A few teasers

I am not sure exactly how or when to start this story, the story of my life. I have wondered who on earth would be interested enough to read this, a simple story in many ways, an adventure in others.

I have loved, lost, hated, hurt and experienced tremendous joy, as have most of us. So, what makes my story any more compelling than millions of others? I don't know, but people who know me, and who know at least a part of my journey through life have told me on numerous occasions to write a book.

So, heeding to the superior intellect of my friends and acquaintances, here I go..

CHAPTER ONE

Where it all began

I guess any story that is telling of a persons life, should begin when and where they were born.

My family hails from a small Island in the English Channel called Guernsey. The Channel islands consists of Jersey, the largest, then Guernsey, Alderny, Sark, Brecqhou, Lihou, Herm and Jethou. The islands are some 25 miles off the coast of France and 78 miles south east of Weymouth on England's south coast.

These islands are now British, having been swapped from French to British and back numerous times during their history and many bloody battles fought for the right to them.

Although they each have their own independent governments, the locals are considered to be British Citizens. They are still somewhat considered a tourist attraction for people who want the “feel” of France with a British attitude and language. They were the only British territory ever occupied by the Germans in WWII.

Very picturesque, beautiful, and peaceful places. Guernseymen will of course argue that Guernsey, is better than all the other islands, as will all the inhabitants of all the other islands similarly argue that theirs is the best. An argument that will forever continue and never be resolved. All the islands are beautiful in their own right and each has a uniqueness to be proud of.

The islands are prominently French in there ancestry. Each is broken up into Parishes, which are areas separated into local governments much as a small town would be or on a larger scale, the States in the USA or maybe English Counties. Guernsey has ten of these Parishes. Forest, St Andrew, St Martin, St Peter Port, St Sampsons, Vale, Castel, St Saviour, Torteval and St Pierre Du Bois. The States of Guernsey, has chosen representatives from all these Parishes, and governs the Island.

Guernsey, has a local population of around 60,000 people, is approximately 9 miles long, 5 miles wide and 25 miles around the coast. We enjoyed a temperate climate due to the southern proximity, Spring, Summer and Fall all reasonably warm. The winters wet, cold, very windy and sometimes spectacular with the ocean waves crashing ashore, sometimes up to 100 feet high. It is very rare for snow to affect Guernsey. I can only remember it snowing twice in all my years there.

Guernsey, is a fantastic place to grow up, crime is, or was in my day, almost non existent. In the summers of my youth in the 60's and early 70's, it was not unusual for me and my friends to take off on a gorgeous summer morning as early as 6.00 am, Beg Mum, for a bob or two to buy food and pop then just take off to “play” all day. Often, we wouldn't return until the sun went down. Sometimes we would ride our bikes all around the island. We would head to one of the many beaches, depending on what the tide schedule was that day.

Bordaux, which is a picturesque small harbor on the north east coast, surrounded by rocky crags and smaller islands, with a perfect view of the islands of Herm, and Jethou, just about two and a half miles away to the East.

A Perfect place to play Pirates, in a “borrowed” dingy, (We always moored them back where we got them from),usually someones Dad's, or someone we knew. or just explore and have fun. This has always been, and always will be my favorite place on earth. My Mum used to take us here as kids to play and make sand castles, learn to swim, gather Limpets and cockles from the rock pools, along with small crabs and the occasional small fish.

We loved the small “Treat Stand” where one could buy, Ice cream, Popsicle s, bottles and cans of Pop and Soda, Sandwiches, Chocolates and potato crisps. Mum, would give us a list, give us money and off we would go to get the goodies. One of these places could be found at most of Guernseys beaches, some sold “Tea Baskets” and fresh baked goods along with all the other stuff.

