Life on Jersey - June 2006

1st June 2006 - Thursday
Moving Day and Back to UK Day!
I am not as tired as I should be today. I was awake long before Michael but he did look at his watch a few times before eventually getting up at 7 a.m.
I didn’t bother getting showered as I didn’t have time - I just flung on last night’s clothes and cleaned my teeth. I knew I would get hot and sweaty anyway doing my chores around the new apartment.
After dropping Michael off at work I firstly took the wrong turning and went the ‘scenic’ route to the apartment and then dragged the big heavy suitcase and a bag of junk to the wrong apartment ‘core’. There are four ‘cores’ and I took number 3 instead of number 2. These ’cores’ are separate entrances for each ’block’ of apartments. There are only two apartments per floor, per core. So it makes the apartments very secure and very personal.
Got into the apartment and left my big bag holding the door open. No sooner had I done that - there was a knock at the door. Nosey neighbour. “Hello are you moving in today” he said. Followed by “I hope you haven’t got a dog, dogs aren’t allowed here, neither are cats”. I can see we’re going to get along famously. He wasn’t at all interested in shaking hands and didn’t anyway. Wasn’t interested in my name (which he didn’t even ask) - nothing - just that he hoped we didn’t have any dogs or cats! Prat!!! Anyway, I saw a big case in his front door and they are going away for a while (he didn’t tell me where or how long and I didn’t ask)!
Got on with making the apartment builder dust free. Took quite a while as everything needed about 3 washes!
Then the huge patio doors and windows needed a good clean. They got three washes but were still stripy.
Had a shower and then walked into the shopping area here at St. Helier. Got a roll at the market for my lunch, some shopping in Marks, including glass cleaner and then some cloths in the Co-Op for scrubbing!
Walked back - phew I’m knackered!
Cleaned the glass with the glass cleaner but still very smeary but that’s as good as it gets for today that’s for sure! Cleaned the furniture on the terrace. My back’s killing me!
Ate my lunch and washed all the glasses and plates etc. (all brand new - still boxed and with stickers on) . Every item is brand new - plates, cutlery, saucepans - literally everything. Most of it went in the dishwasher - except the beautiful crystal glasses which didn’t have a ‘dishwasher safe’ logo, so thought I’d better hand wash them! Shame but they do look delicate!
Took the rubbish down to the bins to see if I could find them. Did eventually, much to the amusement of some other residents. They asked if I managed to find the bin and then said “hello” and we introduced ourselves. An older couple, Ernie and Daisy. They gave me a few tips and said we’d love living in the apartment as it’s fantastic! Good to hear. They said they lived in the country in Jersey for 56 years and are now enjoying apartment life at West Park. They said it is really quiet - so, fingers crossed we will find it quiet too. Fortunately, the traffic dies down at night and in any case the bedrooms are all out the back of the apartment and you can’t hear the traffic anyway.
Sat down, read the paper and am now writing my blog!
I am now waiting for Michael to come back to the apartment with a taxi and then we are straight off to the airport for our flight at 5 to 6 this evening. Thank goodness there is no fog - like this time last week. The weather has been gorgeous the last two days and today is like a summer’s day and so it should be!
Shall not be able to write any blog I don’t think - Sunday when we return I shall start again - or may leave it until Monday if nothing interesting.
Flight on time and ok - short and no bumps!
James met us from the airport and treated us to a meal in a new Italian restaurant in Haywards Heath. It was extremely good and would definitely like to go there again.
Emma was at home alone with the animals a bit unexpected as her and Adam are kind of joined at the hip - actually he was working.
Emma gave me my birthday present which was both too big and far too heavy to post. It was a beautiful photo album all handmade (not by her) with like a Hessian type raffia cover and all handmade paper inside. She had picked out photographs that she liked of us and our animals both past and present (some photo’s of me in particular were hideous and gross)! It is a gorgeous album and I’m afraid, I cried… it’s one of the nicest presents I have ever received and told her so. It had a little note on the opening page for me which was nice - for me to take away and remember them when I’m away. Ahhh! Blub, Blub.


2nd June 2006 - Friday
Michael and James were up really early the next morning as they were both working in London today. Unfortunately, poor James had to get up with Michael as we only have the Cougar left in the UK. James sold his ZR last week and now has Michael’s old Cougar. James loves his ‘new’ car and has scrubbed it up nicely.
Emma went to work and I was left at home with my darling Felix, Mindy and Bambi Bunny. It was a lovely day and so I decided to do the kids washing (most of it was already done actually) and their ironing - Emma only had 1 skirt to iron but James had 13 work shirts! I think he buys them and washes them but doesn’t want to iron them so buys new ones.
I also mowed the front and back grass (I won’t call them lawns) plenty of weeds and moss in amongst the grass!
Walked up ‘Emma’s shop’ (as I call it) our little village post office) and got myself a roll for lunch and a newspaper. That was the day gone really once I’d sorted the house out.
Margaret phoned to ask if we wanted to go down there tomorrow evening for dinner.
Michael and James nipped into Sainsbury’s to get something for dinner tonight (I couldn’t get anything as I was stuck in South Chailey all day). Re-heated all that junk and then sat down for the first time all day!
Watched a movie with Emma and Adam. James went for a meal out with Hannah to The Priory in Haywards Heath which is a carvery. Apparently it was lovely. We have been there with the kids before and enjoyed it but there is nothing at a ‘carvery’ for Emma to eat (being totally vegetarian). They usually make something like a frozen veggie lasagne for her which isn’t that good - she could re-heat a vegetarian lasagne herself at home. It’s a waste for a vegetarian to eat at places like that. I find it very irritating as anyone can re-heat food… when you go out for a veggie meal you really want something that is freshly prepared, cooked and tastes like something you can’t/haven’t made yourself at home! I feel really sorry for her sometimes - especially when you ask if there is anything vegetarian and the waiter/waitress says “the chef can make you an omelette or a salad”. Wow, big deal! Any idiot can do that - thanks! Whilst I’m whinging, we went to a restaurant once ‘The Rainbow’ in Cooksbride just down the road in Chailey and I asked if there was anything else on the menu for Emma to eat other than salad or mushroom pasta (I had cooked her mushroom pasta the night before) the waiter said “this is a ‘country’ restaurant and we cook ‘country food’ like pheasant, duck, venison etc.) Dickhead!!! I did write and complain and got a letter of apology back saying “the chef would be glad to cook anything we want if we’d have asked“… I bloody well did if you‘d bothered to read my letter!!! Grrrrrrrr!!!
Anyway, whinge, whinge but I do get wound up about vegetarianism if I could only give up chicken I would join her!
Early night.

Saturday - 3rd June 2006
Today we have to do some shopping as there is nothing in the house to eat. James is chauffeur today.
Had to phone Margaret as I hadn’t thought that we haven’t got a car to go down there for dinner tonight as James is going out with his mates. Invited them up here for a barbecue instead and Alan (friend) may come over too. I hope he does but we won’t find out until Terry and Margaret get here. We were a bit stuck really with no car and couldn’t visit anyone. We had bought Michael’s Mum a little something back but can’t give it to her as we have no transport.
Anyway, went to and spent a fortune in Sainsbury’s. I bought a lot of cleaning stuff (as usual) not for James and Emma to do the cleaning but for Teresa across the road as she cleans for James and Emma. It’s lovely, by the way, coming home to a clean house. Whenever we go on holiday I usually spend the next week cleaning up behind them. They don’t see dirt. Poor Teresa does and has to clean up after them now!
Teresa and her husband John may come over for a drink later.
Terry and Margaret came over but poor Alan is very wheezy today so didn’t make it. Shame.
It turned out James didn’t go out after all and so we could’ve gone out. Never mind, we had a great Barbie. Far too much food - even for Terry!!!
Terry and Margaret said that the band ‘Sun’ were playing tonight and did we fancy going there after the barbecue.
Teresa and John came over for a drink about 15 minutes before we were going out and had just arranged to meet Emma’s boyfriend Adam there. It was hugely embarrassing as Emma was nagging to leave. We asked Teresa and John if they would like to come. They said yes and so we all had a quick change of clothes and went out.
Sun were playing at The Barn in Southwick. It was a beer festival. All a little odd actually. There were loads of middle-aged men with huge beer bellies - I fitted in well with my ‘wine’ belly!
Johnny was there with Tess - haven’t seen them for quite a while so it was nice to see them again. Françoise was also there and Ian had come over especially for the evening from France to play. We’d seen them both recently but still nice to see them. It was quite funny because Danny had shown them all our apartment photo and one by one they all came up saying it looks like a millionaire’s place. We said “IT IS” - we couldn’t afford it if we had to buy it! That’s for sure! So, glad the bank are paying the rent - we couldn’t afford to pay £25,500 a year for it! It is ‘the’ place to live on Jersey! If we have to give our address out here, everyone is immediately asking “ooooh, how lovely, what’s it like living there”! I‘m sure everyone thinks we are rolling in it!
Anyway, we had a nice evening and I even danced which is rare! Michael and John drank a lot of beer which they hated - it was disgusting apparently, home brew stuff. There were about 50 or more barrels to choose from and they couldn’t find one they liked! I think Teresa was a bit miffed because she couldn’t drink as she was driving us all home. It has to be said and is very well known that our lovely friend Teresa enjoys her alcohol. Especially her gin and tonic and red wine and probably anything with alcohol in it! I’ll drive next time Teresa. Teresa comes from a very musical family so I hope both she and John enjoyed themselves.


Sunday - 4th June
Well, sadly we have to leave James, Emma, Felix, Mindy and Bambi this morning. Boo-hoo. I always get upset - today was no exception.
James drove us to the airport at 9.15 a.m. for our flight at 11 a.m. Thanks James for the lift and sorry about more tears at the airport!
Our flight was on time and to my horror was a prop-plane with those horrible spinney thingies! It sounded and looked like an old bucket of nails!
The flight was very smooth surprisingly - except the landing. Landing as mentioned before, is always bumpy at Jersey - this was bump, bump and then bump again before fixing the wheels onto the runway, I think it swerved a bit too but had my eyes shut and a death grip on Michael‘s hand, so can‘t be sure!
We bought 2 bottles of Pimm’s at Gatwick and left them on the plane along with Michael’s glasses. So much for us being first on the flight and first off! Michael ran back on board and we were now last off the plane! Hee-hee. Still, we didn’t have any luggage to wait for as we just took hand-luggage back to the UK.
Picked up a taxi and were back in the apartment 15 minutes later!
Quick change of clothes and went out for a sandwich in the town.
Came back and sat on the terrace with a Jug of Pimm’s and read the paper. Very relaxing indeed.
Had a dinner of chicken in bacon and white wine sauce from Marks and some carrots and beans and roasted sweet potato. Yummy!
Went for a walk around the harbour. We were going to go out to Elizabeth Castle as the tide was out but it stank of yucky seaweed and the walkway wasn’t quite dry enough.
Came back to the apartment and watched a little TV. and then went to bed. Tired out!


