Oldies On Tour

Sunday 1st January 2023

A very lazy morning and a brunch rather than breakfast today, but first a breath of fresh air, and as it’s not raining, we could stand out in the car park.  

Brunch was taken in a leisurely fashion after which Monica, Christine and David headed off to walk around the Island we see from the dining room each time we sit in it.  I on the other hand was “consoling” my knee, it was complaining bitterly about last night!!!   Following their little trip to the island they joined in with the Haggis Hunt, though failed miserably by not finding it!!!

After this hectic activity we all sat in one of the many lounge / bar areas observing all the jaded people sitting quietly; I know a good time was had by all last night.    Anyway we were also patiently waiting for afternoon tea to be served; I have no idea where we are going to put it but no doubt we will indulge.

Sure enough at 1500hrs the tea bell went and there was a subdued “rush” to to “stuff-our-faces”, again!!!!!!    Tea was as expected, full-on with assorted finger sandwiches, numerous cakes and shortbreads not to mention Scones, clotted cream and jam washed down with every tea imaginable.   Why-o-why do we do this to ourselves especially as we have another gala dinner later this evening 😩😩😩😩

Next it was whisky tasting, and it was led by “Grady” our Australian maître d who talked us through the 3-Malts, (only 3😩😩) but fortunately Christine shared her three with David and me; Monica had been excused!!!

Tonight is the last meal and it is billed as a 5-course taster so there was a lot of speculation about it but the good thing it is casual dress.

Between tea and dinner we took the opportunity to pack away the kilt etc., and seal it away into its box, as well as sorting our own stuff out.   Later we got the “knock” on the door and Monica and David joined us again for pre-dinner drinks.

Upon entering the restaurant, as always there was “Grady” handing out even more glasses of bubbly before we got to our table.   Tonight the restaurant wasn’t full, obviously there are quite a few lightweights around😂😂😂, mind you our alcohol consumption was down, especially as we have a Long drive tomorrow.

We started with an interesting soup, not to everyone’s taste I must say.  This was followed by a fish concoction, tasty but only a mouthful!   At this point Monica suddenly announced she doesn’t eat Lamb and she reckoned it would be Lamb, what she based that on we had no idea but guess what, we had lamb and very nice it was too plus, there was something extra, very tasty but unknown to us so asked, sweetbreads was the answer.   I have never fancied or even had sweetbreads but now, unknown to me I ate and enjoyed them, so now I like them!!!  Monica suddenly pipes up with, “I wonder if the sorbet is coconut”, as I don’t like it to which Christine joined in, “I don’t like coconut either”, guess what, it was coconut; obviously Monica is psychic, should play the  lottery🤞🤞.   Stonefield staff were very good, they found different deserts for Monica and Christine and would have offered an alternative to the  lamb, had they been advised

The dinner went on to around 2130hrs after which people started to leave the restaurant, no doubt for an early night as we all leave tomorrow morning; seemed the sensible thing to do.   Tonight we skipped the late night drinkee-poo as we were heading out reasonably early heading to Prestatyn

Saturday 31st December 2022

Following a good night’s sleep in the extra large double bed, we headed down to breakfast where David and Christine decided to have Loch Fyne Kippers; ha ha, no chance, they hadn’t got any left!!!!!!  The jinx continues, it is now the standing joke, don’t choose anything Christine wants. 

The nearest place to Stonefield Castle is Tarbert, a small fishing village just over 2-miles away, so headed that way, parked and had a wander around.  Upon arrival this morning, as is the norm for Christine, the tide was out!!   Tarbert Loch Fyne is a picturesque conservation village that lies at the north end of the Kintyre peninsula.   The village is built around a well-sheltered natural harbour.  The harbour is home to an inshore fishing fleet and has a popular marina for leisure crafts.  On a hillside, overlooking the centre of the village, stand the ruins of the medieval Tarbert Castle.  The castle’s royal connections date back to the 11th century AD.  In 1325, the castle was completely rebuilt and extended by King Robert I (Robert the Bruce) who is depicted in this distinctive and imposing equestrian statue which stands at the battlefield of Bannockburn, Stirling.    Much of the Castle stones have been removed to build the harbour and mole.  

