Chapter 4 – Dispatches from Douglas
Dear Admiral,
As you'll see by the stamp and the postmark, we are on the Isle of Man. Mr Turner's friend has lent him Seabear again, so we are sailing around the Isle of Man and then back to Mallaig, which is where she lives. We are spending a couple of nights in Douglas. There is a fascinating little island in Douglas bay which has a small castle – a really small castle - on it. I knew it probably wouldn't be medieval, although I wish it was. Susan thought it was a Victorian folly, and Roger said he thought it might be something to do with the Napoleonic war, but it we asked about it – well Titty and I did – when we went to the museum and we were all wrong. It was built to shelter anyone who was shipwrecked and managed to get to the rock when the sea was too bad for them to be rescued by lifeboat, which apparently has happened.
The scenery gives me plenty of ideas for stories – too many really. I find I can't settle on one long enough. Please pass on our love to the rest of the Coots – including William who definitely counts as an honorary Coot of course.
With love from Dorothea
Dear Bridgie and Mother,
Douglas is a little bit like Hollywood, in that it has, big letters on the hillside at one end, but they say "ELECTRIC RAILWAY". There are plenty of places to buy ices and lots of different flavours. Susan says to say she reminded Roger to go and get his hair cut before term starts – which he has done. That reminded Peggy that Mrs Blackett had reminded her to remind Nancy to get her hair cut too. It was rather funny seeing Peggy being firm with Captain Nancy. When Nancy came back to Sea Bear she had had it cut, but a lot shorter that Mrs Blackett probably meant. It's not quite as short as an Eton crop, but it's quite definitely a crop. Nancy said if she didn't try it she'd never know if she liked it and it would be easier to wash anyway.
There is a place here where they will post kippers for you, even to places that are "across" which is how some people here describe England. Susan has arranged for two pairs of kippers to be posted you. I expect they will arrive by the same post as this letter.
We have one more night here and then the next place we're visiting is Castletown.
With lots of love to you both from Titty
From Dick Callum to his father.
…still hope to see Manx sheerwaters properly. It is really quite easy to see where the icesheet stopped. North of Ramsey, the island is much flatter. ….
We spent today in Douglas. There is a very informative museum here and the gardens on the promenade are pleasant. Margaret reminded to visit a hairdresser.
With love Ruth and Margaret.
Peggy was right, Nancy admitted to herself, it really had been her turn to send something. The picture postcard of the horse tram was unexceptional enough, the museum, judging by what Titty, Dot and Dick had said, was informative and she had indeed visited the hairdresser. Nancy had the uncomfortable feeling that her newly cropped hair made her look younger rather than more adult. Well, it would grow again eventually if she didn't get used to it.