Monday - 5th June
Lots to do today. Michael was early getting up this morning for some reason. I think he thinks he has to start work at 7.30 a.m. He was out the door by then!
I went back to bed… it was very noisy with lots of doors clonking and someone had either music or a TV. on which I could hear with my radar lugholes! Builders are still working on some of the upper floor apartments so benefit of the doubt - might have been them I guess. Might have to get up early and stay up in future. I could always have a snooze in the afternoon hee-hee.
Got ready and walked into town. Lots to do - nipped into Dandara (rental agents) to arrange for their heating expert to come round and show me how to use the water heater and heating system. They are coming around at 2 p.m.
Walked on further into town to get a few bits. Extension lead for Michael’s stereo, adapter plug for the electric toothbrush and some food in Marks and Spencer. Also went into Jersey Telecom to arrange for the phone to be connected plus internet access. It’s gonna cost a fortune! Very helpful in there and a nice lady served me.
Came back to the apartment and made some mozzarella on baguette with tomato under the grill. Not very exciting but it filled a hole - a very large hole. Actually I weighed myself when we came back to the mainland and I have only put on 4lbs. Very surprising!
Dandara came at exactly 2 on the dot! Very helpful older man showed me the heating and hot water etc. The apartment has air conditioning but he couldn’t show me how to use it as he doesn’t know and neither does anyone else - how to use it! They have disconnected all the apartments until such a time one of them can figure out how to use the complicated system! Blimey! I don’t want to use it unless it gets stupidly hot because it will be very expensive to run. They are going to show everyone how to use it when someone from the company who makes it comes out and shows them! They have been shown once but no-one can figure it out properly! Oh well.
Telephoned the water people and the electricity people to change everything into our name.
Drove out this afternoon to Red Houses to the big Checkers (Waitrose/Iceland). I wanted to get heavy things that I can’t carry like potatoes and milk. Also wanted to get a clothes drier but couldn’t get one in the DIY stores in Red Houses. They have lost their shipment (gone missing) and haven’t got any. I will have to take a drive out to B&Q if I can find it - North of St. Helier.
Well we are going to have salad and I am baking a sweet potato to have with it along with chicken Kiev. Mmmmmm
We will go for a long walk tonight. The tide has come in and is now on it’s way back out again. Still beautifully sunny and hot so may even paddle!
Nope, didn’t have sweet potato as the oven didn’t heat up in time. So we had the rest of the baguette I bought at lunchtime.
We ate on the terrace in the sunshine.
Michael phoned B&Q to see what time they shut. 8p.m. apparently so we went out to buy an cloths airer and see if they had anything else we might need for the apartment. Hmmm came back empty handed. I will have to carry an airer from the town tomorrow I guess.
We came back to the apartment and put on some old clothes, the tide has gone out yet again and we want to get out to Elizabeth Castle on the walkway.
It wasn’t so smelly this evening and walked all the way out. We knew the castle wasn’t going to be open but it’s a nice walk and Michael took some photo’s back towards the apartment. The sun was going down and was shining pink and reflecting onto the sea, so I hope that he might have caught a few good shots on the camera.
It was quite late when we got back so Michael watched a little TV and I just slouched on the couch - rhymes nicely.
Went to bed at quarter to 11 - a little later than we usually go (10 p.m.) - thought we’d give everyone else time to stop clonking about!

6th June 2006 - 06.06.06 or 666 - Yikes! - Tuesday
Michael got up at 7 a.m. as usual lately. I followed once I heard him get out of the shower. Made us both a coffee and Michael had a bowl of cereal and then off to work.
The tide looks as though it’s stuck - it is about the same level as last night when we went to bed. It is a high low tide - if you get what I mean! They are weird the tides here. They are either low, low tides or high, low tides or just high tides… confused? Sometimes, the tides go out a very long way and sometimes not quite so far out. Ok forget it! I know what I’m on about!
I sat here and typed up my blog for a while as I wanted to send today to Michael’s Mum and print some photo’s off. Good job I bought another printer cartridge up the town yesterday. They don’t last long and are expensive. I might try and get them re-filled as it’s a lot cheaper - £14 cheaper! Still, it doesn’t matter as I enjoy doing it and hope that everyone enjoys reading this and seeing the photo’s we take.
I bought my big camera back with me this time from the mainland and hope to get some dramatic shots of the coastline and places of interest. I want to buy a frame with three different slots that I can put three different photographs in that I will take. Not sure where I am going to put it when I have made it but I think it will look nice as I have some ideas of what sort of shots I want to take. I want to do some really blue sky photographs for the summer. If we are here in the autumn, I want to do three autumn shots for another frame and the same in winter, again if we are still here. The winter one’s will be dramatic - the sea with the spray against the rocks possibly the same shots but different seasons. I will see. I might, if I get some good one’s, enter them for the Jersey Photography Competition. Again, I will see.
I am toying with the idea of buying a cheap, second hand bike. For the last two mornings I have watched the cyclists racing the rush hour traffic along the promenade (the cars are on the road by the way not the prom). It’s almost completely flat here along the seafront all the way to St. Aubyn’s Bay. Also, it’s very safe as I can ride along the wide prom in the designated cycle lane! I will have to get a very large, very loud bell to ‘ding’ at the bloody tourists to get them out of the way! Hee-hee. I don’t want to pay much for a bike as I have no intention of bringing it back to the UK when we leave - (a). because I have one in Chailey where I don’t ride because it’s too dangerous and (b). because I probably won’t ever get on it again! It will get me fit and I really do need to get more exercise and it will be more interesting and cheaper than walking to town and spending money every day.
Guess what I’m doing today, yes, walking into town and spending money. We desperately need a Pimm’s jug for the weekend (every home should have one)! Sunday we used the cafettiere for it and it’s just not big enough ha-ha! They have a pretty blue one in Woolies for £4.99 so I might get that one along with the matching glasses which are £1.24 each - bargain! Also, I need to get a couple more mugs, ones that will fit under our coffee machine. The mugs in the apartment are too tall to fit underneath it. I have seen some again in Woolies - set of 4 for £2.49! They are nice too with a coffee bean logo on them. I will have apes arms by the time I finish shopping today!
Went into town to buy some bits for the apartment. I bought an airer in Woolies plus some ice cube trays and the coffee mugs.
I thought I’d nip into the internet café to check my e-mails. I have someone who wants to buy a Christening topper but she seems very reluctant to pay! I have asked for the money before I can make it - so we’ll see if she pays up tomorrow or Thursday. Didn’t really have many - 19 actually but most were junk or stuff I have subscribed to.
It was nearing the time Michael usually calls to say he is just nipping out for a sandwich so decided to see if he was free and to meet him for a sandwich. He was free but only for 20 minutes or so (as usual). I used to take an hour or more lunch breaks but they don’t do that anymore. He grabs a sandwich and takes it back to his desk. Anyway, we went into one of the many sandwich bars in St. Helier. It was ok but not as good as my baguettes from the market (and they were twice the price). Michael said his sandwich was nice.
We nipped into WH Smith as Michael wanted to get a new Parker pen biro as he presumably has lost his other one. I don’t bother asking - he loses everything… drives me mad! I bought 3 girlie pens for the apartment and to put one in my handbag. They are pretty, sparkly and glittery.
I handed Michael the clothes airer and asked him to bring it home with him as I wanted to go back up to the top of town and get a telephone from Jersey Telecom. I was kinda hoping we might be switched on by now but no, having gone back to the apartment the line is still dead. Perhaps tomorrow.
I unpacked all the goodies including a salad bowl I bought today. Last night we didn’t have a proper bowl for our salad. Today we have but we’re not having salad tonight. I thought I’d make a tuna pasta that Michael likes. I also bought some prawns in Spar on the way back to put in it and some bread to make a garlic bread.
I sat on the terrace and read the newspaper along with the obligatory Sudoku‘s.
I think after dinner tonight we will go for a walk along towards St. Aubyn’s but not all the way as it is 3 miles there and 3 miles back! That is why I would like to get a bike. Incidentally, on the way into town I saw a bike shop and went in but the cheapest one was £180 and the bloke was a little miffed that I thought it was too much money. He asked where I’d seen them cheaper and I stupidly said in the UK where you can buy them for well under £100. He then went on about that’s the bad thing about living on Jersey things cost more blah blah blah. Yeah well derrr. I wasn’t interested in listening and walked off but he was going on and on about it’s all the banks faults etc. I couldn’t be bothered but he thought he sounded intelligent… I didn’t go into the fact that my husband is a banker and without offshore banking he probably wouldn’t even own a bike shop because Jersey people wouldn’t have any money to spend on luxuries like bikes blah blah blah. I just shrugged my shoulders and toddled off. Wasn’t in the mood for an argument. Had it been last week he’d probably have got one!
Hmmm. Needless to say Michael forgot to bring my clothes airer back from work with him. How did I guess he’d do that? Never mind, he did offer to go back and get it but said as I’m not doing any washing tomorrow it doesn’t matter anyway. I will phone him tomorrow just before he leaves work to remind him to bring it back.
We took a walk after dinner to the theatre. We wanted to book some tickets to see the stage show ‘Oliver’ which is coming to town next week. Opening night you receive a 25% saving on tickets. As the box office was closed and I forgot my credit cards anyway, we didn’t book. I will walk that way tomorrow when I go into town or on the way back and book them.
Michael wanted to show me a bike shop he knows about just opposite the one I went to today! I didn’t see it as it is just tucked by the side of Sand Street car park. We took a peek in the window but they all seemed expensive. On our way there Michael spotted a sign in a little shop window about bikes ‘buy one, get one free’. Sounds good to me. It said that if you bought one for £99 you get one free. We then walked along to the shop as it wasn’t far away but it was closed. We looked into the window and it had a load of mobility scooters in there! Now that sounds better than a bike! Not that much more expensive either! Saves on the legs! No, joking aside, we looked further through the window and saw a sign saying ‘£159 buy one, get one free’. So, not sure what the actual price is. I will go along there in the morning and see what’s going on. They’ll probably be kids bikes for £99 for 2 and adults £159 for 2. I’ll see tomorrow.
Walked back along the arm of the harbour to our apartment. Wanted to get back in time for ‘Location, Location’ on TV tonight as it‘s on Jersey. Missed about 10 minutes of it - in fact the first half. However, the second half wasn’t that thrilling really and could’ve been a lot better. The houses were obviously stunning that they showed them as they had £450,000 to spend. House prices on Jersey have apparently dropped in the last couple of years but then again they were always more expensive than on the mainland and probably still are, even with the price drop.
Straight after Location, Location is another one of our favourites ‘Turn Back your Body Clock’. Which says it all in the title. Quite good.
I have an apology for Michael… he hasn’t lost his biro at all… he has put me straight on that… He has in fact been using one stolen from the Pomme (the first hotel we stayed in). Apparently, it is knackered and fallen to bits. Ok sorry then Michael… (but he is still good at losing stuff) shhhh.
Sat a little longer watching the world go by and watching the sun go down and just being generally nosey through the huge patio doors which span the width of the lounge. We haven’t shut the curtains once since being here - it’s fascinating.