Monica and David climbed to the top but with my knee and Christine’s hip needing to be preserved for tonight, we took “a rain check” and wandered back along the harbour, though not very far before we spotted a “Whisky Shop”, so naturally we headed in.   I was very good, I restricted myself to just one single malt!!!!   OK, coffee time so headed into a place called a “Coffee Bistro” but turned out to be a “Tandoori Cafe”!!!    We sat for best part of ten minutes waiting for service but to no avail so just got up and left; we didn’t really relish the smell with our cuppa either so wandered over the road to see Tarbert’s big Christmas tree, wow it was constructed entirely out of lobster pots, very unique and certainly different.  The pots were stacked into the tree shape then covered with green fishing nets with fairy lights hanging on the sides, very spectacular.

By now Monica and David had caught up with us and after explaining about our Indian adventure we would look elsewhere for our “elevenses” so drove further up the road and found a place called “Lulabelles of Tarbert”.   Being away from the main part of the harbour I asked why they hadn’t got a large sign pointing out to folk where they are; council won’t give them planning permission for one; what a shame as they do excellent looking dishes, a great looking cheese counter and craft beers just to mention a few things.   Because we were staying at Stonefield who had fed us so well we could only manage to share one slice of home-made cake; oh well next time.

Leaving Tarbert, we headed towards Campbeltown to take in more of the beautiful views of the Loch and Mountains, eventually stopping at a “viewpoint” and great excitement, seals were spotted. 

Back at the castle for hot soup and sandwiches just to “keep-us-going”, as if we needed anything!!!   We then headed in different directions to start the process of “dressing” into our kilt regalia.

The anticipation is over, the moment has come, I break the seals on the box and remove my New Year’s Eve apparel out and check the items off the list; all present and correct, a good start.   I had already prepared myself on “how to dress” by looking at a YouTube Video; must do it in the right order!!!!    So after the shower we started the process.   First it’s the “hose” (long woollen socks) followed by the “garters and flashes” which had to be at 45-degrees then the “Gillie Brogues” (shoes) tied in a special way above the ankle with the tassels hanging down equally!!!   All this was accomplished successfully so on went my dress shirt accompanied by a pair of cuff links depicting the Scottish “Saltire”, loaned to me by David, (son-in-Law). Now the time had arrived anticipation is over here goes, we wound the kilt as detailed on YouTube around, did-up the first set of buckles, let go and it fell to the ground!! We decided it would be ok when did up the rest of the buckles; wrong, it fell to the ground again.   There was no chance this was going to sit on my hips.    After much discussion we telephoned reception, related our experience and they said they would send someone up with some pins etc.,   A few minutes later Grady, the Restaurant manager, stood at our door resplendent in his kilt with a handful of “hotel-type” mending kits with silly, very small safety pins inside, they were so small that the kilt material was thicker!!!

  So after much cursing I had to quickly remove the shoes, socks and tabs and go conventional with standard shoes and a normal pair of black trouser’s; fortunately at the last minute I had packed a pair, sixth sense perhaps???   I did however wear the special waistcoat and jacket so not a complete disaster!!!!   Monica and David arrived in our room around 1800hrs for photos and pre-dinner drinks before the festivities begin with a Champagne reception  at 1900hrs, naturally we were all there on the dot.

Dinner tonight was preordered at the time of booking so was a nice surprise when it came; memories eh!!   Copious amounts of wine was consumed as we ate then danced the night away to a Ceilidh Band doing highland flings, Gay Gordon’s etc., very badly!!!! Still a jolly good time was had by all.   At midnight the resident piper marched in and played a number of tunes whilst we all saw the new year in drinking some rather nice Malt Whisky.

The party wound up around 0100hrs so the 4-of us retired to our room for night caps, we hit the malt I had bought earlier in the day!!

Friday 30th December

After a leisurely breakfast we left our hotel in the rain, naturally!, but to our surprise the road heading to the A74M was flooded so much care had to be taken.   We reached the motorway but due to the heavy rain and standing water across all the lanes, progress was rather slow.    Our SatNav suggested we left the motorway due to floods but we ignored it as it was a minor road she was suggesting and we were still moving along reasonably well.    Our destination for a coffee stop was the Duck Bay Hotel on Loch Lomond; arrival time circa 1100hrs.    

