A Walk in the Park...

[curiouswombat]

Life is busy, but not noteworthy at the minute. Work is busy, then in the evenings I am writing my Plot without Porn story - but keeping it until the proper weekend in August to post. I have been revising Ten Year After and posting it over at Twisting the Hellmouth - but there is no point in putting it here, as it was on my journal to start with. (Anyone interested in a re-read, I haven't changed the story much, but tidied it up - each edit is actually done on the original journal entry first as well - so the TtH version is now at chapter 16, and up to Chapter 16 in Memories is probably a better read than it was 5 years ago, too!)

All in all I haven't been doing much to warrant updating my journal... sorry!

Anyway - yesterday was the Church outing; I wasn't all that fussed about going, as it was to the Mooragh Park in Ramsey - and we go to Ramsey with my Mum at least once a fortnight. However, we don't go through the park that often - and as the Sunday School Leader I really did have to go...

Well - we had a lovely afternoon and I thoroughly enjoyed the laziness, the surroundings and the sunshine.

There are pictures of the children, and some of the adults, enjoying themselves on the church website - I updated it last night. But under the cut are pictures of the park itself - it really is a lovely spot -



The centre point of the park is a large lake, with paths around it, play areas, a couple of cafés, and beautiful planting. It belongs to the town, and is kept in wonderful condition by the local council.







Those hanging baskets are outside the cafe where we had lunch together.

I spent a little time sitting quietly in the Sensory Garden, reading my book -






Others were energetic or lazy as the mood took them - here is slightly-goth-niece and her boyfriend - one being lazy, one energetic...



These are two of my friends from church being energetic, too -



There are bowling greens and putting greens -



The usual municipal planting - this one celebrates 60 years of the local WI (Women's Institute)-



Sometimes we shoot canoeists...



Really the cannon is in the middle of a crazy putting course!

The palm trees (well, cordylines really...) are all in flower or fruit at the moment -





Finally - some things never change. When I was small we spent many happy hours fishing for tiddlers in the Mooragh lake. When D-d was small I introduced her to the joy of the past-time, although she was never a big fan. Yesterday we introduced some of the church children to the same thing - and it kept the boys in particular busy for at least a couple of hours...





Today in church was the 'Anniversary' service - always led by the children - our theme was 'Praise' and we had a lovely time with poems, psalms, percussion instruments - goodness knows what the lovely Korean couple who had simply 'dropped in' thought of it - but I hope they enjoyed it!

D-d and I went out for lunch in town and then went shopping together - clothes, shoes and the like were purchased, and it was really good to spend some time together.

And now, I'm up to date, and will be back hard at work again in the morning!

Comments

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

That looks like a fine place to sit with a book!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It really is - I probably should go more often - it's not really that out of my way, sometimes.

[artykat.livejournal.com]

It looks absolutely wonderful for reading! Good for the soul and the spirit!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Sorry - I managed to miss this comment...

The whole park really is good for the soul.

Also - I love that icon - what a fascinating door.

[artykat.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I thought so, too!

Is it toooooo late to do the WILD thing? (oo that sounds strange!)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

WILD - please do go and post - just put a note on to say the moderator said it was OK.

[jay-of-lasgalen.livejournal.com]

It looks like you had a lovely day! (I had to work ...)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Poor Jay. It really was a lovely day - much better weather than I expected, and I really enjoyed pottering around the park.

[clodia-metelli.livejournal.com]

That does look like a wonderful park. I love the crazy golf cannon pointed at the canoes!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

That was one of those pictures that just cries out to be taken!

[shirebound]

That's a truly gorgeous park.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It really is - and it's one of those places that I know so well that I don't go as often as I should, if you know what I mean.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It is - and, like many things, I tend not to appreciate it as much as I should because it is so much a part of my childhood.

[diachrony.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes we shoot canoeists" - LOL!

Beautiful place & beautiful pictures!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That picture with the cannon and the canoes really cried out to be taken!

[artykat.livejournal.com]

I thought your comment was hysterical!

[ukamikanasi.livejournal.com]

What a pretty park!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I think it is the nicest one on the island - I should visit it more than I do.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

What a lovely park!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I realised that I haven't been there for ages - and I think it's because Mum can't walk there easily any more. So when we go to Ramsey we don't stop off for tea in the park the way we used to.

I should get in the habit of going more often, again.

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

what a pretty park, and what a lovely summer day!

And you shouldn't shoot canoes. you should save the canon balls for jet-skis. :D

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

you should save the canon balls for jet-skis.

Fair point!

[jerusha]

Gorgeous pictures! It looks like a lovely park. And I'm so glad you could spend time with your daughter. Shopping with my mom is one of my favorite things.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The park is one of those places I ought to go to more often. D-d's been home from her holiday in Italy for about a week - she has a placement at a local law firm starting this morning. Hence the need for a new handbag and spare, smart but comfortable, shoes!

edited because the original reply was meant to be to someone else's comment but I missed!!