7th June 2006 - Wednesday
Another beautiful sunny day and I can tell from the flags waving along the seafront that it’s a little breezy again. The breeze will be welcome in the hot summer sunshine I’m sure but the evenings get a little nippy once you are out of the sun at the moment. Tide has gone out - a high, low tide again… ok I won’t get started on that again.
Michael got up at his usual 7 a.m. I layed in bed until he got out of the shower and then made coffee for us both.
He sat for about 10 minutes with his bowl of cereal and then went to get his shoes on…. Boomph! Uh-oh… he came into the lounge holding his nose! The doors here are all on springs and they are really, really, really heavy solid doors. Unfortunately, Michael had turned around at the wrong time and it hit him smack on the nose! They don’t close fast on the springs but… ouch! His nose didn’t bleed but he had a bright red mark across it and knowing the weight of these doors… I knew it would bloody well hurt! Poor Michael, he will probably have a whacking great bruise on his nose later.
Just after he left, I had my first accident of the day too! I walking into the corner of the glass shelf of the breakfast bar. Ouch! Not quite as dramatic or damaging as Michael’s accident but blinking well hurt all the same. Another bruise, right next to the one that is mysteriously already on my arm.
I am hoping today we will be connected to the telephone and more importantly to the internet! Tomorrow is probably more realistic but I am hopeful.
Walked to the bike shop to take a closer look at the two bikes for £159... As far as I can see they look ok. I’m certainly no bike expert but it has two wheels, a saddle and a brake… so guess they’re ok. If Michael decides he wants one as well I will probably go in tomorrow and place an order and have them built for us.
I also nipped in Zebra Bike Hire which is just a couple of shops down from them to see how much they’d charge to hire a bike for 3-4 months or if they had any second hand one’s for sale. The guy in there said it would work out cheaper to buy them and if we kept them in good condition they would buy them back. They wanted £75 - £80 each!!! Yeah, ok but I can buy them new next door for the same and still sell them on. They weren’t brilliant either.
Walked up to town and bought all my goodies. Decided not to buy the mugs as they are a little too short and have saucers with them - which I don’t want. I will make do with the ones we have got here and the ones I bought before - 8 mugs should be enough for two people! Plus there are 6 cups and saucers too.
Bought the Pimm’s jug and 4 matching glasses (turquoise) - they are sooo pretty!
I also bought some Clarins sun cream as I got burnt sitting out on the terrace yesterday. It smells yummy and I could eat it!
My bargain of the day was in the £1 shop - a multi-coloured collapsible laundry basket. I wasn’t sure when I bought it and then thought “well if it’s no good I’ll use it for something else or chuck it out“! It’s brilliant though - just the right size and fits into one of the many cupboards in the hallway perfectly! Michael will laugh when he sees it… it’s bright - very bright!
I went into Marks and bought some more tucker and also a new swimsuit in brown. It’s nice as it’s more like a bikini without too much flesh showing! The bottoms sort of joins onto the bikini top by a wide - going to a thin piece of material and joins onto a ring in between the boobs. I will see if Michael approves when he comes home. I will be able to tell if he’s lying.
Had a phone call from Emma, her and Adam were looking for somewhere to pick strawberries. I hope she finds the one we used to take them to when we lived in Burgess Hill… I guess it could’ve closed down by now.
Another phone call - unknown number - it was somebody Margaret works with as Michael had mentioned to her that he needs ‘good people’ to come and work for him here. Thank you Margaret for giving Richard our number.
Oooh I’m popular today… Michael phoned to say a very quick hello as he was just going to stuff a sandwich down his throat whilst he had yet another meeting.
I gave him Richard’s number and he will phone him later. I think the poor guy phoned in his lunch break, bless, because it’s obviously difficult to phone from work. Michael couldn’t ring him straight back - so hopefully they will have a chat later.
I have managed to break the dishwasher door today! Oh bum - I am so good at breaking things and really crap at mending stuff! The door on my dishwasher at home in the UK is quite stiff and you need to pull it down to open it… this one just needs a gentle pull and then falls to the ground. I pulled it too hard and it fell down really sharply with a clonk and now I can’t get the door to bloody well close! Shit! I am useless and heavy handed but there you go, that‘s me.
I am going to take it easy this afternoon - I have a headache - not enough sleep I guess. Sit on the terrace with a cuppa and read the paper and sun myself - sounds great doesn’t it?
Lots of people swimming in the sea today. The tide is rushing in at 2 p.m. and filling up the circular, concrete ’pool’ opposite our apartment. It makes a safe place to swim because it fills up totally at high tide and you can’t possibly get washed out to sea. Not sure how deep it gets but no more than neck height I would say - have to let you know on that one. I will give it a go when I feel brave enough and perhaps have someone to go with.
I fell asleep briefly on the settee this afternoon and missed the programme I was waiting to watch… ‘Coach Trip’ on Channel 4 at 2.55 p.m. Bum! I love that programme, especially because it is all around Spain this series. They have been to lots of places near us including Seville, Marbella, Puerto Banus, Jerez and tomorrow they are going to Granada!
Well, I got all optimistic for nothing - the phone has not been connected. Maybe tomorrow… hmmm.
Did a couple of Sudoku’s on the terrace during Countdown… I wanted to catch a bit of sun and really can’t believe I chose the sunshine over Countdown, which will make me wrinkly, instead of watching Countdown which would improve my mind!
Made a lovely salad tonight with a baked sweet potato and Moroccan spicy chicken skewers. Sweet potato does not in my opinion go with salad, so don’t try it and the Moroccan spicy chicken was horrid! Salad however was very nice and refreshing!I asked Michael to take a look at the dishwasher door which will not close at all now he has taken a ‘look’!!! I will have to call Dandara to get a little man out to fix it. Bum! More washing up. I hate washing up and dishwashers hate me… I always break them!!!
We went for a walk along the prom towards St. Aubyn’s - we only walked for 20 minutes and then 20 minutes back to the apartment. Very nice and very warm. There were two groups of people having barbecues on the beach. We will do this with Terry and Margaret when they come over. Funnily enough I had seen a programme about having barbecues on the beach on the local ‘Channel News’ today. They said that if you do a Barbie on the beach, you must not light one higher than where the water level would come and always light it when the tide goes out (derrr)… meaning, at a point where the water will then cover it when the tide comes back in. One of the groups on the beach today did just that… the other didn’t… ummm smacked wrist!
Watched ‘10 Years Younger’ on TV and then watched nothing! Had an earlier night than usual due to the TV situation.

Thursday (again) - 8th June 2006
We have been here a week now! Blimey it don’t ‘arf go fast dunnit?
The weather is again beautiful and very warm, there is a wind blowing so maybe it’ll feel a bit cooler once I get out. Flagpoles outside are going mad. Doesn’t seem to be bothering passers by.
I wonder if the phone will be connected today? Not saying any more on that!
Bit of panic with Michael losing his credit cards this morning. I told you before he ‘loses’ stuff. I always seem to get the blame… he always asks “they’re not in your handbag are they”? Took a look but knew they weren’t. He sometimes gives them to me when he can’t be bothered to carry them when we’re out together - then he can blame me for losing them! I shouldn’t do it but I know if I don’t put them in my bag, he will leave them on a counter in a shop or in a restaurant somewhere. I can’t win. Panic over - he’d found them - goodness knows where but at least he’d found them. He does this all the time! Drives me bonkers!
Did some washing, vacuuming and polishing today. Looks clean but didn’t really look dirty - however the cloth looked pretty grim once I’d finished. Builders dust again I guess! It’ll probably take several weeks of living here before that will go.
Telephoned (on my mobile) the bike shop to place an order… sadly one of the bikes has to be green because they have a job lot of green one’s that nobody wants! Green - yeuch! Michael says that’s my one!
Walking into town soon because Michael said he ‘might’ be able to meet me for lunch today. I also need him to pay for the bikes so hope he can meet me.
Tonight we might go over the ‘The Waterfront’ where there is a restaurant/nightclub/bar and Thursday’s they have a live act. We had been there before and it was empty to see a band who were okayish… but all the songs droned into one another and sounded the same in the end. Tonight is a tribute band… Take This. Yes, you’ve guessed it they are pretending to be ‘Take That’. Hmmm we’ll see.
Walked up to the shops and bought a pair of shorts in Next for when I get my bike. Can’t really wear a skirt and if I wear long trousers they will probably get stuck in the chain and I will fall off and break my neck!
Met Michael for lunch and we sat outside the coffee shop and ate our baguettes.
We then walked down to the bike shop and the bikes were already built for us. The green one is nice actually. We paid for them and Michael went back to work whilst I rode one of the bike’s back to the apartment. I was really wobbly! Especially as I had a big carrier bag and my handbag with me.
It only took a couple of minutes to cycle back to the apartment and I put it straight down into our very own storage room in the basement.
I came back into the apartment and got a drink as it’s so very hot today and I was a little bit sticky.
Went straight back out to get the other bike but as I had sneezed all the way around St. Helier today I decided to go back up to the shops and get some anti-histamine tablets. My nostrils, throat and ears are really itchy and my nose is really snotty and runny - of course you needed to know that didn’t you?
There is a small Boots and a big Boots in St. Helier but they only had one pack left on the shelf in little Boots! So, trundled off up to the bigger one and they had loads. Buy one get one free on their own so that’s good. 60 days worth should keep me going for… well 60 days! Should be plenty as I usually only take them for a couple of weeks.
Then went to two bike shops to find a chain as they don’t sell them in the one we are getting our bike‘s from. The first one was really expensive and the second one had a large selection priced from £2.25 up to whatever you want to pay! The guy was telling me that someone came into the store last week looking for a chain for his bike… apparently, someone had stolen his back wheel and kindly left him this old grotty back wheel from his tatty old heap of a bike! Charming! I decided to spend a little more than £2.25 and spent just over £6 each. It looked a lot sturdier and a much thicker lock and chain. There are a few thefts around and so he recommended a thicker one as apparently thieves come along with pinchers and snap off the thinner locks with ease. This one he said they could if they really wanted to steal it do it but it would take a lot longer and might not bother.
Went to get Michael’s bike this time (the silver one). Rode back again to the apartment and put it in the basement in our storage room. Perfect! Fits two bikes in just nicely - however, can’t get anything else in now! We were going to put a couple of chairs down there from the apartment but it doesn’t matter. They are now in our walk-in dressing room instead, out of the way.
Came up to the apartment and made myself a sneaky Pimm’s and lemonade… shhhh don‘t tell Michael he‘ll think I‘m an old alchy drinking mid-afternoon! Didn’t have any fruit to put in it but it was yummy all the same! Then had a cup of tea and sat and watched Countdown. I figured I’d been out in the sun most of the day and possibly needed to stay inside for a while. Read the paper.
Going out on the balcony now to do the two Sudoku’s out of the Sun and then it won’t be too long before Michael comes in.
We have made a slight change of plan. We are going to take the bike’s out for a long ride along the prom to St. Aubyn’s Bay and eat out… good job I bought the chains for the bikes. Then if we still have time we may go and see ‘Take This’… would quite like to see what they are like. Just a thought… I wonder if we shared a bottle of wine tonight whether we can still ride in a straight line? I’ll let you know! Probably get arrested… good job we’re not cycling on any roads!
Michael phoned on his way home from work to say that Jersey Telecom had just phoned him to say that they will be coming on the 20th June to connect us!!! NOOOO!!!!! I’m going to cut this short because I could go on and on and on and it winds me up to much to talk about it. They need to come to the apartment to wire up the apartment block to the exchange as it’s a new property. Michael went ballistic but apparently the guy was really nice and tried to get us an earlier slot and has put us on the emergency set-up list as Michael has told them I work from home and I need internet access.
So, in short, the telephone will not be connected until the 20th. As we leave for the UK on the 24th ready for our flight on the 25th - to Spain, not worth putting anything on eBay to sell before we go, as I won’t be able to monitor it whilst we’re away or answer any questions. I have now missed the best months for selling my bride and groom’s. Might as well give up for the year now.
Michael came home and was keen to get out on his bike - well maybe not keen but was hungry and wanted to get going.
Our destination… St. Aubyn’s Bay… we can see it really clearly from our apartment, almost touching distance. We already know it is going to be a 3 mile bike ride so probably a bit much for the first time on bikes which neither of us have ridden for years.
It was quite enjoyable and took it slowly and didn’t seem to be too many little gradients. I sped up a little as I was getting really hungry by now. Michael is having trouble with his saddle the guy at the shop has obviously not tightened it enough and it keeps going up in the air and then down pointing towards the ground. Very uncomfortable.
We arrived in St. Aubyn’s and went into the ‘Salty Dog’ a very popular restaurant on the island. We decided we’d give it a try tonight - it’s not cheap but decided that we would just have a main course.
We sat outside and it was getting a bit nippy as the sun was around the other side of the island by now but they have patio heaters and kindly put them on for us. They also have poncho’s there for customers to wear when the sun goes down!
Michael had a sea bream with king prawns in tempura batter with a sweet chilli sauce on a bed of baby sugar snap peas, courgette and beans. He had rice with it and ordered a portion of chips - proper chips. I had a red Thai chicken curry with jasmine rice it also had the same sort of veggies as Michael had but obviously in the Thai sauce. All washed down with a bottle of red wine and a jug of water… it was really tasty!
I received a text from James whilst we were in there. He’d fallen down the stairs and has hurt his arm. I don’t think it’s that bad or he’d have gone to hospital but I am still a little worried. I will text or phone him tomorrow to make sure he’s ok.
It was getting quite late and starting to get slightly darker so we headed back.
Michael’s saddle had got really bad by now and I swapped to see if I could ride it any better. Nope, couldn’t! Impossible! We took it really slowly back but I felt really quite sick. I think it was because I’d eaten and then with the leaning over the bike… not the best position to be in on a full stomach.
The wind had also got up which made it difficult to cycle against and it was quite chilly.
I had to swap back bikes quite quickly as it was hurting a rather delicate area - I guess more so for a male though! Anyway, we decided to get off and walk a bit and then rode on even slower. Then, got off and walked again. This was ridiculous! Poor Michael with his seat, he had to keep stopping and adjusting and then found that if he sat with just one butt cheek on the saddle it was a little easier. What a pain in the bum - quite literally!!! Perhaps this was a little too adventurous for the first time on a bike for gawd knows how many years!
Eventually we made it back to the apartment and what a welcome sight that was! We were both very sore in very delicate places, my back ached and the back of my neck where my handbag was pulling down onto my back. Also, my knee caps hurt as I have ‘dodgy’ knees anyway. Michael said his legs ached too. I think my legs were the only part that didn’t hurt. Never again! Anyone want to buy a couple of bikes? Not really, I am not one to give in! I will buy us some padding or new comfy saddles I think - or wear nappies!
We got back to the apartment and Michael slumped onto the settee and promptly fell asleep whilst I decided to wipe my makeup off and clean my teeth ready for bed. I knew that if I sat down immediately I wouldn’t get back up.
I woke Michael up only to go straight to bed!