Soon after we had “ignored” our SatNav instruction the traffic backed up and eventually stopped.   We then “stopped”, “started”,  and “crawled” for a couple of miles when we came across a roadworks sign sending everyone over to the fast lane, hence the crawling but no.   Having started shuffling one way we then had to shuffle the other as the motorway was closed due to floods!!!!!   Oh why did we ignore our SatNav.    Anyway as instructed by the Police, off we came in totally unknown and bleak territory; where to now?   There were two roundabouts with several roads off them but which one???  Cars were heading off in all directions so we chose one and headed off.   After 2 or 3 miles SatNav told us to turn left onto a very minor B road.   Having ignored her once, we decided to go with her this time.   Fortunately there was another car in front, “safer in pairs” as we followed this “single” lane over the top of some big hills with water “sprouting” out of the ground and “gushing” and “flooding”everywhere, nowhere to turn around we kept going; fingers crossed we would find a way to somewhere!!!!    Eventually we came to a junction and told to turn left, naturally we dutifully obliged but had a sense we were heading back to where we came from🤔🤔🤔. After a mile or so our next instruction to turn left again; now we knew we were heading back to whence we came.   Next minute we stop behind a row of cars, we’ll actually SUV’s and up ahead a jolly big flood across the road with one car “parked” in the middle.  From where we were it didn’t look that deep, what’s your problem SUV drivers???   Anyway, they all looked petrified at the prospect and just waited, for what I don’t know so I pulled out and went for it.   Into the water at a slow and steady pace so as not to create a “bow-wave”, passing the stranded BMW, obviously he went in too fast, created a bow wave, wet his electrics and that’s where he stayed.  We were out and on our way arriving at the very same roundabout so went down another road, “bingo” this one was signposted Glasgow and eventually brought us back to the motorway after the floods.   By now we had wasted about 45minutes and David being a Scotsman probably knew which road to take and would be sitting with their 4th cup of coffee wondering where we got to.   Just then the ‘phone rang, ah yes they are going to ask what happened but instead told us they had taken a wrong turning and would be late!!!    Not only had we both gone the wrong way, but they were actually following us, albeit 5-minutes later on the same back route we took!!!!

We both arrived at the Duck Bay hotel  https://duckbay.co.uk/#content__main       about the same time but not for coffee, now it was for lunch!!!    Christine ordered a bacon bap, sorry can’t serve a bacon bap here, soup, sandwiches and cakes only.    Again David, like the crumble last night, was going to have the same as Christine!!!!

We were recommended the Duck Bay as a beautiful spot to stop, sitting on the banks of Loch Lomond; just a pity it was grey and cloudy but at least the rain had stopped for a few minutes.   

After lunch we headed off but decided to stop en route at the “rest and be thankful” viewpoint https://beta.visitscotland.com , Unfortunately there were very low clouds, it was grey and it was spitting so couldn’t appreciate it much; on the return journey, perhaps🤞🤞

Once we were on the A83, a small A-road that follows the loch progress was slow, overtaking wasn’t very clever, too many bends etc but the scenery was spectacular, what we could see of it naturally.   Being later than planned we couldn’t really stop, we had Mulled Wine and Shortbread waiting for us at Stonefield, could miss out on that!!!!

We arrived about 1600hrs, enjoying  a glass or three of Mulled Wine, where we soon got into “party-mood”.   As many of you knew, we were booked into Stonefield for last year but had to postpone as Christine contracted COVID 🥵

Stonefield Castle was built in 1837 and was once the home of the Campbell family.  The title “Stonefield” came from the name of the estate which the Campbells owned on the shores of Loch Etive.   The gardens around the estate are well known for the many plants brought from the Himalayas collected around 1849/50 by a Sir Joseph hooker and still thriving today due to the sheltered shores on the northern end of the Mull of Kintyre.   The family finally sold the castle in 1946 and has been a hotel ever since.    

Tonight is casual dress so we arranged pre-dinner drinks in our room before heading to dinner where we were greeted by “Mine-host” a very nice Australian who handed us a glass of bubbly and took us to our table.

Christine and Dave were going for the Sea Bass but alas no, sea bass was unavailable, poor David, he is jinked by Christine, that’s the third time she has chosen something that is off!!!

After a lingering dinner we headed off for an earlyish night, driving through such floods and rain was quite exhausting.

Returning from Jersey (our last trip) we concentrated on looking for a home and we are pleased to say we found exactly what we wanted in South Petherton, our preferred area.   We also enjoyed an “over-indulgent” Christmas with Jane, Dave, and Mia before moving on again; Scotland this time, for Hogmanay but first, we have to get there!! 

Tuesday 27th December 2022

Before leaving we had to clean, empty and “vacate” our bedroom  as The “Littlejohns” have a full house over the few days over New Years Eve; just as well we had pre-booked our trip to Scotland!!!!

