Island Days & Creative Preparations:

July 2025 on the Isle of Man

After last month’s frenetic movement and magical musical adventures, July has been, in comparison, much more serene. Bob and I moved into a studio flat in Douglas after our whirlwind UK tour and settled into our new, smaller-spaced, slower-paced lifestyle with relative ease. Life is good!

Sea Dips and Sentimental Spaces

I’ve dipped in at Douglas beach over by the Hilton (which, in my youth, was the Palace Lido — a place I adored as a teenager!). At high tide, I’ve even ventured in from the old Victorian steps near the Ellan Vannin hotel — which Mum and Dad owned and ran for 25 years.

Mum tending her award-winning blooms outside the Ellan Vannin

Then there’s Port Skellion beneath the lighthouse on Douglas Head, another cherished childhood haunt from the 1970s, when life felt sweeter and more innocent… or perhaps I was?!

September Tour Planning Underway

There isn’t a huge amount to report this month — but the practical groundwork for my September tour is all in place. I’ve:

• Booked the boat on and off the Isle of Man

• Sorted hotel accommodation

• Confirmed stays with kind friends

• Checked in with venues to make sure we’re all aligned

Now, it’s time to focus on the creative side of things!

New Tech, New Visuals

This week, I welcomed a shiny new MacBook Pro, which I eagerly tracked on its journey from Vietnam to Hong Kong, Germany, Preston, and finally here on the island. With it, I’ll be editing new video content for the two additional songs included in the upcoming "Children of the Sea and Beyond" tour.

I’m also creating fresh visual backdrops for the acoustic songs in each set. There’s a lot to do, but I’m excited to dive in this week. Wish me luck — and come to a show to see what I’ve managed to create! 😊

Walks, Weather & Video Adventures

The weather’s been a delightful mix of sunshine, patchy grey, and drizzle. The sea remains inviting, and my weekly saunas are essential. I even squeezed in an extra sauna in Laxey during a heatwave reminiscent of 1976!

One glorious Saturday morning, Bob and I climbed South Barrule so I could capture footage for the tour visuals. I used a lovely little video camera my brother Paul (in Perth, Australia) gifted me. Note to self: clean the lens before pressing record! A misty blob appears in one corner, but the descent footage — top to bottom — is fun. You can watch a wee video if you fancy.

From Bagels to Blessings

The next day brought more filming: after a delicious bagel at Roots by the Sea in Peel, we headed to Niarbyl for shots to accompany No One Knows His Name. The island truly was showing off her beauty. We are so lucky to live here.

Later in the month, an intended 30-minute evening stroll turned into a 4-mile adventure! We wandered from home to Summerhill Glen and back along Douglas beach. It was magical — childhood memories of fairy lights and summer evenings came flooding back. (We’ll have to return in August when the lights are actually on!) I shared a Reel of our wanderings on Instagram and Facebook — feel free to take a peek.

A Sunday Drive Through Island Life

Today, Sunday 27th July, I spent time luxuriating in the company of dear friends, taking me from Peel to Ballaugh, then Castletown and Ballasalla. A gorgeous walk through Sartfield Nature Reserve at Ballaugh Curraghs was followed by an afternoon at the Southern Agricultural Show, where my fabulous friends, Rosemary O'Donohue and Catriona Ellis were sharing their physical and spiritual gifts. I’ve tried to capture the day in the video below — apologies for the speedy visuals in both videos, but there was a lot to fit in!

Sunday was full of fabulous friends and fantastic festival vibes! So much to love.

Autumn is in the Air… Almost

This Friday, August 1st, marks the beginning of the end of summer and the quiet turn toward autumn. I’ve already noticed rusty tinges on the finger-like fronds of the horse-chestnut leaves (I won’t say another word about it — promise!).

Before I sign off I have to share that in order to upload the content of this month's Blog Post, I've had to seek out better WiFi than our delightful, teeny-weeny pied-a-terre is able to offer, and so, I've come down to Noa's Bakehouse on the Quay in Douglas. They have, sponsored by Santander, a wonderful, funky, fully-fledged wifi workspace for anyone who needs it! I am super-impressed and very grateful. It also allows me to feel like a modern, growd-up creative person! Ha!

Thank you, as always, for stopping by to catch up on island life and creative doings. I’m excited about the Children of the Sea and Beyond tour and eager to bring everything together for a truly memorable experience.

Until next month — stay well, stay curious, and keep rising above the turbulence.

Much love,

Christine x