Life in Jersey - May 2006

May 1st Bank Holiday Monday
It rained in the night and woke up to grey skies. It was still spitting when we went out around 11 a.m.
Indoor activities today… We decided to drive to La Mare Vineyard at St. Mary. We’d been there before and nothing had really changed. It’s a beautiful house within beautiful grounds - obviously vineyards with even more beautiful baby Jersey cows and a goat! There are two ponies too but we didn’t look in their meadow because as mentioned it’s spitting.
We did the tour and we have acquired free passes for Michael and I to go there, any time, as we are now Jersey residents! Sorry but visitors still have to pay but it is well worth a visit at £5.50 and you get to taste 3 different wines one being an apple brandy wine. We had a little lunch there in the tea room of prawn sandwiches and tea but no cake today! Trying to cut down a little. Did a little shopping in the shop there and even bought some Black Jersey Butter. We had a little taster there and it is just the BEST!!! Mi gusta muchisimo!!! Sorry, translated - I like very much!!!
Then drove through the middle of the island to Jersey Pottery again. 2 p.m. and the sun was shining and no clouds! Hooray! We were going to buy Margaret her 50th Birthday present at the pottery but the pot we had seen was a little small so we decided to go back to Jersey Pearl and bought her a necklace there - sshhhhhh please don’t tell her it’s a secret!!!
Then we drove through Plemont hoping to find a restaurant (only to look at the menu) called The Lobster Pot. It was a really lovely place we seem to remember but could never afford to eat in there. Anyway, we didn’t find it - I shall look on the map tonight and see if I can find it on there or whether it has indeed been turned into apartments like we suspect.
Drove back around the airport at St. Peter and to the car hire return point. We had been listening to the radio and it was a big day for Jersey today… football cup match against big rivals Guernsey! Boring! Anyway it was all very exciting (not) first of all Guernsey were winning 1-0 and then Jersey scored 2 more and then the finish was 3-1 to Jersey!!! Hooraaayyy! We had won the cup! Yeah, okay, who really cares! The police were chasing the Guernsey crowd back to the ferry terminal as we arrived back in St. Helier. Not quite a large scale crowd but even so they were being chased.
We are not planning to go out tonight as there is a movie I want to see ‘Spanglish’. I wanted to see it at the cinema but as I don’t like cinema’s I have waited long enough to see it and shall watch it tonight. Not sure Michael’s that bothered!
We are cooking a roast chicken tonight and it smells yummy. Roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings as I now have a dish small enough for the job. Loads of veggies… my favourite!
May go for a short walk before movie starts if we have time.


Tuesday - 2nd May 2006
Businessmen are back from the mainland and long weekend break, so more people in apartments but at least the horrible redneck family have gone!
Michael up early and off to work. By 8 a.m. I had emptied the dishwasher and put some washing in the machine.
I have to go into town today and get supplies so that will give me something to do.
I am going to get some more Toni & Guy products… I can’t style my new haircut!
Went into town but didn’t get any hair products as I didn’t know which to get! So will leave for another day.
I didn’t do much today I felt very lethargic and stayed in and read the paper, made lots of tea and ate chocolate!
Michael and I went out for a walk after dinner - it’s lovely having so many different places to walk here. Even better when I bring my car over and we can drive and then walk.
We bought some Crunchies in Checkers Express (local supermarket chain) and ate ourselves silly! This is just the best diet I have ever been on!

3rd May - Wednesday
Woke up to a grey start but the sun is out and hopefully getting warmer.
I took a walk into St. Helier and had a look at some jewellery stores here for Michael’s cufflinks. Most are very old fashioned - yeuch!
Then went into Boots to buy my hair products as I still can’t get my hair right. Again I couldn’t see which one it was that Shaun had used on my hair last week.
As Boots is right next door to Toni and Guy and as I saw Shaun in the window I thought I’d go in and ask him what he used on my hair. No wonder I couldn’t find it… it’s the salon stuff they use and not the stuff they sell in Boots. He said I should buy some of the sea spray he’d used last week and some balm to use after I have dried my hair. Thanks Shaun, should have asked and bought it when I had my hair done I suppose.
Anyway went into Marks and bought some lemon chicken fillets for dinner tonight to eat with pasta. I don’t know whether it’ll be any good but it sounds great.
Came back did my hair again with the jalopy I have just purchased at £20.40 thinking it’d better be good… well it’s a little better than I did it this morning but no quite as good as when Shaun did it. But it sure smells good!!! I may have to just give up and when and if I go somewhere nice just get Shaun to blow dry it for me!
Weather now is excellent and warming up nicely.
Michael didn’t come home for lunch until gone 2 p.m. I gave up and ate mine before he came back!
Again this afternoon I didn’t do too much - just the washing, ironing and Sudoku!
Did pasta dinner and it was nice - ate too much as usual.
Went for a walk - quite a long walk along the harbour and down where they sell the fresh fish. We found a great view to Elizabeth Castle. I didn’t bring the camera and there was a gorgeous sunset and reflection into the sea right through the middle of the castle. It was beautiful!
Watched a little TV. as it’s the only good evening on TV. all week.
Chatted to my daughter on MSN which was nice and off to bed. Busy day tomorrow.

Thursday 4th May
Today is going to be a nice one weather wise although rain is predicted for tonight - so I will get started early today.
Michael came back after leaving the apartment - he’d forgotten his entrance key to the building he works in and his diary. So he was a little hot and bothered.
I am sitting typing this with hair dye on my head waiting for the boring 25 minutes to rinse off. Oh God, it’s only the beginning of the day and I have nothing more to write!
I am going to see an apartment in St. Brelade’s Bay at lunchtime. I am hoping Michael will be able to come but not too sure yet.
The trip is all organised for tomorrow to come back to the mainland although I still have to organise a taxi to take us to the airport. Taxi’s aren’t cheap here - so glad the bank are paying - I hope!
James has to get his car fixed today so he is borrowing mine… please don’t dent it James as I need it from tomorrow! Poor old James he has had so much trouble with his car and they are fixing the air-conditioning today. Last night on his way home from work the exhaust blew up! It would have been cheaper to purchase a Ferrari in the first place not an MG ZR!!!!
Went around the town for something to do and then met Michael and met the agent to see the apartment in St. Brelade’s Bay.
It was a lovely apartment but with my evil eye that could spot dirt as far away as the moon… It seemed to me just a tad tatty but I am being very hard and harsh because I love West Park and want that one!!! There is nothing wrong with it really, it has a huge lounge/diner, modern kitchen and leads onto a garden. At the front are two sunny bright bedrooms one en-suite.
Have just had a phone call from Michael to say that our ‘J’ category licence has been issued and is in the post!
Telephoned Clair regarding West Park and the apartment is still available but she won’t drop to less than £1800 possibly £1750 per month. So looks like that one is out. However, there is an unfurnished one that we originally looked at but it means buying furniture here and it’s expensive! Unless we ship it over from the UK at our expense. Oh I don’t know. We’ll have to see what’s best. I am going to get the keys for the unfurnished apartment this afternoon and we will take a walk along there tonight and then make up our minds.
I shall also go and get the local paper now and see if there’s anything in that.
Nope nothing in the local paper.
Went to see apartments 6, 22 and 33 West Park. Still like 22 the best! Easily the best. 33 would do at a push but 22 is to die for!
Got fish and chips on way back to apartment which were great, very filling and went down well with a bottle of £2.49 wine from the Co-Op! Heehee.
Hick hick hick….night night.

5th May - Friday
Didn’t sleep last night - thought I would because of all the wine! Hmmm… I was just copying Paul O’Grady he said he was out like a light after a bottle. Perhaps I didn’t have enough as I shared a bottle with Michael. Ahh there we go… next time a bottle to myself! Had a headache all night and Michael took some paracetamol with the same pain! Too old to drink I guess!
I went straight to the agent Dandara’s this morning to give back the 3 apartment keys. I am hoping that we can get apartment 22 she will let me know later today, maybe!
Went to the town and bought some lunch for Michael and I (market) prawn and Marie Rose sauce… again. Didn’t go to my usual shop in the market, I thought I’d give the other one a try. It was okay.
I am rapidly typing this as it will be my last blog until Tuesday as we are going home to the mainland for a long weekend. Tuesday is Liberation Day here in Jersey. Festivities, fete’s etc. galore. Apparently St. Helier goes dead on Liberation Day. So we’ll judge that on Tuesday.
Hopefully, we will be able to get some supplies on our return, hoping somewhere will be open.
We are flying to Gatwick this afternoon and then returning with my car on the 9 a.m. Condor fast ferry from Weymouth to Jersey. When we get back it is about a 2 minute drive to the apartment!
I have to go now and meet Michael to catch our flight (hopefully) at 5.25 and I will no doubt have to drag Michael out of his office kicking and screaming! Catch you Tuesday!

Liberation Day on Jersey - 9th May 2006
We had a flying visit back to the UK mainly to see James and Emma and to pick up my car to bring back to Jersey.
It was lovely to see everyone we visited.
It was a bit hectic to say the least going back. We attacked the garden - mowed the lawns which had recovered from the winter to my amazement. The back garden was such thick moss and absolutely not a blade of grass in sight! So I was absolutely amazed to see that most of that was replaced with grass!!!
I washed the car and James washed his ‘new’ car but we won’t go there!
Had to buy a new vacuum cleaner because Teresa (across the road and our cleaner) broke the old one! No, she didn’t really it died just before we came over to Jersey but Michael cleaned it up and it worked momentarily again until Teresa turned it on and it kinda blew out black smoke! Anyway, that was a Dyson and as we can’t afford another we bought a Morphy Richards one from Sainsbury’s at £29.99! Bargain! Cheaper than a £250 Dyson!
The cats were really pleased to see us although only two now to greet us which is so sad - my poor little Jazzmine - I do miss her. Felix did his usual sulk for a day and pretend that he hasn’t missed us but Mindy was all over us. Next day Felix was fine and calling me ‘Mum’ again in his very vocal way! He’s so cute!
Michael, Adam and Emma layed down some chicken wire across a section of garden that darling Bambi Bunny digs and escapes into next door. I’m surprised and amazed she comes back! However, it’ll be bunny proof until she decides she can still escape from that too! No doubt she’ll find a way - she’s such a clever rabbit!
We popped in to see Michael’s Mum on Saturday and thank you very much to her for my lovely birthday presents! They’re great! We also popped in to see Terry and Margaret and gave Margaret her birthday present. She loved hers too. Margaret is excited about coming over to see us and has booked for the 9th August - 16th August. Danny and Jean I think are coming the week before. So at least we will have some visitors. James and Emma and probably Adam will come before that but haven’t booked yet. Anyone else for a nice cheapie in Jersey? You’re all welcome!
We had to get up at 4 a.m. on Tuesday morning to return on the Condor Fast Ferry. I did all the driving as Michael looked dreadful that day! I know he is really tired anyway with his new job and not sleeping too well at the apartment. He didn’t sleep at home in South Chailey either…. The ghost really objected to us being there and threw my razor at the shower during the night one night we were there and then thumped around the hallway (as usual) when he has something to protest about! Michael really, really, really hates the ghost and is terrified but I refuse to get rattled by him and just tell him to ‘piss off’! Excuse the language. I won’t let him frighten me… and when I shout at him he does listen and goes away. Sometimes in the day he protests at me being there alone and tries to scare me but I WON’T be scared. Oh and he also grabbed Michael’s legs in the night this time and wouldn’t let go! He really has it in for Michael at the moment.
Anyway, enough talk of that cretin - not Michael the ghost…
We left at 4.30 a.m. to get to Weymouth and although I was desperately tired because I hadn’t slept that night - I thought well at least I did sleep the night before. The journey to Weymouth took us 2.15 minutes as the roads were absolutely empty. In fact we were really early - almost 2 hours early! However the local news had said that there were now tailbacks on all the roads into Weymouth so we were relieved to have left that little bit early!
We were first on the ferry and it was so weird and a little scary because it’s like driving into a very small multi storey car park! You go up and up and up and then down a level to be facing the right way to come back off the ferry! Genius! I was really impressed but my driving skills aren’t as good as Michael but at least I didn’t crunch my lovely little car!
We got a fried breakfast on board, something we never do at home and now I know why… because it’s disgusting, greasy and inedible in my opinion. Egg doesn’t agree with me anyway, it bloats my stomach and makes me feel queasy. Free range and corn fed eggs are better for me most of the time if I do eat an egg. Michael didn’t eat much of his either.
The ferry took off quite slowly and had to reverse out of the port. I don’t like boats but I wasn’t actually frightened but I did feel sick… perhaps that was the egg or may have been the very very very slight motion. Not sure really. The ferry stopped in Guernsey for about 25 minutes and then we carried on after dropping and picking up more passengers. Very clever as they separate the Guernsey cars from the Jersey cars so that the Guernsey cars are able to get off without disturbing the Jersey cars.
One hour later we were in Jersey and I was the first car on and the first car off! Hee-hee.
I drove to the apartment all 2 minutes of the drive! Great! The advantage of being in St. Helier. Unloaded the car which took about 4 trips back and forth.
We then went for a walk to the town and got a baguette in the new sandwich shop they had been refurbishing when we left. Delicious - I had raw onion and chicken mayonnaise. Michael had his usual - tuna with lettuce. Mmmm they were really tasty.
As already mentioned by the heading, it’s Liberation Day here and flags are flying everywhere! There is a big fair on the re-claimed land next to the port. It was packed and had loads of atmosphere. We didn’t go on anything, most of the rides were quite scary actually.
Then we came back to the apartment and had a shower and I fell asleep on the settee… for about 3 minutes! Michael wouldn’t let me sleep and said I had to get ready and go for a walk somewhere other than St. Helier. So I drove us to Gorey… Michael and I wanted to try a new restaurant that was supposed to open last weekend… guess what… yes... It was closed! So we went up the hill by Mont Orgueil Castle as there is another restaurant we wanted to try… full! Well not full… but apparently they are going to be full with people who have booked! Bum! Went back down to Gorey harbour and into The Moorings Hotel to see if they had a table. Bit more than we wanted to pay but c’est la vie - it was open and they could accommodate us. It was funny, I had melon cocktail to start… I was thinking of Margaret in there as it had tinned peaches in it and I know Margaret would go nuts! So we won’t take her in there when her and Terry come over! It was ok but that was it… ok. Went for a walk around Gorey village and saw some teeny weeny baby ducks with their Mummy and Daddy seeing off other ducks. Ahhh! I drove back probably a little squiffy but don’t tell Michael or he won’t let me drink any more!