We were away around mid morning but had to stop off at Cribbs Causeway to swap a few things at Marks and Spencer’s; what a mistake that was.   There are 7,000 car parking spaces around the Mall and it was so busy when we arrived we had to join the queue of cars waiting for spaces!!!!   Eventually we found a space and headed inside.   Inside was Unbelievable as some shops had organised queueing barriers to control the numbers entering their shops and as for the cafés and restaurants, everyone had a long queues as well; the result of everything was organised chaos.   We did what we had to do in Marks and Sparks, walked the mall but couldn’t get get anywhere so grabbed a quick sandwich in the food hall and retreat.  

After fighting our way out of the car park we hit the M5 and headed to Crewe, our planned stop for the night.    Originally I had planned to have my replacement knee fitted mid-December so the medics suggested we break the journey, hence Crewe!!!   Result, cancelled surgery but still used the hotel, and what a good decision it turned out to be!!!!!

The motorway was horrendous, un-believable traffic and pouring rain.  The congestion started south of the Almondsbury Interchange (M4 x M5) and continued all the way up the M5 until it joined the M6, now it was twice as bad.    A journey that should have taken two and a half hours took nearer 4hrs, and the fastest part was the road from the motorway to Crewe!!!!

Nothing special about the Holiday Inn Express in Crewe, but within half a mile of it, we discovered a small, unassuming Italian restaurant “Gio’s” who produced first class food.   Good food, a nice Italian white and the travel woes just vanished.

Wednesday 28th December

At the best of times a Holiday Inn Express “breakfast” leaves a little to be desired,  but this breakfast was a joke.   Upon arrival no cups, plates or cutlery could be found and the breakfast looked as if a swarm of locusts had moved through; I presume no one expected everybody to arrive for breakfast around the same time!!!

Time to hit the M6 again; Christine took the wheel this morning, though it was still raining hopefully the traffic will have subsided, but first, top up with fuel, silly prices at service stations.

We joined the motorway at Junction 17 and zoomed off as there wasn’t  much traffic, a total reversal of yesterday thank goodness and whilst Christine was driving I enjoyed a snooze

With the motorway fairly clear and in spite of the constant rain we made excellent progress so pulled off at “Tebay” services for a cuppa.   Shock,Horror, so little traffic yet still had to queue to park the car at theses services, why?????    It all became clear upon entering; the place was swarming as this service area is now a “destination” place,  www.tebayservices.com and apart from the usual, this is a “farmers shop” as well as a restaurant and everything they sell is sourced locally with all employees from the local area.   All very commendable but defeats the purpose of a motorway services, in, feed, fuel and on your way!!!  To be fair, though there were queues there were several counters serving hot food and or hot drinks, so once parked service was reasonable.

Back on route and still raining, we headed north crossing the border in a “flash” then turning off to Moffat.   Finding the hotel wasn’t an issue but to note it didn’t open until 1600hrs, that worried us!!!    We headed across the road and walked in, out of the rain into a place called “Hugo’s”, a delightful warm, dry, bar, cafe, Bistro, that all rolled into one best of all, and every table had big, comfortable, arm chairs.   hugosmoffat.uk    We enjoyed a couple of Tapas etc whilst waiting for the hotel to open its doors!!!

1600hrs arrived so off we went and booked into the Annandale Arms Hotel, our home for two nights.  This interesting hotel was built in 1760’s but known then as the Kings Arms Hotel to serve the new mail coach service that ran from London to Edinburg until 1848 when the “nasty” railways took over!   The write up says the hotel has been up-graded to modern standards but still retains its old charm.   Yes charm; old, single-glazed sash windows, high ceilings and small radiators, hmmmmmmm🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶, still the modern beds were comfortable, and we slept well!!!!!     

Another “claim-to-fame” was in 1816, Count Nicholas of Russia, later to become Tsar Nicholas, and his entourage of Russian officers stayed at the hotel.   . To mark the two hundredth anniversary of the occasion in 2016, a plaque was unveiled in the foyer, by the Russian Consul General from Edinburgh.

Thursday 29th December

Another cold and wet morning ugh, so didn’t rush after breakfast to get out and about, did a few housekeeping things until the time came when we had to go; housekeeping wanted to get in.    So Coats on, brollies up and with gritted determination we headed into he rain.   Our first stop was the chemist then a mooch around Moffat.