Friday 9th June 2006
The tide was in this morning and it’s another beautiful day with a breeze again. Michael went to work and I went back to bed.
Tony the guy who came the other day to show me the heating phoned - I was in a deep sleep and pretended to be alert and awake. Bloody hell! He asked if he could come and look at the dishwasher door this morning, so I guess I will be in this morning.
I got up and had a shower, got dressed and ate my breakfast. Then tackled a pile of ironing (not a very big pile) makes a difference without James’s work shirts!
My knees hurt and won’t bend properly from cycling last night. Michael said before he left that he will be walking to work like he’s been riding a horse.
Tony came with one of the maintenance men who opened the door and then said “nope, we’ll have to call someone in”. Took all of 2 seconds to tell me something I think I knew already. Anyway, he was helpful and phoned the maintenance guy (from his mobile of course) who said he’d come between 12 and 1 o’clock.
I flew up the town as it was 11 o’clock already. Raced around getting a few bits for the weekend to eat and getting some nibbles in.
Raced back to the apartment and got in at 4 minutes past 12... I hope he hasn’t been already! Doubt it.
It’s now 2 minutes past 1 - no maintenance man. Oh well, we’ll see I guess.
I am going to have a lazy afternoon and relax and rest my bits! I will probably sit on the terrace and watch the world go by. The tide is well out at the moment and it looks stunning!
I had just about given up on the dishwasher man but then I spotted a van draw up in the visitors parking area out the front and thought “is it or isn’t it”. Then they pressed the entry doorbell from outside our ‘core‘. I love the entry bell… we have a telephone in our hallway with a screen on it and we can see who is at the door - the picture is crystal clear too!
Anyway, there were two guys one is very young and I think he is a trainee - he reminded me of Sam O’Loughlin… he looks just like him but younger… probably only around 17 or 18 years old. Very polite and friendly like our lovely Sam too. Anyway, the verdict - the dishwasher is sitting too far back into the unit and hence the big wadge of plastic they have bodged into the top of the dishwasher to make it fit. Also, there are wooden blocks on the top, with screws they have wedged into the door itself, all this has made the dishwasher totally defunct! The same problem we had with our dishwasher in the UK… lazy, stupid kitchen fitters! Michael and I suspected this was the problem as it is EXACTLY the same problem at home, except that we had to have our dishwasher replaced after 16 months because it totally trashed the door lock! The dishwasher here like all the other appliances are the best money can buy (Miele) according to the repair men today and they have wrecked the thing! So, they are now going to call Dandara to get the kitchen fitters to come back and put it in properly! Typical!
The tide is almost in and the concrete pool is filling up - it’s beautiful to watch the water filling into it. The water level gets to the same height and then just floods over in torrents causing it to fill. It has just done this and now it’s full, all within a matter of minutes. One day I will take photographs, a few minutes apart and time how long it does take to fill. It was low tide at 2.30 pm and now it’s high tide at 3.30 pm. The tides are really weird here. It’s my new hobby ‘tide watching’ - sad I know but I find it fascinating!
I was hoping the dishwasher men would come earlier than 2.15 but not to be. I wanted to go for a paddle at low tide. I still could but it’s not the same and I’m a little scared the water will be deep. I can see two young lads in the water now and it’s not that deep and there are two young women and a young guy paddling nearby too. I might go paddling tonight with Michael if he fancies it.
Tonight we are eating here and we are having chicken marinated in honey and mustard. I have been marinating it all afternoon so it should be scrummy! I will make little squares of potato with red pepper and onion roasted in the oven and green beans and carrots.
Michael phoned earlier to say that he is going to try and leave work a little earlier today… we’ll see! He also said that his boss’s boss is coming over on Monday to see how things are going but only has time to see Michael in the evening! So, he will take him out for a meal… generous - I think Michael should work 24 hours don’t you? NO!!!
Michael came home only about half an hour earlier than usual - possibly being the time he really should be leaving work! Anyway, he’s home and James has just phoned. Had a lovely long chat to him for half an hour on his mobile! That’s going to be an expensive call for him! James is doing well and loving his job and the perks he gets like free meals at expensive restaurants and wine tasting in Rothschild Wine Cellars. He is also due to go to Le Manoir, Raymond Blanc’s restaurant and Claridges in London which is Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant! Wow! Lucky him! He is also planning to come over next weekend to Jersey. I hope he makes it, Michael will be really pleased if he comes for Father’s Day. I will just be glad he’s coming anyway! He will love this apartment and want to move in! I can’t wait to show him around and also take him around the island. I know he is going to love it!
James’s arm is a lot better today as he bought some heat pads to put on it. He is going to see Cheryl and Tanya his ‘girls’ from University. It’s Tanya’s birthday and Cheryl’s a week later and so they will celebrate both tomorrow (Saturday). They are lovely girls and they all meet up quite regularly. Tanya lives in Basingstoke and Cheryl lives in Horsham. They are all chatterboxes so I don’t quite know who listens to who, as they all talk over each other! Loud but so lovely! James has so many friends all from different areas (because we’ve had to move a lot with the Bank) that he keeps in touch with and meets up with regularly - he’s always so busy with his friends and is always on the phone! He deserves to be popular, he is such a lovely lad, biased I know but everyone who meets him likes him. We are really lucky to have two well adjusted, decent, intelligent and respectful children. We are very proud of both of them.
We didn’t get a paddle in… I don’t know why but we decided to go for a walk around the ‘Waterfront’ the reclaimed land area where they have built an entertainment complex… cinemas, swimming pool, restaurants and bars. They are still building on this site and it’s going to be huge and has totally changed the shape of Jersey on the map. It’s extremely clever and makes Jersey a tiny bit bigger! They are also building an hotel there and new apartments (not as flash as ours of course)! They are also going to build a ‘Centre Parks’ allegedly just by the new swimming pool. They haven’t started this yet but word has it that’s what they are doing there.
We came home and went to bed as we were tired.

10th June 2006 - Saturday
Another very hot and sunny day.
Today we have a lot of ‘bits’ to get for the apartment. Things that we are finding we still need to buy.
We had breakfast and then walked into town. We wanted to go to Woolies and get some kitchen bits and bobs. We also went in the £1 shop (saddo’s) and spent £4 - obviously we bought 4 items! We were looking downstairs at a fly swatter and a guy shopping in there said “they’re great, they are electric and we use them in our office and they zap the flies and send bits flying everywhere”. I’m afraid we bought one, along with the batteries to go in it. It looks like a mini tennis racket. We also bought a small roasting tin and door stops - so Michael doesn’t break his nose again!
We had a wander around and then came back to the apartment. We had a nice lunch of olive ciabatta, chicken and salad. Yummy.
After lunch we decided to do some food shopping in the big Checkers at Red Houses. We spent about £50! Considering I’d spent at least that during the week it seemed an awful lot. We have got a few meals but I guess it’s the wine! We always get bargain wines there.
Came back to the apartment and packed all the stuff away… as I was putting the shower gel in the shower I turned around and whack! My elbow hit the aluminium corner of the shower edge… right between the bone. It came up in a huge black bruise immediately along with a lump. I was in tears on the bed and couldn’t move my arm. I had shooting pains all down it and my hand swelled out and I couldn’t move my fingers either. I thought I had broken one of the bones in between! It was so painful.
We were just going out to B&Q to buy a plant for the balcony. Michael drove, as I couldn’t move my arm still. I was in a lot of pain and knowing we had to pay for medical treatment decided to just ‘put up with it’.
We bought a fabulous ‘Canary Island Palm Tree’ which was only £7.99 and a big pot to put it in.
Michael could see I was in a lot of pain (probably because each time I moved it slightly I winced and whined) and asked if I wanted to go to hospital to get it X-Rayed. I decided to ‘see how it goes’ the rest of the afternoon but I could by now at least wiggle my fingers so I knew it probably wasn’t broken. The lump had gone down quite considerably too but I still couldn’t move my arm.
Michael put the plant out on the terrace - it looks fabulous a real tropical haven.
We sat on the terrace and Michael made me some medicine… Pimm’s!!! We sat on the terrace and read the paper. I was hoping I might get so inebriated that the pain would go away. Nope, the pain didn’t go but I did get inebriated!
Michael had to cook tonight because I still couldn’t move my arm although I had managed to straighten it a little.
We had a lovely dinner of chicken (just for a change) with white wine jus, mushrooms, garlic, onion and tomato. Lovely roasties with carrots and asparagus (love asparagus)! We also had strawberries and ice-cream.
My arm was feeling quite a lot better… I think the jug of Pimm’s, food and a glass of wine helped! I managed to wash up a few delicate bits after dinner and packed what I could in the dishwasher (which I can use for the time being). Still waiting for the door to be fixed however. Definitely feeling a lot less painful but still can’t feel my fingers properly and my hand is swollen as my new rings won’t go on.
We went for a walk along the prom to ‘First Tower’. There are lots of these old Martello Towers on Jersey. These were lit hundreds of years ago when the soldiers caught sight of the French coming over to invade Jersey. Obviously, First Tower was the first one to be lit and could be seen over to ‘Second Tower’ in St. Aubyn which was then lit and so on and so forth until the whole island’s Martello Towers were lit up. I’m not sure how may are on the island but that will be something for me to find out at a later date.
To our amusement at First Tower the police were out speed trapping. We watched as all the cars tried to slow down before getting zapped. We saw one car, in the short while we were there, get pulled over and issued with a speeding ticket. According to Michael’s workmates, the police hide in bushes in the countryside and then jump out and catch speeding motorists. I shall have to be careful!
Michael is a movie fanatic and as we haven’t got Sky (much to his annoyance) he bought 3 movies in HMV today. Not quite sure what he has bought but he said I will like two of them. We watched the ‘Perfect Catch’ a movie with Drew Barrymore. It was ok, a bit naff but ok.
The other two movies we will no doubt watch soon… ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’ and the re-make of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ with Johnny Depp.
My arm is feeling a whole lot better now and almost back to normal! Off to bed.

