under another sun

A bit bushed after the long walk of yesterday, and Lorraine's feet were bad. A low key day. I went for a walk but the heavy misty cloud turned quite drenching, and I returned after an hour or so, with my wet top slick. Happily read some stories by Robert W. Chambers from the collection The King In Yellow . Also had a snooze. Marvellous. After a fine dinner, we walked down to Saints Bay, which was misty and mysterious with the rocks and cliffs in tones of foggy grey as they receded. We were completely alone there until another couple came down just as we left. Walked slowly up the hill as the misty evening grew darker under the trees. Pausing not far from the Barbarie, with bats zooming overhead, one so close to Lorraine she could feel it pass. Two Germans walked past, and Lorraine said bats to them, and they said Ah fledermaus! Lots of German folks on holiday here for some reason this year. Back into the bar, and Lorraine had a rhubarb and ginger gin and I drank some bottles of...

Up early this morning, and Lorraine drove us off to Gatwick. Overcast day in Brighton. A queue at the Aurigny desk, as people had failed to get to Guernsey yesterday because of fog. One young chap was saying the had been circling for two hours. However everyone aboard today. The propellor plane held up on the runway for some time, and Lorraine and I started looking at Richard's collection Stone Witness again. I tucked it into the pocket once we were lumbering into the sky, and left it there when I got off, rather annoyingly. Once above the clouds a lovely smooth flight, and approaching the Channel Islands the blanket of cloud that had covered everything ended. Shortly after we landed the sun came out. A taxi to La Barbarie, and then we walked straight off to Icart. The cloud breaking up and the sun coming out, though shreds of misty cloud were still clinging on here and there.  Beautiful. Icart Point gorgeous as usual, and we sat on our usual bench in the sun. After a while we ...

Up early and packing, as Lorraine and I hadn't managed that the night before. Then fond farewells to Pat and Maureen, Lorraine, Beth, John and myself made off to Gatwick in the car, as this was cheaper than training it there. At Gatwick Security Lorraine and I met Sam and Jade, and once through security (quite tight I think as there was some suspicious customer arrest at Gatwick that morning). I went to the flying horse for a pint with Lorraine, Sam and Jade. The flight over pleasant and we lucked out with the taxis too, getting one that fit us all in.  We all had nice rooms, Lorraine and I being upgraded and there was fudge and bubbly in each one. Warm welcome from Sally, and Andrew and Ravis and folks at the Barbarie. The lady driver listing the flowers that were coming out on the cliffs for us too as we drove. Into the Barbarie, and sat outside having a snack and a couple of pints. Then, after unpacking, all off to Icart. The was the big hit we wanted it to be, with all the ne...

As usual, sad to go from Guernsey. We self catered a large breakfast of eggs and fried tomatoes and toast, and packed up our stuff and left it at reception. A walk next. A grey, cloudy day, with a little drizzle from time to time, but nothing much. To Icart Point again. I was feeling weirdly vertiginous today, which wasn't good. But I still loved to lurk around looking out to sea, which was banded with dark blue and watching a kestrel quartering the clifftop for prey. Walked back along the road, then onto the cliff path opposite the Saints Bay Hotel, and then down the path to Saints Harbour. Here it started raining with a bit more enthusiasm and we were running out of time so we returned to La Barbarie for soup and I had a pint of bitter, and the ladies had cider. It is only a couple of days from the end of their season, and the staff were clearly done with the year. Still we were made to feel as welcome as usual. Then off by taxi, the same driver that picked us up at the air...

A breakfast in our self-catered room of Guernsey tomatoes fried in butter on toast. An unhurried and excellent way to start the day.  Eventually we organised ourselves, and Mum went off to see Ken a brother of my Granddad, while Lorraine and I popped into The Captain's to book a table and then sauntered down to Moulin Huet. It was a gorgeously sunny day with the tide having turned recently and starting to come in. We lurked about, Lorraine finding rocks to sit in the sun on till the sun started lapping at her feet, reading and absorbing the Moulin Huet loveliness. I lurked about with my camera snapping at everything with complete abandon eventually as the sun went behind some clouds and things got cooler we made our way up the hill again. And met Mum coming the other way. She went down to the bay to take some snaps. Lorraine and I made our way to The Captains where Mum met us a little later. A good Sunday lunch to be had there, and couple of refreshing pints of beer as I mentio...