Manx adventures

So another month (or two) has been and gone, and we are that much closer to the end of another weird year. Covid has had the biggest impact so far on my students, with huge numbers returning to proper schooling after 18 months, displaying previously unseen anxiety, eating disorders, OCD, and self-harm. And I am not surprised! The toll that the pandemic has had on the mental health of the entire population is slowly being seen in its full extent, and we simply don’t know how to react. My workload has increased tenfold, and the respite that was granted over summer is a long distant memory.

But enough moaning – since summer, what have I been up to? I don’t really remember all that much to be honest. But what I do remember is a week travelling to the Isle of Man, a self-governing (British-ish) island in the Irish Sea, to visit a very dear friend. And what a week it as!

Managing to jump successfully through the hoops of modern travel without having to isolate on either end, I found myself in little B&B in the capital, Douglas, close to bus routes and “historic” sites, such as the Manx Electric Railway. Providing direct access to the base of Snaefell, the highest mountain on the Island, the railway links to the mountain railway, which continues the journey up, providing amazing views of the island.

Throughout the week, we took the opportunity to drive around the island, visit monuments and museums, see beautiful sunsets, and eat amazing food. We explored the towns, visited the Laxey Wheel (the largest working waterwheel in the world), explored Castle Rushen, and walked up Bradda Head overlooking Port Erin. Even on grey cloudy days, the island is a beautiful place, and the people are extremely friendly. We chatted to everyone we met, and even met a Kiwi woman selling honey and bees wax wraps at the Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival.

So despite the torrent of work, numerous dentist visits, hundreds of money spent on car repairs, and the overwhelming sense of impending doom (as is natural nowadays I’m certain), I have at least spent some quality time with a great friend before she becomes one of the lucky ones, and returns to Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud. Our adventures have gotten me through much of the last 18 months, and I am forever grateful for that.