Well...... the intention in my previous blog (which was to try and blog every night for a week), obviously didn't get very far...... I can only say (yet again....!) that time really does seem to be disappearing and I am definitely blaming it on that Chinese Year of the Horse....
My reason for the intended blog every night was to bring you all up to date with what we'd been up to and what's been happening but I've decided that can wait for another blog (oh yes - another one!) as here at Fat Fairy Jewellery, we've just come back from holiday, so I wanted to share with you all some of our lovely holiday photo's - mostly I should say, taken by my daughter!
I managed to find + arrange a very late booking to our very favourite and special island..... of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. For us here in the Midlands, it's a really easy journey as we don't live far from our local station and the train link takes us straight to Birmingham International. From there we just get on the 'MonoRail' which takes us directly into the airport.
I should, maybe, give you a little background to the island, which was obviously occupied by the Germans during World War 2 and there is still evidence of that to this day. But my love affair with Guernsey began back in 1982 - the year before my twins were born. We were then living down in Hampshire, having moved from our native London a couple of years previously. I had a fabulous job working for Estee Lauder Cosmetics but was going through a pretty stressful time. Our lovely GP at the time - Dr Giles, suggested to my husband that we should go away for a good holiday. We debated where to go - husband fancied Spain but then we thought the heat might adversely affect my migraines, so somehow we decided upon Guernsey. As we lived just outside Portsmouth, the ferry was the then obvious option - sailing overnight and arriving into St Peter Port early the next morning. That was fine - it was the return journey the following Saturday that was a complete nightmare and I vowed then and there never to take the ferry again!
It was a few years later that we were able to return - with the twins who were then just over 5 (or maybe 6) and we flew from Southampton - which, depending on which way the wind is blowing, can take as little as 30mins!
Anyway, we've been back many times, the last was 4 years ago when Debs and I treated ourselves to a long weekend there for my birthday. This time, it was Debs who got the chance to celebrate as she woke up last Sunday (25th) on Guernsey and had a lovely day which included a day on the beach and later a lovely meal at Christie's Restaurant in St Peter Port. Unfortunately, despite wearing Factor 50 suncream, Debs also managed to get badly sunburnt on her birthday - so we then had to find the duty chemist the following day which, lucky enough, was Boots in St Peter Port. So we duly purchased enough lotion and potions, to keep the sunburn under control.
Over the years, we've seen a few changes, not least that the lovely B+B Guesthouse that we always stayed in had been sold off and last time we looked, it was in a state of disrepair. We noted 4 yrs ago that one of the main attractions on the island - the Hanging Strawberry Farm - had closed down and this time were told that the Butterfly Farm had also gone. But, some old favourites remain - not least the very special and sacred Little Chapel at St Andrews. My daughter fell in love with this beautiful and tiny chapel as a 5yr old and wanted to get married there and she still loves it to this day. Sadly it is beginning to subside but they are working hard to save her. We were also saddened to discover that some people have been chipping off pieces of the china and pottery that cover the Little Chapel to obviously take home as mementoes.
We stayed at La Trelade Hotel in St Martins and were very pleasantly surprised - there were some reviews on Trip Advisor that were not that complementary but we couldn't fault it - how many hotels these days give you not only free Wi-fi but also free calls to the mainland - landlines and mobiles? Another favourite place to visit is Bruce Russell, Goldsmith + Silversmith at Le Gron. Absolutely gorgeous jewellery and the only place we reckon to buy an engagement and/or wedding ring!
All too soon, our lovely break was over and we flew back home to Birmingham and now it's time to get ready to go back to work and my day job tomorrow. I'll leave you with a few of our favourite photo's from Guernsey, hope you enjoy them!
with love from us here at Fat Fairy Jewellery
xx
Boats in the harbour at St Peter Port
One of the many beachesEverything's different on Guernsey - post boxes are blue and phone boxes yellow!
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