11th June 2006 - Sunday
Today we woke up to a dull start. Not supposed to be, perhaps it will brighten up later.
We decided not to get showered for the moment but to go on a short bike ride. Michael had bought some tools in B&Q yesterday to adjust his seat and generally tighten up the loose bits on his bike. Mine is fine - so, not sure why his is such a wreck! The brakes are also a bit dodgy on the front and the screw just keeps on turning - hmm weird. I am going to take the bike back tomorrow and get the guy to sort it out properly! Michael has kind of bodged it… so off we go.
We walked down to the road and tried to cross - there’s a lot of traffic about for a Sunday!
Just as we were trying to cross we felt a few spatters of rain. Nothing much to write home about but turned around and put the bikes straight back in the store room! Great!
Went upstairs to the apartment and had a shower and got ourselves ready. Michael phoned his Mum and made a pot of tea. Lovely!
Now it is raining quite heavily so we are sort of watching the Grand Prix and looking at the UK mainland sunshine on the TV!!! Jersey weather is supposed to be better than the mainland!!! What’s wrong!!!
Michael has decided that he is hungry so is making a pile of food… not sure what exactly but it smells nice. I’m not at all hungry but will no doubt force some down! As you do! Hmmm. He has also poured himself a glass of white wine. Oooh and now I have a glass of red. Thanks!
Not sure what we will be doing this afternoon. Just put the roof of my car on and drive I suppose. Oooh at least I will be able to drive again now my arm is a whole lot better. The bruising has mysteriously gone and so has the swelling. Thank goodness!
Michael had made a gambas al ajillo (prawns in garlic oil) - we eat this a LOT in Spain. We love it - dipping in crusty bread - it’s very filling. He also made a tuna, mayonnaise, onion and olive dip. Humous which we’d bought yesterday at Checkers, slightly adapted because we like lemon and coriander in it! We had some Marks and Spencer sesame seed grissini sticks to dip into that as a starter. Blimey! How greedy we are. I wasn’t that hungry but managed a few prawns and breadsticks with homous. Strange combination but very nice all the same.
The rain got fairly heavy so we stayed in to watch Crocodile Hunter. After that the rain had stopped and the sun was trying hard to poke through so we decided to go for a drive to Devil’s Hole. We didn’t make that as it was on the North of the Island and it looked dark, so, turned the car around and drove to the East of the Island where it looked a lot brighter.
We parked the car up and took a walk down to Rozel Bay. Chateau la Chaire (one of our favourite spots for Sunday lunch) is in Rozel and we are taking James there next Sunday for lunch, which I booked yesterday. We walked around the bay and Michael took a few photo’s. We walked around a couple of the other restaurants there which look quite nice and took a peek at their menu’s. Chateau la Chaire is very hard to beat. We decided to drive on to Gorey and have a look at a couple of restaurants there. We want to find somewhere to take James for a small lunch on Saturday. James loves scallops and Michael loves moules - I hate both - we are trying to find somewhere that does both moules and scallops on a lunchtime menu. I will end up eating vegetarian no doubt but that‘s fine with me!
We drove past a restaurant called Le Frere, I had seen this before on a leaflet and fancied going there sometime but didn‘t know where it was plus I had forgotten all about it. We drove into the car park, the views are just fantastic looking over a small bay with beautiful gardens going down onto the rocks. It was a beautiful big building with a lovely restaurant and terrace with tables and chairs outside. I went in and asked for a business card, so we have their number for future reference. It certainly wasn’t cheap but again Sunday lunch was only £1 dearer than Chateau la Chaire. We will definitely try it one day. Sunday lunch is always the cheapest and best value here on Jersey. The set menu’s are the best value as you get 3-4 courses, less than half the price of eating in the evenings. Generous portion sizes too!
We drove on to Gorey and parked up at the top of the bay by the castle because it’s free to park there! It’s very steep and only the brave (like us) will take up the challenge of going down the slope! One day I will come a cropper and fall flat on my face - that day will come no doubt! I’m the one who has all the accidents except Michael with the door on his nose the other day. Which is kind of healing but his nose is still red and bulbous!
We walked along the harbour at Gorey and looked in a couple of the restaurants but it was either moules or scallops - not both. We decided to walk up the hill to a restaurant which is owned by Jersey Pottery called ‘Castle Green’. It’s a very popular one on the island and we tried to go in before only to be turned away because they were full. We took a card on a previous visit there and decided if we ever went again we’d need to book. We booked whilst we were in there today as they had both moules and scallops on the menu. There are a few vegetarian options - so, sorted!
We drove back to the apartment along the coast road which is my favourite option. Michael would rather (I think) go straight through the centre of the island, the quick route! As I was driving he didn’t get a choice!
We got back to the apartment at 5.45 pm and decided to start cooking dinner. I peeled the potatoes at lunchtime whilst I was clearing up the lunchtime plates. One job less to do! I did the veggies whilst Michael sorted out the fish. Smelling good.
Dinner was delicious. Michael is now officially weekend cook! Yummy scrummy! We finished off with some fresh pineapple and ice cream. T’was nice.
The weather has cleared up and it is a pleasant evening with a gentle breeze. Uh-oh, decided we should take the bikes out for an airing!
We rode along to First Tower and then onto La Motte Ford a little further than we were going to originally. Took a look at the Ford garage for cars. My lovely little car is supposed to go back or pay up the balance soon. I don’t want it to go back and have been looking at car prices to see what is best to do. To get a half decent car it is, it seems, going to cost more than to pay the balance on my car. I am hoping we can keep it as it’s the best! Now Michael doesn’t have a car we only have to pay for one but we’ll wait and see if we are going back to the UK at all or onto Gibraltar. It’s all a little unsettling but I am used to it really, we have had to do that all of our married life. Sometimes I love the places we have had to move to and sometimes I hate them! Jersey, I love fortunately but who wouldn‘t!
The cycle ride was just right, not too short not too long. I feel refreshed and so does Michael. It’s the first time either of us has really woken up all day!
We ate a bag of nuts and fruit from the health food shop - need to go on another cycle ride - but won‘t! The mix has yogurty raisins in too - they are delicious. I am told by the lady in the shop (who is also addicted to them) that “they are fattening so don’t eat too many”. I had a glass of water to wash them down with Michael had a beer. Feel really guilty now - oh well what’s another inch on the waistline - oh I know - a quicker way to an earlier death. Perhaps I should just slit my throat and be done with it.
We have been looking out for the ferry and the Condor fast ferry today. We haven’t seen either. Not sure why but last night we were watching the Condor fast ferry and it was quite noisy… then no sooner had it left the harbour… it conked out, turned around and limped straight back! Ooops! It’s not in the harbour now and don’t think it has been in, or out today. Progress report perhaps tomorrow.
Shall retire soon as we were tired.


12th June 2006 - Monday
The day started bright and sunny - ooh lovely!
The ferry was already in at 7.20 this morning but no sign yet of the Condor.
I went back to bed after making Michael a coffee… not that that’s any use here as everyone gets up early and clonks around and then the builders turn up at 7.30 and all hell breaks loose! I stayed in bed and dozed a little however, until 9.30 a.m.
Ah-ha I spy a Condor Fast Ferry. So it’s working again!
Emma phoned to say she needed to fill up the fish tank with water again after having to empty half of it out last week because the fish had a disease and add antibiotics to the tank. She wasn’t sure how to do it… the water needs de-chlorinating before putting it back in the tank with specific drops. She wasn’t sure how much or how cold the water should be etc. Didn’t chat as she is always far too busy… even though she has now finished University for the summer holidays!
Did some boring stuff like washing and tidying up after the weekend.
Showered and then took Michael’s bike to get the brakes repaired. The guy was very surprised I thought they were broken. I said I’d leave the bike with him and collect it in a while.
Went into the Pomme d’Or Hotel to get a coffee and use their internet access. I had loads of e-mails, most of which were junk which I deleted. I have two ladies who want to buy Christening toppers. I didn’t reply to them as I couldn’t be bothered! I thought I’d check out Michael’s e-mails. He had 57 - he gets even more junk than I do. One was from the guy who phoned last week for a job that Margaret had introduced from Legal and General. I sent a reply back saying that Michael will look into it later etc. I tried forwarding it to Michael but no luck it just wouldn’t forward. Have to get it and print it at the other internet café another day.
It was 12.25 pm and wondered if Michael was about for lunch so phoned him. He was in a meeting but always answers the phone for his lovely old wifey! He said he could meet in about 45 minutes if I was still around. I wouldn’t be but I could take his bike back to the apartment and then walk up again to town as I need a mop and a broom for the terrace - it’s looking a little grimy!
Fetched Michael’s bike from the shop and the guy said the back brakes were loose so he has tightened them and the front one… the cable had snapped. Never mind, all repaired now and I cycled back.
Changed my trousers and walked back up to town. I got there about 10 minutes early so had a look in Marks and Spencer.
Michael met me for lunch and we went to the same café as we’d gone to at the end of last week. Two baguettes and two teas… oh and I bought Michael an apricot Danish pastry. We sat outside the café and just chatted.
Michael only had his usual half an hour break which actually was only 20 minutes! He is supposed to be meeting his boss’s boss tonight for a meal. It would be nice to see him for longer than 20 minutes in 24 hours however!!!
I got my broom and mop in Woolies and then went into Marks for some food shopping. I am, if Michael is coming home for dinner going to make a coq au vin as we have a grot bottle of wine to use up… not drinkable but perfectly good for a coq au vin. I needed to buy some chicken portions which were in fact on offer. I bought far more than we needed but I will freeze the rest.
I put the new broom over the terrace and then mopped the floor. It doesn’t actually look any cleaner! I will see when it’s properly dry how gritty it feels underfoot. I might give it another sweep and a mopping.
Vacuumed out the apartment - Michael’s bloody black socks get bits everywhere! I am going to send him off to work with no socks on I think!
I would like to go out for a bike ride tonight as I want to get a little fitter and tone up a bit. Well a lot actually… I have tons of loose bits of wobbly flesh at the moment… not a pretty sight!
James phoned after he’d finished work to say that he’d booked his flights to come over and see us. Yippeee! I can’t wait! He is coming early on Saturday morning and leaving early evening on Monday. Oooh I’m so excited! I hope the weather’s good as I am sending him and Michael on a bike ride! I might actually hire a bike for the afternoon, so that we can all go out together. We won’t have time to show James everything here but we’ll give it a good go! Michael will have to work on Monday, so I will probably take James to the zoo - it will be free for him to come with me because Michael and I have membership in my name and that entitles me to take any guest free whether it be Michael or someone else! Cool! Michael won’t be sorry as he’s not really that keen on going to the zoo.
Michael will be pleased when I tell him that James is able to come over for Father’s Day. Emma can’t come because they are 3 people down in the shop and they need her to work. Shame but she will come another time.
Michael is not going out with his boss’s boss tonight after all… cancelled - Great!!!
We ate dinner and then took the car out for a drive to a different part of the island.
We decided to drive to Beauport Bay this, you may remember, ages ago we said we would go to as it looked pretty from the Condor Fast Ferry on the way back from collecting my car from the mainland. We tried to get there before but we went the long way around and it was getting too dark to actually walk down to the bay. We took the car to the car park right at the top of the cliffs at Beauport Bay. We’d seen the car park last time - we knew there must be a road to it somewhere. We found it very easily and parked the car. We walked down the steep steps and is all I could think about was walking back up!
We were a little disappointed as we hadn’t thought that of course the tide was in! Derrr! The scenery is stunning though and the rocks are very strange… they look as if someone has placed one square rock precariously on to of another and then another. There are warning signs up ‘Danger Falling Rocks’.
The stones on the beach were unusually large - quite massive actually. They were a pretty pink colour and only a pink colour… nothing else - just pink. Very strange. The trees on the rocks are a very dark green colour and it is very pretty. We both took a photo of each other - so this week there will be at least one photograph taken of Michael! He took charge of the camera last week and there were rather a lot of arty farty photo’s. Very nice photo’s but none of us!
A young girl appeared with a dry or wet suit on and then swam off around the bay on her own. It’s obviously a regular thing she does as she wasn’t at all nervous and just waded in and swam off! We thought it was a bit dangerous but I guess she’s used to doing it.
As we reached the top of the steps our legs really started to ache. We saw the young girl’s bike parked at the top and hoped she’d be ok left alone swimming.
We came back to the apartment and Michael put on a film - one of the one’s he bought at the weekend. Mr & Mrs Smith… Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie two of my least favourite actors. The film was in my opinion crap! Michael wasn’t too impressed either obviously as he skipped part of it by winding it on.
Another day, another dollar or should I say another day another, another Jersey Pound. Not quite the same ring.

