Simon Campbell
Musings from an eclectic, eccentric, well travelled and generally funny bloke
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Posted at 0917 hours on 20/09/09 | Posted in Life
Reasons why I love the Isle of Man
There are many reasons why I love the Isle of Man. I have already covered a little about the music scene and of course the diving. But here are four, more eclectic reasons…
The posties
We do receive a lot of post: Most of it connected with Erskine Design, diving or guitar bits and pieces.
Recently I was examining on an BSAC Advanced Instructor gig. We were all standing around watching a dry run of a task at Port St Mary yacht cub, when Stuart, our regular postman arrived in his ubiquitous red van. Incidentally, this is the guy who in April turned up in shorts declaring he would not revert to ‘long trousers’ until October regardless: brave man.
Anyway, he spotted me and announced that he had a package for us in the van. I said that unfortunately, I wouldn’t be there to sign for it. He then informed me that it required refrigeration and then suggested that if I signed for it, he put it in the fridge in our house when he delivered the rest of the post. We returned and there it was.
Would this happen in the UK, no way…
Just in case you were wondering, it was a box of organic cheeses from ‘The Cheese Shed’ Our eldest son Jim had sent it to his mum for her birthday. She cried.
Toilets
I don’t have a habit of frequenting public toilets, but if you eat as much excruciatingly hot sauce as I do, there are times when it is not only necessary, but vital, to avoid considerable embarrassment.
I have had the dubious pleasure of visiting facilities all over the world: I am always disappointed with the cleanliness and lack of basics such as toilet paper etc.
A visit to an Isle of Man public loo is almost a religious experience. There is liquid soap, paper towels, bins that are not overflowing, loo paper and they generally smell OK. Tremendous…
The local produce
Angela and I have been real ‘foodies’ for years. As you can see from the cheese, kipper and carrot articles, we are obsessed.
When in the UK, we were involved with a number of farmers, assisting them to market their excellent and wholesome produce.
Angela is also a tremendous and highly enthusiastic cook, regularly seeking out the finest produce and then cooking up magnificent dishes, much to the detriment to my waistline!
When emigrating from the UK we never expecting for the Isle of Man to be full of very high quality stuff from meat to chocolate! Even better, the Isle of Man Government and the producers themselves love to tell everyone about it!!!
Meat
A large proportion of the meat that is consumed on the Island is produced here. Loaghtan Lamb is a particular favourite of ours and many UK food journalists!
Paul Pettengale, of Taste Britain Magazine, published his findings last month in a three-page spread, describing the lamb he tasted at Diana and George Steriopilos’s Ballaloaghtan farm, in Ballasalla, as “a meat that tastes almost like a cross between well-hung beef and venison, though more succulent and juicy than either”.
The beef and chicken is amazing and the pork is sensational, some of the best I have ever eaten. Succulent and tasty!
Not only is the quality fantastic but local butchers, such as Radcliffe’s (Castletown) and T & P Kermeen’s (Port Erin) know how to treat it: hanging beef for an appropriate length of time to develop the taste and texture.
‘Home made’ sausages and dry cured bacon are also ace, apart from the butchers listed above, another excellent purveyors are PA & PJ Woods of Kirk Michael.
Seafood
The Isle of Man is famous for its kippers and queenie scallops. An excellent purveyor of Island seafood is ‘Paddy’s Market’. It is the best fish shop on the Island. They have fresh lobster, scallops and queenies every day (when in season) along with a selection of local specialities. Callick (the Manx name from Pollock) is superb, as fresh as a daisy!
They also sell North Sea catches and Salmon from Scotland that is so fresh it tastes amazing. How they keep it so good with the travelling I will never know.
I have taken a particular penchant to Paddy’s Kippers; they are inexpensive and totally superb. Unfortunately, the Herring comes from the North Sea, but its all in the marinade and smoking!
This enterprising business also holds a ‘Continental Market’ every Saturday morning in its car park. Loving their work.
Vegetables
In the deep South and a couple of miles from where we live, is the home of the ‘Southern 100’ motorcycle race. On the third Sunday of the month the Clubhouse car park hosts a ‘farmers market’ where all types of local produce can be purchased.
Here, are some of the finest vegetables available on the Island and I have to say the taste and quality is as good as anything I have eaten!
Of course they do come with soil still clinging for dear life and they are not all the same size. You therefore wouldn’t find them on Tesco shelves :-)
Chocolate and coffee
How do you possibly associate chocolate with the Isle of Man. Well Karl Berrie of Cocoa Red does. He has started an exclusive artisan chocolate house situated in Port St Mary.
Karl and his team aspire to create the most exceptional hand-crafted chocolates and educate people about ‘fine’ or ‘real’ chocolate and to make it available to buy. Its good, highly recommended…
Another very interesting bloke is Paul Wagstaffe from Manx Tea and Coffee who roasts his own coffee on the Island.
I have now been a couple of times and when you enter his place, the wonderful smell of freshly roasted coffee and slight smoky haze purveys the atmosphere.
He will make special blends for you and is a mine of information.
The Simon Campbell blend is secret, and rather like the ‘Bonnie Situation’) in Pulp Fiction, when visitors come to our house, they love the coffee: we try not to have headless corpses in the garage though.
Warning: don’t go if you are in a hurry!
The beer
Like Germany, the Isle of Man has purity laws related to its beer production. This is both good and bad as if you drink to excess you don’t appear to contract as big a hangover when compared with ingesting several pints of chemical fuelled nonsense usually served up the the UK.