Leaving the chemist we decided that it would be a good idea to re-visit the cosy, warm and comfortable Hugo’s for coffee and maybe a cake, a few doors up the road!!  Upon entering we think half of Moffat was there, it was bustling but fortunately there was one table for two, right by a radiator and in the middle of the bar area.   Our first task was to check the radiator was on, oops no so that went on!!!    Our drinks with cakes was slowly consumed as we watched the comings and goings of their clientele until we started to feel a little guilty.  So a discussion took place and decided the rain was too wet so ordered a bottle of “vino”;  naturally not long after we ordered food to accompany the wine!!!   Oh dear look at the time,Monica and David will be arriving soon so decided it was too late to look around Moffat now, so paid and walked back across the road to the hotel!!!    No sooner had we arrived back to the hotel when the Cunningham’s drove into the car park.

After mutual greetings we arranged to meet in the bar prior to dinner and went our separate ways.

Dinner was an experience, the food was nice but a limited menu and when Christine ordered her Rhubarb crumble, she was told it was not available being out of season!!!!!!! Out of season???   Apparently the rhubarb is grown in the hotel garden and that’s why, we were told; naturally we wondered why they hadn’t frozen some in anticipation of guests requiring it “out-of-season”, no reply!    David was also going to have said pudding, still we all had a laugh and moved on.   Tonight is music night in the bar so headed that way for a nightcap and a listen but no, no seats available anywhere so headed to Monica and David’s room as very thoughtfully they had brought a bottle of “Soberano” to enjoy; lovely-jublee 🤠🤠 .

Saturday 5th November

This morning we had a video call booked so had to stay in until it was finished, but once completed we headed out into town, me to the Jersey Museum and Christine to visit the liberation statute.

The “hike” to the Jersey museum took all of 10 minutes and we missed the rain!  Yes it has rained every bl…y day; expected in U.K. but for some reason anticipated better weather here, still it has been mild.

We parted company at the entrance, As Christine isn’t interested I went straight in, also I think she wanted piece and quiet and time to reflect on the nomadic life we are “enjoying” at present!!! 

The museum advertised 3-tickets for the price of two as it could cover a number of other sites, towers and battlements etc., but alas, only the museum was open so it was a single!

Jane had warned me that the museum was fairly small and compact, which it was but, it turned out to be very interesting and so informative.  Though it wasn’t loaded with wall-to-wall artefacts, it was certainly loaded with wall-to-wall facts.   I had no appreciation of the history of these islands, to me they were just a holiday destination and a tax haven.   This museum does have relics found from 250 million years ago, from the Neanderthal age when Jersey was attached to the European land mass.  From here they have traced their history through to the present day, and at times, “turmoil”.   Visiting the museum explained why English is the dominant language now, it hasn’t always been so hence so many signs are in French and all the captions in the museum have both languages.

1066 and the Battle of Hastings was the root cause.  The Duke of Normandy (William the Conqueror) who “owned” the Channel Islands and England, spoke French* but in 1204 when King John lost Normandy he managed to hold on to the islands, and from that time english started to flourish slowly, but maybe it is time for them to forget their French heritage 😂😂😂😂 especially seeing how often the French tried to re-capture them!!!  Below is a simple time line for anyone interested where the predominant aggressor is France.  They were also strategic it because of their proximity to continental Europe and also being close to so many sea routes, hence the islands were caught up in every war for the last 1,000 years.

The museum closed at 1600 hrs by which time I had seen everything there was to see and I left very much more informed about the interesting history of these islands.

Returning to the flat, fortunately again I missed the rain, we had a cosy evening in, out of the rain that fell like stair rods, again!!

* The French spoken in Jersey is known as “Jerriais” developed from Norman French and has been spoken for over 1,000 years, and there are numerous variations with different spellings, even between adjacent parishes!!!

Sunday 6th November

Today is Dave’s birthday so the “call” was made but his day was marred by the news Jane’s mother has taken a turn for the worst so Jane had to shoot to Essex and couldn’t be with him on his birthday, still Mia was there to cheer him up.

Today really centred around the rugby; Autumn internationals have started and England are playing Argentina this afternoon so it was a morning out only, so once collected by Jane we headed out.  Originally our plan for this morning was to visit the war tunnels but as I found out yesterday, they were also closed.   I came here in 1974 and they were closed then, here I am in 2022 and still I’ve missed seeing them!!!!   Still en-route for coffee etc., we went to the entrance for the only “look” we will get this trip, and but guess what, it was raining, again!    After our brief stop at the tunnels we headed out to “The Hungry Man” for coffee and one of their superb bacon and egg toasted baps, but upon arrival it was still pouring with rain and their “one-and-only” table under cover was heaving, so no room for us;  We were “salivating” at the thought of enjoying one as we drove, we were so looking forward to them, but then our hopes were dashed🥵🥵🥵.  