Wednesday 10th May 2006
Michael snored most of the night just for a change! The person in the apartment next door is a pain as I have probably mentioned before… he has his t.v. on until quite late and then gets up at 6 a.m. and crashes around slamming drawers etc. I think Michael wanted me to complain to Sue (the apartments Manager) today but I couldn’t be bothered. I will see if he wants to later.
I had to get up early and go down to the car parks department to work out the cheapest way to park my car at St. Helier. If we had the permanent apartment life would be easier and cheaper (wonder if the bank will pay for my parking) hmmm now there’s a thought! Anyway, I had to buy a ‘May’ parking ticket for the whole month even though 9 days of it have elapsed. It was £3 more expensive than buying stupid vouchers which you then have to scratch off the date, time etc. and display about 40 of them in your window! So I opted for the £3 extra and just shove the ‘May’ card in your window and be done with it!
Then came back for my breakfast and straight out to ‘Checkers’ which is really ‘Waitrose’ in Red Houses Village near St. Brelade’s Bay. It’s the biggest supermarket on the island with plans to extend, I think I heard somewhere last week. Anyway it’s big by Jersey standards. I was pleasantly surprised that I was driving quite confidently on the roads here today. Mind you, they are bigger roads out that way compared to the tiny villages east and north of the island - I will let Michael drive on the days we go there… shhhh - I shall be quite crafty I think.
Michael and I went out for a drive after dinner but as he was late back from work I didn’t want to go very far because there was a programme on at 8p.m. I wanted to watch. We stopped on the East coast at a small bay called Archirondel - had a quick walk and came home. Noisy guy downstairs not very happy!


May 11th Thursday
It’s a beautiful sunny day and apparently the window cleaner is coming to clean inside and outside so Sue (apartment Manager) rang to say keep the windows shut. Decided to walk into town and I went around both of the department stores in St. Helier - De Gruchy and Voisins. I prefer De Gruchy I think. Voisins is trying to cater for the younger people by having Selfridges and some really trendy skimpy clothes in - definitely not for the size 14!!! I bought a pair of white linen trousers and a white blouse from Next. I like Next, it’s also cheaper here than on the mainland.
By the time I got back the cleaners and window cleaners had been into the apartment and finished. Thanks goodness.
Michael came home for a sandwich and I also bought us a cake (good for the diet).
Made a bride and groom this afternoon - phew! This one is for the ‘famous’ film director and his wife in the USA - never heard of them but don’t think I know any film directors anyway! Oooh they do look cute. I will take a photo later and send. Their wedding theme is ‘old Hollywood’ and her dress is completely over the top! His outfit is very plain but I didn’t like to say.
Walked to rStore a chain of newsagents here because I couldn’t get a newspaper this morning as there was yet again fog! So they were very late indeed today - I didn’t see any fog!
Tonight we might go to an hotel here called The Ambassadeur - it has live country music and we have been trying to get there for weeks now. It is also on in another hotel in St. Helier on a Monday night.
We didn’t go out to the country music ‘gig’ last night. Michael telephoned the band last night after dinner as he was worried that it would be ‘old’ country music like Tammy Wynette and Johnny Cash type stuff. He was right! An oldish man answered the phone and apparently said to Michael that they don’t play any of that “new stuff”!!! Well, as we like the ‘new stuff’ we thought better give it a miss! So we decided to go for a walk.
We took the car for a spin to St. Brelade’s Bay and parked in the church car park. We were trying to actually find Beauport Bay which we had seen from the ferry on Tuesday. It looked lovely, secluded and peaceful. We found the footpath which was very steep upwards but at least downwards on the way back. We’d left our walk quite late as we wanted to watch a holiday programme on the t.v. before leaving. The sun was a very pink colour and we knew we didn’t have that long and the hill was covered in trees and so visibility would be even less. However, we thought we’d ‘give it a go’. The signpost said 20 minutes to Beauport Bay. It was a steep climb but as we are both trying to get fitter rushed up it like teenagers - yeah well, ok not quite. We got to the top and wound our way around and then ended up in a car park where we could’ve parked the car in the first place right above the cliff path down to Beauport Bay!!! Still we need the exercise.
As the sun was getting lower we decided we’d better not go down to the beach and leave it for another day. We looked at the little signs about the area in the car park and found it has only recently been made into a National Park there. Lots of lovely wildlife (we saw huge, big, fat) male pheasants. They seem a lot bigger here but maybe that’s because the island is small ha-ha. We decided to head back to the car. It was a good walk and we will do it properly another night when we have more time or perhaps on a weekend. Stopped briefly at L’Horizon Hotel in St. Brelade’s Bay to take a look at their Sunday lunch buffet menu. Anna one of the estate agents here recommended it. It’s reasonably priced so we will do that another weekend. Came home and Michael had a gin and tonic and I had a few Bailey’s!

12th May 2006 - Friday
I have got to go into St. Helier today as usual, I have to take the blouse back to Next that I bought yesterday… it’s tight around my big fat, ever expanding waistline! I will have to buy the next size up… size 10 of course! Yeah right!
Changed my blouse for a different one that they had just got in and bought the next size up. Also bought Michael a shirt and 2 t-shirts… he hasn’t bought many clothes out here and doesn’t really buy clothes anyway!
Made a teddy bear topper to sell on eBay either as a Christening or Birthday cake. It’s ok for a first attempt. I have now sold 2 bride and groom toppers in 2 days! Yippee!
Cool breeze this evening coming off of the sea and we decided to drive to St. Aubyn’s Bay and then take a walk around. There are a few nice restaurants there and we wanted to ‘check out the menus’ - food, food, food.
I found a cute little cat at the yacht club and called her over to say “hi” but she kinda begrudgingly came over took a look to see if we had any food and then skulked off once she realised we hadn’t! Charming!
We decided to come home and bought a giant packet of maltesers in Checkers Express and scoffed the lot! I love this diet we’re on!

13th May - Happy Birthday to Me
Got woken up early at 5.30 by the idiot in the next apartment… so not a good start and just laid in bed until about 9 a.m. because Michael was still snoring and I couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed.
Michael made me a lovely cup of coffee in bed and opened the safe! Ooohh I wonder what’s in there! As if I didn’t know. I haven’t peeked or cheated and I have the only safe key! I have tried not to think about my lovely present hidden for the last 3 weeks! My lovely two new rings are gorgeous! Michael took some photo’s of them so I will send them to everyone to show off my lovely present. They are so wonderfully, gorgeously, brilliant! He also bought me a lovely ‘wife’ card which made me tearful… so sweet! I’d seen a beautiful pottery cat at Jersey Pottery which doubles as a ring holder and aptly Michael bought me that to put my rings on. It’s cute!
James telephoned to say that he’d had a nice day in France with ‘his girls’ yesterday (Tanya and Cheryl) from University. Also asked if I had received my present but Michael switched the t.v. on to see if they were sitting in reception… but no present. He’d paid extra to do next day delivery.
We had a shower and then we were going into town to find Michael a new pair of trainers… as we opened the door… sitting on the floor was my present from James! What a lovely surprise! He’d gone in to Toni and Guy and asked about shampoo’s for my type of hair. The guy sold him the shampoo, conditioner and mousse that they actually use in the salon but don’t actually sell! I was really impressed as they do 3 types of product… one they don’t usually sell to anyone (which he managed to get for me) one they sell in the salon and one they sell in Boots! Lovely! I can now have beautiful hair - oh well maybe not beautiful but it might make it look a bit thicker and glossier!
Michael took me into town for a slap up breakfast in Voisins one of the Department Stores here. We had always taken the kids in there when they were younger and James and Michael always had smoked salmon and scrambled eggs with brioche. We were amazed they still sold it and Michael said it was fantastic. I had a huge vegetarian breakfast minus the baked beans - yeeeuuuuchhhhh! I hate baked beans, always have and always will!!! I think they doubled up on the hash browns and eggs instead - it was massive and fantastically fresh. We also had a smoothie and coffee.
Didn’t get Michael any trainers - we couldn’t find any he really liked except a really expensive pair and decided to look around another day.
Came back to the apartment and James phoned again to say he’d got the back tyres on his car changed - he was supposed to get the front ones changed but they found that the back one’s were disintegrating and quite dangerous. He will go back another time to get the front one’s changed as they still have another 500 miles left on them.
Emma also phoned and it was lovely to talk to her again as the internet is broken at home and she can't get on-line to chat for the time being. She is doing well and apparently she has been going out with Adam 6 months today - hmph spoil my birthday! No he's lovely and thinks the world of her and puts up with her tantrums and gets her own way - sound familiar?
It was the Fete de la Mer (Fete or Festival of the sea) at Gorey Harbour today and we went along. There wasn’t much of a fete and not much sea either as the tide was out - ha-ha. We took a walk along the harbour and then decided to go to Jersey Zoo. My favourite place on Jersey. It hasn’t changed much but we had a brilliant time and bought a season ticket as we only have to use it 3 times to get our money’s worth. I can also, if Michael is at work take a guest along instead of Michael which I thought was very generous of them. So one visitor can come with me free! We hadn’t eaten since our rather grand breakfast and decided as it was 3.30 p.m. we would have a snack. We bought a cake each and a pot of tea. Michael can never seem to do with just one cake so he bought two! We sat outside in the sunshine and ate it… we had a visitor on the table next to us a blooming great seagull! He was cute and I took a close-up photo of him or her… don’t know how to tell actually! Anyway there was a lady and her little boy in his buggy sitting at a table nearby… when the lady got up the seagull jumped and ate the little boy’s food!!! She turned around and clapped her hands to shooo it off but it was too late the seagull had got cream all over his beak and chops! It was funny but really naughty!
We took so many photo’s today… I took one of Michael with Jambo - you may remember as it was a BIG news story back in 1986 - this is just part of his story:
Jambo, Jersey Zoos world famous and much loved silverback gorilla had a truly remarkable life. He was born in Basle Zoo in Switzerland in 1961. He arrived at Jersey Zoo on the 27th April 1972. Jambo, Swahili for Hello, is perhaps better known to the public for the gentleness he displayed towards the little boy who fell into the gorilla enclosure at Jersey Zoo one afternoon in 1986. The dramatic event hit the headlines and helped dispel the myth of gorillas as fearsome and ferocious.
It was a busy Sunday afternoon in August 1986 when an incredulous public witnessed Levan Merritt a small boy from Luton UK fall into the Gorilla enclosure at Jersey Zoo.
The initial response of the Gorillas to the appearance of a child in their enclosure was to investigate. Jambo was first on the scene followed by Nandi, his favourite female.
There were cries of anguish as Jambo decended the grassy slope toward the small unconscious figure.
Meanwhile Nandi and Jambo had been joined by the rest of his family. Then the adventurous Rafiki got to close and Jambo deliberately placed himself between the boy and his inquisitive family. It was a gesture clearly understood by all of them "Do not touch". Everyone was shouting "Oh my God" get away you brute but Jambo just reached down and touched the boys pale skin then sniffed his fingers testing for scent. Shortly after Levan began to regain consciousness and began to cry. The crowd were shouting Don't move, keep quiet, lie still.
Jambo, who had controlled the situation from a few paces of the little boy, suddenly raised himself on all fours, looked up at the shouting crowd and then made a hasty retreat toward the Gorilla house followed by his females.
The departure of Jambo and his family however was not the end of it, as the doors closed on the silverback, Hobbit, an unrelated seven year old male escaped from the Gorilla house. Hobbits' boisterous ways caused an even greater threat than the rest of the group put together. One of the keepers went in and kept Hobbit at bay until rescuers finally got Levan to safety.
But Jambo who most people were quick to credit young Levans survival was in the Gorilla house quietly enjoying a bonus feed of fruit and vegetables.
This story of Jambo hit the international headlines. Addressed simply to Jambo letters and cards of admiration and congratulations flooded in from all over the world. Boxes of bananas arrived along with other gifts plus numerous requests for autographed photographs of the anthropoid.
Jambo was found dead on the 16th September 1992.

