Mark Owen
@marktowen.bsky.social
Writer, editor, photographer. I watch old TV programmes and live in the Isle of Man; these two facts are unconnected.
I can't say I'm familiar with Z Cars but didn't think it was the sort of show whose viewers demanded annuals.
Is the cover an accurate summary of the programme? Did it regularly have plots like Norman Wisdom helping a fully dressed policeman give birth while balancing a Ford Zephyr on his shoulder?
Is the cover an accurate summary of the programme? Did it regularly have plots like Norman Wisdom helping a fully dressed policeman give birth while balancing a Ford Zephyr on his shoulder?
November 10, 2025 at 12:22 PM
I can't say I'm familiar with Z Cars but didn't think it was the sort of show whose viewers demanded annuals.
Is the cover an accurate summary of the programme? Did it regularly have plots like Norman Wisdom helping a fully dressed policeman give birth while balancing a Ford Zephyr on his shoulder?
Is the cover an accurate summary of the programme? Did it regularly have plots like Norman Wisdom helping a fully dressed policeman give birth while balancing a Ford Zephyr on his shoulder?
Is it possible you misheard? 🤔 This definitely wouldn't be an insult.
October 25, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Is it possible you misheard? 🤔 This definitely wouldn't be an insult.
Seen in Douglas harbour, #IsleOfMan Isn't she pretty?
October 18, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Seen in Douglas harbour, #IsleOfMan Isn't she pretty?
This bit of old #Manx business ephemera made me think of a boy at school with me in 1987. He got a Saturday job at the Manx Ices factory, putting the gobstoppers into the bottoms of Screwballs.
He alleged that he was given a big box of gobstoppers with a Best Before date in 1973.
He alleged that he was given a big box of gobstoppers with a Best Before date in 1973.
October 11, 2025 at 11:07 AM
This bit of old #Manx business ephemera made me think of a boy at school with me in 1987. He got a Saturday job at the Manx Ices factory, putting the gobstoppers into the bottoms of Screwballs.
He alleged that he was given a big box of gobstoppers with a Best Before date in 1973.
He alleged that he was given a big box of gobstoppers with a Best Before date in 1973.
Old enemies setting up new ventures on the High Street. They're all at it....
October 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Old enemies setting up new ventures on the High Street. They're all at it....
Officially visiting #Brighton for a wedding, but snuck in a little #DoctorWho location-spotting that's right on target.
September 25, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Officially visiting #Brighton for a wedding, but snuck in a little #DoctorWho location-spotting that's right on target.
When you put it like that, it sounds oddly like a season finale from 21st century Who. It does give me the chance to share this picture of Mike and Anneke looking absolutely wonderful on a drawbridge that strange day.
August 31, 2025 at 12:45 PM
When you put it like that, it sounds oddly like a season finale from 21st century Who. It does give me the chance to share this picture of Mike and Anneke looking absolutely wonderful on a drawbridge that strange day.
We lost #Manx actor #DursleyMcLinden 30 years ago today, aged just 30. Always remembered.
August 7, 2025 at 12:45 PM
We lost #Manx actor #DursleyMcLinden 30 years ago today, aged just 30. Always remembered.
"Oompa-Loompa
Doompa-de-ditch,
The lack of spacing
Makes my eyes twitch."
Doompa-de-ditch,
The lack of spacing
Makes my eyes twitch."
July 25, 2025 at 9:53 AM
"Oompa-Loompa
Doompa-de-ditch,
The lack of spacing
Makes my eyes twitch."
Doompa-de-ditch,
The lack of spacing
Makes my eyes twitch."
The decor of the head office of the #IsleOfMan bank is different to that of most banks these days. #decor #architecture #Manx
July 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
The decor of the head office of the #IsleOfMan bank is different to that of most banks these days. #decor #architecture #Manx
For #Tynwald Day, here's a #Manx artifact newly on-display.
The Manx Museum currently has an exhibition marking 90 years of George Formby's IOM-filmed flick, No Limit.
It includes this banjolele signed twice by George, and once by his remarkable wife Beryl. Turned out nice again.
The Manx Museum currently has an exhibition marking 90 years of George Formby's IOM-filmed flick, No Limit.
It includes this banjolele signed twice by George, and once by his remarkable wife Beryl. Turned out nice again.
July 5, 2025 at 11:53 AM
I found these amazing doors tucked away down a back lane in #Liverpool
June 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
I found these amazing doors tucked away down a back lane in #Liverpool
This impressive-looking deep dive into the work of #Manx writer Nigel Kneale by @tobyhadoke.bsky.social has finally landed in NK's homeland, the Isle of Man.
Looking forward to starting the Experiment.
Looking forward to starting the Experiment.
June 3, 2025 at 6:19 PM
This impressive-looking deep dive into the work of #Manx writer Nigel Kneale by @tobyhadoke.bsky.social has finally landed in NK's homeland, the Isle of Man.
Looking forward to starting the Experiment.
Looking forward to starting the Experiment.
#Manx actor #DursleyMcLinden was born in Douglas, 60 years ago today.
May 29, 2025 at 7:07 AM
#Manx actor #DursleyMcLinden was born in Douglas, 60 years ago today.
I was happy with this photo that I took of Douglas Bay.
