under another sun

Something of a slow start to the day, tucked into breakfast and hung about in a leisurely way, before going for a walk. Wandered down La Rue des Grons, looking wistfully at the old family home. Walked back into St Martin's where we caught a bus into town. The driver refused to charge us double, which is a controversial new States of Guernsey policy, with the bus price for locals being half. By chance the bus also had one of my poems Hooked as a poster in it. You can't help but be cheered by this sort of thing. Some wandering about in town, a spot of shopping, with Lorraine buying some tops, before meeting Richard and Jane in Delice. This is the new name for the old market square cafe I have haunted for many years. Richard and Jane had made it back to Guernsey safely, and had caught one of the few trains available, meaning they spent a good deal of time waiting at Gatwick. Good to be able to chat to them properly for a bit. Had a glass of wine, and they introduced us to  ga...

Departure Last day in Guernsey... For a month only thank God. After a leisurely breakfast, and a thorough read of the Guardian, Lorraine and I went on a walk from Moulin Huet to Jerbourg. Today hotter than ever, and the cliff path utterly beautiful. The tide was out a long way, and the gleaming sands and turquoise water looked fantastic. By the time we reached Jerbourg we were sunburned and thirsty, so we sensibly repaired to the Auberge. It is a wonderful restaurant and we looked out at the hazy sea and Herm dreaming across the water as we sipped a pair of cold Carlsbergs. Had some lovely food, topped off by Banoffee Pie Mess, whose ingredients were fresh bananas, crushed meringue, Guernsey cream, butterscotch sauce, toasted almonds and pecans with digestive biscuit ice cream. And by God it was yummy. I don't bother too much with puddings, but this was fantastic. Then a wending walk back to the hotel to pick up our cases. Lurked in the hotel bar, where I thanked Andrew the owner a...

The wishing pool A large breakfast for five, and then out into the fresh air. First to La Gran'mère, and then into Samaurez Park for a farmer's market. I'd not been to Sausmarez Manor for years, and it was dotted with sculptures, and teeming with ducks and chickens. From there I took everyone in a sceneic route to the wishing well, where everyone applied themselves to wishing business with commendable seriousness. And I emboldened by last night, said a few lines from an old poem of mine about making a wish in that very place. From there we followed the water lane down to the cliff path, from where we walked above the sparkling sea to Jerbourg. Very happy that Craig and Matty, who'd never been to Guernsey, really liked it. Kate had been there once before. The weather became gorgeous and everything was colourful and with a faint touch of autumn in the rustiness of the cliff ferns. Eventually after scrambling over the cliffs we stopped at The Auberge for a delightful meal ...