[vilajunkie.livejournal.com]

Hooray! D-d is home! (If you mentioned her homecoming in a recent post, I must have missed it. I was on vacation without computer or internet access since Friday.)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Hope you had a nice vacation. D-d's been home for about a week - she had a holiday in Italy before coming home for a placement at a local law firm. I hope to be allowed to post a few of her pictures here sometime this week.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful park! The flowers are lovely and it looks so warm and sunny. Perfect day for reading a book.

I had to laugh to myself at one point during my trip--I was riding the Metro in Washington DC and there was some sort of bigshot business man sitting behind me, talking overly loudly to his companion about, of all things, the Isle of Man. Having gotten to know the Isle a bit through your LJ, I had a hard time not turning around and setting him straight when he described it as somewhere no one would ever want to see as it's always cold and rainy there. It was very hard not to turn around and tell him he didn't know beans about it, especially when my daughter, who also sees your photos, leaned over and said, "He should see your friend's pictures!"

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It was lovely - about 20C (68F) which is nice and warm for us. I was re-reading the Fellowship of the ring, Moria, in those lovely surroundings; I was a good deal warmer than the characters!

As for the business man - hmm - there are some people we can well do without! Although, I have to admit, it rained quite a bit yesterday and is just starting to dry up now...

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful place and I never knew you had palm trees.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I think it is the nicest park on the island - and somewhere I should go more often, really.

The trees are the same type of cordylines as the palms down in Cornwall - someone obviously introduced them at some time, but they have been part of our landscape for as long as I can remember, and a good deal longer I would guess.

[momflower.livejournal.com]

Oh, that park is like something out of a dream! I want to live where you live! What a gorgeous place it seems to be! Is the cost of living very high there? Thanks for sharing the pictures!
How deep is the water where the boys are standing? it made me a little nervous, lol.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The cost of living is not a lot different to that in the British mainland, or Ireland or wherever - housing is expensive compared with the US, on average, though.

The lake slopes down to about five or six feet deep - but the boys had an adult with them all the time, and there are a good number of life-belts around the edges of the lake, too!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

What a lovely park!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I seem to have missed a while lot of comments to this post - the Mooragh is a lovely place to spend time, although it being a sunny day was a distinct advantage.

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

What a lovely park! And so much to see and do.

Is the cannon functional? When the government donated an ancient army tank to the city, it was placed on the corner of a busy street. It made passersby nervous, so we had to end up plugging the barrel!

I love how your outings include the youngest and the oldest. It seems, so often, that outings are compartmentalized, taking only one age group. So much is missed out on that way.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I seem to have missed some comments to this post - sorry!

The cannon is totally not functional - I'm not sure it has ever been a functional cannon to be honest.

The age range really is one of the joys of church days out - and the way that all the adults keep an eye on all the children and take an interest in what they are doing.

[modillian.livejournal.com]

Such good pictures! I especially like the arrangement commemorating the 60 year anniversary. You seem to have had such a nice time. :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It was a lovely day. Good job it was last week though - we were up in Ramsey again yesterday and it was grey with occasional drizzle, which wouldn't have been half so good!

[melegyrn.livejournal.com]

Just trying to catch myself up...

I can imagine how wonderful it would be to sit in the Sensory Garden. Btw, the Council is to be commended at keeping the park looking so nice. Wish I could say the same happens here. Unfortunate, as the city is short of money and people tend to be rather destructive. A "not nice" aspect of this city.

Anyway, I had a good laugh over the cannon.

The fifth photo is my favorite. I could just sit there forever....errrr...stare at it forever!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

That small corner, turned into a Sensory Garden, was an inspired idea. It was suggested by a local charity, and the local council agreed as long as the charity, and others, would help plan and plant it - which they did. It really is a place to sit, and sit, and sit a bit longer.

The local council regard the Mooragh as the jewel in the crown, so to speak - and it does bring people to the town. Something I didn't take pictures of on this trip, is the BMX track just outside the main park, on the land between the park and the shore - just recently joined by a skate-board park.

When we went by, on the way to my Mum's, yesterday we noticed it was a 'working party day' on the BMX track - parents and kids all there tidying, rebuilding some of the jumps and so on. So the council can concentrate on the formal park - the users look after the less formal bits!

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

All the pics are lovely, of course, but I love #2. Something about the angle of the frondy things makes it look as if they've shot out a spray of daisies. Very cool.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Thank you - and yes, it does look rather like a daisy star-burst!

[artykat.livejournal.com]

I love this icon, wombat! Pretty!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The icon came from a set of pictures I took of poppies a few weeks ago. Drive past the spot now and you would never guess there had ever been poppies there.