As advertised, we're heading off for a bit more family time, to be followed by a bit more exploration.

First on the agenda, the Isle of Man.

So you start off by flying Kuching-KL-Dubai-Manchester. Three planes, four airports.

Everyone tries very hard, but it's never good really. It's just something you have to grin and bear.




In Manchester, once free of the queues for passports and baggage, we boarded the bus for the "hire car village". When the driver missed his turn, this became a bit of a tiki tour of the airport environs. Then our car was AWOL, having escaped from its designated bay. So that took a few minutes to sort out.

But at last we're on the road, heading for RHS Bridgewater, where we're due to rendezvous with the kind relly who's been storing our winter stuff.

It's beautiful here. We just have time to pick up our gear, and have tea (plus excellent ginger and white chocolate cookies). But it would definitely be worth coming back for longer.

We overnight in Preston, as we did in 2022. At the Ibis again, which we find very comfortable. And after all those flights and airports, we sleep pretty well.

So it's Friday 13 by now. And it's raining:


We're heading for Heysham (which is where we catch the ferry), but we decided we'll detour via the place that makes Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese. We'd discovered this product, alongside many other cheesy pleasures, during our 2022 stay, and it's always nice to encounter foods you like in their home environment. The farm shop sells plenty of other goodies, including Colston Bassett Stilton and yummily dressed olives from Swallow Barn.





Lunch, next, back at the Half Moon Bay Cafe (which now takes cards):



We had just enough slack in the timetable to permit a variation on the walk we did last time:







And then it's ferry time. We're on Manxman, which we last saw in Singapore back in May.

It's a huge ship:



It still smells "new". It's very nicely kitted out, and the forward top lounge is really plush. We had Force 6 winds, but Manxman gives you a very nice, steady ride. And the big picture windows offer a great view of the approaching Island.




We're staying near St Johns this time, in a little cottage with thick walls and beams:





So that was yesterday. Today was provisioning day, with trips to Douglas and Peel:






I'm very happy to be here again. When we left in May, I didn't think we would be back so soon, so this all feels like a huge privilege.