under another sun

Up fairly early and a last breakfast at La Barbarie: scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and some toast, plus cereal fruit and teas. Back to the room to pack and pay up. A lovely stay, and we were very sorry to go so quickly. Then a slow toddle to Icart, and sat looking at the sea, still fairly calm. Walked around the clifftop and took in views of Moulin Huet bay and the Dog and Lion and Saints Bay and then headed back to the hotel. Had a last sandwich there, thick ham, Guernsey butter and English mustard, plus a pint of Liberation. We had been made to feel extremely welcome at La Barbarie. A slightly amazing journey back. The travel Gods firmly on our side. The taxi was early, the Auringy plane took off ten minutes early, the flight smooth and fast climbing up eastwards from Guernsey so that I could look out on St Martin's Point and Moulin Huet Bay one more time before we slipped up above the low, still layer of clouds. Before we knew it back at Gatwick and were shortly on a train to Ea...

An alarming start: 6:45. I'd had a wretched night's sleep. Seems the that orange faced malignant narcissistic rapist racist criminal devil Trump has beaten Kamala Harris to the presidency. Shameful.  Lorraine and I up blearily, and after breakfast and faffing about, caught a train to Brighton, and arrived delayed at Gatwick. Realised at Seaford station I had left my phone at home. No trains via Lewes due to a points failure, so via Brighton to Gatwick. However planes delayed here due to fog, probably mixed up with yesterday's gunpowder. Astonishingly, however, our boarding was only delayed by half an hour of so.  The flight was fine. The small twin engined prop taking off like a flying coach all very smooth. Cramped inside however, but very happy to see Guernsey for the first time in two and a half years as we finally dropped below the low blanket of cloud.  A taxi from the airport. The most miserable taxi driver I've ever met, completely down on every aspect of Guernse...

Up early and had another morning looking at Mum's hoard of photographs. I am finding this quite therapeutic in a way, seeing all those familiar faces many of them now having joined the majority.  I like the idea of good times in the past, and seeing myself looking fairly cheery in a variety of situations. I like seeing things just at the edge of what I can remember. I think Mum felt a bit sad seeing all those people too, she is aware of her aloneness at the moment.  Unlike yesterday, it was rainy and cool again. Mum and I went to the Jolly Badger for lunch, very crowded for rainy Tuesday afternoon. Enjoyed the bowls of salad, and chicken there, washed down with a solitary Guinness.    There was a worry about thunder too, and Mum unplugged things when she went back. I walked off in the rain to Mill Hill Broadway station, and had another smooth journey home. I listened to Will's book and I am still enjoying it. Texted Simon, as I found a photo of him and another friend...

Flying off today. Mixed feelings about leaving. Not long enough after three years, but certainly far far, better than nothing.  Up for breakfast, and then packed. Lorraine not wanting to be rushed, so I went for a short walk past the house that is still called Chelsea, where Gwen and Dave used to live, and where Mum had the Tobster. The house looks a bit tatty and unloved, but it was nice to see it. After paying up, Lorraine and I walked down to Icart to 'our' bench were I had proposed, and just hung out. I took some photos, and Lorraine knitted another tentacle just happy to be out in the fresh air. Our stay had felt a bit short, but so nice to feel that so much remains unchanged too. We walked a little around the cliff and then back to La Barbarie for a cold drink and some crisps. Ravis came and shook our hand as we left. All very friendly and nice. A taxi to the airport with a mumbly but amiable driver. Guernsey taxi fares very pricey: £15 from La Barbarie to the Airport. Se...

Hurrah! Off to Guernsey for the first time in three years. Trundled down to Preston Park station and caught the train to Gatwick. We were fearing delays and difficulties, but apart from our plane being delayed by an hour we were through security really quickly, having checked in online before. We were only carrying hand luggage which meant that there would be no hanging around. I felt twitchy generally and the vertigo I get from time to time was quite bad this morning. I tried to buy a couple of cups of tea from Pret but left in disgust after waiting at the front of the queue for twenty minutes. The flight however, was fine  on the Auringy twin engined prop. The weather in Guernsey gorgeous when we arrived (it being overcast in Blighty). Straight through security with our hand luggage and into a taxi with a loquacious woman driver from Madeira. Back to La Barbarie and a warm welcome from Sally there. Into our usual upgraded room. Lovely stuff.  Then after a cheeky glass of Lib...

More podcast recording with Robin this morning:  the what we are reading section, and reaction to Charlotte's interview. Robin talking about La Vita Nuova by Dante, and me chatting about audiobooks by John Cooper Clarke and Joy Harjo. Robin is not interviewing her next victim till tomorrow, and so we decided to go with Charlotte for this week, so it means I'm leading on this episode again, so quite a bit of editing to do in the next couple of days.   Charlotte saying she so wanted a beer with me, Robin, SJB and Mr Bone. That would be a fine thing. A proper Blue Monday this year. Not that I heard anyone on the radio mention it. Doing my best not to feel bleak and mid-winterish, but glum dissatisfaction now settling on me and my own writing like a flock of malign birds. I have so many promising ideas, that I slowly prune to death; a reductio ad absurdum.  A news clip of folks enjoying life in Guernsey, with no social distancing, made my personal little heaven seem even more...

Last day in Guernsey, and the best night's sleep for me. We got up and had a large Barbarie Breakfast, and then packed, stowed our bags with Sally at reception and walked down to Moulin Huet. Another misty morning, and the planes were delayed. Mixed feelings about not wanting to go, and hoping the planes would fly. Just lovely down at the beach, with tops of the cliffs still misty. Lurked there for an hour or so, then climbed up to have a cup of tea in the Moulin Huet tea rooms, before climbing back to the Barbarie. A lunch and a final pint of beer in the bar, before shaking everyone's hands and being given a warm farewell. Taxied to the airport, through security (officious and annoyingly requiring my bag to be open) before waiting for our plane which was then delayed three hours. The flight itself really good, and on one of the jets. We had extra legroom being near the emergency exit, and the flight lasted 40 minutes. Through the airport, quickly, and then to the car in ...

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...

A cool morning. Up early and after some urgent scampering about getting ready, we jumped in the car and drove off to Gatwick. The roads empty as it was a bank holiday. A prop plane which only slowly climbs to 16,000 ft. A pleasant enough journey, despite the knee pressing seats. I felt calm on the flight, although Lorraine felt a bit claustrophobic. Arriving in Guernsey in sunshine. A cheery lady taxi driver, and we were soon sitting outside the bar at the Barbarie. The entrance, bar and restaurant have all been redone. Quite smartly, but anonymously, in greys and topes and mushroom. They have stripped out quite a bit of what made it specifically La Barbarie. There are classical columns in the restaurant, what they are doing in a Guernsey country hotel is a bit questionable, and it is trying to be a bit Italianate, with a vinyl of an Italian maze in one part. When you are on the most beautiful corner of one of the most beautiful islands in the world, it does beg the question why not ...