13th June 2006 - Tuesday
The tide is in again this morning… which I’m glad about as this means it will be low for the best part of the day. The UK, I hear on the news, has had bad thunderstorms all night in parts. I think we are supposed to have rain later this afternoon. We’ll see.
Michael is off to work in the part sunshine (for the time being).
Today is haircut day so hope I get back from town before it does start to rain. I have had an itchy scalp the last couple of weeks so I hope Shaun (my hairdresser) doesn’t find anything in it! No, I think I have been too hot and I always get an itchy neck and hairline in the heat. I also think I might have an allergy to one of the products Shaun sold me last time! Not sure really - I have been taking anti-histamine tablets for hay fever so this should be helping… but still itchy.
It chucked it down just before I was going out - got my umbrella out of the car and changed my white linen trousers for some jeans.
Had my hair cut and also a 60 second treatment of protein added because I could tell from Shaun’s face my hair was not in good condition!
Anyway, he cut it nicely again and it looks thick at the back. Hope it doesn’t rain!
I bought a JML mop for the floor and windows in Woolies and a new hairdryer which has got an attachment to stop my hair going fuzzy when I dry it.
I phoned Michael to see if he wanted to meet up for lunch. He did and couldn’t get away from work quick enough I think! Every day he encounters new problems. When Michael digs a little deeper he finds either things have been done wrong or not at all!!! He was a little down this lunchtime. He can’t get on with what he is supposed to be doing for the time being because of all the mistakes that are happening and Michael is now finding out about! I think he is going to phone his boss and tell him that he just can’t do any of the work he is supposed to be doing because of all the muck-ups!!! I hope his afternoon is better and I wish I could help. Anyway, we ate in a Greek restaurant by the law courts on the square. It’s pretty there with trees and lots of pigeons. Michael had a tuna sandwich and I had a cheese, tomato and onion panini - we shared a bowl of chips. Both had a cup of tea. Very nice. The Greek meals looked good too and I would like to go back when we have more time and some proper Greek food.
It started to spit whilst we were sat outside the restaurant… there was a huge awning covering us but Michael’s back was getting slightly spattered and so he put my umbrella up. The waitresses were laughing at him and said that they wanted to take a photograph and send it in to The Planning Department. Apparently they have asked for planning permission to put side covers on the restaurant but Planning are objecting.
It rained all the way back to the apartment.
Cleaned the windows with my new mop. They actually don’t look much better and although the advert on the TV says you can clean windows and they are totally dry afterwards… they’re certainly not! Streaky windows but clean windows will have to do!
Did some ironing and made a bowl of salad for dinner tonight. Yesterday was hot and we had coq au vin and today is wet and we are having salad. I wish I’d done it the other way around but still… the sun’s out now so it maybe the right choice after all.
We would like to go out on the bike’s tonight or for a walk… we’ll have to wait and see as the weather changes every 5 minutes here!
We had a lovely refreshing salad with tuna and olives for dinner tonight and strawberries and ice-cream.
We went out for a walk after dinner - just around the arm of the harbour. The tide was in and it was one of the highest tides of the year. The water was very calm but as the waves came in we could see the spray coming over the top of the sea wall. We both wondered what it would be like in the winter when the sea is rough. We also wondered whether we’d be in Jersey still.
We didn’t walk very far as Michael was busting to go to the loo. I knew I should have nagged him before he left - as well as tell him to put on clean underwear and make sure he has a hankie in his pocket. Ha-ha.
We watched the evening edition of Deal or No Deal on Channel 4 and then Michael watched Midsommer Murders with old Bergerac (John Nettles) in it! I did some Sudoku’s - I mucked up about 4 today… not concentrating hard enough. I will do some more tomorrow to prove I am not totally stupid!

14th June 2006 - Wednesday
I feel extra tired today. Made Michael a cup of coffee and saw him off to work and then went back to bed. I knew it would be noisy here but just wanted to close my eyes for a little longer.
The weather is… well… decidedly grey and heavy.
I need to get petrol for my car today as it’s running on fumes! I drove out to the airport and got my petrol there. I also bought some car wash as it’s filthy! I will do that later too hopefully.
I stopped at Red Houses to get some shopping in the ‘big’ Checkers and then went over to the little Marks and Spencer there to get some fresh orange juice, as I prefer theirs.
Drove back to the apartment and unloaded the shopping.
Took a bucket down to the basement and sneakily washed my car. There is a cold water tap just by the electric gate into the car park so I pinched some water from there to fill up my bucket. I’m not sure if you’re supposed to wash it there but I did it in record time, hoping not to get caught. I hope the drain, that is conveniently situated in one of our two allocated car parking spaces, would quickly wash the evidence away and dry quickly!
It looks a lot cleaner but could really do with another wash down the bottom where a load of tar from the road is still present! Never mind it will do for now.
I am still feeling sluggish this afternoon. I haven’t really achieved a lot… cut up the hot chicken I bought from Checkers for dinner tonight, read the paper and finished the two Sudoku’s in it… one is wrong! Bugger!
The TV man phoned to say he was coming over as arranged, oops - I forgot! Apparently the fitting for the Sky connection is faulty and so they need to put in new wiring. As we haven’t got Sky yet it really makes no difference but it had to be done apparently. I made the little short fat man a cup of tea and he was here about half an hour - in my way.
Watched Coach Trip on Channel 4 and then Countdown and then Deal or No Deal. Lazy cow! I really don’t feel like doing much.
Roast chicken tonight with the chicken already prepared courtesy of Checkers… not a lot left to prepare really. I will make some Yorkshire Puddings - Michael’s favourite. I do make good Yorkshire Puddings it has to be said!
Tonight hopefully we will go on a bike ride if the weather holds out… it has been grey all day and a little low cloud.
Michael came home from work a bit later to my annoyance. Dinner was ready. More problems at work. After dinner we went out for a bike ride. The weather hadn’t really improved all day, it was still grey but the grey clouds had lifted off of the bay at least.
We rode our bikes around the ‘Waterfront’ the entertainment area on the reclaimed land around the marina and harbour. It was lovely and quiet around there, not many cars and not many people. We stopped and took a look at the ferry loading up with lorries which was due to go out at 9.30 this evening Portsmouth bound. We then rode back along the promenade passing our apartment and onto First Tower.
We enjoyed our bike ride and felt as though I’d actually achieved something instead of sitting on my butt in the apartment alone.
We made a jug of Pimm’s as we were thirsty and didn’t fancy water, which would have been a lot more beneficial but what the heck!
We were back in time to see the evening edition of Deal or No Deal. Sad, I know. Another loser! The woman this afternoon won £10 and the guy tonight seemed nice and having a young family, we wanted him to win a little more than the 10p he actually went home with! Shame.
Michael flicked between the channels watching four different rubbish programmes at once, including football. I struggled with a very hard Sudoku, which I will finish today - I hope!
15th June 2006 - Thursday
I didn’t have a very good night’s sleep last night. Michael snored really loudly, directly into my right ear! I had to keep pushing him back onto his side but he wanted to lie on his back. He drove me mad!
I made Michael a cup of coffee and we sat and watched the tide coming in. We sat at the breakfast bar and watched the water flowing back into the concrete semi-circle ‘safe’ swimming area which is directly opposite our apartment. Michael had never seen this before and was equally amazed at how quickly it fills up and how beautiful it looks. It takes exactly 5 minutes to totally fill - it’s spectacular.
I went back to bed for an hour.
The weather is grey again today but apparently it will brighten later. We’ll see. I don’t mind it being grey as long as it doesn’t rain. I will walk into town and buy Michael a casual shirt for Father’s Day and a card shhh. I’m glad James can make it for Father’s Day but disappointed Emma can’t. I’m sure she’ll come over soon though.
Walked into town and as I was passing the theatre (well sort of) and Michael had been nagging for me to pop in and get tickets for ’Oliver’ the stage show. It was a local production by the Jersey Amateur Dramatic Society, wasn’t really sure if it was going to be any good. I thought tonight was opening night… bum it was last night… I wanted to get tickets for opening night as the tickets were 25% cheaper. My blunder cost me £34 for two tickets for the evening instead! Yikes! It had better be good!
Walked the rest of the way into town and had a look around for a shirt for Michael. I went in all the normal high street shops like Next, Top Man, Marks and Spencer etc. There was only one I liked but it was too similar to one I bought him a few weeks back. Which, by the way he loved and lives in! That’s one of the reasons I wanted to buy him one for Father’s Day. Most of our summer clothes are in Spain, although when we get there on the 25th June - none of our clothes will fit anyway! We have both put on too much weight and are hoping to lose some with all the walking and cycling we are doing.
I was a little fed up about not finding a shirt for him and then had a brainwave… there is a shop on the outskirts of town called Murray’s that Michael likes. It is kind of a surfers shop, he bought himself a ‘Lambretta’ t-shirt in there a few weeks back. He also has his eye on a pair of trainers in there but I couldn’t afford them today. I have spent too much money this month, especially as I am not earning any at the moment! Anyway, had a look around Murray’s and spotted two casual shirts I liked. One was £8 and the other £10! Everything is so much cheaper in there and the quality is really good. Casual shirts in the high street shops start at £18 - the price of two in Murray‘s! As I am skint and it’s Father’s Day and he’s not my Father… I decided just to buy one and it’s lovely… I did pick the dearer one! £10! I really like it so I hope he does too. I will keep the receipt just in case.
The internet café was closed so decided I’d do that tomorrow instead.
I nipped into the Grand Marche to pick up a couple of bananas and a tin of pineapple for tonight’s dinner… hmmm.
Michael phoned just as I was checking out of Grand Marche to see if I was in town. I thought he might phone about that time and so ended up in the supermarket which is situated just across the road from his office.
We went to Voisin’s for lunch which you may remember me saying before is one of two posh department stores here. We had breakfast in there one Saturday morning when we were in our temporary accommodation. We always used to take the kids in there when they were little either for a breakfast or for a selection of cakes for an afternoon tea. It’s really nice.
It wasn’t very busy in there surprisingly. I had a prawn and marie rose sauce sandwich and Michael had a chicken and tarragon sandwich. He had a pot of tea and I sneakily had a glass of wine. We both had a headache oddly enough. I had 4 paracetamol left in my handbag which we shared with a glass of water. We always swap food halfway through… I started with the prawn one which was ok but the chicken and tarragon sandwich was really nice… much nicer in fact.
Before Michael went back to work I told him that I’d bought tickets for ‘Oliver’ and he was pleased, especially that we were going tonight! Although he did say that someone he works with went last night and it wasn’t that good. A few first night hiccups with the changing of scenery etc. Uh-oh.
Michael went back to work and I decided to go back to the apartment as my head was hurting even more now.
I made a cup of tea and sat on the settee and read the newspaper. My head was still hurting in fact even though I had taken paracetamol, it was worse! I decided to plump up the cushions and lay down for a bit.
Didn’t snooze, just laid there and laid there… nope still got a headache.
I decided to do some ironing… always good for a headache! I had washed the bedding on our bed this morning and it needed ironing and putting back on the bed, headache or no headache.
Then I started cooking this mysterious dinner.
In the apartment still in the wrappers had been the cookbooks which came with the brand new cooker and microwave combination oven. I had been browsing through and found a recipe for fish with a light curry sauce. It sounds nice as it has pineapple and banana in and even better… it’s simple to make!
I’m not very good with measuring things out and so it’s just a dab of this and a splash of that… however the chilli I am usually careful with… but not today it seems. A large plop of chilli… oh no a very large plop of chilli powder.
In the recipe book it says serve with rice… oh no I honestly don’t know where the rice has gone… I know we bought some at some point in one of the 4 apartments we have lived in since being in Jersey! I must’ve left it in one of them! Never mind… potato and sweet potato will go just as nicely - so will peas and corn from the freezer! Hmmm.
Another disadvantage of not measuring things properly is when using cornflower, make sure that doesn’t just plop in either. It will either make the food lumpy or be too thin or too thick… today it was too thick. Oh well another splodge of white wine will do nicely.
Michael was soon home a bit happier from work and minus his headache. I still have mine.
We had dinner and it was delicious! Very tasty indeed! What a surprise! The only thing I would change was the sweet potato… although I love the stuff… it didn’t really go too well with it. Probably needs rice.
No sooner had we sat down, it was time to go out again. Quick change of clothes and off to the theatre.
Fortunately after eating my head seemed to feel a bit better.
The theatre here is really beautiful. I think I said before that it has just been re-furbished and is really lovely, quaint and tiny, making shows a little more personal.
It was a fantastic show and only a couple of little tiny hiccups tonight. It was so good and Fagin was just the best! He really got into the part and was totally and easily the best in it! The young lad playing Oliver was good too and a real cutie too. Bill Sykes was scary and he had a real life bull terrier by his side which was supposed to be scary too but he was a big softie and so well behaved. His little tail was wagging the whole time and was obviously enjoying himself too.
I am really pleased we went to see it, it was well worth the money and would definitely go and see them again perhaps in their next production if we are still here.
Back home and straight to bed - it’s late!