I have taken a photograph of Michael with the beautiful gentle giant Jambo statue which now stands proud next to the Gorilla enclosure. Jambo by the way is the one of the left! Just in case you are confused!
We had a walk around the zoo and took loads of photo’s. Hundreds in fact but we will have to go back as I couldn’t get any of orang-utans which I adore! Michael isn’t quite as nuts as me about animals so I will go back on my own one day soon.
We drove back to St. Helier and had a glass of vino tinto in the apartment and soon we shall go to Pizza Express in St. Brelade’s as there are lots of noisy football fans about tonight. We were going to go for a pizza in St. Helier tonight but we can hear them singing and chanting outside now! We are better off going out of town. We are going to eat cheaply tonight as we are going to Longueville Manor tomorrow - my chosen destination for my birthday treat - spoilt brat! I’d rather go there on a Sunday as there isn’t much really to do and it‘s cheaper than dinner!
A sad e-mail from our dear friend Ardie last night. For those of you who don’t really know who Ardie is… She and her Husband Bill (my best friend in the whole world) got married whilst we were in America 12 years ago. To cut a long story short, I took some wedding photographs for them and we have been in touch on a daily basis ever since! Unfortunately my dearest friend Bill whom I talked to at least twice daily died this year in February. We had so much in common and we liked putting the world to rights! We were so good at it! I miss him so very much but I still chat with Ardie but not twice daily! Ardie has always shared Bill with me and she affectionately calls him ‘our Bill’. Which makes me laugh. Bill had been ill for quite a while and I was devastated when Ardie told me he had passed away at the tender age of 77 years. Our birthday’s are just one day apart. We toasted Bill today with a glass of red wine and tomorrow we will wish him a Happy Birthday.
Anyway, Ardie keep on drinking the Argentinean CHAMPAGNE! It’s so good for you especially when you are feeling down. When we see you again, we will have a glass of Lewes CHAMPAGNE! None of that French muck - sorry to Bill’s French grandson’s.

14th May 2006 ‘our’ Bill’s Birthday R.I.P.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM J. VERNON (as he called himself) Thinking of you today.
Last night we went to Pizza Express and it was great. We had a fabulous meal and it overlooks the Bay of St. Brelade which is even better. The food was excellent and our pretty waitress lovely. The staff at restaurants on the Island are so much more attentive and nice - perhaps this is because the majority are from foreign parts including Portugal, Poland, Italy etc.
When we came back the town was not feeling that nice as the football crowds and kids were out making a noise and causing mayhem. When we drove into the car park yobs had been through and pulled the lights off of the ceiling of the car park! We couldn’t believe we were in Jersey, 10 or so years ago there was never any trouble yet alone murders! Ok murders are still very rare but I heard of a flasher the other day around the First Tower part of Jersey. Catch him and cut it off I say! I sound like Bill now don’t I Ardie?
It’s a beautiful sunny day again today. I had a very sleepless night because I could hear the yobs up the hill shouting until the early hours of the morning. I was so worried about my little car almost all alone in the car park. Thank goodness the car was ok.
We drove to Longueville Manor for my special ‘post’ Birthday luncheon. As we got to the car park one of the staff came out to greet us and took us to the entrance of the Manor and then the Manager was there to introduce himself and take us through to the restaurant. A nice touch.
There were a few people already seated in there and eating. There were about 3 staff per customer! They were just so attentive without being ‘in your face’. Each and every one of them you couldn’t fault and were so sweet and knew their stuff. The wine waiter was great and so was the cheese expert!
We were bought a complimentary appetizer of aubergine pate and anchovy pate (anchovy (yeuch) which actually wasn’t that strong and I liked it) as I usually hate anchovies. This came with handmade potato chips of tomato and fennel, anchovy and cheese and sea-salt parsnip chips.
The first course came and Michael had local scallops and I had a goats cheese, pesto, rocket and sundried tomato (and fresh tomato with red onion) salad with fresh parmesan shavings. Very nice and I was assured the goats cheese would not be too strong and as the waiter was concerned he asked if I was ok with it. It was fabulous. I am a bit fussy usually with goats cheese.
The next course we both had mushroom soup which was very mushroomy! It was lovely. We could have had lemon sorbet but we are soup lovers.
We both chose the same main of chicken (as usual) and bacon with creamy mash, roast potato and asparagus topped with onion gravy. Yummy, I was sooo full and had to give Michael my roastie. Michael never says no to my leftovers! He should be really fat!
For desert well what can I say… I don’t ever get to desert normally but I am so glad I did because…. They had remembered why we were coming to the restaurant from weeks ago and had obviously made a note that it was for my birthday celebration. On my plate they had handwritten in chocolate ‘Happy Birthday’ - me being me, burst into tears and thanked them. They were just so nice and the waiters and waitresses, each and every one of them in turn including the Manager wished me a Happy Birthday. It was just so lovely. Anyway, I haven’t told you what we had yet… Michael had a crème Brule with rhubarb sorbet and fresh raspberries and redcurrant coulis. I had a chocolate pyramid (made out of sponge and shaped into a perfect pyramid) with an orange gooey centre. James and Emma will know I make a chocolate runny centre with mint - so guys just like that but cleverly in a pyramid shape and with orange instead of mint. It had a nutty sauce dotted around and some lovely pistachio nut ice cream. Michael also helped me eat that too - fatty!
The wine waiter kindly took a photograph of Michael and I. It’s a nice photo too.
Then we took coffee and handmade chocolates into the lounge and sat peacefully for a while feeling veeerrrrrry greedily full!
We decided to have a walk around the vegetable garden there and have a look at some of the home grown produce we had just experienced. We couldn’t believe the size of their Rosemary Bushes!
We walked around the lake and took some photo’s of the beautiful black swans.
We decided to take a drive to Catherine Best jewellery designer and have another look around. We can’t afford any more jewellery but it’s nice to look - her pieces are just beautiful. I tried on the matching ring to my new ‘wedding and engagement’ rings and decided I would just have to make some more toppers and save up! Hard!
Drove back to the apartment and we will go for a long walk tonight around St. Helier which will hopefully be quieter than last night!

15th May - Monday
We took a long walk last night and ended up bumping into Jenny and her dog Lily. Jenny is an agent here who has been trying to find us a house or apartment - coincidentally she also works in Catherine Best the jewellery designer place and sold me my birthday present. Another coincidence is that her birthday was yesterday. I received an e-mail from her last week wishing me a Happy Birthday and I was hoping we’d see her yesterday as we nipped into Catherine Best but she was taking her birthday off. So instead of sending a late e-mail, I was able to wish her a Happy Birthday in person.
Today the weather is grey and it did rain for about 10 minutes! It has remained grey though.
I went into St. Helier and bought some cleanser and toner from Au Caprice. The lady thought I looked young and tried to sell me some cream for the under 40’s! oooh I was a happy bunny! When I told her I was now 48 her jaw nearly hit the floor! She said whatever I’d been using cream-wise in the past - carry on “it’s doing a good job”! She probably flatters everyone but it worked on me!
Michael came home for lunch and reminded me that there is a rock concert on at the Opera House for 2 nights only. He tried to phone to book tickets for either tonight or tomorrow night but it was an answer machine. So, after we’d eaten I took a walk along there instead and successfully got us tickets for tonight.
As we were leaving the apartment we bumped into Sue the Manager and asked if we could prolong our stay as we couldn’t move into our long-term apartment for another 2 weeks. Yikes! No - they are full from the day we leave! She said to have a word in the morning to see if she has any cancellations.
Panic set in and I decided to go to Dandara (the rental people) to see if we could move into our apartment early. They said it’s in the hands of the Housing Agency of Jersey to approve our licence to rent! Bloody stupid process and I was really pissed off! She said to go along there and see if I could hurry up the application by saying as from Saturday we have nowhere to live.
I walked along there with my sob story and saw a young guy who was apparently new. He raked out our application and said it was the wrong bloody form! I am by this time getting more and more angry and trying to calm myself at the same time. He gave me a new form to bring home and for Barclays to fill in. I might just do it myself and stick on any signature. I’ll see what Michael says when he comes in. Spain is easier than Jersey to get anything done!
Went to WH Smith to get a newspaper as I forgot to pick one up earlier and went back to the apartment. I sat down and did some Sudoku to try and calm down a bit.
It’s 5.25 p.m. now and I am just calming down and thinking well we’ll just have to try and check into another hotel and then I won’t have to cook and we can charge Barclays even more and save ourselves even more money! I like eating out especially when other people are paying but my big fat butt and stomach can’t take much more expansion!
Michael apparently sent an e-mail which I hadn’t looked at regarding our apartment at West Park… bad news for the short term in that the form which stupid Dandara made me fill out and get Michael’s signature on, actually needs signing by the Bank and filling out BY THEM! Grrrr. We have just wasted a week to find that out! Trying to stay calm!
When Michael came home he decided to look on the computer for ‘holiday lets’ on the island for the short term. He found a nice one at La Haule in St. Aubyn. It looked gorgeous, telephoned but no answer. We decided to bolt down our dinner - me eating and talking to James on the telephone and then drive to La Haule.
When we arrived the owner Mick was standing on the steps asking if he could help. He took us up to his office and made several telephone calls for us as he didn’t have any space in his apartments left. He was so kind and so helpful. He was really friendly and very interested in Michael’s job and he did not stop talking for about 40 minutes! We were due at the theatre for the Rock Musicals show in 20 minutes! I kind of interrupted and backed away and we thought we were on our way but he came up with other suggestions and being helpful so I couldn’t be rude. Anyway, we drove to the theatre just making it in time by parking my car in the multi-storey opposite the theatre.
It was a really good show, playing a selection music and songs from West End Musicals. - it started off with ‘Tommy’ which was good and then went into Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair and we thought uh-oh. Phew! After that they got better and better playing and singing and dancing to more and more familiar tunes - like Greased Lightning and The Rocky Horror Show which was such fun with the main singer dressing up in the full transvestite gear. He looked so funny with his long hair - he actually played the part a little too well! In the second half they played some of the Blues Brothers songs getting into character again. Finishing off with Mama-Mia and We Will Rock You. It was good fun and I am so glad we went along and the Jersey Opera House is lovely, quaint and a very good, friendly atmosphere.
Back at the apartment noisy new neighbour kept telly on until very very very late. I banged the drawers to ‘hint’ and it kind of worked… he did turn it down but not off!

