THE BIG BLUE

Le Grand Bleu, Qui?

Skywatch

Bonsoir a tous mes amis Skywatching


No I haven't moved Ramsey to France. It's not the French Riviera. That is still the big beautiful Queens Promenade Beach, the view looking across to England, not France. It did put me in mind of the film(click),"Le Grand Bleu" and what we do have here in the way of sport other than the Isle of Man TT, scuba diving. Yes you read that right scuba diving.



Now I've never been myself, but others have and by all accounts it's a terrific experience. We do get basking sharks and dolphins( mythical mermaids rarely) around the Isle but not exactly getting a suntan on the beach. However if you set sail get the binoculars out or go scuba diving you will get a close up view. Seals are a little braver. You do happen upon them along some of the harbour entrances looking for fish. Peel particularly where they quite often come to have a nosey at you. They do tend to pose too for the camera (click) "Seal in Peel" to see what I mean. One day I hope to show you the (click) Ben Varrey, the ship but the naughty Mermaid of the island. Well you know what mermaids are like. Never around when you have the camera.



Short and sweet my sweeties tonight.

Skywatch watchers can be found here. Many thanks to Dot for the inspirational idea, Tom looking for scarecrows, for the first care taking and the My world gang for looking after skywatch now.

BEN VARREY - FISHY MERMAID TALE!

My World
Ben Varrey in Ramsey Harbour

Recently I stopped by one of my regular blog stops only to find the Ben Varrey, the ship above was docked in their harbour in Barrow. I had noticed it had left Ramsey Harbour but no idea where it had gone so thank you Enitharmon for posting the ship. Where though does the Ben Varrey get it's very unusual name? Back to the island myth and legend.


Ben Varrey is the Manx(Manx is the language of the the Isle Of Man) name for a Mermaid. Ben Varrey was a bit of a naughty mermaid. A beautiful mermaid she used to lure sailors to their death around the Isle of Man by the ususal method of the siren's song in the pursuit, whereupon the Ben Varrey would collect her shiny jewels and any more form the shipwrecks. Naughty mermaid!


I did look for Ben Varrey, but I couldn't see her. Instead I give you the cargo ship that is named after her and owned by The Ramsey Steam Ship Company. The Red Cross you see is the companies symbol. The Ben Varrey is a working ship, as Ramsey is still a working harbour. It's a cargo ship carrying mainly grain and bale around the Irish Sea and near Continenent trade. No jewels though, which is perhaps why it's namesake the Ben Varrey, mermaid doesn't bother with her, no precious shiny jewels.


Like to see the Ben Varrey in Barrow click the HERE.


For more my entries click MY WORLD and thank the skywatch gang once again for another inspired idea.