Douglas walks continue. Always interestingly.

First up, the urban walks. Still voyages of discovery for me, as I never knew Douglas that well when I lived on the Island, even though I went to school here:







But there are also walks with a distinctly rural character that can be done right from our doorstep. The Lhergy Cripperty walk, for example, looks very different from when we first did it back in March:






Another very pleasant route into town goes via Summerhill Glen. I hadn't walked here since my childhood, when summer evenings would see it lit up in fairytale fashion. It's now billed as a fairy haven within the conurbation.

I'm not sure about the folklore interpretations... Growing up, I was always told that Manx "little people" didn't like to be referred to as "fairies", and it wasn't a good idea to refer to them directly at all. "Themselves" or the "li'l fellas" were the favoured designations in many a story I read. Nor were they tiny and gossamer-winged.

A.W. Moore's 1891 description is probably the origin of what I grew up with:

"They are supposed to be like human beings in form and feature, though very much smaller and more delicately constructed. At a distance they seem to be handsome, but on closer inspection they are often found to be decrepit and withered. They are usually represented - as being clad in blue or green, with red peaked caps. They live in green hill sides, more especially affecting the ancient tumuli. Any one straying near these on a fine summer's evening would probably hear delightful music; but he must take care, especially if he is a musician, not to linger lest he should be entrapped. Sometimes, too, they may be seen playing like children, or dancing, the rings seen on the grass being caused by this; at. other times feasting. They hunt, being for the most part very furious riders. They are partly human and partly spiritual in their nature, and are visible to men only when they choose. Some of them are benevolent, curing men of diseases and delivering them from misfortune. Others are malevolent, stealing children, even abducting grown people, and bringing misfortune...

"The good Fairies are, fortunately, more powerful than the bad, and will enable those who are considerate in their behaviour to them to prevail over the latter. It is, therefore, very desirable to keep on good terms with them, and to propitiate them by taking care not to wound their feelings; with this view, they are called 'the little people,' or 'the good people,' the word Fairy being never mentioned, as they are supposed not to like it."

Be that as it may, Summerhill Glen is delightful. It's a tiny, narrow strip of land, and yet you feel you are a long way from the bustle of Douglas:











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In general, this is an extraordinarily flowery place...







Meanwhile, there's our own garden to keep an eye on:




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And there's food. I don't post much in the food line these days. We mostly eat at home, and I'm too busy getting stuff on plates to think about photographing it.

A hit lately, though, has been a range of chilled soups, enhanced by Isle of Man Creamery buttermilk. So far we've had beetroot and tomato; carrot and apple; zucchini and pear; spinach; eggplant and chickpea; and cauliflower. But no photographic record.


What we did remember to record were the following:



So there we are, that's a slice of our Douglas life... Nothing to complain of, all things considered.