16th May 2006 - Tuesday
Today we woke very tired, surprise, surprise. I am even more surprised Michael woke up without an alarm! He turned over to wake me and nearly got slugged in the mush! I hate mornings so it‘s a good job I‘m the thick one who doesn‘t work to earn a living!
I am trying to wake myself up and get on today. Mick, last night suggested we go to the tourist board after drawing a blank ringing around for us last night. He said to pick up the accommodation brochure and phone a few places direct. So that’s my job for this morning. I may take a drive out to any that have vacancies. Our problem is the season is just starting to pick up and with bank holiday at the end of May we don’t stand much of a chance. Also, a lot of the ‘holiday apartments’, I think I mentioned before are now ‘permanent apartments’ for locals. We’ll see, otherwise it’s back to an hotel I guess.
I went to the tourist board and picked up a brochure on accommodation. Young girl was very friendly and showed me the sections to look in.
Walked into town to pick up a newspaper and a couple of bits in Marks.
Came back and e-mailed about 20-30 different apartments to see if they had any availability.
Michael came home from lunch and mentioned he’d had a word with Sue this morning the apartments Manager and told her about the noise. She said it just wasn’t acceptable and she has now put a complaint under everyone’s door (including ours)! I hope we get some sleep tonight.
Lots of e-mails started coming through this afternoon about different apartment availability or lack of! There are a couple that can take us but we will have to go and look at a few as we are just a bit fussy to say the least! I’d rather be in a nice hotel than a grotty apartment.
Trying to eat the contents of the fridge and freezer the rest of the week in case we can’t get an apartment. Fish tonight, chicken tomorrow, fish again the next day and our last night will be chicken! Hee-hee! I have two huge bags of peas and sweet corn from Marks to devour but we won’t get through both packs!
Ate dinner and went to view a couple of the apartments. They are both very nice but one can’t accommodate us for the whole time and the other there is one day we would have to move out overnight but that’s not tooooo much of a problem. We will just have to go into an hotel overnight somewhere. This one is in a very peaceful location in St. Ouen but not right on the Bay - back and into the countryside tucked away. It is a centre for relaxation and they do yoga, massage, treatments and have a spa and swimming pool too! It’s lovely and quiet there with beautiful gardens and an orchard and a terrace. Attached to the apartment is a lovely upstairs balcony/terrace to sit out on with wood furniture. We will probably go for this one but Michael will have to have the car for work and I will be stuck! I will just have to do some toppers to keep me busy.
We came back to St. Helier and had a walk around the harbour and fair - which was empty!
Back at the apartment tonight - everyone has obviously ignored the note under their doors to keep quiet as they are all just as noisy. Michael is going nuts and slamming around and even went for a walkabout to see who it was … basically everyone except us!!!
We slept in the lounge where it wasn’t quite so noisy. For a pull down bed it was quite comfortable but restless sleep.

17th May 2006 - Wednesday
I couldn’t get out of bed this morning. Michael had to make his own coffee - I just couldn’t move. I don’t quite know how he does it but he does. Grey day.
Went into town briefly to get a newspaper and yes they were in, baguette and some tissues - all exciting stuff!
Michael phoned when I got back to say that hopefully we will still be moving into West Park that week and they are pushing it all through as fast as they can. So good news hopefully there!
Michael came home for lunch. He has managed to wangle Jason (who worked with Michael in London) a job with him here in Jersey. He is really looking forward to coming in about 4 weeks time!
The apartment Les Roches we went to view last night e-mailed also to say we can stay there except for the night of the 27th May… no big problem really, we will just have to take an overnight bag to an hotel.
I made a bride topper this afternoon and I think she’s probably one of the best I have ever done. Didn’t get time to make her kilted hubby! She does look lovely and I have used real Swarovski crystals in her tiara and in her dress. I hope the ‘real’ bride likes it.
Nipped down to Checkers Express which is on the corner of Pier Road where we are living at the moment… to get some milk and water. I think I mentioned before that the tap water here is disgusting - it really makes me feel sick. It has soooo much chlorine in it and I struggle to swallow - you can even smell it when it as it comes out of the tap. I am not usually fussy, I do drink tap water at home but here it’s just the worst!
It has remained grey all day today and tomorrow it is supposed to rain heavily. They have said that all week but it hasn’t so let’s hope they’re wrong yet again!
Tonight we are going for a drive… once we have gotten some petrol! We are going to see where the nearest shops are to our new ‘temporary’ apartment. Michael will need the car every day to travel to work… so I will go nuts if there are no shops to at least walk to. I understand the beach isn’t too far so if we get some good weather I could walk there. There is a bus stop just up the road so not sure how far apart they are. I will have to get a bus timetable and then I can time it by going into town to meet Michael from work… after doing a little shopping first of course!
Average house prices £355,000. A 1 bed. Flat £169,000 and 2 beds. £259,000. 3 bed house £355,000 and 4 bed houses £460,000 - sorry just randomly throwing that in as it’s on the news tonight. WEST PARK HOWEVER - BOY OH BOY…. £556,119 STARTING PRICE for a 2 bed. Apartment rising to £1 million for the 2 penthouses which are fabby!!! Well we might not ever be able to afford one or have the chance to even buy one but hopefully not too long before we live in one! Hurry up!
Went for a drive around the area where we are going to rent and went down some fabulous country lanes. Unfortunately, they are really narrow and I am scared! Michael on the other hand couldn’t give a stuff and drives like a native! No shops to walk to and the beach is even further away from the new apartment - so I guess I will just swim in the pool and then get bored!
A lovely turquoise peacock walked out in front of the car - fortunately Michael didn’t hit it - he just stopped and took a blurred photo of it instead.
Came back and had a Baileys and Michael his usual Gin and Tonic - now after watching 10 years younger on t.v. we will probably try and get some sleep! Yeah right! Actually I have just turned around and Michael’s already dropped off on the settee!

18th May 2006 - Thursday
Last night was a lot quieter although Michael got up at 12 a.m. and the stupid people above had their t.v. on quite loud. He said that they put it on about 11 p.m. It was definitely quieter than previous nights though. I tried not to wake up too much and just ignored it and pulled the covers over my head. I did sleep better but think I am now used to not sleeping and tossed and turned.
Anyway, weather grey again and apparently worsening as the day goes on. Apparently the sea will be very rough. We haven’t seen it rough here before it’s usually quite calm and on somedays ‘flat’.
I suppose I will have to do a bit of tidying and packing today. I want to ask the new apartment Manager this afternoon if I am able to take a few bits and bobs over tomorrow at some point. Don’t know whether he’ll go for that but I will try.
I have to get some bread today for a sandwich… we are having prawns from Marks and Spencer for lunch as I have a huge frozen bagful in the freezer. We will also have fish from the freezer and from Marks too tonight for dinner and I may even throw in a few prawns.
Went into town got some Toni and Guy hairspray, bread for our prawns and a cakie each and a birthday card for Geoff.
Came back had a chat with Em albeit a brief chat but at least I know she’s ok. Adam is there and they are just going for some lunch somewhere.
Sun has come out here - so don’t ever believe the weather reports! Shhh don’t speak too soon though it might rain later.
It did rain later - but only a heavy shower. Now the sun is out again.
Michael didn’t make it back for lunch today as he was really busy so he sent one of his staff out to get him a sandwich whilst he sorted out the auditors. Blimey, he must be knackered!
I stayed in and made a kilted groom to go with the bride I made yesterday - very handsome but I do hate men in kilts! Hate making them too! Still it’s quite funny because I never put knickers on them! One day I will pluck up courage to make his ‘bits’ to go with him! Hee-hee.
Michael came home from work and we ate our second to last of our leftovers! Fish again, peas, corn, cauliflower and new potatoes. Not Jersey potatoes because even though they are grown here they ain’t half expensive!
Anyway, we packed up some or should I say quite a lot of our belongings and took them to our new apartment. Actually, there is nowhere to put anything when we move in - it’s a lot smaller than our place here with no storage. I’m glad it’s hopefully only for a few weeks. It is nice though and there is a big balcony with furniture on so it will be nice to sit there and look over the meadows.
We came back to St. Helier and bought another BIG bag of Maltesers!
Michael is watching t.v. and I am talking to Emma on the internet. Shall attempt to get some sleep tonight - we’ll see!!!

19th May 2006
Did get a bit of sleep last night particularly the early part, then the middle I was awake then later I slept and then it was time for Michael to wake me up! He slept not toooo badly either.
Michael has the auditors in again today - their last day to see if the bank will pass or fail. He has worked hard trying to keep them happy and found loads more errors himself that have occurred within the bank and is trying hard to rectify them before they make their decision. Michael thinks they may scrape through but it will be just scrape through. Let you know later.
I went over to our new apartment again today with the big suitcase full of goodness knows what really! It fitted in my boot - just. I slammed the lid down on the case and it just pushed it down that little bit farther - I then thought how the hell am I going to get this back out at the other end! Well, it did come back out with the help of the new apartments manager. Phew!
On the way back to the apartment I went to our new local shop (which ain’t walking distance) Grande Marche (a Co-Op basically)! It’s quite a nice one with loads of fresh veggies mmmm.
Got back to the apartment and there is now NOTHING for me to do - all my clay and craft stuff is gone! I am going out of my head!
Michael eventually came home for some lunch at quarter to two. I never thought he’d get back especially with the auditors there.
Walked back into town with him and decided to go buy a newspaper as I forgot to pick one up in Grande Marche and a new Sudoku puzzle book - yes I am addicted! It passes the time on my own too.
I also took another look for Emmie’s trainers (DC’s - Alien model) as I told the sales assistant - and then corrected myself ‘Alias’. Well it made her laugh even if I felt a total dork! I could’ve saved my embarrassment as they ain’t got ’em anyway! I was also in the men’s shop and not the women’s - derrr! Across the road is their ladies store. They did in fact have them but not the colour - so I took photographs of them and will send them another day. I can’t send them today as the wires are over at the new apartment - grrrrr.
Later we are hoping it will be okay to have a walk. It did spit when I was coming back from the town. The weather, as mentioned, changes every 10 minutes here anyway - so who knows what it’ll be like later.
Anyway, not much packing now - just kitchen odds and ends and bathroom stuff and I will need a HUGE SACK for my cosmetics. I have so much - even more than Au Caprice or Debenhams to you guys or Sears to Ardie!