Friday 16th June 2006
Michael and I were both singing ‘Oliver’ songs silently in our heads all night!
It’s a beautiful sunny day.
I’m not sure what I’ll be doing today. I have some cleaning to do and preparing the place ready for James’s arrival first thing in the morning. Can’t wait.
The weather is supposed to be nice all weekend, so I hope they’re right because I want James to see Jersey at it’s best. I wonder if he’ll remember places?
I walked into town to the internet café and fortunately it was open. Checked our e-mails - I had about 52 junk one’s and Michael had 69 junk e-mails and just 2 worth reading - well one wasn‘t it was Michael‘s accountant asking for £3,250! Shit!
Came back to the apartment and made myself a salad and had chicken leftovers from the other day to go with it.
I read the paper and watched ‘Coach Trip’ on Channel 4 as usual and then decided I wouldn’t watch the final of Countdown but to get out in the sunshine and walk along the beach.
It was a very low tide and still going out.
Today workmen are clearing the beach and walkway out to Elizabeth Castle before the tide decides to come back in. They are making a huge difference but are plonking the seaweed back out to sea!!! Well, we shall see tomorrow morning whether it has all come back in again with the tide! Seems stupid to me but perhaps they have done this a million times before and it works… hmmm.
I walked a long way along the beach and decided to find a clear patch to walk down to the sea. Doomed! No clear patches. The seaweed was patchy and I probably could have avoided it but the sea was out an awful long way and the seaweed was smelly and had flies buzzing around it. So, I decided to just walk along the top of the beach instead. I walked to First Tower and then turned around and came back. It’s exactly a mile from our apartment to First Tower - I thought that was enough in the sunshine. It was lovely and warm and I enjoyed it.
Just got back to the apartment in time to see the credits go up on Countdown… so, none the wiser as to who won. I will have to wait until I read the newspapers tomorrow.
Watched ‘Deal or No Deal’ on Channel 4. He won £20,000 lucky chappie!
Tonight I am not in the mood for cooking a big meal. I am going to cook pasta (from a packet) with a tomato sauce (from a jar) and I am going to fry or bake a chicken breast each to pop on top. I have also got a huge ciabatta roll which I have taken out of the freezer - I shall make up a little garlic butter to go on it. We will share one as two will be too much me thinks. I think we will have a nice bottle of wine to go with it on the terrace. Lovely.
We watched TV after dinner until about 8.45 or 9pm and then went out for a bike ride. It was much cooler and we went a fair way and then back to the apartment just as it was getting dark.
James will arrive in the morning on the 8.45 flight from Gatwick - can’t wait!


17th June 2006 - Saturday
Up early as we are expecting James about 9.30 to 1\4 to 10 am.
Unfortunately, only one of us could pick James up from the airport and Michael won. I stayed behind and had a shower and got myself organised.
Whilst I was in the shower I received a text message which I found on my phone when I got out of the shower. It was from James he said he’d just landed and see you soon.
Shortly after my mobile rang to ask “where are you”? Obviously Michael wasn’t there yet - I told him to leave earlier! Anyway, it turned out that there was an accident on the road to the airport and so diverted the traffic the long way around and behind the airport. So he was late!
James had to hire a car because of course mine only has two seats. It was very cheap to hire - just £16.50 per day.
When Michael arrived he drove James to Avis to pick up the car. I was supposed to be put on the insurance but of course I wasn’t there to ‘show my face’ nor my driver’s licence. So, just James for the moment to drive… which is a shame as I wanted him to ‘see the sights’ not drive.
Anyway, shortly they were back at the apartment… I was watching out for them with a cup of tea on the terrace. I went downstairs to the basement/car park to greet them. It was great to see James again. It had only been a couple of weeks since we were last over but it seemed ages!
He was very impressed with our apartment and fell in love with it. Who wouldn’t?
I made them both a drink and James handed each of us a present! Ahhh sweetie - he bought Michael a bottle of Issy Miyake eau de toilette and me a box of posh chockies! Mmmm delicious.
Shortly we took a walk into St. Helier to see if he remembered it there. He did remember bits and considering he hasn’t been to Jersey for about 12 years or more that wasn’t bad! He has a brilliant memory and remembers really stupid things at times and then you kinda remember yourself again… he gets you thinking “oh yes that’s right that did happen or yes we were there then”. He’s amazing!
We had an early lunch in our favourite little baguette shop… James was really hungry.
We wandered around the market and the fish market and James and Michael bought some DVD’s and CD’s as they are so cheap here!
We went to the cycle shop to hire a bike for James so that we could go cycling this afternoon. James particularly wanted to go… I said him and Michael could go and James could use my bike but he wanted me to go too. Oh bum!
Went back to the apartment with the bike and put his in our store room along with ours for a short while whilst we recovered from our walk around St. Helier. Had a quick drink and off we went on our bike ride!
It was a very hot afternoon and so plastered ourselves in suntan cream and off we went. We had a long bike ride around to St. Aubyn’s Bay… it doesn’t look far but it is actually 3 miles there and 3 miles back.
We stopped halfway at St. Aubyn’s and James bought us a drink in the new bar overlooking the sea. We sat out the back in the shade, there was a calm breeze to cool us.
We rode back and fortunately, even though it was a hot day it was a lot easier than the very first day we got the bikes! Perhaps we are fitter - NO! I think we are getting used to having saddles up our crotches and the fact that we knew how far it was and paced ourselves a little better.
James needed to get his bike back to the hire shop for 5pm and so we put ours back into our store room and then walked back to the hire shop.
James was very thirsty and so we walked into the town again and he got some water and a juice for Michael. I shared the water and the juice.
We came back to the apartment for a ‘rest’ before going out this evening to Gorey. We only had about an hour before we left and so cleaned ourselves up a bit and went out again!
We were booked into ‘Castle Green’ restaurant which overlooks Mont Orgueil Castle. We had tried to eat here before but were turned away because it’s always very busy. We booked the table the weekend before to make sure we could get in.
James drove us to the restaurant. We had a nice meal but it was quite expensive for what it was. There was nothing wrong with the food but we were disappointed that it was ’expensive for what it was’… if you know what I mean? A lovely evening and lovely company.
James drove us back to the apartment… quite an early night to bed as James was very tired after his early start this morning.

Father’s Day - Sunday 18th June 2006
We slept in until 9am this morning. Got up and made coffee for us all and had a very small breakfast. I was still full from last night even though I hadn’t actually eaten that much.
James gave Michael a lovely ‘John Rocha’ t-shirt for Father’s Day and a present that he actually couldn’t bring onto the plane as it was a ‘sharp object’… so, he will have to collect this another time when he or we come back with a suitcase sometime. He also bought him a fancy cutting tool for fruit and vegetables… which is a sharp object also, which he did in fact carry in his hand luggage!!! The other ’object’ that he didn’t bring is even more lethal! So, another time.
He also gave Michael a present from Emma… a huge box of Thornton’s chocolates. Mmmm lovely! ’WE’ will enjoy eating them too! Hee-hee.
Michael and James then went out on the bikes for a ride… someone had to stay behind and I volunteered as I take longer than them to shower and get ready! Well, that was my excuse anyway! Suckers!
James drove us to the airport where I will get put on the car insurance for today. I thought it would be nice for James to take a rest and enjoy the scenery.
Very easy and James cannot believe the ‘laid-back’ attitude of the car hire place… they took my details briefly and insured me at no extra expense to be able to drive around.
We are going to ’Chateau La Chaire’ today for a special Father’s Day Sunday Lunch. We chose that one because it’s £15.50 each for a four course lunch along with handmade chocolates and coffee after. The food is just fantastic… in presentation as well as taste.
James sort of remembered that he’d been there as a child but only vaguely. He thought the food and surroundings were fantastic. James arrived in Jersey along with a cold unfortunately, he also has a tickly cough. He and Michael shared a bottle of white wine last night and James was convinced that it had set him off sneezing and coughing last night… so, today he said he might was well drive to our next destination as he didn’t want any alcohol. Michael and I sort of shared a bottle of red instead and James stuck to water. I didn’t want to drink much as I thought James could drive us to our next destination and I would take over from there. We had a fantastic meal and we all enjoyed every mouthful!
Stopped at Catherine Best Jewellery to nip in and see Jenny who we know from there and as her other role of estate agent. We had a long chat and it’s very hard to get away once inside. I could tell James was getting bored and so I took over for the rest of the day and drove us to St. Ouen’s Bay to have a look around. We stopped at Jersey Pearl and James picked up a pair of earrings for Hannah.
Then we had a look at the long sandy beach of St. Ouen’s. There were quite a few people surfing and relaxing on the beach. We also poked our noses in ‘Big Vern’s’… we wanted to show James in there as it’s a beach bum’s wooden hut restaurant, quite big and very popular with locals. It’s quite expensive but not too bad and has a good atmosphere in there. The food is supposed to be very good too… mostly fish.
Then I drove us to Corbiere Lighthouse… we didn’t stop just took a look and drove on to St. Brelade’s Bay. This, as mentioned a hundred times, is one of our favourites. James thought it was very pretty and a little more up-market than St. Ouen’s Bay but equally has a beautiful, long sandy beach.
We had taken the kids to L’Horizon Hotel when they were smaller and James did in fact remember it.
We then drove back to the apartment for a drink and a very quick sit down before walking out to Elizabeth Castle. The tide was at it’s lowest point by the time we got out there and so would soon be coming back in. The Castle itself was closed as it was 6pm but we weren’t planning on going in today anyway. We walked over the rocks and took lots of photographs as usual. Then walked back to the apartment to get washed and changed for this evening’s adventures!
James is a big foodie like us! Greedy too like us! I was still full in the evening but Michael and James had already decided earlier in the day that they were definitely going to go out this evening and eat Moules (mussels). Yeuch! Actually I do like the taste of them but not the texture. I also like the sauce but I won’t eat either moules or the sauce. We were going to Gorey to have this disgusting little ‘treat’.
My turn to drive again but that’s fine… I was glad James could enjoy the view along to the East Coast of the island.
We parked the car at Mont Orgueil Castle and walked down the hill to Gorey Harbour. We took a few photographs back up to the Castle which turned out nicely… also the sun was still shining and looked beautiful, reflecting onto the crystal clear sea and so took some photo’s of some boats just floating and bobbing around. Just so beautiful.
We found a table outside ‘The Moorings’ Hotel and sat down to eat. The waitress came out to take our order, after about 10 minutes of sitting there, only to find out that they had in fact no moules left!
We walked on to another restaurant and although it’s a lovely restaurant they only do Thai Moules which James didn’t fancy. So, we walked along to another restaurant and I went in and firstly asked did they have any moules left and secondly, as it was busy, did they have a table. Fortunately, they had both, moules and a table.
We sat inside, as the outside tables were occupied but that was fine.
I ordered a gambas (prawns) salad as I still wasn’t hungry. James and Michael ordered a HUGE bowl of moules (see photos). They chose different sauces to have their moules cooked in and I did dip a chunk of bread in each to taste the sauces. Each were equally delicious but I still won’t eat moules.
The owner of the restaurant was telling us that it’s the end of the season for moules… they were a lot smaller than Michael had eaten in Jersey before but apparently fantastic. The season starts again in……….. JULY! Oh! Hmm. Not much respite for the poor little buggers!
James had a desert of white chocolate and orange ice cream. I had a nibble and it was delicious.
The table next to us had a huge starter between them - big enough for 4 I thought! Then their main course arrived and it was just ridiculously big… one plate was easily big enough for 2. The couple were, shall we say a little chubby but not hugely fat… the lady couldn’t even get through a quarter of her plate alone!
James was extremely impressed with not only the food but he loved the restaurant with it’s driftwood and simply furnished, bright interior. He said he definitely wants to take Hannah there when she comes over to stay.
It was late by the time we arrived back at the apartment and so went almost straight to bed… after a glass of water of course! Michael and James said a sad farewell as Michael will be up early and off to work unfortunately. I think he’ll be glad of the rest!