As we drove away from the harbour we noticed a small board outside, what looked like a cottage, advertising coffee, teas and breakfasts, so parked and entered.  This was a small cafe of about 5-6 tables and just one person, a very nice lady serving and working in the kitchen.   It puts real meaning into the term “Cottage Industry”!!  Anyway the three of us succumbed to full, not English but Scottish breakfasts and being a one “woman band”, everything was freshly cooked, it more than made up for the missed bacon and egg toasted bap!!

On our return to St Helier we noticed a field bursting with Jersey cows so had to stop for a “photo”!!!!  Jersey Cows, famous for its rich milk have been developed over the last 200-years and no cattle have been imported into the island since 1789 but it wasn’t until the late 1830’s when selective breeding began seriously and since the mid 1800’s Jersey cows have been exported all over the world.

Back at the flat, TV on we watched the match.   On reflection it would have been better to drive around, the English performance was inexcusable and we lost, a match we should have won easily;  come-on EJ, sort yourself and the team out, bring in some new blood and say goodbye to Farrell as Captain; good player but rubbish captain👹👹👹.  If we play like this in the coming matches, New Zealand and South Africa will crucify us.   What’s even worse, we have the RWC next year in France!

After the match, feeling very depressed “and” it was still raining, we stayed in.

Monday 7th November

This morning we headed out to town, a 3-minute walk to the high street!!!   We didn’t have any particular plans other than to have a coffee out and buy a dressmaker’s tape measure, I need to take certain measurements to order my Kilt with all the necessary accessories ready for our “Hogmanay indulgence” at Stonefield Castle in Scotland.   This was easier said than done but chasing around looking for one took us to areas we hadn’t been to including the market.   It was in this market we completed our task but without this task, we wouldn’t have seen inside this bustling, colourful, vibrant market.  This lovely Victorian, cast-iron structured building, with its ornamental fountain was opened in 1882.

After our excursion;  fortunately it wasn’t raining his morning, we returned to the flat and Jane joined us for the afternoon.

The sad thing about our visit was that all the attractions, visitor centres and castles were closed for the winter, so there wasn’t too much to entertain us however, it did give us time to re-generate ourselves ready to continue house hunting!

Tuesday 8th November

Today is our last full day on the island and Jane had arranged to take us out to lunch to the  Bass and Lobster, but on our way she was going to show us the grave of Emilie Charlotte, Lady de Bathe, better known as “Lillie Langtry”, nicknamed the “Jersey Lily”. Lily was born in Jersey in 1876, she was an actress and made numerous appearances on he London Stages, but she was best well-known for her numerous relationships with several of the English aristocracy and in particularly the Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward Vll; “quite a gal”!!!    She died in 1929 in Monaco where she lived out her last few years.  She had requested to be buried in her parents tomb at St, Savours Church in Jersey, which she was.  Obviously this tomb is on the tourist route but it was strange to see little signposts in the cemetery pointing the way!!

We arrived at the Bass and Lobster and enjoyed an excellent meal from a restaurant that only buys locally produced produce and fresh fish straight from the catch, yum yum and thank you Jane for this wonderful meal and all the running around you did with us showing us the island of Jersey; we will be back.

Back at the ranch later and the pack-up and clean-up started, tomorrow we fly back.

Wednesday 9th November

Our last morning; no hanging around as we had to strip the bed and get sheets etc., into the wash, have breakfast, clear up and be ready when Jane collects us.   Unfortunately the road where the flat is, is busy with minimal parking so need to be downstairs ready and waiting for Jane to pick us up.  This system has worked well all week but today it is for the last time and we have cases!!!

We have to be at the airport just after lunch so for the last time we are heading out to the Hungry Man, for a second  attempt to get a “bacon and egg toasted bun”.   We arrived “full of expectation” but left “totally rejected”, it was closed!!!  We headed back to the farm shop and had a “consolation” lunch.

After lunch Jane dropped us at  Airport departures in good time.  No queue to check-in, a slight delay to go through security, then into the lounge but no sooner had we organised some refreshment than our flight was called.

Our plane was quite empty, I had a row to myself and Christine had an empty seat between her and the other passenger and as there was a strong tail wind, our flight arrived early.   Waiting at the carousel for our case at Gatwick rather put a downer on what, up-to-then had been very good simple journey. We eventually got out of the airport, but that hold up had put pressure on our car parking.   We had pre-paid up ‘till 1600hrs but we only got on the shuttle-bus at 1600hrs!!!   Anyway we got to the barrier some 15minutes late but the barrier lifted and we escaped.