Saturday - 20th May 2006
After a very very very windy night indeed we woke quite pleased that it was our last night at the apartment. Very noisy neighbours upstairs as usual, an old couple who I could now shoot in the legs! They must be deaf - totally deaf, the volume on their t.v. must be as loud as the t.v. would go.
I filled out the apartments survey and I couldn’t have been ruder if I’d tried - well, without swearing that is.
They shut the airport yesterday evening and the ferries were stopped from sailing because of the wind so no doubt people have been stranded either here or on the mainland.
Managed to get a newspaper despite the flights being aborted.
Anyway, Michael packed up the kitchen things whilst I showered and then we packed up the car. You would not believe what can be fitted into my little two seater’s boot. It’s fantastic!
We managed with just one trip.
When we arrived at the apartment we managed to make it look like a bomb had hit it with all our stuff.
Michael unpacked a few bits whilst I went through like a whirling dervish with antibacterial cleaner - just for a change. I am terrible, I know but if I don’t think it’s clean then it ain’t!!! The kitchen was sticky and so I cleaned it about ten times before I was happy. Michael had actually said himself that it was sticky and pointed out that the handles on the cupboards were sticky and dusty! So it’s not just me being fussy. I then proceeded to clean all the cutlery and wash the dishes - they bloody well needed doing - the cups still had rings from tea around them. I wasn’t happy but I would have cleaned them anyway! It has a dishwasher in the apartment but it doesn’t work - apparently the part is in but not fitted yet. I hope they fit it this week… I hate washing up!
Went to ask a couple of important questions at reception… is there internet access - NO!!! Bloody hell I was instantly depressed - I can’t do without the internet and I have things running on eBay at the moment that need looking after and questions answered otherwise we won’t be eating next month! Also, Sky t.v. is only the basic channels - we were told that there was full Sky. Michael is also depressed now.
I am also fed up because although the apartment is going to be very quiet I am stuck out here because Michael will need my car and I will have nothing stuck here to do and no-one to even talk to on the internet. Just my own boring company. There is nowhere in walking distance to go - bugger all in other words!
I burst into tears as I am feeling a little low today with PMT possibly and Michael… I am sure wishes he was dead!
We went to get some food at Checkers in Red Houses to put in the tiny fridge. I was in floods all the way, I think I am feeling low because of PMT and the fact that we have had a sleepless week and being unsettled etc. I do love it here in Jersey, it is a beautiful place but with so much up in the air I’m feeling it strange and a struggle at the moment. Tomorrow I will be fine - I am just having a low day today. Another factor is that it is Eurovision song contest night - now that would depress the liveliest, happy go lucky person in the world!
Michael remains his usual positive self and has assured me we will have internet by this evening. I am not convinced and am my usual sceptical self!
Once we’d unpacked the shopping into our clean kitchen we decided to go into St. Helier as I missed it already! No, Michael wants to shut me up and find something, anything that will connect us to the internet.
We went everywhere and as usual Jersey Telecom were their usual unhelpful selves, in that they want you to connect to Jersey Telecom and it will cost you an arm and a leg to do so.
Several failures in different shops but on the way back to the car we went in our final and only hope… opposite Sand Street Car Park there is a computer shop and they seemed to know what they were going on about! I was still not hopeful but it’s worth a try.
Came back, did some more cleaning - my hands are now raw and Michael did some more unpacking and hanging up of clothes (we bought some coat hangers as there are some grotty old things here).
Decided I’d give it a try… yes, connecting to the damned internet with the new connector. I did manage to install the software correctly but it wouldn’t connect for love nor money. Michael had a go and couldn’t do it either - so we phoned my darling little James and he worked it out for us after about 30 attempts and a few phone calls later. It connected but God knows how much it is going to cost as it’s through Michael’s mobile phone! Arrrgghhhh!!! Michael is now happy that I’m slightly happier- I don’t think he could stand any more tears!
We are eating out tonight… I really need cheering up. As we drove to the restaurant, we have to drive along the road which is the very beginning of the landing strip of Jersey Airport. As I was driving Michael said “oooh look at that”. “Er I’m driving” I said “I can’t” - well, then I realised what he meant as an aircraft came RIGHT across the roof of my car. Had I not had the roof on I swear I could’ve touched it!!! It was just sooo low. Hardly surprising really as Jersey has a very small runway and the planes come really low and then screeeech to a halt. Never a good landing at Jersey Airport, especially on such a windy day.
We ate at ‘The Royal Barge’ as it used to be known in the t.v. programme ‘Bergerac’ at St. Aubyn’s Harbour. Remember? It is now called ‘The Old Court House Inn’ and has been for a number of years. It dates back to 1450 and the bar in the restaurant is made from old the old ‘J’ Class Schooner called the ‘Westward’. It’s a fabulous old, old, old, place. I said it should be torn down and made into a car park or something new like that! I got a dirty look at that comment from Michael.
Michael had James’s favourite of scallops to start and I had prawn (head on - yeuch) with coriander timbale. We both had home made fish, chips and mushy peas. All of it was really, really good and a bottle of Aussie wine to wash it down with. Yummy. Very tasty indeed.
We came back to the apartment and are trying so very hard to relax whilst watching the Eurovision Song Contest…. Hmmmm. I must either be very drunk - which I’m definitely not after one and a half glasses of wine and having to drive or they are all singing out of tune. Michael assures me they are all singing out of tune! It’s awful, I think I’ll go to bed it has been a very weird day and I’ve had enough of today and of being a female of 48 years. Goodnight!

21st May 2006 - Sunday
We had our first night’s not too bad sleep - especially as we are now in a strange place. We didn’t get up until quarter to ten in the morning. It was a windy old night but it was just so very quiet here. Thank goodness.
We decided today as it was still very windy that we would just drive and try and take some rather dramatic photographs at Corbiere lighthouse. The waves were very dramatic and bouncing up the rocks quite high. I wouldn’t get out of the car because we’d decided although we dressed scruffily today we would eat out and I didn’t want to be scruffy and my hair looking like I’d been dragged through a hedge backwards! So I took a couple of photo’s through the open window in my car. Michael decided to get out and then took some more. His are better and in true Jersey style the weather changed and the sun came out so he got some even better photo’s.
We went for a drive taking several wrong turnings up ‘green lanes’. Green Lanes are very very narrow roads which are all marked to warn you that invariably it’s two way traffic but only wide enough for one car! They are also only 15 m.p.h. roads - well they are to everyone except Michael apparently! No, you can’t go any faster than that because they are usually very windy roads and you can’t see if anything is coming around the bends.
We drove to Greenhills - one of our favourite country hotel/restaurants but looking at the car park, which was full - realised they wouldn’t have a table free for lunch. I went in and asked anyway, to no avail. So, I phoned Chateau la Chaire to see if they could squeeze us in and thankfully they could. We love it there, especially Sunday lunch because it’s only £15.50 per head including service! The food is just fantastic! For £15.50 you get 4 full courses plus coffee or tea and handmade chockies! Mmmmm.
After lunch we were going to have a wander around the Gold Centre but Michael got me drunk in the restaurant and we had to sit for a while in there whilst I and it seems everyone around us sobered up!!! I’m glad Michael was driving today.
We went for a drive on the North side of the island because the scenery is very dramatic there with mainly rocky coastline and rough seas. We stopped at Bouley Bay and walked along the beach and Michael took a few photo’s there. We could see the French coastline in the distance very clearly - some beautiful sandy beaches.
Also, today although windy, we could see Guernsey and Herm or maybe it’s Sark really clearly from our next destination Sorrel Point. Not the prettiest part of the island as it has a motorbike racetrack there and on race days it gets really busy. The bikes scramble up and down the mud with just a picket fence thing for ‘safety’ ahem…. Don’t think it would do much good as if they have an accident it’s a sheer drop over the edge of the cliffs!
Michael also took a stupid photograph of a portable toilet that had blown down a hole and landed on it’s roof!
Also at Sorrel Point is the Island’s quarry - but it is well hidden from the rest of the Island as it is only visible if you park at Sorrel Point itself and look over the cliff edge. Very clever.
We drove slowly back to the apartment. I got pretty annoyed with the damned internet as I had a question from a customer yesterday asking if I could make a Christening Topper for her baby - next Sunday! I said yes, as long as she’d got the details to me by the next day. Now I cannot connect for love nor money to the damned internet!
So, we drove into St. Helier to the Pomme D’Or Hotel to use their free internet access (as long as you buy at least a coffee) in the coffee shop. Well, fair enough, connected but no darn e-mail from the stupid woman anyway! Perhaps she’s changed her mind. I don’t know.
Drove back to the apartment and had a couple of slices of buttered bread as we were getting peckish by now but not exactly hungry after our huge lunch.
We watched one of our favourite’s Booze Cruise 3. As you can tell by the title it’s the third one there has been over about as many years. The first one was just brilliant, the second very good but this one wasn’t as good unfortunately but we watched it anyway - then went to bed.

Monday 22nd May 2006
Michael got up early to go to work - leaving me stranded here all alone without my little car! Boo-hoo. I decided to have a lie-in as it wasn’t worth getting up as there’s not much I can do here. It was a very windy night and is still very windy. I don’t think Michael slept too well and was apparently awake at 5 a.m. I can’t sleep when Michael snores - which he didn’t do and I can’t sleep when he doesn‘t snore! Stupid I know but I know he’s going to be restless when he’s not snoring. Weird aren’t I?
I stayed in bed until 10 a.m. Not worth getting out of bed any earlier today as it’s gonna be a long one for sure!
Can’t bloody well connect to the internet - so don’t know whether that woman is trying to get in touch or if I’ve sold anything else and my Wedding Topper finishes it’s time on eBay tonight so don’t know whether that has/will sell or not! Grrrrrrr!!!!
Had breakfast, had a shower, put some washing on. Wrote some blog - now what do I do???
Printed off blog and printed photo’s for Michael’s Mum. Can’t post today though as I can’t get out of here!!!
Had lunch and now trying to install the software onto Michael’s computer to see if his one will allow me to connect to the internet. If not I will scream! So will Michael when he finds out I have been installing stuff onto his computer! Shhhhh!
Bloody hell it’s working!!!!!!! Hee-hee I’m happy!!!!!!!!! Well not quite happy - I keep getting cut off!
Anyway, stayed in all afternoon as it’s sooo very windy. Did some Sudoku and watched t.v. Boring!
Dinner was a total disaster! The oven is a hi-tec piece of junk! I put the chicken in the oven and there are only two knobs on the oven - so you’d think it would be easy. Yeah right! You have to programme it before you can cook anything. What a pain in the arse! I could not get it to select ‘chicken’ to cook and could only get it to come on for 12 minutes! I was getting really angry and thought - oh well 12 minutes and then start again for another 12 minutes. You can’t just switch the oven on and then select a temperature - who needs technology - NOT ME!!!! I just want an oven that switches on and off with the right temperature!
Started to boil the potatoes and then got the veggies out of the fridge and they had frozen!!! Oh well, frozen instead of fresh tonight!
Michael then came in and spotted I had set the bloody oven to ‘grill’ - so the chicken was not cooking very well if at all! The potatoes were ready. So he set the oven for me and whilst doing so the potatoes boiled dry and burnt!!!!!! I am pissed offffffff!!!!!!
Michael took over as I burst into tears - I had been here all bloody day and dinner was absolutely crap!!!
He scraped off the burnt bits and put the ‘frozen’ veggies on - well dinner wasn’t too bad but thought all night we would get a stomach upset.
We decided to go for a walk as I had done my sentence for today of being trapped.
It was too cold and too windy - so we got in the car and I drove us to Grosnez which has Grosnez Castle ruins right on the edge of a cliff top.
We got out of the car and then whoosh - nearly blown over the edge! We had to hold onto each other to stand! Bit dangerous but we were determined to look over he edge!
We had always thought Grosnez meant ‘Big Nose’ in French but it doesn’t apparently - we read the sign of the castle’s history and it actually means ‘Grey Headland’. The ruin dates back from the 1300’s - no wonder there isn’t much left! We will go back on a nicer day and take some photographs. We could see all of the other Channel Islands from that point.
We came back to the apartment and Michael watched t.v. whilst I read one of the newspapers Michael bought home for me - luxury - a newspaper! Did some more Sudoku. Went to bed.

