 |
| "Manannan" |
I imagine that that was the noise that the Steam Packet Company catamaran ferry "Manannan" made when she hit the Victoria quay in Douglas last night. It was the 7.30pm ferry from Liverpool. When she clouted the immobile concrete wall, several standing passengers aboard tumbled over and later five of them had to be transported to hospital with minor injuries. The ship itself had some full frontal damage and it remains unclear whether or not this can be fixed on the island. She may have to go into dry dock in Liverpool.
There is no truth in the unpleasant rumour that "Manannan" was being skippered by a certain Captain Adrian Ward of blogging fame. Nor is it true that he was three sheets to the wind following an onboard drinking competition involving half a dozen bottles of Lambs Navy Rum and a women's hockey team from Warrington.
Anyway, I digress. To cut a long story short "Manannan" is now out of action and the only way we can get off the island is on the ferry that operates between Douglas and Heysham. It is called the "Ben-My-Chree". We were meant to be leaving at 3pm this afternoon but we cannot get on the "Ben-My-Chree" till Saturday morning!
We are marooned. Will we ever see home again? I have thrown dozens of plastic bottles into the Irish Sea each containing identical S.O.S. messages. Fortunately, the owners of our holiday apartment are happy to let us stay two more nights. The holidaymakers who were meant to follow after us were also booked to come across on the "Manannan".
That's life.
 |
| Ship's underside after last night's collision |
See...that'll teach you to cross the seas! You've gone and disrupted the normal scheme of things! Go back to the pub and see if you can score another couple of glasses and a beer mat or two to help fill in the time!
ReplyDeleteI hope they've got Easter eggs on the Isle of Man...I'd hate to have you go through chocolate withdrawals. Can things get any worse???
Inhale..then exhale...and enjoy your Easter weekend, Yorkie, wherever it is you'll be spending it. :)
Thank you for your kind concern Lee and for avoiding the temptation to make light of our dire predicament
DeleteThat's okay, Yorkie. I knew you'd pick up on my genuine concern. :)
DeleteIf one of those bottles ends up on our shores here, I'll definitely alert the authorities and pass on your message. All is not lost! ;)
DeleteOoh Yorkie marooned on an island . Hope you enjoy another couple of days holiday . Happy Easter.
ReplyDeleteThe forecast for Friday looks pretty good Leisha. It is a shame we won't be at home to meet and greet our beloved daughter who is coming home for Easter. Still...there are worse things.
DeleteMarooned on an island....Have you seen the Skipper or Gilligan in your travels? You could watch reruns and get some wonderful ideas on how to get off the island and home again. Oh, wait. They never did get off that island.....
ReplyDeleteWhere is your compassion woman?
DeleteWhoops, somebody will be looking for a job.
ReplyDeleteIt may have been down to computer software.
DeleteDearie me, was the computer software involved in the drinking competition too....
DeleteWell, it gives you more chances to explore the island and take pictures for us.
ReplyDeleteGood job you don't have to camp on the beach! Could be a little chilly at night.
I have woken up today (Friday) to the sunniest morning of the week. We may go back up the mountain but this time on the Snaefell Mountain Railway which started up again for the season just yesterday.
DeleteWell, this is one birthday Shirley won't forget in a hurry!
ReplyDeleteGood news is that we get more photos to enjoy, but hopefully not of the next ferry - the "Ben" whatever (where do they get these names?) with a dented pointy end !
Dented pointy ends are not nice. The names are from the Manx language CG. Benn-my-Chree means "girl of my heart".
DeleteOh, how romantic !
DeleteDoesn't sound like to big a hardship. I'm sure you'll make the most of it. Hope the weather holds for you.
ReplyDeleteThat's Island life for you. In an emergency there are always hairy planes.
ReplyDeleteArgh!
ReplyDelete