Notes from a small Island

Paddy’s Market specials

jamesq — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:25:48 +0000

Paddy’s Market specials

Originally uploaded by Notes from a small Island

Self Catering Accommodation in Isle of Man

jamesq — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:28:36 +0000

One of my latest posts is on my latest webdesign project for The Stable at Glendown Farm, self catering accommodation in Port St Mary in the South of the Isle of Man. This is where I grew up and still find this part of the Isle of Man my favourite. Spent my entire childhood cycling round the coastline from Port Erin to Port St Mary or scrambling round the rocks. Many of the adventures I’m not sure I’d repeat now but still love getting out round the coast whether it be climbing, walking, kayaking, fishing, mountain biking or just swimming in the sea (wet suit recommended at this time of year!).

Chewing the Cud

jamesq — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:46:56 +0000

I’ve settled on a title for my new James Qualtrough blog. It seems to fit pretty well with my utterings. (Nearly put udderings ther but thought a bit lame!!)

Evolution of a brand

jamesq — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:22:31 +0000

The James Qualtrough Brand is branching out and now has its own bit of cyberspace. This is very early days on the new website focussing on the Isle of Man, Outdoors, Marketing, Websites, Travel and other interests. I’ll still use this blog for now but will slowly migrate my focus to the new website.

The new blog feels a bit more me already and looking forward to life in my new home.

Enterprise Car Hire, Vauxhall Vectra

jamesq — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:19:49 +0000

Hired A Vauxhall Vectra SRi for our trip down to Birmingham fromLiverpool for the weekend. Really nice car and much more responsive than the Picasso! It’s a pitty it’s only for a couple of days, would love to take it for a spin for a weeks road tripping. Really good service from Enterprise too. £600 excess though so paid £20 to get this down to £50. Theres always something… Hopefully this satisfy my urges to buy a new car for a while!

Doubt it though.

Kayaking Pool session, Peel Isle of Man

jamesq — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:14:20 +0000

Had my first Pool session with Adventurous Experiences on Tuesday last week. It was much tougher than I expected. I think I’d put myself under a fair bit of pressure to do everything first time. I spent all day Tuesday trying to picture myself upside down but still managed to get dissorientated everytime I went over! It’s a great place to practice and gets rid of the psychological barriers of capsizing into the cold sea.

It’s a fairly small group with plenty of staff so theres two of us with John showing us the ropes. Great to get a bit of confidence up before hopefully tackling the sea a few times this year. Really fancy getting out from Port St Mary, seeing the Calf of Man and Chickens Rock too. Playing in the Sound would be a good ambition too. One step at a time though, Low Brace, High Brace, Eskimo Roll in a pool to do yet!

My favourite place in the Isle of Man

jamesq — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:39:55 +0000

Deep in thoughtOriginally uploaded by Notes from a small Island

view towards the Sugarloaf from the Chasms. This is one of those places you can feel a million miles from anywhere and the scenery is stunning.It still amazes me that people on the island don’t know about it but then I guess that’s part of the attraction.

James Don

jamesq — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:29:24 +0000

S&L_JamesDon

Originally uploaded by Notes from a small Island

Our wedding day

Death by Lazyness!

jamesq — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:53:00 +0000

Not usually my sort of thing but just watched the Jamie Oliver Eat to save your life programme on Channel 4! Probably the best hour and a half of television I’ve seen in a long while. A proper programme showing real people, and the real affects of eating a shite diet. When they showed what is in processed food whether its saturated fats, sugars or salts and what our recommended amounts are it was a real eye opener. And the dissection of the fat bloke at the end by Dr Gunther von Hagens just rounded it all off. Pretty scary especially as they showed that you don’t have to be fat to suffer from side affects of an unhealthy lifestyle.

A difficult position for a nation of fast food outlets and supermarkets hiding our real intake from us in order to make a fast buck. There is a real opportunity for a supermarket to set the standards for social responsibility and start to really give a shit about the people that are lining their pockets. certainly made me think twice about my eating habits and also where I shop!

The excuse that people demanded cheaper food has popped up on a number of TV programmes in this series but I really think this is a diabolical excuse to be producing the “food” (Used lightly) many places are. I don’t think people demanded cheaper food at the expense of health and certainly don’t think the public are aware of how food has been made so much cheaper as this programme clearly showed!

Everton March on

jamesq — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:00:35 +0000

Although a good result I couldn’t help being disappointed by the 2-1 loss to Chelsea. Away goal second leg and all that but I thought we’d scraped the draw. A footy game hasn’t bothered me so much in a long time. Tend to float along, a bit come-ci-come-ca and just enjoy the game, rough and smooth, but for some reason the Chelsea game got under my skin. I think yesterday’s result just goes to show how far Everton have come in the past couple of seasons and is a great victory to put us in a really good position for the start of the year. Here’s to a blue Merseyside!!