. Did you know Burt Reynolds is filming in the Isle Of Man?

HELLO FROM THE ISLE OF MAN

Hi All,

Welcome to my blog where i will be displaying my Isle of Man pics, news, updates, photography tips, a photo a day,links to other sites etc you may find interesting.

J