That gold cross!

 I do always like a challenging question!

Well we all know that the Guernsey Flag is a mix of

 the Cross of St George and the Cross of William the Conqueror - Duke of Normandy.  

 But last week a gentleman who was a keen history buff

 said he had never seen Williams cross before,  stopping to think about it neither had I. 

 Later in town I bumped into the Head of Museums here, and so I asked him.

Turns out in 1066 William persuaded Pope Alexander 2 to send him a papal banner, 

to show him backing of Williams invasion plans.

 

 As you can see it is definitely the gold cross from the center of our flag.

 It also features a fair few time in the Bayeux Tapestry, though you do seem to have to know what you are looking for, its not obvious.

So we now know, and I bet you anything I am never asked that question again!!!!!

a wave of blue

We all seem to have been enjoying glorious weather the last few days, and for once this glorious weather coincided with afternoons off! 

So on Thursday afternoon, and decided to walk from town round the cliffs to check out how the bluebell wood was coming on and then on to Fermain and home.

It really was a stunning day and the wild flowers are all starting to come out, you could smell the warmth in the air.  I would say the bluebell wood was at two thirds of its blue capacity.

But still so very beautiful.  

I saw some of the invasive thugs Spanish bluebells on the cliffs, but so far they don't seem to have got into the wood, that is still very much the domain of the delicate and fragile British bluebell.

Oh dear done it again, co-ordinated myself with the bluebells.....

To all of you who are fans of The Durells, this scene always reminded me of the books and the early TV series, not really sure why, think its the evergreen oak hanging on for dear life!

Then round the corner to the beautiful Fermain, at very low tide, sea looking very tempting,

but when I did my April dip a week ago it was still only 9 degrees, so a while to wait before it becomes a pleasure again.

I sat in the sun on the cliffs reading my book 'The Ship Thieves'  (the true tale of James Porter, colonial pirate), when low and behold, look what sailed round St Martins Point! 

A real life Pirate Ship (sort off!).

Then finally the long slog up Fermain hill and a walk home, a good leg stretch, but those same legs are still aching today, which basically says I need to do more long walk ;-0

the staring tree!

Not totally sure whu, but this year I decided against having a tree and have gone for a star instead.....

.....I found a beautiful wooden stat in Evie and Me in town and it was perfect. 

 I replace the rope hanging loop with silver ribbon and wrapped it round with 

ivy from the garden held on with florists wire.

I love the battery operated fairy lights you can get these days, it means you can put a bit of sparkle into all sorts of spaces, such as here. Then raiding my decoration box, I went for a peacock theme, with a very smart chap over seeing the center of the star...

...and butterflies decorated with peacock feathers ....

...and loose feathers every where else.  I know some people believe peacock feathers are bad luck, but not me, I love them and I love my star!!!

Happy Christmas xxx

the power of flowers

As you walk down through the winding streets of St Peter Port, you really become aware of the beautiful voluptuous hanging baskets that are every where.
Well this summer I have noticed another by-product of all this floral splenda.

They are self seeding!!!!

In the top half of Mansel Street there are violets popping out of the cracks in the pavement

and these surfina are everywhere

I love them, it shows just how tough flowers are.

So please mister road cleaner - weeding guy, leave them be so we can carry on enjoying our very

un-hanging baskets!

flowers, fleurs, flleurir

Earlier on this week we had my in-laws round for a proper afternoon tea, scones, clotted cream, cakes and little cucumber sandwiches, the works!

But it was my flowers that I was proud off.

Just four little plain glass vases going down the center of the table,

filled with flowers from the beds behind,

crane bill geraniums, pinks, honeysuckle, parsley, oregano, lavender etc

Simple, my type of flowers

And they transferred well to the mantelpiece,

rather surprised at how long they are lasting as well!

(title English, French, Guernesais)

Spring is springing....

The sun is out, the sea is calm and I am not wearing socks!

Spring is here and its my blogs 3rd birthday!

So lots of shots of what will be my veg patch soon

Seedlings signify optimism of what is to come for me, I love watching them grow..

these peas never get as far as my kitchen, they are more of a gardening snack!

 

This little chap is a few days further on now and looking very impressive.

Happy April every one xxx

Sea swimming and courgette cake

We are in the throes of a beautiful Indian summer, 

but being the end of September alot of tourist businesses are wrapping up for the season.  

One of those is the cafe at Moulin Huet, which is closed after today, 

So a beautiful morning encouraged us up and out for a swim, they were doing a cake and music party at 3, but that was also low tide, and the pull of a high was too great!

Down through the cool, green,, dappled tunnel,

 Till you started getting a glimpse of the Pea Stacks through the trees. 

and out we popped over this rocky, rugged cove, 

that in the past has inspired the greats such as Renoir

Very helpful and actually rather beautiful steps let you easily get down on to the beach.

Had a brilliant swim, it is still so warm, about 18 degrees, 

we pottered around the rocks, rode the swells, chatted with other bathers, tried to swim up on a cormorant and generally just enjoyed a good 20 min swim.  

Sea swimming pushes you so much more than any pool can, the wave, swells and tides challenge you, one moment you seem to be swimming and not moving, then suddenly you surge forward, 

you need to be aware of your surrounding, of the tides, of the weather. 

and boy it makes you feel alive and buzzing.

Thrift clinging on in the most inhospitable places

rats, forgot to bring a blackberrying bag.....

Exercise done, now cake!

How about that for a view from a tea room?

Now don't you agree, chocolate and courgette cake must be good for you?  

Maybe even one of my 5 fruit and veg for the day?  

And boy it was good, not sickly sweet, just moist and chocolaty with a nutty crunch, yum!

There's a lovely tea garden surrounded by a hydrangea hedge, which just encourages you to chill out and relax, like these French girls playing cards in the sunshine, loved their hats.

Though this little chap wasn't relaxing at all, very busy, hopping around, he obviously knew exactly the best places for cake crumbs!

Thank you Moulin Huet tea rooms for all the gorgeous cake this summer, and hope to see you in the Spring!