The pale full moon, easing through the delicate pink and gold striations of the evening sky. The Tower standing firm on Conister Rock. The limpid sea.
Then I noticed the house down the hill looks like Inspector Gadget. And I can't un-see it.
The pale full moon, easing through the delicate pink and gold striations of the evening sky. The Tower standing firm on Conister Rock. The limpid sea.
Then I noticed the house down the hill looks like Inspector Gadget. And I can't un-see it.
May 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I was happy with this photo that I took of Douglas Bay.
The pale full moon, easing through the delicate pink and gold striations of the evening sky. The Tower standing firm on Conister Rock. The limpid sea.
Then I noticed the house down the hill looks like Inspector Gadget. And I can't un-see it.
The pale full moon, easing through the delicate pink and gold striations of the evening sky. The Tower standing firm on Conister Rock. The limpid sea.
Then I noticed the house down the hill looks like Inspector Gadget. And I can't un-see it.
That's excellent. I'm very fond of my 1970 Arthur Wood coffee set.
April 27, 2025 at 5:03 PM
That's excellent. I'm very fond of my 1970 Arthur Wood coffee set.
Writer #HeleneHanff was born #OTD
In the 1950s she worked as an outside reader for a film company, speed-reading books to see if they were adaptable. Here's one example...
In the 1950s she worked as an outside reader for a film company, speed-reading books to see if they were adaptable. Here's one example...
April 15, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Writer #HeleneHanff was born #OTD
In the 1950s she worked as an outside reader for a film company, speed-reading books to see if they were adaptable. Here's one example...
In the 1950s she worked as an outside reader for a film company, speed-reading books to see if they were adaptable. Here's one example...
I've started the long, tedious task of stripping as much as possible off my Facebook account.
I'm still quite pleased with this banner photo I took of Peel Beach more than a few summers ago. #IsleOfMan #Manx #ManxScenes #Peel
I'm still quite pleased with this banner photo I took of Peel Beach more than a few summers ago. #IsleOfMan #Manx #ManxScenes #Peel
March 23, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I've started the long, tedious task of stripping as much as possible off my Facebook account.
I'm still quite pleased with this banner photo I took of Peel Beach more than a few summers ago. #IsleOfMan #Manx #ManxScenes #Peel
I'm still quite pleased with this banner photo I took of Peel Beach more than a few summers ago. #IsleOfMan #Manx #ManxScenes #Peel
The word "arguably" is doing some heavy lifting on this sign on Douglas Promenade. #IsleOfMan #DoctorWho #JonPertwee
March 15, 2025 at 9:56 AM
The word "arguably" is doing some heavy lifting on this sign on Douglas Promenade. #IsleOfMan #DoctorWho #JonPertwee
Really, really hoping I might be able to join in celebrating the arrival of the much-loved Doctor Who Season Seven box set today. (Drums fingers in a Jon Pertwee style.)
The mission started smoothly enough, but there's been no contact for five days now.
*Something* took off from HMV...
The mission started smoothly enough, but there's been no contact for five days now.
*Something* took off from HMV...
March 4, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Really, really hoping I might be able to join in celebrating the arrival of the much-loved Doctor Who Season Seven box set today. (Drums fingers in a Jon Pertwee style.)
The mission started smoothly enough, but there's been no contact for five days now.
*Something* took off from HMV...
The mission started smoothly enough, but there's been no contact for five days now.
*Something* took off from HMV...
Who watches The Watcher?
Bryan "my brother wrote Quatermass" Kneale's sculpture, Yn Arreyder ('The Watcher' in English) has disappeared off its plinth in the grounds of the Manx Museum.
Apparently, it's off for some repatination. Fancy.
Bryan "my brother wrote Quatermass" Kneale's sculpture, Yn Arreyder ('The Watcher' in English) has disappeared off its plinth in the grounds of the Manx Museum.
Apparently, it's off for some repatination. Fancy.
February 25, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Who watches The Watcher?
Bryan "my brother wrote Quatermass" Kneale's sculpture, Yn Arreyder ('The Watcher' in English) has disappeared off its plinth in the grounds of the Manx Museum.
Apparently, it's off for some repatination. Fancy.
Bryan "my brother wrote Quatermass" Kneale's sculpture, Yn Arreyder ('The Watcher' in English) has disappeared off its plinth in the grounds of the Manx Museum.
Apparently, it's off for some repatination. Fancy.
There's a line spoken by Joan Sanderson in an episode of #AfterHenry thar makes Bixby, the assistant on my phone, awaken from her long slumber to ask how she can help.
I'm now trying to rename Bixby Valerie Brown On The Pension Counter's Sister Mary.
Sorry, that's a really obscure reference.
I'm now trying to rename Bixby Valerie Brown On The Pension Counter's Sister Mary.
Sorry, that's a really obscure reference.
February 23, 2025 at 8:59 PM
There's a line spoken by Joan Sanderson in an episode of #AfterHenry thar makes Bixby, the assistant on my phone, awaken from her long slumber to ask how she can help.
I'm now trying to rename Bixby Valerie Brown On The Pension Counter's Sister Mary.
Sorry, that's a really obscure reference.
I'm now trying to rename Bixby Valerie Brown On The Pension Counter's Sister Mary.
Sorry, that's a really obscure reference.