Our destination tonight is the Holiday Inn in Northampton.

Thank you Andrew for the use of your flat in Jersey, we thoroughly enjoyed our time there and again thank you Jane for entertaining us whilst in Jersey.

Timeline of Major raids on the Islands

1205 Mercenaries led by “Eustace the Monk” ravage the Channel Islands

1215 – 16 Eustace Occupies the Islands for the French

1294 An estimated 1,500 Islanders were killed in a French raid

1336 David Bruce, the exiled King of Scotland leads a French raid

1337 The 100 years war begins, the French occupy the Islands for 6-months

1338 An 8,000 French army raids the Islands

1339 Three major raids on the Islands within a year

1372 The Island is ravaged by the French led by “Ifan” a Welsh Prince.

1373 “Betrand du Guesclin”; Constable of France raids the Island with 2,600 men

1380 – 82 A French army led by “Jean de Vienne occupies the Island

1403 A Breton Fleet, under Admiral Jean de Pehouet attacks the Island

1406 “Pierre Hector de Pontbriant” & “Nero Nino” lead 1,000 mercenaries in a major raid

1454 A reported 500 Islanders left dead after another French raid

1461 – 68 French occupation of the Island under “Jean de Carbonnel”

1549 French invasion force is defeated at “Jarin d’Oliver”

1580 The Bishop of Coutances attempted to raise an army to invade but failed

1628 Threat of yet another French invasion

1642 – 51 English Civil War on the Royalist side, unlike Guernsey who were    parliamentarians 

1651 Parliamentarians invade Jersey

1651 – 54 England at war against the Dutch

1655 – 58 England at war with Spain

1665 – 66 England at war against the Dutch

1672 – 74 England at war against the Dutch

1692 – 97 England at war with France

1702 – 13 England at war with France and Spain

1718 – 27 Britain at war with Spain

1742 – 48 Britain at war with France

1755 – 63 Britain at war with France

1775 – 83 Britain at war with the Americans

1778 – 83 Britain at war with France

1779 Attempted invasion of Jersey by the French defeated

1781 French troops land but are defeated at the “Battle of Jersey” in St. Helier

1779 – 14 Napoleonic Wars but Islands left alone!!!

1940 – 45 Islands occupied by the Germans

Thursday 3rd November

A quiet day today as Jane has things she has to do including “work”!!!  So we are going to “mooch” around St Helier, and as our flat is right bang in the middle of town, we didn’t have to walk far to reach King Street, the main shopping street.

Round the corner from us is Charing Cross, the original western gateway to the centre of St Helier and until the early 19th century, literally a gateway as it was a tunnel under the old prison built in 1688. Everything changed in 1806 when Colonel Sir George Don arrived and became the Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey who soon realised war with France was on the cards, again, and as there were no roads, just narrow tracks that prevented his troops being re-deployed, as and when needed.  (This probably contributed to the French Invasion of 1781).  With this in mind, he set about building a network of roads across and around the island, many of which are the same roads used today.   In this re-building programme, the prison was demolished to build an access road of sufficient width which would allow cannons to be deployed in St Helier, and this access road , Broad Street heads straight into “Royal Square”.

We meandered up “King Street” until the rain came down at which point we found refuge in “Waterstones”, fortunately the rain didn’t come down for too long; just as well as it was a small branch!!!  

Rain stopped and some blue sky appeared as we walked into Royal Square dominated by a Gilded lead statue of King George ll in Roman dress, sculpted in 1751.   There is also a big “V” for victory built into the ground.    During the German occupation, (about 1-soldier to every 4-civilians), and despite the threat of severe punishment for acts of subversion, one Joseph Le Guyader found a unique way of expressing his recalcitrance by relaying paving stones in the shape of a “V”; it wasn’t until 9th May 1945, “liberation day”, that the majority of islanders realised there was the V for victory in the square!!     Though this square was the centre for celebrations after liberation, unknown to me, it is more famous for the battle of Jersey in 1781.

In 1779 the French put together an invasion army but fortunately for Jersey their ships couldn’t get near enough to land as the weather was so bad and this was Jersey’s savour.

In January 1781, they mounted another invasion with a force of about 1,400, but this time they managed to land with zero opposition.  Once disembarked they marched onto St Helier without anyone challenging them and they captured the Lieutenant-Governor Moise Corbet with hardly a shot been fired.   The Governor was “hoodwinked” by the French General, “Philippe de Rullecourt” by being told the island was swarming with French soldiers, so he signed the document of capitulation, but unknown to either of them the British army were like the rescue cavalry coming over the hill.  Their leader, Major Francis Pierson  attacked the French in Royal Square on two fronts and won the day but at the cost of his own life, as well as the French general’s.   At the corner of the square is the building where Pierson was killed; today that building is “The Pierson” pub, so naturally it was where we would have a pint!!! This was a small “oldie-worldie”  pub, but it was “heaving”, lunchtime trade!!  

