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View Full Version : Where's Rappy?


Rapatwork
10-17-2006, 03:18 PM
Some of you will know I'm having a little time off work. I'm actually in the Isle of Man right now. A can of Red Bull, a two am ferry trip, and a doze at a quiet spot of the island later, I'm in my B&B room and ready to share the wealth.

That's right - Uncle Rapscallion has been playing with his camera.

First of all, I went straight from the ferry to a quiet spot I know of overlooking the Calf of Man - this is a small island (also a protected nature reserve) just off the southern coast. I intended to watch the sun come up, but managed a bit of a doze. I ended up peering into the water to see faces peering back at me.

All links are at least a Mb in size - broadband recommended...

What are you looking at? (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/seals.jpg)

Some video. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/seals.mpg)

I'm not religious, but I can appreciate good church (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/church.jpg) archictecture when I see it.

Later on, I wandered over to see Peel Castle. The short version is that this has been developed over the centuries, and I was going on a walkaround with one of those handset things. There were some really nifty things, though.

I got to go onto the top of that watchtower! (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/watchtower.jpg)

Inside it. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/insidetower.jpg)

Something for Tech Angel (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/cannons.jpg)

Something for everyone. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/buildings.jpg)

A stall that sellls really poor quality burgers just outside Peel Castle. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/crapburgers.jpg)

At least they had a funny sign. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/customeramusing.jpg)

After that, though, I wandered over to see the Laxey Wheel (also known as Lady Isabella). Now, this fellow is extraordinary. The Victorians built something that was capable of shifting 20,000 gallons of water from over 2,000 feet underground, and that made it look incredible!

One shot (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/isabellaside.jpg)

Another shot. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/isabellaside2.jpg)

What those photos don't do is tell you just how high it is.

My vertigo started to kick in. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/highup.jpg)

She's tiny! Why are my legs trembling! (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/highup2.jpg)

I'd not seen it in action before, and I was astounded by just how fast it went around. Have some grainy clip action (tm) to brighten your day.

First bit. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/wheelturn.mpg)

Second bit. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/wheelturn2.mpg)

More when I can be bothered!

Rapscallion

Spiffy McMoron
10-17-2006, 05:01 PM
At least they had a funny sign. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/customeramusing.jpg)

I assume that you handled out some business cards to the employees? :roll:

Great pics, and I hope that you have a great vacation. Quick question, though-why is the Laxey Wheel also known as Lady Isabella? It doesn't look particularly feminine...

Rapatwork
10-17-2006, 05:05 PM
Named after the wife of the Governor of the time. It's in Laxey and the biggest wheel they had (they had loads, next largest was about fifty feet tall), but named after her due to some grovelling bumlicker, I assume.

I did mention this site to a customer of ours I visited today. Very nice people. I think I mentioned the site to those in the kiosk, but it was in passing.

Rapscallion

Rapatwork
10-17-2006, 06:34 PM
More from the day's wanderings.

You'll have to tilt your head a few times - live it it.

One for those who like military history. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/monument.jpg)

The actual message. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/inscript.jpg) I thought this was a nice gesture.

I want one bigger than this. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/notyet.jpg)

Want to see some etchings? (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/etchings.jpg)

Seriously, these are some nifty etchings. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/etchings2.jpg)

I was tempted to do a brass rubbing of these (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/etchings3.jpg)

Run out of potential double-entendres, so just look at what you can do with a chisel. (http://www.customerssuck.com/media/etchings4.jpg)

Rapscallion