Ode to Guernsey

I don't really have the literary chops to compose an Ode, but if I did, I would bang on about how much I love this little island. Visiting it was a highlight of our trip, due in large part to Simon and Lucy who hosted us, equipped us with bikes and even sourced us a car (thank you Go Guernsey - seek them out if you need a bike or kayak while visiting Guernsey). Simon, as well as being my old friend, is one of an extremely rare breed in that he was well able to answer Mountain Dad's diverse and multitudinous questions. 

In the lead up of arriving in Guernsey, Shea observed that he'd never seen me this excited about anything. I do hope he was exaggerating as I was quite excited to marry him, once upon a time, but grant that returning to Guernsey did indeed thrill me with anticipation. I think because I was so very happy when I lived there. In fact, I began writing this blog just before I left the island.

Guernsey is similar to the Yukon in terms of the loyalty that it earns from it's residents. In it's feel of a tight community. In that rules in place on the 'outside' may not hold sway here. In that you feel you can access wilderness, though in Guernsey it's more the wild of the sea and the weather. They're similar in that I feel both could have lured me permanently. Maybe Guernsey would have if the Mountain Man hadn't seduced me with his Yukon.

While introducing said Mountain Dad to Guernsey, we not only adventured around the island and it's neighbours, both Herm and Sark, but I was able to take a stroll down memory lane. Well, after so many pints it wasn't so much a stroll, as a bit of a wobbly ride home, but you get the gist. Nothing that a bracing dip in the sea the next morning couldn't wash away. Thanks for the company Simon, Tami and Carolyn. And Adelaide. My wraith of a daughter, who shivers in the slightest of breezes, surprised us all by stripping off and running then diving in. With much less fuss and determination than any of us adults were demonstrating. 

It has been fourteen years since I was in Guernsey. I hope it's not another fourteen before we return. 

It was a bit windy while we visited.

With Simon on a cliff walk. One of my favourite things to do here.

Sark Harbour

My robe, on loan from Lucy, that made the freezing wind pre and post swim, more bearable.

Steve, Tami, Michelle and Carolyn. My Cock and Bull colleagues.

Herm Island.

View inside Simon and Lucy's. As we left for a dinner out and they stayed home to cook and care for our Mountain Kids!

School work on the ferry.

Where I used to live. I dragged everyone there so we could stand and gaze at the door and look up the middle windows which were my flat. Lots of good memories there.

School work at Lucy and Simon's.

Simon and I attempted to find my walk to work, through the winding stairways and laneways of St Peter Port. Half successfully.

La Coupee, Sark.

Every morning, Lox would help Simon feed their chickens and ducks from the kitchen door.