The Isle of Man

I arrived back on the Island yesterday evening after a few days in Scotland. Currently enjoying a capuccino in an Internet cafe in the harbour of Douglas. My home town is still recognisably the same, although there have been many changes since I moved away 35 years ago. Looking out into the old harbour – when I was growing up, the harbour would be full of fishing boats; now it is full of pleasure boats and yachts.

 

I’m spending this morning walking round the town with my camera, recording changes and capturing images of things that will perhaps on my next visit be no more. However, it’s also good to see some things being restored and preserved. For example, on Douglas Head, overlooking the harbour, there is the Great Union Camera Obscura. For years, it was closed and had fallen into disrepair. But now it is restored to its former glory. It may well be unique in Camera Obscuras that are operational today by the virtue of having eleven lens systems displaying an almost circular panorama onto the eleven table screens inside. As a child I often went into it to gaze in wonder at the living scenes glowing on the tables. I’m glad it’s back in operation – even if the fact that now it is only open at weekends means that I won’t be able to visit it this time.