Port St Mary,Isle of Man

Port St Mary is located on the south-western part of the island with Port Erin located nearby.

A railway station lies just north of the main part of the village, one of the stops on the surviving section of the Isle of Man Railway between Douglas and Port Erin. Steam trains operate on the line several times a day during the summer season, and stop at Port St Mary.

Thanks to James for this lovely port view from Isle of Man.

Sent: 12 May 2015   Received: 22 May 2015   Travelled: 10 May 2015

Manx sheep

The Manx Loaghtan is a breed of sheep native to the Isle of Man. It is sometimes spelled as Loaghtyn or Loghtan. The sheep have dark brown wool and usually four or occasionally six horns.

The Manx Loaghtan is one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep breeds and descends from the primitive sheep once found throughout Scotland, the Hebrides, and Shetland Islands. The word Loaghtan comes from the Manx words lugh dhoan, which mean mouse-brown and describes the colour of the sheep.[1] This breed is primarily raised for its meat, which some consider a delicacy. The meat has recently received EU recognition and protection under the Protected Designation of Origin scheme, which requires products to originate in a specific region.

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust has characterized the Loaghatan as "at risk". By the 1950s there were only 43 surviving specimens. Manx National Heritage developed two healthy flocks. These have given rise to commercial flocks on the Isle of Man and elsewhere. Even so, today there are still fewer than 1,500 registered breeding females in the United Kingdom.

So please to receive this postcard of the Loaghtan sheep from Isle of Man.

Sent: 19 March 2015   Received: 8 April 2015   Travelled: 20 days

Isle of Man Tourist Trophy circuit

The International Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man that was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world. The event was part of the FIM Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship during the period 1949–1976 before being transferred to the United Kingdom after safety concerns and run by the FIM as the British Grand Prix for the 1977 season. The Isle of Man TT Races became part of the TT Formula 1 Championship from 1977 to 1990 to preserve the event's racing status. From 1989 the racing has been developed by the Isle of Man Department of Tourism as the Isle of Man TT Festival.

Thanks James for this lovely map postcard and the Tourist Trophy. 

Sent: 10 February 2015   Received: 26 February 2015   Travelled: 16 days

Tower of Refuge

Tower of Refuge, Douglas, Isle of Man

Thank you James for this amazing view of the the Tower and the sun!

Sent: 12 February 2014,  Received: 20 February 2014, Travelled: 8 days

Yay! A Manx cat

The Manx cat, in earlier times often spelled Manks, is a breed of domestic cat (Felis catus) originating on the Isle of Man, with a naturally occurring mutation that shortens the tail. Many Manx have a small stub of a tail, but Manx cats are best known as being entirely tailless; this is the most distinguishing characteristic of the breed, along with elongated hind legs and a rounded head. Manx cats come in all coat colours and patterns, though all-white specimens are rare, and the coat range of the original stock was more limited. Long-haired variants are sometimes considered a separate breed, the Cymric. Manx are prized as skilled hunters, and thus have often been sought by farmers with rodent problems, and been a preferred ship's cat breed. They are said to be social, tame and active. An old local term for the cats on their home island is stubbin. Manx have been exhibited in cat shows since the 1800s, with the first known breed standard published in 1903.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manx_(cat)

In my island state,travellers have also remarked on the strange tails of some of our cats, with a bent tip or crooked short tail. Especially in Langkawi too I've been told the cats there are ugly :D

Thank you James for this awesome card!

Sent: 4 October 2013,   Received: 18 October 2013,   Travelled: 14 days

My first from Isle of Man

 The Isle of Man otherwise known simply as Mann ,is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is represented by a Lieutenant Governor, but its foreign relations and defence are the responsibility of the British Government.

 Thank you very much James for this lovely postcard. 

Sent: 29 August 2013,   Received: 17 September 2013,   Travelled: 19 days