Looking Back On The Year - On Guernsey

Guernsey is not only a holiday destination as some other places are. It is the many aspects of our daily lifestyle, both traditional and quirky which often appeal to visitors and which lead them to choose our island for a holiday in spring, summer or autumn.

So, looking back on 2009, month by month, let’s take a look at what we did :-

In January
we went “ormering under a full moon”. A tradition of gathering this member of the abalone family from shallow water and rock pools – only allowed on certain dates. (We make warming ormer casseroles with them)

In February
we pondered about which workshop we might participate in… not talking DIY/Black and Decker but more beading,landscape photography and more which take place in galleries and studios in St Peter Port during winter…

In March
we walked across the cobbled causeway (exposed at low tide) to Lihou island because a rare Snowy owl was spotted there well off his usual course! He stayed for over 2 weeks and was perhaps attracted by our very own Guernsey-resident Barn owls. La Société Guernesaise has a nesting box project and we now have about 60 pairs across the entire island

In April
we checked that our “wraps” were in tact ready for beach activities and swimming. On Guernsey, we take to the beach early (some people swim all year round) and these wraps are produced locally and are a wonderful towelling invention with an elasticated neck fastening – for adults and children they provide a fast, easy and demure (!) “dressed-undressed” status on the sands

In May
we celebrated the liberation of Guernsey from Occupation during World War 2. There were so many events : dances, parades, songs and salsa and every year it remains just as poignant. Friends who came over from the UK were also able to visit Hauteville House, Victor Hugo’s home in exile – it always opens in early May

In June
we enjoyed crab and lobster lunches and local ice cream at the beach cafés, most of us had started swimming by now and in the evenings we ventured up to Castle Cornet for some fabulous outdoor theatre

In July
we went along to Le Viaer Marchi, organised by the National Trust of Guernsey where we embrace an evening of traditions from crafts to costumes

In August
when you have so many fabulous sandy beaches, this is where we came – before work, after school, after work and at weekends. Some of us took to the water in kayaks, canoes, and in our small boats or took day trips during school holidays to neighbouring Herm and Sark

In September
we took stock on how many (or how few) of our famous cliff paths we had walked so far this summer and we got out there and energetic to see the start of the colour changes and to pick blackberries and sloes

In October
we started thinking about eating out in many places at great value (it’s called Tennerfest but we don’t want to give too many of our secrets away)

In November
we got ready for Santa’s arrival by lifeboat (he came just 10 days or so ago) , got out our Christmas decorations an so on…

Now, in December
some of us are planning our day trips to Herm island on special Christmas shopping outings – there are just a couple of little boutiques which open just for this – another Guernsey tradition and, of course, some of us are still swimming and thinking about the New Year, the tides and dusting off our ormer baskets…

Love Guernsey like the locals !

More information : VisitGuernsey on 01481 723552, www.visitguernsey.com