23rd May 2006 - Tuesday
A windy night but at least we have blue skies today - something we hadn’t seen much of over the last 3 days! It is still quite windy.
We didn’t get poisoned from last night’s disaster dinner!
I stayed in bed until quarter to 10 this morning! A bit noisy with something/someone banging outside but I wasn’t getting up - it’s a long day on your own with nothing to do and there is only so many Sudoku’s one can do in a day!
I might, if the weather holds out ‘try’ and get a bus into St. Helier to shop and meet Michael from work at least it will get me out of this place! I really do feel like a prisoner here - I don’t know why, it’s ok but I just don’t feel comfortable here. I hate ants and they, every now and again crawl on you feet and legs - don’t know where they are coming from - perhaps that’s why I don’t like it or perhaps it is that I can’t get out and about. I don’t know but I shall be glad when we’re not here.
Managed to get on the internet and Rob said “hi” on-line. He is James’s friend and just come back from a holiday across America on a bus. He went on his own as James didn’t fancy it/couldn’t afford it. He loved it and had an amazing time. He is going to show us some photo’s when he puts them on his website. The one on-line looks amazing! He took hundreds apparently!
Well I had better go get ready now.
Took the bus into St. Helier and it was on time to the very minute! It was quite full. It took half an hour and went the long way around.
I thought I’d take a look around the clothes shops first because I knew I wouldn’t buy anything as I haven’t got any money left! Then end up getting the heavy things last.
I ended up buying ……… you’ve guessed it a newspaper!!! That’s it, a newspaper!
I was a little early and Michael had phoned to say he had a meeting at 5.30 (bugger) but it wouldn’t be a long one.
I decided to go to the Pomme D’Or for a cup of tea in the internet café/bar. At least I could get on-line there!
I had loads of e-mails and replies to do for eBay and our lovely friends Jane and Geoff who live in Benarraba in Espana sent a lovely e-mail. They have been threatening to buy a donkey! Anyway, they have but…. They have gone and bought two! Oooh I am sooo jealous but they have offered us rides around the village when we go over next month! They had trouble buying them and saw a tiny baby (it was cute, I know this as I have seen a photo) and it was 4 months old but when they went back he’d been sold.
It was the gypsy fair in Ronda that week and their neighbour said he would take them as there are lots of pure Andalucian horses and donkeys for sale there. He said they would rip them off as they are English so he would do all the talking! Unfortunately, the prices were too much anyway and they didn’t buy there.
Word gets around in Benarraba and they were shown some donkeys for sale in Gaucin that another neighbour knew of. They bought a handsome baby boy, very gentle but a little nervous aged just 2 years. They have called him Domingo (this means Sunday) in Spanish and guess what day it was - yes Sunday. It is a nice name and I have always liked the word Domingo… it’s a strong sounding word. Then they were shown a little girl donkey who was exceptionally fat (hmmm). She took a shine to Jane and wouldn’t leave her alone. They decided they’d think about buying her overnight too but weren’t too sure if they wanted two. Overnight they’d convinced each other that the girl would be company for Domingo! I knew they’d get two - I just knew it! Jane and Geoff you’re suckers for animals like me! I hope Jake, Sally and Ferdie like them (their 3 border collies) - not forgetting the two cats! The donkeys will live in the campo (countryside). They live right on the edge of the campo and so it should be well shaded from the sun and have shelter from the trees also. They will be looked after - better than the Spanish look after their animals!
Michael’s short meeting ended up being a long meeting of course… so I sat in the car waiting, waiting and waiting. I read the newspaper and if I’d had a pen I could have done the two Sudoku’s inside the bloody thing as well!
Michael got his new job title today he is an ‘Associate Director of Barclays Private Banking Jersey’ ooooh how grand!!! No, I am very proud of him - he deserves a grand title because he is a grand husband! I love him to bits even if he does make me wait and wait and wait! In fact I spend my life waiting!!!
I decided not to nag and take him for a meal instead - just for pizza in Pizza Express in St. Brelade’s Bay. It was ok nothing special - obviously a different chef today as Michael’s pizza looked dry and overcooked but he said it was ok.
Took a short walk along the Bay but it was too cold and getting dark to go any further. I drove home and we went to bed at a reasonable time as Michael had to be up early to catch a flight to London.

24th May 2006 - Wednesday
Oooh good mid-way through this week. I don’t wish to wish our lives away but it is boring here at this apartment.
Up at 6 a.m. this morning to take Michael to the airport - driving with my eyes shut (no, really)! Dropped him off and his flight was a little late leaving apparently.
Went back to bed only to woken by the street cleaning machine going up and down the lane! Eventually it shut up but then the damned dustmen came and crashed around - went back to sleep. Then was woken up at 8.30 by a knock at the door! Bloody stupid woman who manages the apartments… can the painter come in and do some touching up (not me - thank god) the walls… either today or tomorrow or Friday. I sort of said I will let you know when and please go away!
Went back to bed but today it was just one of those days where I was meant to get up at 6 a.m. and stay awake and get on! Bloody Hell!!!
At least I had my car today - all to myself - luxury!
After I was dressed I thought I ought make my apologies to the stupid woman I’d probably insulted at 8.30 a.m. I am sooo not a morning person and it takes me an hour to wake up - at least! I don’t know what I say or what I’m doing before that!
Anyway I guess I wasn’t too rude as she was fine.
Decided to drive to Jersey Goldsmith today - so I studied the map of wide roads (actually there is no such thing on Jersey) but at least I could go the main(er) roads instead of the little ‘green lanes’.
Took a wrong turning of course and ended up going towards St. Helier and thought “sod it - St. Helier it is”.
I drove past it actually and went onto St. Lawrence - there is a Marks and Spencer there and thought I would buy some £9.50 saucepans there as the one’s in this apartment are grot! They didn’t have any - so back to St. Helier.
I did manage to get them there and also had some lunch out in De Gruchy (one of the department stores here). I had chicken Korma and a pot of Earl Grey (weird combination) - I was going to have a sandwich but for 60p more I could have a meal! That’s my justification for being a pig anyway!
Came back to the apartment and the painter had let himself in. He was a nice guy and was asking if I was having a nice ‘holiday’. I said yes thanks and left it at that. He was only here a couple of minutes because he had to fill in some holes where the towel rail had dropped off!
He said he’d be back later when that was dry and paint over it.
I went on the internet (eventually) and I had 10 e-mails! One from Danny and Jean telling us all their news - which was nice and that they were booking to come over on 30th July - 3rd August. Great stuff! Looking forward to having some visitors and hopefully we will have a permanent place by then!
Painter came back whilst I was watching Countdown - bugger it’s the finals this week and I was missing it. He didn’t stop long just did a few bits touching up of the walls and stuff. Then left me watching the rest of Countdown. Little Connor won again - he is now in the final on Friday - I hope he wins - he will be the youngest ever to win a final (He’s14 years old but looks about 8).
Michael phoned to say he was just getting on the plane.
I have to go and pick him up - so it’s going to be a very late dinner tonight. I hope we’re back before 8 p.m. because I want to watch 10 Years Younger (Bikini Special)! Oooh I’m so sad!
It has been a strange day being left on Jersey on my own NOT KNOWING A SINGLE PERSON HERE!!!
Tomorrow Jason (Michael’s friend and employee) comes over for his ‘interview’ even though he has already got the job - given by Michael! Michael will be glad to see him and even gladder when he starts - he’s only a young guy but he says things the way they are and can kick ass! Michael needs someone who can help him kick ass at the moment!
Plane was late arriving from London and I had a 30 minute wait… not too bad but dinner was in the oven!
Dinner wasn’t burnt, in fact the roast potatoes had been in there for about an hour and a half and were still anaemic!!! This oven is a piece of junk - total crap!!!

25th May 2006 - Thursday
Woke up this morning and looked outside it was thick fog. Made Michael a coffee and then went back to bed.
Didn’t hear any planes this morning and thought of Jason who is supposed to be coming over today. We can see the runway from our balcony here at night and it is lit up beautifully. You can’t really see it in the daytime but you can hear the rumble of the planes usually.
Not much rumbling at all.
I got up had breakfast and then sat on the computer for about an hour. The internet cut me off a few times but got to speak to Emma briefly on-line. Answered my e-mails and even got one from Michael.
Had a shower and walked up to the bus stop. The bus was dead on time again! Amazing! It’s supposed to be a good service on Jersey and although I have only caught the bus twice since being here, both times have been on time.
I telephoned Michael to see if he wanted to meet for lunch but he couldn’t make it - stood up yet again!
Jason was supposed to be arriving at 12.30 for his ‘interview’ and to meet Michael’s boss Ramin.
I went food shopping in Marks and Spencer and thought I might as well go back to the apartment to have some lunch and do my chores. Oh and by the way, despite it being foggy I managed to get a newspaper - work that out!!! I can’t!!!
When I got back to the car park (I’m pinching my car for the afternoon) Michael phoned to say he could have met for lunch as Jason hasn’t turned up yet.
Too late mate! I’m off! I know when I’m not wanted!
This morning, when I was leaving the apartment, there were loads of ants underneath my handbag on the lounge floor. I decided to stop at Grand Marche (The Co-Op) in St. Peter Village to get some ant killer.
Got back to the apartment and sprayed everywhere whilst my ciabatta roll was in the oven cooking. Then I sucked up all the dead bodies in the vacuum cleaner! Yeuch!
Hung some washing all over the place as it’s still yucky outside and won’t dry.
Then I started eating and couldn’t stop! I had my ciabatta with some coleslaw and chicken and then….mmmm….. I was really naughty and started on a bag of Marks and Spencer chocolate éclairs. I ate about 20 of them. I feel reeeeaaallllllyyyyy sick now!!!
Michael phoned as I was chewing…. Jason’s flight came over to Jersey and the pilot had tried to land the plane 3 times but had to overshoot each time as it was too dangerous! Yikes!
The plane has now turned around and gone back to the UK. Oh dear, poor old Jason he was supposed to be on the 8.30 a.m. flight this morning and as the trip only takes 35-40 minutes usually. Another attempt - he took off from Gatwick again and got right over to Jersey but couldn’t land again - so it has gone back yet again to Gatwick!
He is now back in Gatwick and trying to find out when he can get another flight out here. Friday is the earliest apparently on BA. Not sure what he’s going to do now. He is trying other airlines to see if any will be flying out tonight (still looks grim outside though). If so, he will stay the night - so we’ll see!
I had to search through the rubbish bin this afternoon - not a nice job. We seem to have lost one knife and two forks! I thought we might have thrown them out with the rubbish but nope, not in there.
Put the trash out on the deck ready to take downstairs with me to the bins when I go out and get Michael from St. Helier. I knew I shouldn’t have been lazy and taken it down to the bins there and then. I heard an almighty commotion going on outside the front door - sounded a bit like birds fighting! We have a lot of magpies here and Michael had to chase one out the patio doors the other day. I knew it would be the magpies - they’re mental! They’d ripped the bag to shreds - so not only have I had to pick through the rubbish once for knives and forks that don’t exist but then pick it all back up again after the flipping magpies! Perhaps they’ve nicked the cutlery too!!!
James has just telephoned from work which was nice. Lovely to hear a friendly voice again even an unfriendly one would be nice this week! He was his usual jolly self which is great. He said he has his review next week (again) and he thinks it will be a good one (again). Perhaps he’ll have his fourth promotion in as many months! He is doing so well there and they all think the world of him and really spoil him. Tea and biscuits had just arrived when I was chatting - don‘t talk about food James - I already feel sick! Oooh I hear a plane! Wonder if it managed to land or take off? James hasn’t had any luck selling his car yet, I hope it goes soon - bloody car!
I have to drive back to St. Helier in a bit to pick up Michael.
Michael was on time (that’s a first) and we drove home and had a salad. We sat down to watch some t.v. and Michael sent a text to Jason to see if he was ‘lucky’ and managed to get a flight this evening. Jason didn’t know yet.
Ten minutes later, Jason phoned to say he was just getting on a plane. We said he’d be fine this time as the fog had lifted. Jason explained that they have now brought in a bigger plane to fly here but they couldn’t fill it up with either passengers or luggage as it was too big to land at Jersey because the runway is so short. So they had to calculate very carefully the weight of the passengers, luggage and fuel in order to be able to stop the plane in time (before it careers off the end of the runway over the edge of the cliffs)!!! Very comforting - NOT!!!
Then, no sooner as we’d put the phone down Michael said “I’m sure the fog is coming in again”. I said “no it’ll be okay”. Wrong! It was coming in thick and fast again. Oh no!
We thought we’d drive down to the airport as it’s only a very short drive from the apartment and meet Jason off his flight as he’d had a rough time today and take him for a drink.
We got there with two minutes to spare and I parked the car in the short stay car park. Michael had gone in to look at the arrivals board and knew someone there called Les who works for Barclays. He was meeting his wife off the flight. Michael introduced me to Les who seems nice. I wanted to watch the plane come in and went to the doors of the arrivals hall. Hmmm… where on earth is this plane it’s been in the sky about 1 hour 10 minutes now. Twice as long as it should take!
It got later and later and then we got chatting to an airline worker, who was explaining that now displayed on the screen, in the arrivals hall, was the aircrafts instruments reading- it’s fog reading - visibility in other words. The level was at 500 (yards or metres not sure) it needs to be reading at 500 or more to be able to land. It went up to 550 then 600 and then 700 - great!
However, the aircraft had been circling for 5 minutes already and only has enough fuel now to circle for a maximum of 15 minutes altogether before it is critical - either land or turn back to Gatwick!
As the plane was at 10,000 feet the airport worker had said that, probably, by the time he comes down, the visibility is usually at a level where it will be impossible for him to land the thing. So wasn’t looking hopeful at all!
We couldn’t hear a plane nor see a plane.
Visibility levels came down and down and down to 350 and it was impossible for it to land then an announcement came ‘flight BA xxx has been cancelled’.
He’d run out of ‘extra’ fuel and had to fly back to Gatwick as there was no chance now that he could land.
A lady who I had been chatting to said that her daughter was on the flight and it was her 18th Birthday on Saturday with a big party booked here. No chance of getting back now as the next available flight is Sunday, apparently.
Even the airport worker’s son is getting married on Saturday and his family are all coming over for the wedding - well WERE coming over. He said he has a light aircraft and he can fly so he thinks he will have to fly to the mainland himself Saturday morning and pick everyone up himself!
We drove back to the apartment feeling tired and so sorry for poor Jason. He had been up since 5.30 to get over here and he still wasn’t here!
I drove slowly back to the apartment.
We sat up as we knew Jason would ring Michael and no sooner had we sat down, the phone rang. It was Jason, a little fed up and saying there may be a chance tomorrow and he has to phone the airline first thing. We had listened to the weather forecast and apparently we have an 80% chance of fog tomorrow too. We’ll see!

