SPRING 14 Survey Results: Describe the Isle of Man in 5 words

As an island we are extremely proud of our heritage, and it’s not hard to see

evidence of this. The Three Legs, our flag, our symbol...well, it's everywhere.

It's not only flying proud on flag poles, it's in the logos of Manx businesses, on

clothing and in architecture. This is a physical symbol of our pride and it is our

pride that unites us. On Your Doorstep is the forefront of that feeling, it’s about

spreading the passion for our Island!

Welcome to the first On Your Doorstep magazine! We have taken the best of

all your excellent recommendations and submissions and packed them along-

side our feature content, all in aid of showing off our beautiful island at its best.

We want to thank you for all of your contributions that have made this first

edition possible, it was amazing to have received so many! If you haven’t

submitted for this edition why not try for the next? It’s easy to get in touch with

us and we want to hear from you! We are looking for any form of creative

content that promotes the Isle of Man. So this could be recipes for local pro-

duce, art work, photographs, poetry, short stories, vlogs, music and of course

all of your recommendations!

We hope to hear from you soon!

Cheers yessir!

Georgina Jones

Editor

Contact Us: Website: www.onyourdoorstepiom.moonfruit.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/258020304362669 Twitter: www.twitter.com/OYDIOM Email: onyourdoorstep@outlook.com

A word from the editor...

In this issue...

This issues Trails in Tales

An exploration of the Isle of Man told through it’s fairy tales.

On My Doorstep— Beauty Spots!

All your submissions to this issues photographic project.

Stargazing Why the IOM is the number one hotspot for stargazers

Manx to the Max Tasty Manx treats as recommended by you including

a recipe for Manx Laoghtan

Trails in Tales

The Isle of Man is steeped in Folklore, in fact there are few places on the

Island that don’t have some form of legend or fairy tales connected to them

Join us as each issue we tell the stories that these ancient places have gifted

us.

The Moddey Dhoo of Peel Castle

If you were to look into the eyes deep as pits,

you would know of it to be more than mortal.

Thick furred and heavy jawed,

a shadow made flesh.

A fool of a man would walk into the

dark

to a beast such as this.

A ghost of a man would return.

Location: Peel Castle

Written & Illustrated by Georgina Jones

Location: Peel Castle

The Buggane of St Trinian’s

Upon Greeba mountain the Buggane dwells,

prowling down through Douglas road.

Cloven hoof and deadly claw,

skin wrinkled like blacksmith’s bellows,

Eyes as deep as a lhing, glowing coals

in sunken face, ear sharp.

Mane thick and his brow heavy.

He is a drogh-vonney of drogh-yannoo.

He does not stand for the ringing of church bells.

St. Trinians Church, Greeba

Once there lived at the end of Cornaa valley a family by the name of Sayle. It is said that a Mermaid who live up Bulgham way was a friend to them. They were always in luck's way and never seemed to be short of anything and their prosperity mainly came from the sea. It was well known that Sayle had a strong liking for apples, and that he would often bring some with him out in the boat. When his bones began to tire he left most of the boat work to his sons and the luck began to dwindle. One son upon a sunny day just at Bulgham, pulled his boat in and went up the cliff after eggs. When he returned to his boat he heard someone calling to him, and, looking round, he saw a beautiful woman sitting on the edge of a rock. 'And how's your father? ‘said she. 'It's seldom he's coming this way now.' As soon as he set eyes upon the pleasant look on her face, he took courage and told her the families luck had dwin-dled and times were hard. She looked into his eyes and said she hoped to see him again then slipped into the wa-ter and disappeared.

The Mermaid of Gob Ny Ooyl

On getting home he told his father what had taken place, and his fa-ther’s face lit up as he declared: 'There will be luck on the house yet, take some apples with you the next time you go up that way, an' we'll see.' The very next time the young chap went, he took some apples with him, and when he got to the place where he had seen the beautiful woman, he went on the hunt among the rocks. He soon heard sweet singing, and when he turned round to see her leaning over the boat and smil-ing pleasantly. She took an apple and began to eat and chant: The luck o' the sea be with you, but don't forgetful be Of bringing some sweet lan' eggs for the children of the sea. From that time he was nearly living on the water until, at last, he was taken to task for being idle and had to go sailing in foreign waters. The Mer-maid was in great distress, so to please her, he went and planted an apple tree on the brow above her haunt, telling her that when he would be far away this tree would grow land-eggs which, when they would be sweet and ready for eating, would come of themselves to the water for her. And, sure enough, the luck of the fam-ily remained, though the son was gone. The mermaid seemed to bear up well for a long time and would often be seen sitting on the rocks in the evening, singing sad songs, and casting longing glances up to the apple tree above. She kept very shy of everyone coming her way, and at last, finding the apples slow in

Bulgham Rocks

The UK Campaign for Dark Skies carried out an analysis of the best places in

the British Isles for stargazing, factoring in both light pollution and cloud cov-

er. Whilst cloud cover is an issue throughout the British Isles, the clarity of the

sky and the almost total lack of light pollution make the Island unique.