After our “refreshment” we carried on walking along King Street, and found the St Helier market, but too late, it was closed so headed back home for a cuppa before heading round to Jane’s apartment for dinner.  Fortunately “nowhere” is very far from “somewhere” so the walk was reasonable, 12-minutes.   

We had a lovely meal, Christine and Jane managed to find much to chat about, in spite of being together all yesterday!!!    Time to go so headed back on our 12-minute walk.

Friday 4th November

Today following a lazy breakfast, Jane collected us and we headed out to complete our circumnavigation of Jersey.

Leaving St Helier we headed out to start where we left off on Wednesday and though the winds were still howling, the sun was shining.  Our route was basically the same, in and out of beautiful small bays and today we passed the, what shall we say, the posh end of the island with all the big houses; where the money is. Jane pointed out several, one being the last home of Lady Docker, the well documented socialite who started out in life as a dance hostess in a club, married three times with her last husband being a wealthy industrialist with a title; quite a women in her time, she died in 1983.

We stopped for coffee at a farm shop Jane recommended but unfortunately they didn’t sell cakes, only breakfasts, which we didn’t want but wait a minute, they do pancakes with fruit,  maple syrup and cream etc., that will do so the three of us shared two, and they were delicious, yum yum.

At one of the bays we got chatting to a couple from Leicestershire who were holidaying for a few days, and they were telling us about their “bargain” break staying at the Longueville Manor Hotel.  Apparently the Longueville Manor is the”top notch” 5* hotel here in Jersey and presumably, like most other businesses at this time of the year, they do deals hence this couple could stay there.

We now headed to lunch but today it was going to be different.  Jane had told us about this place in Rozel  bay who does bacon baps to die for.    We arrived at Rozel bay, parked and rocked up at “The Hungry Man“, what is commonly known as a “burger van”, similar to what you see in lay byes in England.   Fear not, she assured us the food here is worth the effort and the discomfort of sitting outside in the wind, at wooden garden table bench.   I went and ordered, paid, and was invited to sit as everything would be delivered.   A few minutes later everything arrived, freshly cooked and delicious.   Our freshly ground coffee was a little on the strong side so we needed extra hot water and I went to the side where the waiter had come from.   To my surprise, I was shocked to see five people working in the tiny kitchen pumping out all this food, needless to say this was a very popular spot.

Our tour also included the two major castles built to defend Jersey during medieval times.  “Elizabeth Castle”, and “Gory Castle” but alas they are both closed for the winter, still a drive-by will be better than nothing.

Mont Orgueil Castle, also known as Gory castle, as the name suggests is built high up the rocks overlooking the harbour of gory.  The build started in 1204 after King John lost his Normandy realm to King Philip ll of France.  This castle was the primary for the defence of Jersey and for over 400 years it withstood numerous French Assaults.  During the 1500s the castle went through intense periods of renovation and extensions due to the use of cannons but alas it was in vain and the decision was to build a purpose-built castle for the times.

Elizabeth Castle; the build to replace Gory was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth l and construction started in 1595 and was named after the queen by Sir Walter Raleigh.  The first time this castle was used for military purposes was during the English Civil War.     Jersey remained loyal to the Crown whilst Guernsey supported the Parliamentary side.  Again this castle has served the population of Jersey throughout the past 400 years.

Unfortunately both these imposing castles were closed but both look worth visiting; oh well we’ll have to return in the summer sometime.   We did stop and have a stroll along the beach at Green Island, as it was protected from the wind.

Returning to St Helier via Waitrose, Jane did a detour via Longueville Manor Hotel to show us the beautiful gardens the building sits in but with a gentle “nudge” we parked and went in for a drink.  The origin of this building is scarce but there was a reference to an original building on site in 1332 and the panelled dining room certainly suggests this building has been around for many years.    

In the bar we bumped into the folk from Leicestershire enjoying an afternoon tea, and I must say it looked superb.   We on the other hand ordered and enjoyed a bottle of their “House” white wine but certainly got a shock at the price!!!! £58 a bottle!

Driving around all day and wandering about in the wind seemed to “knacker” us, so back to the flat for dinner and a quiet night in