My favourite photographs from Guernsey and relevant notes are now on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylvia/tags/guernsey/

I have sooo much information and I’ve not yet read about my shipwrecks nor the book I picked up at the occupation museum. And that’s just one little island! I still have 37 to go…

The weather was really quite good, the only real rain we had was on Sunday as we traipsed from pub to pub. As a result, we only tried five different versions of Milk Punch but that was probably plenty. :)

I found not one but two wonderful lighthouses which I adore and I could happily go back to any of the islands for a longer stay. Alderney was my favourite, I wish I could have had more time walking around the coast there. Anne liked Jersey best, I think because she got to browse through lots of jewelry shops.

I have a ton of books to read through and a fair amount of scribbled notes that I should transcribe before I forget what it was I meant to say. It’s going to be a busy week.

Slight reorganisation of plans, flying to Elstree (London) on Thursday, picking up Cliff’s mum who thought it would be fun to go with us (pretty daring for a woman of 81!) and flying to Guernsey first thing in the morning on Friday, arriving in time for a lunch date with a local who has offered to tell us all about the island.

Unfortunately, I’m not overly impressed with the weather report, which seems to imply I could fly into Guernsey any day except Friday, which is forecast for rain.

I always knew the British weather would cause problems and was the reason why it seemed sensible to not even consider starting until Spring was firmly established. But I really didn’t think that the very first flight for the very first trip could end up getting blown out!
If I chain-refresh the page, do you think the forecast will change?

I’m slipping the dates for the Channel Islands by 2 days, which fits in better and also means I get to spend Liberation Day on Jersey.

The final plan is:

4 May: arrive Guernsey (evening)

5 May: Guernsey

6 May: Guernsey (Ale and Food festival, yum)

7 May: Alderney (Milk-a-Punch Sunday, thanks to SI for the list of pubs)

8 May: Alderney (hangover recovery)

9 May: Jersey (Liberation Day)

10 May: Jersey

11 May: Depart Jersey (aw!)

Now I just need to book beds and we’re good to go!

… lest you think I’m only going there for the alcohol.

A meal in St Anne in view of St Anne’s church.

Hike out to the neolithic burial site, followed by a visit to the Alderney Museum.

A trip on the only running railway in the Channel Islands.

Find out about the Elizabethan wreck which seems an awesome project.
See a gannet and maybe even a blonde hedgehog.

Visit The Nunnery, an old fort from Roman times used as a staging post between Brittany and Britain.

Leave the island to see Burhou if possible (served as a shelter for fishermen and shipwrecked mariners, now a bird sanctuary).

Alderney has an annual event called “Milk-a-Punch Sunday” and I’ve specifically worked my schedule around being able to be there, plus a day on the ground on Monday to recover.

http://www.alderney.gov.gg/index.php/pid/16/more_info/7

This long-observed tradition is a drink made of milk and egg and given a little kick by a healthy tot of rum, offered by every publican on the island and often imaginatively adapted to their own recipe. The origin of the tradition is suitably blurred, but folklore has it that – on that day of the year (always the first Sunday in May) anyone can milk anyone else’s cow and ‘borrow” an egg or two from anyone else’s hen. This legitimate booty is then mixed with a generous lashing of rum, a pinch of nutmeg, a spoonfull of sugar and each licencee’s closely-guarded secret ingredient. And, with fresh milk straight from local cows – Milk-a-Punch is guaranteed to be particularly delicious. But remember – you have been warned.

I haven’t been able to find out much more than this; I guess the plan is to visit the various publicans and ask to taste their special recipe? Does everyone take part or should I be trying to make up a list of places to go in advance? Any advice on making this a memorable Sunday would be appreciated. :)

The Food and Ale Festival. I think this means a pub crawl. I hope so. :)

Currently looking at spending most of the time in St Peter Port, seeing the harbour and the market and probably the German Naval Signals HQ, Hautevill House and Castle Cornet.

I’m not sure if the shipwreck museum in Fort Grey is worth a visit, likewise the Little Chapel. I’m tempted to spend the time out of doors instead exploring the coastline.

• Visit Vineyards of La Mare
• Find out about Jersey Apple Brandy
• Try a real Jersey Cream Tea
• Go to the Ramsar wetlands
• Walk on the seabed where Jersey was once connected to mainland France
• Take a coastal cruise from Grouville Bay
• Visit the sea front at St Clement including Green Island
• Get a tour of Mont Orgueil Castle
• Have a meal at St Aubin’s Bay
• Go to Elizabeth Castle and find out why it was named after the queen
• Visit St Matthew’s Church
• See the WWII fortifications at Noirmont Point
• Find the Fishermen’s Chapel at St Brelade’s.
• See the lighthouse at Corbiére
• Look at the underwater forest at low tide
• Find the Dolmen de Grantez and maybe even a Jersey Green Lizard
• Spend a few hours in St Helier and see the Victorian food markets
• Listen to someone speaking Jèrriais
• Walk out to La Hougue Bie
• Go through the Jersey War Tunnels, avoiding the cafe next door
• Visit Hamptonne

Tell me what I’ve missed!