Snow Joke

After days of warning that Friday would see a massive snow "event" in the Isle of Man, it all came to nothing. Sure there's been some in the hills but that's to be expected and few areas have had a dusting but for most of us Friday was just another breezy day.

                                                   Snow in happier times.


As I wasn't snowed in I took a stroll along Strand Street looking for signs of the retail malaise that is meant to be blighting high streets up and down the UK. I didn't notice much apart from around The Strand Centre which hosts the majority of empty shops in Douglas. I don't think holding an urban dance demonstration on a Saturday morning is going to bring thronging crowds in. HMV had a healthy crowd of browsers, no doubt some like me hoping for a liquidation bargain. I didn't see much although the Quentin Tarantino box set for £12 was good value. What I did notice is quite a few people from work going about their retail thing. It was pay day yesterday after all.

On a lighter note today I used both poultry shears and a meat cleaver. Quite pleased with myself for that. I now have a nicely quartered chicken.

The Best of Days

I've left it a little late to look back at 2012 but I'll crack on anyway.

The day or weekend that I look back at and still get a smile on my face is 3-5 August. The track cycling at the Olympic Games was still taking place. My boss allowed me to leave early so I could get home in time to watch the men's team pursuit. Included in the team was local lad Peter Kennaugh. I was home in time for the the semi final in which Denmark were brushed aside. That left the Australians to beat in the final. Naturally gold was secured. It's always good to beat the Ozzies at anything. 

Action from the Velodrome.

With  gold secured it was time for tea. A quick trip to the Terrace Chippy would provide my with the nourishment I would need for the hike planned for the next day.    

I was up early on the Saturday as I like to have a bit of a fry up before heading off. I also got up for another reason. No one on the Radio 5 breakfast show could pronounce Kennaugh. I was forced to tweet in with a some what successful attempt to get them on track. I've already covered the hike in a previous blog . From a dull start it turned into a glorious summer's day. One of the few we had in 2012. 

Once back in Douglas the sole survivor of the party and me retired to the Rovers to take on essential liquids. A few of these and a catch up on what gins and bourbons were currently cutting the mustard and it was time for home. Olympics on the tv. What an evening. Gold for Ennis, Rutherford and Farah. The medals kept rolling that evening. Did I mention the weather?

 The next day I was round to my mum's for a Sunday roast dinner. Is there a better meal when it's done well. After that there was just time to view this:

                                                       

Gold, always believe in your soul.