Monday 19th June 2006 - Boo-hoo James is leaving
Quite a cloudy dull looking day today and cooler than the weekend.
Unfortunately Michael has to go to work today. Not fair.
Made Michael and I a coffee and left James in bed… or so I thought. Had a shower and then James came into my bedroom with… a cup of coffee! I thought he was still asleep but apparently, he also thought I was still in bed too and so bought me a coffee to wake me! He is a sweetie!
James got himself ready and we had a small breakfast and then off to the hire company to take his car back. Obviously we didn’t need the hire car today as there was only the two of us today.
I took James off to ‘La Mare Vineyard’ to do some wine tasting and a walk around the vineyard. Michael and I have season tickets for the vineyard and managed to get James (who for was in fact ‘Michael’ on this occasion) in for free. We did the tour and he tasted 3 different wines - two white and one rose. I didn’t do any tasting as I was driving and had tasted them with Michael on a previous visit. Most enjoyable!
Then we drove to Jersey Zoo… this one I can legitimately get James in free for as Michael and I again have a season ticket for. The ticket is in my name (as I will go there more than Michael) and I can take one guest free. Good deal.
We had a wander around and bought a water and a juice in the restaurant. James remembers the restaurant in particular, as both he and I were a bit naughty there when he was a little boy. We had both had a chicken salad there on that occasion. Neither of us finished all the salad and had joked that we could make another meal out of our leftovers. Well, we did and it looked like a fresh new salad by the time we’d finished ‘putting it back together’ and even one of the chicken legs looked as though it hadn’t been touched… it had of course. We put the cling film wrapper over the top of it and it looked like new! We left not knowing whether they’d put it back out to sell to some poor unsuspecting customer! We did laugh both at the time and reminiscing today.
James loved the zoo as did I and we took loads of photographs of the animals playing and obviously enjoying themselves. Gerald Durrell was the founder of the zoo and it has an intense breeding programme for endangered species. They have the most beautiful large surroundings whether it be a bear, gorilla or bird, they all have fabulous, interesting, from their perspective, enclosures. They do seem very happy.
That, along with the wine tasting, is apparently another place for James and Hannah to visit when they come together, soon I hope. I am so pleased he is enthusiastic about coming again and so very much enjoying today.
I drove us down to Gorey Village as James was coughing quite a lot and he bought some medicine for it. His cold is a lot better today but his cough is worse. The pharmacist recommend he buy a medicine for a ‘wet’ cough even though it was a ‘dry’ cough as it did sound a big ‘gungy’ to her. Hopefully this will do the trick.
We went to Jersey Pottery next and as it was lunchtime… there was not a pot to be thrown! We were going to eat in the main restaurant there as James needed to eat a big meal or his main dinner at lunchtime as his flight is at 5 to 6 this evening. Actually, there was nothing on the menu either of us fancied. James fancied pasta and when he mentioned it so did I! In Gorey there are lots of restaurants but not a pizza or pasta restaurant so we decided to drive either into St. Helier or to Pizza Express at St. Brelade’s Bay.
James liked the look of the one in St. Brelade’s Bay the other day when we were there… so being a nice Mummy drove right across the other side of the island and we ate there!
The food was, as usual, very good in there and James even commented that it was the best Pizza Express he’d ever eaten at. He also said “Mum, we have had really good food everywhere in Jersey haven’t we”? I knew he’d appreciate the places we’d eaten at. He is right though, the food on Jersey is excellent so far…
We had just a couple of hours before James’s flight so I took him to Beauport which is a tiny bay mentioned before in my blog (hope you were paying attention)! The tide was going back out and I was hoping there would be some sand there today. Michael and I were disappointed, you may remember (if you were paying attention) that the tide was in when we went last week.
James and I went down the very steep steps and fortunately the tide was low enough to show some sand. It’s very pretty there and very small and always very peaceful. Not the easiest bay to get down to and even harder to get back up to the top! My legs were killing me and my heart rate going one hundred to the dozen! James, even having the tail end of a cold wasn’t even out of breath but he does go to a gym!!!
I took him back to Corbiere Lighthouse, as we had about half an hour left before we needed to take the short drive back to the airport. The path out to the lighthouse was just visible - as the tide was going out. At one point the sea did wash over the path right in front of our feet! Missed! We didn’t have time to walk up the rocks to the lighthouse itself and so walked back to the car for our sad drive to the airport.
James checked himself in and he has the very first seat at the front of the plane. We had a wander around the very few shops Jersey Airport has and then his flight was called. He didn’t want to go back either as he’d had a wonderful time. We had a cuddle and I had a cry on his shoulder and said our goodbyes.
I cried all the way back to the apartment… sometimes not being able to see where I was driving.
Michael phoned to say he was leaving work just as I had got back into the apartment. I also went onto the terrace and saw James’s plane leaving Jersey Airport. I was still grizzling by the time Michael got back to the apartment.
I had to pull myself together as we were going out for a meal with Michael’s boss as he was in Jersey tonight. More food!
Michael had had his ‘review’ this afternoon. He did very well and his boss whom we are going out with tonight… didn’t have a lot to say apparently… he just asked “do you and Marilyn like living at West Park and what’s it like”. He is very pleased with what Michael has already achieved working here on Jersey and hopes he will stay longer than 6 months. I think we may be here until Christmas at least now but that‘s fine with us! It was also a good time for Michael to alleviate his frustrations with his staff and the mistakes that have been and are still being made. He knows how frustrated Michael is with the situation and appreciates he can’t do his ’proper’ job until all the mistakes have been found and rectified. Very annoying for Michael but good that he does in fact know and appreciate the situation.
We got ourselves dressed up and just before we were leaving for the restaurant James sent me a text to say his plane had landed and thanked us for a wonderful weekend. Our pleasure mate… I miss you already!
Michael spotted his boss walking along the road and so we all walked to the restaurant together. I haven’t met his boss before as he is also the boss of the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Cyprus etc. and is all over the place! He’s nice and very ordinary - ordinary I like.
We went to Doran’s Restaurant - we’d been there twice before. Michael’s boss had also been there before and was his choice (as he‘s paying the bill)! It was Spanish night tonight (again) we’d been to Spanish night before. Spanish night they have a tapas menu (if you want tapas) plus the regular menu and they have a young lady playing Spanish classical guitar (she’s not Spanish, nor does she look Spanish - she’s blonde and from Newcastle not quite so exotic as Spain).
Michael and his boss both had starters - as usual I didn’t but stole some of Michael’s. His boss is allergic to peppers and most things had peppers in - including his starter. He didn’t make a fuss - just pushed them aside and left well alone. He jokingly said they make him froth at the mouth and fall off the chair backwards if he eats them. I think he just sneezes and coughs.
Michael and I both had stuffed chicken (stuffed with truffles). Creamy mash and mange tout and tempura courgettes. His boss had Sea Bream on creamy mash and mange tout and some of my courgettes.
I felt bad as I think Michael’s boss wanted desert and Michael and I didn’t want any… so he didn’t have one! Ooops! Oh well! Michael and his boss finished off with coffee… I didn’t have that either!
A nice evening, very pleasant and thank you for a lovely meal and lovely company.

Tuesday - 20th June 2006
Telephone Day???
I am very tired today… James you’ve worn your old Mother out!
No, I just didn’t want to get up early and stay up today… the phone is supposed to be connected. We’ll see!
Had a shower, put the washing in the machine, vacuumed the apartment, stripped James’s bed and cleaned the two bathrooms all by 9am!!! Blimey, not like me at all!!!
I have lots of blog to catch up on today and have been typing for about one and a half hours!
I didn’t actually realise how long I have been writing for until my mobile started ringing… it was a very upset Emma. She had wanted us to go and see her end of year work at University on Thursday this week… she told me not to bother coming as she isn’t going to it anyway now! I could hear Adam in the background prompting as she vented her frustrations to me about how only three of the ‘teacher’s pets’ work will be displayed despite her and Adam doing most of the organising and work for the event. I am very upset for her… teacher’s are all arseholes… they have done this since time began! Apparently they had been in this morning to organise the rest of what needs to be done and the teacher announced that 97% of the other students work will not be put up and displayed! Charming! I am also now very angry and gutted for poor Emma and Adam - what a shame after all their hard work. Stinking, rotten teachers are idiots! We were hoping to be able to come over and see their show on our trip back to the UK, incorporating Michael’s visit to Switzerland for work and our going to Spain on Sunday! We were hoping we would have a few days with the kids, the show, Michael’s trip to Switzerland and with us going to Spain, it all fitted in nicely. I really feel so sorry for them - they have worked so hard.
12.30 pm - no phone yet… just phoned Jersey Telecom to ask when they are coming and they said our appointment is 1 pm not between 8 am and 1 pm as told. Ok, not a problem as long as they do come.
12.50 pm - Michael has just phoned to say that he is now going to Switzerland on Friday and the office are trying to book flights for Thursday evening and then returning on Sunday 4th July after our trip to Spain. I reminded him that our flight is in fact an evening flight from Spain and he hasn’t a chance in hell of getting back to Jersey the same evening! Oops! Silly sod he now has to rush to tell them not to book for the Sunday evening but Monday morning!
1 pm - on the dot!!! Jersey Telecom are here!!! Hooorrrraaaayyyyy!!!
The engineer was here for 40 minutes but at least we have a telephone. Now I will try to connect to the internet.
Disaster! My pack that says ’all you need to get started’ doesn’t actually have ’all you need to get started’!!!
I phoned Jersey Telecom who said I need a modem to get connected and it will cost me £40! Bloody hell!
Raced up there in a temper and bought the bloody thing with a few choice words!
Back at the apartment I installed everything and managed to get on-line the first time in a long time!
Chicken for dinner did not thaw! Had to go to Marks and buy some more chicken… bought Kiev and potatoes to make chippies and we will have to have frozen peas and corn with it - yeuch… I can’t be bothered to be quite honest!
I can’t get Michael’s computer to install the software but no surprises there, as his very expensive computer is a piece of junk! My cheapie has lasted years (touch wood) and may not look the ticket but at least it works!
Michael came home from work and he tried installing it and also lost his temper! So now we’re both in bad moods shouting at his stupid computer. I had to take it away from him or he said he’d “use it as a Frisbee and see how far out to sea it will go”. Oh dear.
I have been in a filthy temper all day today - I think I must have PMT. Michael hasn’t by the way.
Spent the evening watching England play but concentrated on trying to install his computer software which just wouldn’t install - I will try again tomorrow.
I booked my flight on-line and have to travel on different airlines to Michael because the flights that the bank have booked on British Airways are too expensive. I am also flying at a different time to him. He flies out on the 5.30 pm flight I have to go on Flybe at 2.40 pm. Great! Not happy about that but that’s the way it has to be.
However our return flight on the 3rd July back to Jersey take off at the same time but on different flights still!
James phoned with a problem at work which hopefully Michael has helped him sort out - bless he was a bit upset but hopefully he can now sort it out. I will phone him tomorrow and make sure everything’s ok.
Went to bed - just as we were going Michael said “what time will we need to leave in the morning” - I didn’t actually know ‘I’ was going anywhere… well I am apparently… driving Michael to the airport for his trip into London. Bloody hell - I’ve got to get up at 6 am. I did point out that the bank would pay for a taxi for him but I suppose I won’t be that horrible and make him go by taxi. Bugger it!




21st June 2006 - Wednesday
Did not sleep a wink! Not a wink! Michael snored really loudly! Upstairs were quite noisy until late too… I heard music. Anyway, didn’t sleep.
Michael is very good at getting out of bed… on the other hand… I’m not… but I did.
We left at 6.05am for the airport. It was quite foggy and had just started to spit fine rain.
Dropped Michael off and hoped his plane would go on time. Went straight back to the apartment but didn’t go back to bed. I have quite a lot of bits and pieces to do today… like installing the software onto Michael’s computer. Washing, ironing and packing for our trip back to the UK and on to Spain.
I will have to pick Michael back up from the airport today - his flight is at 3.45 back from the UK. Not really sure why he is bothering coming back today as we have to fly out again tomorrow!!!
Believe it or not I am in a slightly better mood today despite my lack of sleep. I can always take a snooze before I go to the airport to collect Michael if I feel tired or ratty!
Michael phoned to say his flight is delayed… no surprise there… eventually he returned and I picked him up from the airport.
Had dinner and went to bed.


22nd June 2006 - Thursday
I was up at 3.50 a.m. not a very good start today, as I have, how shall we say it… the trots! I have been about 6 times today already - however I haven’t been sick. I knew I shouldn’t have eaten the funny tasting roll I bought from Michael’s favourite sandwich shop yesterday lunchtime. So I am blaming Michael today… the roll tasted ‘odd’ not ‘off’ but just ‘odd’. Wish I hadn’t eaten it and Michael can keep his rotten, stinking sandwich shop. I have to get on a plane in a few hours and yeuch, I am feeling really ill.
I did debate cancelling the flight and re-booking tomorrow or Saturday when/if I feel better but I shall see how I get on.
The ‘shits’ have subsided and I haven’t been for one and a half hours now. I am not going to cancel the flight. I will get a taxi up to the airport at 1.15 p.m. It’s only about 15 minutes away from our apartment so I will hold it in and rush to the loo if necessary. I really can’t have anything left inside me now! I have had plenty of water to drink and I did in fact have a small slice of toast at lunchtime as I felt a little hungry.
I am off to the airport now… so… see you when we get back from Spain.