On a clear night the night sky of the Isle of Man is simply stunning when

many astronomical sights can be seen through the naked eye and even more

can be discovered through a telescope or binoculars.

The Island is also ideally placed on occasions to see the magnificent sight of

the Northern Lights on many occasions. The Northern lights are normally only

seen from Northerly locations such as Alaska, Norway and Iceland, however

the crystal clear Northern horizon from the Islands North eastern coast

means this fascinating phenomenon can often be seen from the Island. The

Manx Night sky is an amazing experience that will astound even the most

experienced stargazer. Home to currently seventeen of the British Isles Dark

sky discovery sites, it has some of the darkest skies in Europe.

The Dark Skies Above...

Isle of Man is best in the UK for stargazers!

The formally recognised dark sky sites on the Island are:

Axnfell Plantation, near Laxey

Ballaugh Beach

Ballanette Country Park

Ballure Reservoir

Clypse Kerrowdhoo

Conrhenny Car Park

Cregneash

Fort Island, near Castletown

Glen Mooar Beach

Glen Wyllin

Mooragh Promenade

Tholt y Will reservoir,

Tynwald Mills Car Park

Mount Murray

Niarbyl, on the West coast

Peel Castle

Port Lewaigue Car Park

Port Soderick Brooghs

Port Soderick Car Park

Poulsom Park

Rushen Abbey

Smeale

Sulby Reservoir Car Park

The Sloc

The Sound

West Baldwin Reservoir

On My Doorstep

We are always asking for your recommendations and your top tips on

how to enjoy or beautiful island. This issue we have brought together

a collection of your photographic submissions and this is a highlights

of all your favourite beauty spots on the Island.

Adam Quayle—

Ballaglass Glen.

I love walking in this

place. It changes with

the seasons and one

trip is never the same.

Adam Quayle - ‘The Tops’

Cornaa Beach.

This has to be one of the

best places to see the sun

rise and the silhouette of

the landscape against the

sea, it is breath-taking.

Becci Owen

The Black Pool,

Glen Auldyn.

It's so beautiful and

peaceful, and I

always feel

extremely lucky to

live so near.

Chris Quirk

St Runius Church,

Marown.

Very old, very beautiful

and loved by many

Barbara Skillen

The view of Snaefell

I like the views from

my bedroom window,

showing Snaefell and

surrounding hills.

Jane Hards , Queens Promenade Beach, Ramsey

This is my favourite place as I look out across to England and I think best

decision I ever made was moving here.

Mike Cottam - Peel

It's my home town and is the best place to live. the views are beautiful and the

old part of Peel has a great Spiritual presence.

Katharine Watling

Gaitey Theatre

It's so pretty!

Charlotte Rae Albert Tower,

Need I say why? >

Trudi Halsall– Chibbanagh plantation

Truly beautiful, the plains of heaven!

<

Dave Reading -

Tower of Refuge

Douglas

It is beautiful watching

the sun rise over this

landmark.

Blasstal –

(It mean’s tasty you know!)

You’ve been telling us your favourite Manx produce, here’s just a few of your

contributions to wet your appetite!

Lucy Clare Hendy—Isle of Man Creameries cheese! Marcelle Tocher -Manx Queenies Linda Gray -Manx meat is lovely especially loaghtan lamb! Charlotte Quinn -Manx ice cream is delish! As is Manx Fudge Jasmine Nicola Miranda Conway - Quite partial to a Manx kipper for breakfast! Linda Gray - Pizzaolia make the best pizzas Katharine Watling - You always get a good guest ale in the Traff. Jane Hards - Davidsons ice cream. Charlotte Rea - The Grovsnour does nice food with locally sourced ingredients Adam Quayle- The produce of the Isle Of Man is all of such a high quality. The Isle of Man does not allow any GMO to be imported so all of our veg, cereals, meats and dairy are GMO free. This is why I love eating and growing Manx pro-duce. I have not made this specific to any set produce or meals, I just enjoy Manx produce.

Every issue I will take one of your suggestions give you a delicious recipe so you can sample its quality for yourself! This issue I am chomping down on some loaghtan lamb! There is simply no beating it! Laoghtan is one of the leanest pieces of lamb you are ever going to get, which not only makes it healthier but also tastier! Recipe: Herb encrusted Lamb Cutlets – You will need: 3 lamb cutlets, 4 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh mint 1 tbsp finely chopped wild garlic 30g/1oz Manx Cheese ( I like to use the black pepper Cheddar) 1 tbsp butter, softened

salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method > Have your oven preheated at 200C/400F/Gas 6. > In a hot griddle pan, fry the loaghtan for 50 seconds on each side or

until browned. > In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, mint, wild garlic, cheese and

butter together to make a rough paste. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

> Take the cutlets from the pan and press the breadcrumb mixture onto the cutlets, making sure to get as much on as you can! The more you have the better it will taste!

> Place them onto a baking tray and cook for 5 minutes (for medium) > Leave time for them to rest before serving > Serve with seasonal Manx vegetables!

Yum!

Love Georgina x

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the first issue and made it possible!

We look forward to receiving more of your submissions

Ta mee feer

wooisal dhyt.