26th May 2006 - Friday
Michael woke me up at 7 a.m. - a very brave man my husband!
I dragged myself out of bed whilst he showered and I made him a coffee with my eyes shut.
Went back to bed until 5 to 10! Lazy mare!
I probably won’t go into St. Helier today as I haven’t got to get anything and it’s shhhh foggy but I’m not going to talk about the fog today.
We did hear a few planes coming and going early this morning - you never know.
11 a.m. there was a knock at the door it was Izzy the girl who looks after the apartments - I was still in my nightie! Oh bugger! I was busy writing my blog and checking my e-mails before getting ready.
She had with her two guys to fix the dishwasher here. Oh crap! Ran into the bedroom and said ‘get on with it’ more or less. Quickly threw on some clothes and started writing the blog again. I will get ready when they have gone. Blimey!
They’ve fixed the dishwasher now and it’s blooming loud! It sounds like a lot of water sloshing about…dare I look!
Now, I know I said wasn’t going to talk about the fog but…. It’s lifted…. Shhhhh. Blooming grey out there though and windy yet again!
Going to have a long shower.
I did eventually go into the kitchen and it’s wet - very wet! Bloody hell! Mopped it up and have left a t-towel down to see if it’s still leaking or just a glitch. Hmmm.
Michael phoned to say that Jason has gone to the airport to catch his flight - we’ll see!
He got there to catch the 10 a.m. flight but now it’s apparently leaving at 11 a.m. because of the fog. Michael told him that Ramin was leaving at 12.30 himself on a flight so it’s really not worth him coming. I think Jason just wants to get to Jersey for a day out now as he says he’s coming anyway!
He phoned Michael again to say the flight has been cancelled - this is getting beyond a joke now! They have offered to put him up at the Hilton tonight and a dinner this evening and breakfast tomorrow. He only lives in London so he just wants to go home now. They have agreed to pay for him to have a meal out this evening in London instead. So that’s what he’s going to do. Plus two free flights - always useful.
Ramin will see him in London next Wednesday instead as he has to go there anyway. Michael will see him in London next Friday when we’re back.
That seems to be the end of that for now.
Michael also said the planes we heard earlier did not land or take off. The Royal Mail plane and newspaper plane had to go back to the UK. So, there are no newspapers today apparently - I’m gutted. They expect them to come in at 5.30 p.m. not a lot of good really!
The weather - fog - comes and goes a little. The planes - well plane noises have been coming from the airport since about 2 p.m. I presume some have taken off and landed today as it’s definitely not as bad as yesterday.
Watched a lot of t.v. and did some Sudoku’s today - very boring. It was the Countdown final today and little Connor who as mentioned is only 14 years old (looks 8) won! He is a clever little lad. However, it is not over for him yet as next week it is the start of the ‘Champion of Champions’ final. Connor won the final of the series today but now has to go on and compete in the Champion of Champions. I hope he wins!!! He was presented with the very first cup in honour of Richard Whitely who died last year - whilst we were in Spain. I was really upset and remember the day so well, we were staying with our friends Jane and Geoff in their apartment. Sad, he was such a character.
This evening we decided to stay in as it was still foggy although we did go to Checkers Express to get some milk and found that the newspapers had arrived! Oooh I’m a lucky girl - more Sudoku puzzles and a good read about nothing of importance and full of lies and rubbish! Why do I bother?
We watched Maybe Baby on a dvd we got free out of the newspapers a few months ago that we had brought across with us. Just in case we were bored one night - well tonight’s the night!

27th May 2006 - Saturday
We had a lie-in today (a change for Michael) but not for me! I can’t wake up here I have decided - just not worth fighting anymore!
Michael got bored of me sleeping and made a coffee and we drank it in bed. Then thought it’s about time we made a move or we would never get up!
Foggy again and windy! Blimey! Is this weather ever going to clear?
I drove us to St. Ouen’s Bay to look at a restaurant we have been meaning to go to. It’s an Indian Restaurant called ‘Elly’s’. It was recommended to us by an agent taking us around to look at rental properties. She said it’s the only Indian really worth going to… the one in St. Aubyn she said she had known too many people get poisoned at - yikes! Best avoided! We had a look at the menu and decided to book for Monday evening as it’s Bank Holiday Weekend. The restaurant manager showed us the table he would like us to sit at and said he would reserve it. He mentioned that everyone likes that table as it’s in the window and has the best view of the fantastic sunsets that they get there. I hope the weather’s clear so we can see it!
Then I drove us to The Atlantic Hotel… this is a gorgeous hotel that is just around the back of St. Ouen’s Bay up the hill. Another hotel we had always wanted to stay at but never could afford it. In fact this is the first time we have ever found the place! It’s tucked away and has a very small sign and not noticeable from the road.
There was a wedding about to happen there. We walked through reception and took a peek in the restaurant which looked lovely. The manager was there and we booked a table for Sunday lunch. The manager and presumably the head waiter were just planning tomorrow’s bookings and menu. They were extremely polite and welcoming.
Sunday lunch is the best way to eat out at posh places you can’t afford otherwise. They are extremely good value here and always get booked up. Michael had telephoned Greenhills - one of our favourite eating places but they were fully booked already and we have yet to try a Sunday lunch there. We like to find the best value and best food and compare. So we have to try them all!
We have to plan our weekends around eating as you can see. We don’t do a lot else and eating is our hobby!
Then I drove us into St. Helier to get a little bit of shopping - very serious shopping - revolving around our other passion - alcohol! Grand Marche (Co-Op) always have the best wine deals and today they didn’t disappoint either. We got some really good wine at really good prices. Took a look around the rest of the shops but came away with not a lot except some zit cream for my chin! It looks like a currant bun at the moment. I think it’s the food! Too much of it probably!
The sun came out whilst we were in St. Helier - thank goodness for that… I’d forgotten what sunshine was. Even took the roof down off the car!
Then I drove us to Gorey for some lunch - well actually a cream tea as it was 3.00 p.m. We skipped lunch (impressed)? No, I wouldn’t be. We are the greediest pair living on Jersey! We went to Jersey pottery first of all but didn’t like the look of the scones there. They used to do one of the best cream teas on the island, years ago. So we went to an old favourite called ‘The Secret Garden’. I was hoping to see lots of cats…. Whenever we have been there before they always had loads of cats in the garden. We didn’t see any today. Unless they are all long gone and not replaced… I didn’t ask. Perhaps they have been taken over by a cat hating family - I will have to ask next time. Anyway, the cream tea was delicious!
Then we drove to Gorey Harbour and had a little walk around there and then decided to drive on to the Gold Centre. Had a brief look around there again. There is a shop in there that sells handbags and I managed to break one! I pulled the zip and it came right off! Uh-oh. The lady just laughed! Michael didn’t believe me when I told him. It’s typical - things like this always happen to me!From there we came back to the apartment.
Poor Emma had been phoning all day to tell us about a mobile phone she was selling on eBay. Some dumb idiot has bought it from USA but wants it sent to Zambia or some other African Place. Alarm bells started ringing as I had also had some imbecile trying that scam on me. They are quite clever -but not clever enough to fool an O’Loughlin! They send an e-mail to you which is from PayPal saying that ‘funds have been credited to your account from blahdeeblah’. When you check your PayPal account - there is nothing there. They pinch the PayPal logo and the exact layout and print as on PayPal and then send you an absolutely identical e-mail from PayPal or so you think! I guess some people wouldn’t bother checking their PayPal account to see if the funds were actually in there. I am too greedy - I make sure!
Also this stupid woman ‘bought’ the phone even though Emma said she would only post within the UK and now she wants it posted to Zambia. She shouldn’t have tried to buy it anyway!
Anyway, I think she also thought it was a scam so she wanted to check and said the money wasn’t in her PayPal account. We told her under no circumstances send the phone out to her!!!
She was telling Emma a sob story that she wanted the phone sent to her niece as a present who happens to live in Zambia. Yeah right! The money was in Emma’s account and demanded she sent it out to her today by Special Deliver, First Class and Recorded/Signed For!
None of these e-mails were sent through eBay - just direct to Emma’s e-mail inbox.
Michael told her that she should send one final e-mail to this girl telling her that she is not sending the phone out unless the funds are cleared in her PayPal account and any other correspondence should be sent through eBay and not direct and that she has reported her to eBay and PayPal in case this is a scam.
She probably won’t hear any more from her. Damned annoying though as she has wasted time, effort and listing fees through eBay advertising it. I hope she gets a free listing from it at least by reporting it to eBay.
Bloody foreigners - bunch of crooks!!!
Anyway, tonight we are having dinner in the apartment but will have to wash up afterwards as the newly ‘mended’ dishwasher is now broken again!!! Completely kaput!
We drove out to our local Spar and got a newspaper! Hooorrraaayyyy! They weren’t in earlier - due to… yes the fog!
We bought a movie - oh yes that’s what else we bought in St. Helier - a movie and a c.d. actually. The movie is called ‘Just Like Heaven’ starring Reece Witherspoon. I like her. It was a good movie - we both enjoyed it. The c.d. is by Nerina Pallot called Fires. Her single is called Everybody’s Gone to War. It has been played a lot on the radio lately and apparently she is a local Jersey girl… so as it was only £6.80 we bought it! It’s really good and easy to listen to. I think James will like it but Emma will probably hate it!
It’s getting late now and I’m tired after all that eating so will sign off now and give my mouth a rest until the morning! Night!

