P-Day Cliff Walk with the Elders

We were invited to join our elders and the four elders from Poole on a cliff walk. Of course we said yes.

It's been my observation that the more people are in a group the longer it takes to get ready and leave. Some of the elders were hungry and stopped to order take out food. One ordered a quarter pounder and fish and chips! Eventually we got going on the hike.

I didn't get a proper group shot but this is everyone except us. There was one from Utah, one from Oklahoma, two from England and one from Finland and one from Canada.

And us...from Idaho

Elder S. also invited a recent convert, Holly who brought her son along.

Part of the old harbour defenses, Clarence Battery was originally constructed to defend St. Peter Port from the threat of French attack, however, throughout the occupation it was modified for use by the German forces.

The elders from Poole has never been to Guernsey before so they took many photos of the scenic coast. So did I.

My favorite photo of the day.

We walked part way down those steps, then it was time to start back. The visiting elders needed to catch the 4 PM ferry.

Those are low tide swimming pools. As we walked back to St. Peter Port the tide was coming in and had just overtaken the far pool. Soon it would all be underwater.

Second Week in Guernsey

Our second week was full of new discoveries. I now have a calling in the ward as RS counselor. Bill’s calling will have to wait until some stake people visit, but the branch president has a number of things he wants us to do.

We moved into a self-catering apartment for two weeks until our other place will be ready.

The bedrooms and bath are downstairs with the livingroom and kitchen upstairs. A reverse maisonette.

It's a block or so away from Bordeaux Bay

During one of our exploratory walks we happened onto Vale Castle

It was mostly built in the 15th and 16th centuries

During the occupation the Germans fortified it and added searchlights and mortars and machine guns.

That island is called Herm. One of these days we'll visit it.

We watched as the workers slowly squeezed their vehicle through the gate. He would have lost his side mirror if it hadn't been hinged.

10p for a cucumber is a bargain. This is a "hedge veg"

We took photos at low and high tides in the same places to show what 23 feet of water can do. 

He's standing about where he thinks high tide will be.

What a difference!

Our First Week in Guernsey

Guernsey is more laid-back than London or Brighton with a top speed limit of 35 MPH. Front page news locally doesn't include mass murders, serial rapists or motorway pile-ups. The most sensational story is of an allegedly stolen bass from the aquarium and the coincidence of a similar looking one winning a bass contest.

We were thrilled when we claimed our luggage after getting off the ferry. We were prepared to pay dearly for excess luggage but they never weighed it or counted how many bags we had. (9 boxes and 8 suitcases) I like this laid-back island attitude.

Our hosts, the Mahy family, have a lovely home with plenty of space for a large garden. We have been enjoying their strawberries and raspberries.

There are watchtowers all along the coasts. This one used to be a windmill until the Germans added the top part during the occupation.

Gotta love climbing on the rocks

By bus and car we have traversed Guernsey several times and there are postcard views everywhere.

This is a "hedge veg." There are many little stands that sell flowers and produce with an honesty box for the money.

St. Peter Port, the main town in Guernsey

(remember to click to enlarge photos)

A traffic sign we had never seen before. I guess they can't call them roundabouts because they aren't very round. 

The charming bus shelters in St. Peter Port

Elvis Parsley, one of several cows around the island that will be auctioned for charity.

Dining al fresco overlooking the port.

The chicken pie was excellent and I've decided that I like mushy peas, but who puts gravy on french fries?

We wondered how streets could possibly be narrower in Guernsey, but they are. With a tall stone wall one one side and a hedge on the other, pedestrians don't have a place to go should there be two cars coming.

This is the rented building that church services are held in. It was an unforgettable experience being only 2 of maybe 12 adults in attendance. 

The elders with Holly, a recent convert. Holly is the key to our future here. It seems that her father is leaving for Egypt soon and will be gone 4-5  months. He has agreed to let us live in his flat. We are ecstatic!

A beautiful view of Pembrooke Bay from a large outcropping of rock.

And my favorite sign of the day. ;-)

Saying Goodbye to Brighton

Our mission president left at the end of June and one of his last acts was to call us to serve on the island of Guernsey!

We were sure that with only 4 1/2 months left of our mission that we would finish in Brighton. So it's with sadness that we say goodbye to the friends that we've made.

 It was a tearful Sunday. Our beloved Lloyd, an outstanding recent convert was the hardest to leave.

Our last Crawley District Meeting.

I don't even want to know what these elders were up to.

And our last Institute class. Attendance was rather slim! 

One last feast from the allotment garden.

Saturday, July 7th

The Kearls from the mission office arrived to move us out of our flat. Afterwards they wanted to see some of Brighton, so we drove to the seafront. Sister Kearl had to dip her toe in so she could say she's touched the English Channel.

The Kearls brought along a newly arrived couple who are from Kennewick, Washington. It was fun to see if we knew people in common. We did. :-)

We spent two nights at the accommodation centre by the temple. Sunday morning Bill (with knife in hand) had to open two boxes we had just taped up the night before. We needed stuff for breakfast and things to get ready for church. Moving is such a pain!

Saturday night it rained an incredible amount. The ground was so saturated that a pool formed by the Manor House.

Mama Duck is very protective of her babies.

The London Temple and grounds are so beautiful I can't stop taking pictures of them.

Sister Cabrera helped to rescue the baby ducks from a drainage ditch. She showed us a video of the rescue. Good job!

President McFarlane of the Crawley Stake Presidency wanted to meet with us one last time Sunday evening. He brought his cute family along to see the ducks.

And now we're off to Guernsey and new adventures.

Stay tuned!