There are two main breweries: Bushy’s and O’Kells, both which have their particular taste and devotees. The standard bitters are excellent session beers and their stronger, specialist ales lovely.
It’s all a bit too good and am still deciding which is my favourite. Better keep up the research.
The innocence
I am not saying the Isle of Man is a paradise, but there are some things that are sooo innocent and reminiscent of a times gone by…
Here are a couple of stories lifted directly from the local newspapers.
Vandal
This garden planter was found decapitated by owner Linda Meechan, of Meadow Court, Ballasalla, on the morning of Sunday June 7.
Her neighbour Peter Cain said: ‘This may seem funny to some, especially after a drink or two, but it was bought as a present by an elderly aunt and has considerable sentimental value, not to mention monetary value. Therefore its early dismemberment has caused considerable distress.’
The heartless act of vandalism comes shortly after a Douglas woman was reunited with a Rupert Bear statue stolen from her garden, thanks to an appeal by our sister newspaper the Isle of Man Courier
Anyone with information about the missing head, described as having big eyes and a springy neck, is urged to contact Linda Meechan on…
Trousers
A man whose trousers were pulled down in a pub by a friend has admitted indecent behaviour because he made no attempt to pull them back up.
Sean Harrison, 19, admitted disorderly behaviour on licensed premises and indecent behaviour when he appeared before High Bailiff Michael Moyle on Wednesday. He was fined a total of £750.
Rosemary Burnett, prosecuting, said Harrison, of Castletown Road, Port Erin, was in the Station Hotel, Port Erin, on January 4, when a friend pulled down his trousers, exposing him. Harrison made no attempt to pull his trousers back up and thought the situation was funny.
He was asked to leave by a member of staff and he did so, but once outside, he dropped his trousers and exposed himself thorough the window of the door.
The defendant, went to Port Erin Police station voluntarily and apologised, saying he was drunk when he committed the offences.
Advocate Nigel Cordwell said Harrison had kept out of trouble for some time and the offence of disorderly behaviour was at the lower end of the scale. Mr Cordwell said Harrison was very remorseful and had written a letter of apology.
Mr Moyle told Harrison it appeared it was his friend who was the instigator of the incident. ‘Had you been [the instigator], I would have sent you to prison,’ he said. ‘I don’t find your behaviour funny, your mind must have been fuddled with drink.’
Harrison was banned from entering licensed premises for nine months.
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13 comments
Colly on 02/11/09 at 2102 hours
“Anyone with information about the missing head, described as having big eyes and a springy neck…”
I have wet myself.
E on 02/11/09 at 2103 hours
Simonski,
Great post, I suspect if the High Bailiff gets a whiff of your (and some of your friends) behaviour you’ll be doing time before you can say ‘Mines a pint’.
Simonski on 02/11/09 at 2115 hours
Unfortunately, Mr Moyle is retiring at the end of the month. I need to go and see him in action before he does.
Simonski on 02/11/09 at 2117 hours
This is a classic: ‘Had you been [the instigator], I would have sent you to prison,’ he said. ‘I don’t find your behaviour funny, your mind must have been fuddled with drink.’
Chris Finlay on 02/11/09 at 2118 hours
an excellent article and one I agree with almost 100%. I have been living here for just over a year and a half and I must say - Bushy’s are far superior to Okells! There’s one okells beer I can stand, Aile (a porter).
The above comment has nothing to do with me working for The Bay - a Bushy’s owned pub in Port Erin :P
Simonski on 02/11/09 at 2305 hours
I know the Bay a bit too well Chris :-)
E on 03/11/09 at 1533 hours
Simonski,
just love that phrase ‘fuddled on drink’ I intend to use it often. I’m sure Mrs C would make a good High Bailiff in the absence of Mr Moyle - only slightly more fearsome!
Simonski on 03/11/09 at 1538 hours
My mother! Jurby Prison would not be big enough.
E on 04/11/09 at 1236 hours
I suspect if I turned up on the IOM she would have me locked up before you could say Bushy’s
Noel on 14/11/09 at 0915 hours
Hi Simon, I’m currently covering the Delivery Managers role at our Southern Postal Delivery Office and Stuart is one of the nicest guys you could wish to meet. I’m also glad to say that he’s not alone in his attitude towards his customers and you quite rightly ask “would this happen in the U.K?” not a chance! Long may the likes of Stuart be allowed to continue providing this great service to their communities. Good Blog too!
P.S he didn’t like the picture but all the other guys laughed. maybe get him in his shorts next time?
Simonski on 14/11/09 at 1321 hours
Noel. I tried to get one in his shorts but it was a bit late in the year!!! I will snap him when he least expects it, in April 2010, when his legs are pearly white! Thanks for the kind words.
Simonski on 10/12/09 at 0938 hours
More Moyle: Following a fracas with the police where bad language was involved, poor Tom Oulton of Lancaster ended up in front of the feared Isle of Man High Bailiff Michael Moyle:
“You should have keept your mouth shut, we have enough drunks on the Island without importing them”.
Fine £150 and banned from the Island for a century.
Simonski on 10/12/09 at 0949 hours
Even more Moyle
In a recent case of drunk driving our feared and charismatic High Bailiff said:
“This is not a case of having one drink too many. You must have been pouring it down your throat like it was going out of fashion”
The man is a legend…