Dear Anglo-French cousins of ours in Guernsey (Channel Islands),
It was a pleasure visiting and meeting you folk last week! It was my first ever trip on your shores, and although it was a business trip, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay.
On Tuesday, as we (my boss and a director) started our journey in freezing cold London, I had a sense of nervousness in me. I was travelling to train clients (solo) for the first time, and the hundred million questions in my head just would not stop. Part of the distraction from my nerves, before we boarded the flight was the chance to spend time in the Executive Lounge – another first for me!
So as we waited in the exec lounge, I noticed a small little device on the tarmac, which could only be used in a sling shot surely…. turns out – it was our plane. I dont think I have travelled in something so small before – (capacity – 44 passengers, and 4 crew in total). The lane was so small, that it had steps built into the exit doors!
Eventually we boarded, the pilot wound the side jack, and kick started the 225 miles journey to the tiny island of Guernsey. When we landed about 45 minutes later, I got a nice big shock when i saw the airport…. it was a porter cabin! A slightly elongated one… but none the less a porter cabin!
(The airport is the ground floor – and yes, thats the whole airport!)
We got off the plane and into the cab in less than 2 minutes (literally); it’s quite funny how short the walk was, and how I wish every airport was like this! After a fairly uneventful cab ride to the hotel, we were all tired, and hit the sack pretty soon that night.
Tuesday morning started before 7 (because of the location), and the first thing which popped into my mind was to take pics! The enterance of the Hotel was quite nice, and later on in the day I found out that Guernsey doesnt quite have the multi storey hotel complexes. Everything is built into the hills, or is a conversion of old town houses.
Breakfast was had, and I began my journey to the client offices. The first thing which I noticed when I stepped out of the hotel at 9am was how much warmer Guernsey was compared to London; the temperature must have been atleast double digits – which would have been awesome if I was outdoors! 
The clients office was near the marina, so I was excited about lunch time and surely as soon as it was time, I was out of the door and made my way to the marina. There is something about water which attracts me to it. The effect is the same as the ring and everybody else in Lord of the Rings. I love water, will get into it, but then suffer panic attacks in shallow water. That sucks!
The 2 days ended up being great, and the training sessions were very productive. There is a trait which I always try to associate with myself – thinking on my feet, having an answer when it is required; I have been questioning this of recently because I have hardly been tested in the last few months. So when I was faced with a barage of questions during the training, it was good to know that once the dust was blown off, the trait is very alive for sure!
People of Guernsey – let me tell you what I loved about you and your island.
In the 2 days, which I spent on your tiny island, I loved the fact that Guernsey feels like a village. I loved the long winding roads, going up and down. I loved the fact that the roads are so narrow that you have to mount the pavement to pass in so many places. The best thing about Guernsey was the fact that almost every person I walked past, smilled, nodded, or said “hi!”. People were cheery, and the cabbies were the best! I love the fact that life is simple in Guernsey, and there is a sense of communityamongst the 70 odd thousand people on the island.
Spending time in Guernsey also reminded me of the desire in me to travel; but I can’t do it alone. I spent time catching up on reading (Jimmy Carter – Palestine Peace not Apartheid – Check my reads in 2009 for more details ); I havent read a book in a fair while now, so it was good to catch up again.
More than anything, I realised from my trip to Guernsey (yes, I know, it was only Guernsey!) that I get a chance to travel because of my job…. I don’t know how many people get a chance to do that – and I am thankful for it!
Leaving Guernsey wasn’t the most pleasant experience. The airport staff were first very anal about my toiletries. They wanted me to carry only one clear plastic bag; they couldnt care less that I travelled into Guernsey with 2. Idiots. I had to throw away some stuff. Worse still, the woman in front of me had to throw away half her make up. She wasnt pleased! I got into the waiting area, and my first thoughts were – am I in the right place? the reason for this? Well, why dont you have a look of the end to end plan!
I landed safely in cold cold London. By the time I had commuted between Gatwick and home, it had begun to snow and settle – far cry from the double digits which I felt in Guernsey.
A wicked trip none the less, and would reccomend it to anyone as a weekend away trip!