Then of course the ever reliable Ice Cream Van, who came around selling soft served Guernsey churned Ice Cream. We would try to impress our Mum's, and of course any girls nearby, with daredevil leaps off the huge Tommy Rock, in the middle of the harbor. This immense rock formation is about 100 feet tall on low tide, but when the tide is high, it will get to within 10 feet of the top. From half tide onwards, we would brave the short, but current filled and sometimes cold swim across, climb to the top, or the less adventurous “Chicken ledge,” at about 10 feet below the top, and dive or jump into the sea over and over again. Some kids have been hurt over the years by doing this before there was enough water (no saving stupid I suppose), in the harbor. For anyone trying this practice for the first time, a good rule of thumb is, if the water has gone over the pier with the flagpole on it, it is “Safe to dive the Tommy”, not before. As kids, we would be playing around the pier waiting for it to get covered, Mum's, watching dutifully so you didn't go early.

As soon as the Flagpole was wet, there was a mad dash swim over the 200-300 feet or so of water to be the first one off the top. Quite an honor back then.

On warm summer nights, there is nothing better on this earth than heading for the West Wall, and diving into the clear, warm ocean water inside the harbor at high tide, and allowing it to engulf you in its embrace, basking, or swimming around the myriad of small boats moored here. Doing this with a girlfriend adds romance, especially during a full moon, and comes highly recommended by me.

This my friends, when I die, is where I wish my ashes to be thrown so that I can enjoy this special place and all it's fond memories forever.

L'ancresse, Bay and Pembroke Bay, on the northern coastline boast large, sandy sweeping beaches with good surf and a safe place to swim, explore, play “Germans and British”, or “Cowboys and Indians” at the many bunkers and forts scattered throughout the common land up here, left over from the German occupation and many wars previous with the Normans and the French. Sometimes we would venture out to the West Coast side of the Island to Cobo Bay or Vazon. Both gorgeous large sandy beaches filled with tourists. The South Coast with its old small sheltered Bays set into the high cliffs, such as Saints Bay, Fermain, and others were great places to “Girl watch”, and swim in the clear ocean.. These were used by pirates smuggling goods back years ago, and still have the “smugglers Cove” feel about them.

Other times we would head to the Bathing Pools in town. These are salt water tide pools built to take advantage of the ebbing and flowing tides. They have a wonderful view of Castle Cornet, a huge Medieval Castle at the St Peter Port harbor mouth. The pools were always a good place for fun jumping off the high board in the Ladies Pool. Again, a good place to watch and interact with girls.

We always had a football to kick around or make an impromptu game with shirts and back packs as goal posts. We would go “scrumping” for fruit at any one of the many apple or pear orchards we would see on our ventures.

One time I remember a particular tree with Asian Pears growing on it. Asian Pears, for those unfamiliar, are delicious, juicy, huge white pears like you have never tasted before. My friend and I knew where such a tree was and although there were risks involved, such as a huge German Shepherd dog with a bad attitude and big teeth and a grumpy farmer, we were determined to get some.

Our mission impossible, dare devil adventure turned out badly, we were caught “red handed” hand on pear with no good excuse or reason to be there. Hearts pounding with fear, we listened to the farmer tell us how bad we were and that hell itself waited for thieves, a place we were surely headed to burn in for penitence for the joy of the pear. He completed his rant with the obvious belief that he had scared us into submission as he said, and I quote, “Wait there while I go call the police and get you two arrested for this”. He turned towards the house, growling dog following obediently behind him, to go call the police. After the door closed and we were sure he and the dreaded dog were securely inside, my friend and I looked at each other in disbelief. “Does he think we are staying here”? My friend asked. I replied, “ I don't care what he thinks, lets get the hell out of here”. We ran like the wind, not before stocking up on the pears we went for of course. We didn't stop running until we were at least a mile away and safe. We climbed a tree and enjoyed the fruits of our adventure all the time considering the stupidity of our fellow man, the farmer in particular. Winded from the “Escape”, We ate pears,and laughed about our close brush with authority. For a couple of days following that, we were fearful that the cops were looking for us. We stayed away from each other to make it more difficult for them to spot us. Eventually of course, we realized we were not on Guernsey's most wanted list and life returned to normal and many more apples and pears were had that summer, and many following. Not the Asians though, hmm, maybe the farmer did know what he was doing after all.