28th May 2006 - Sunday
Woke up quite late this morning - for a change! I had a headache since about 4 a.m. so… two paracetamol and a mug of coffee to swill them down with. Soon went once I’d woken up properly.
Weather is cloudy but quite bright with just a light breeze.
We stayed in this morning. Michael tried to work out his ‘work hand-held blackberry computer’ whilst I did some Sudoku’s and some boring stuff like washing and kicking the dishwasher. Michael actually got it going again but no doubt when we want it to work, it won’t!
Had a shower and Michael had a soak in the spa bath in our apartment with the jets on full blast. By the time he’d finished the foam was 4 feet above the bath! I should’ve taken a photo, didn’t think of it - perhaps I could get him to have another one tomorrow and sneak the camera in - hee-hee!
We took a slow drive down to the Atlantic Hotel where we are having lunch today. I am getting very used to the narrow roads now, I’m not saying I’m enjoying them - just getting more used to them. I am making myself do all the driving at the moment because I know if I don’t get used to the narrow roads, I just won’t bother to go out and I don’t want to be stuck in all my life!
At the Atlantic Hotel we were greeted at the door by the hotel Manager. Staff, as mentioned before in restaurants and hotels here are so very nice and polite - nothing is too much trouble and they are genuine.
We sat in the bar and were served with a gin and tonic for you know who and an orange juice for moi. Lovely crispy nibbles and nuts. We chose our starters and main course. I was having a plain old prawn cocktail and Michael was having a more elaborate smoked haddock and salmon mousse ravioli with curry jus! Ooooh I say!
For our main course I had chicken with mushrooms and roasted veggies and Michael was again much braver than I - he had, pan fried sea bass, salmon and lobster tail in smoked bacon with cod on a herbie potato and lemon and lobster butter sauce! Ooooooh again! All slugged down with a bottle of Bordeaux. The cheapest wine on the wine list!
All was very nice and the waiters and waitresses very attentive.
For desert I had orange chocolate timbale with ‘Baileys’ ice cream. Very nice - except the skid mark on my plate (charming) that’s what Michael said it looked like! See photo and you will see what he means! Michael had plum and honey crumble with crème anglaise. All was delicious. As were the chocolates and coffee taken in the lounge after.
We took a few photographs in the garden and over to the coast of St. Ouen. The gardens are really pretty - see photo’s. Then drove back to the apartment to get our smart togs off! I hate being smart - so slung on me jeans! Ahhh that’s better!
Took a drive and then a walk to St. Helier. We had a wander around the shops which were all closed except the £1 shop which we love! We spent £4 in there! Michael decided I needed another Sudoku book to add to my collection and he bought two packs of playing cards (Jersey pictures on of course) and a game book of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ for when Terry and Margaret come across in August.
Went for a walk along the harbour and along to our new apartment (we hope). We are always amazed at the speed of the tides in Jersey. Within, literally minutes, the tide can rise a metre and it keeps rising at that rate until high tide is complete! Lethal!!! Anyone coming to visit pleeeaaassseee be careful as it doesn‘t come in in a straight line along the coast but around the back of you too!
Went in Pomme D’Or Hotel Café Bar for a pot of tea to use the internet as still having trouble here connecting. I didn’t have that many questions - just 2 to answer but they both want to buy - another £100 coming my way - I hope! Michael had 42 e-mails - 40 were junk! 2 from Tom - thanks Tom always nice to get proper e-mails and not junk ones!
Came back to the apartment and my washing had dried - I hang it on the curtain poles here on coat hangers! I shall probably get told off if anyone notices but hey, who cares.
We watched ‘Test the Nation - know your planet’ on t.v. Don’t know quite how brilliant we are yet as the results aren’t on and probably won’t stay awake long enough to find out either!
Haven’t eaten this evening - in fact we didn’t have breakfast either. I am impressed with ourselves but… probably ate more at lunchtime than we normally would in a whole day so guess that counteracts breakfast and tea!
Enjoyed today… the day’s are always better when Michael’s around. Very boring with no-one to talk to and have a laugh and a moan with.

Monday 29th May 2006
We woke up around 8.30 this morning - woken by the sound of the grass being mown out the back by a sit-on lawnmower. Stupid sod!
Michael had woken earlier and I remember seeing sunshine but dozed back off as did he.
Michael’s turn to make the coffee and he brought it back to bed. Ahhh lovely.
He decided he wanted to cook us breakfast this morning but as we didn’t have any bread he took my car to Checkers Express to get a freshly baked loaf. Scrummy!
We had fried egg, mushrooms and tomatoes. Michael cooked whilst I showered… fair enough as I take ten times longer to get ready than he does. Trouble is, when Michael cooks, I get to clear up and he don’t half make a blooming mess!
The weather is quite cloudy but bright at the moment.
We took a drive out to Samares Manor today. This is a gorgeous manor house in beautiful gardens with lakes and herb gardens and Japanese gardens etc.
We were just in time to take the tour around the house which only goes twice a day because, although it is only a small house, the lady who does the tour is extremely knowledgeable and talks through everything there. The history of the family, which she didn’t want to go into too much detail about, were ‘not a very nice bunch’ and did unmentionable things which we are still in the dark about! However, the family that live there now are apparently nice.
The wood panelling in the manor house is stunning and in the dining room is very intricately carved in very fine detail. It’s beautiful. The crypt dates back from 1260 although they think it’s even older, dating back to 1099 but as records only go from 1260 they count that as the date. I think it’s older as it stank!
We had a wander around the gardens and then drove back to the apartment for a sandwich and a glass of wine.
The sun had decided to come out after all which is nice.
Went almost straight back out to St. Helier as we (I) wanted to go out to Elizabeth Castle which is only accessible when the tide is low, as it’s out to sea. Michael wanted to go around the town. Michael won!
After he’d dragged me around the town he said “we’ll go out to the castle now if you like”. My feet were killing me! I just wanted to sit down!
We came back to the apartment and had a bucket of tea on the terrace. Oooh it’s lovely and sunny but windy. We have got a bit of colour coming now and got burnt yesterday and today. I will have to get some sun cream!
Michael sat on the terrace trying to figure out his blackberry (computer) but getting more and more annoyed with it. I read the Sun and did the Sudoku puzzles.
Going out for our Indian meal tonight and hopefully watch the sunset we were promised by the owner and are sitting at the best table in the house! Beautiful sea views over St. Ouen’s Bay. Please don’t cloud over!
We arrived at the Indian Restaurant ‘Elly’s’ and were sat at the bar for a drink but we wanted to sit straight down at the table. I don’t like being sat at the bar - it’s only to get you to buy extra drinks! So we asked to be sat down at our table. We were shown to a table that we hadn’t reserved. So, I’m afraid I asked to sit at the table we had reserved. He said it was reserved for someone else but I insisted we sat there as we had booked it. He said would I be disappointed if we didn’t sit there and I said “yes I would actually”. He wasn’t expecting that! So he sat us down at the table we had in fact booked - very begrudgingly! Not a good start.
Anyway, we shared a starter of chicken satay and popadums with chutneys. Then Michael ordered a Thai dish of chicken, mushrooms, onions, peppers stir fried with spicy basil (not spicy at all) and I had an Indian curry dish which was quite spicy. Both were lovely and we always swap halfway through so we get to taste each others. Always confuses the waiters and sometimes they ask if I perhaps didn’t enjoy my meal? I always have to explain that we always swap meals halfway through!
The sun was starting to go down and as Michael always gulps his food instead of chewing it, he had finished long before me - so he went across the road to the bay to take some photo’s. I am a very slow eater, I do admit but at least I chew my food!
The sun was getting lower and lower and Michael went to take some more pictures just as the sun touched the horizon. It just so happens that the Condor Fast Ferry was going past the sun as it was halfway gone. Michael did take a picture but one doesn’t show up the ferry and the other is blurred. Such a shame but never mind as I want to bring my big camera out when we come home this weekend. I should get some fabulous shots with that. It is a shame you can’t see them there and then like on Michael’s digital camera but never mind - I will have to take a whole film and then get them developed.
We enjoyed our evening at Elly’s but it was quite expensive and Michael WAS NOT IMPRESSED THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE ANY INDIAN BEERS - considering they have won the COBRA beer award two years running and don’t even sell the stuff! We shared a bottle of wine instead.


Tuesday - 30th May 2006
We didn’t lock my car last night as the alarm keeps going off when we try and open the doors. The lock seems to be sticking. We thought we’d solved the problem yesterday by buying some oil and Vaseline. Michael caked up all the locks with it but apparently that is not the problem because the damned thing keeps going off when you try and unlock the doors. I don’t know what’s wrong with it.
I was woken this morning - just as well at 10 a.m. by my mobile. I was trying hard to pretend I was awake to the caller - Janis. It was a lovely surprise and I’m glad she phoned to wake me up otherwise I know I would’ve slept a lot longer!!! I am so lazy. I didn’t tell her she’d woken me up - I felt bad enough as it was!
Anyway, we had a nice chat and a bit of a catch-up. We had sent her an e-mail over the weekend but apparently she hasn’t looked at her e-mails! Oh well, she will see it now no doubt. Doesn’t look like we’ll get to see her when we come back as she is working all but the day we go home (Sunday) morning! Typical!
Tried connecting to the damned internet but kept getting cut off. I stayed on-line long enough to see I had 3 e-mails - don’t know who from or what they say though as I can’t connect again! Grrrrrrr. Fed up with the bloody thing! Decided not to pursue the matter any further and had a shower.
Had breakfast, put the dishwasher on and the washing machine. Dishwasher finished - yeah right - full of soapy water - bloody thing!!! I am not meant to have an easy day - I can see that.
I am going to do something more relaxing now and not revolving around cleaning this place. I am going to print off my blog and some photographs to send to Michael’s Mum.
Then I am going to design and make some ‘We are Moving Cards’. Perhaps this is not a good idea as we are supposed to be moving on Thursday (and flying back to the mainland) and we haven’t heard a thing about it. This is due to the stupid Housing Department of Jersey States. They are a pain in the butt. Saying that - hopefully all is well. I may hear from Michael today as he is going to follow it up with the bank.
I thought I’d cook my last olive ciabatta roll today and have for my lunch. I took the roll out of the cupboard and it looked extra olivey - on closer inspection it was mould!!!
So a long slog to the shop on a windy road with no footpath! It was either go buy something to eat or have cereal again. I love cereal but don’t want it again for lunch.
It was a long walk and the sun was beating down on me and I got really hot and sticky.
Michael phoned just as I got into Checkers Express to say that hopefully we are still going to be moving on Thursday. We’ll see.
Walking back a car stopped and it was a little old man with his two grandchildren in the back (I presume) he asked directions to eMazing Maze a tourist attraction here. Never been there but at least I could give him directions. Getting to be a right ‘local yokel’.
Unpacked my bag of goodies and then hung the washing out on the balcony and of course the curtain poles! It dries nicely up there.
Emptied the dishwasher and then made some lunch.
Tried to get on the internet again and I now have 4 messages but it won’t stay connected long enough for me to see who they are from yet alone read!
Did some boring stuff like ironing and varnishing a bride and groom I made weeks ago and haven’t posted yet. I will pack up later when dry and post tomorrow.
Michael telephoned to say he has received an e-mail from Dandara about our apartment. Apparently our housing licence has come through and all seems well for Thursday to move in. Except that we are coming back to the UK later on Thursday and hopefully they will let us have the keys to move in on Wednesday evening or at least our things. Hopefully they will phone later and let us know.
Michael is trapped at work - problems as usual there. So goodness knows when I will see him again. I hate that - I wish he got paid overtime - I think it’s a bloody cheek but there we are that’s the way things are these days. They want blood as well as every waking hour of your time. Michael doesn’t seem to mind but I bloody well do!

Wednesday 31st May 2006
Had a crap night’s sleep! Don’t know why - perhaps it was because I got up at 10 a.m. yesterday. Perhaps I won’t sleep tonight either - after Michael went to work I stayed in bed again to exactly 10 a.m. I didn’t think I’d slept during that time either but I suppose I must have.
I am going to get the packing done this morning. Moving day tomorrow!
Stupid really, all week I struggle to fill my days and then tomorrow I have to be in a million different places all at the same time. I hope I can get the keys early otherwise I am stuffed! We are also flying home later this afternoon - I just don’t know how I am going to get it all done by myself… just have to I suppose!
We drove up to Checkers Express last night to get a couple of boxes so I can put the kitchen bits and bobs in also some bin liners to put our clothes in! No, not to throw away but because they will pack nice and flat in my car.
Tried to get on the internet again but it is having none of it today. I am not even going to get cross or kick the computer… I will simply get on with the packing and then go into St. Helier and go into an internet café. Check my e-mails and Michael’s and catch up on friend’s Jane and Geoff’s blog in Spain which I am getting withdrawal symptoms from. Dying to know how the new additions to the family are (the donkeys)! I can’t wait to see them in person at the end of June! I will also write them an e-mail telling them that we are finally moving in the morning.
Got the bus into St. Helier and nipped into Toni and Guy to get me free fringe trimming session with Shaun. Took him all of 5 seconds!
Went into the internet café where I had 19 e-mails waiting for me. It was £1 for 15 minutes so I tried to be quick. I spent about 20-25 minutes in there but he still only charged me £1.
Not much to report on the e-mail front - one from Janis and Clint but didn’t say a lot really but still really nice to receive a little news.
Took the car back to our apartment and loaded up the back with some of our belongings.
Drove back into St. Helier at 5.20 to meet Michael and then go to Dandara and pick up the keys to the apartment.
All went well on that score and we were very tempted to just stay the night there instead of just move our stuff in.
We went for fish and chips in the ‘big’ fish and chip shop here called Hector‘s. It was okay - batter a little burnt and we both ate too much and felt sick the rest of the night.
Drove back to the old apartment to pick up some more stuff and unpacked it and then repeated it all again!
There was only one lot left to bring and so I will drive Michael to work in the morning, with the rest of our ‘life’ in the boot!
A late night and we are both shattered but still didn’t sleep too well - I had a fish and chip belly all night long and Michael sort of slept okay - he snored!