13/07/2013

Amazing sand castles!


Our time on Jersey is drawing to a close, but there are still one or two things Wilson wanted to see before we leave. One of these was Sand Wizard Simon, whose display is filled with magnificent and enormous sand sculptures. W chatted at length with the sculptor, hoping to pick up some tips for his next trip to the beach.
We spent the rest of the day in the beautiful grounds of a stately home. There were several bee hives in the kitchen garden area, and Wilson took a great interest in these. 
Later he asked me whether he could have a pet bee. I told him I was sure that could be arranged but he should wait until we were back in England, rather than have to declare a pet bee at customs. 
W was very excited, and told me he would call his bee Polly and would sell her honey in tiny jars when our garden was open to the public. 
I had rather hoped he had forgotten about opening our garden to the public...



12/07/2013

Eating Italian


After a long day at Fort Elizabeth we had an uneventful crossing back to the mainland. 
Wilson just had time to take a tour of St Helier on a Land Train before we headed off for dinner at a really lovely Italian restaurant overlooking the harbour at St Aubin. 
The waiters seemed to take a shine to W, calling him bello piccolo mangiatore delle formiche and lavishing him with extra attention and antipasto
W took great pleasure in this, whispering between courses that I should treat him more like this when we're at home.



11/07/2013

Wilson joins the army and helps fire a big gun!


A number of male visitors, including Wilson, were press-ganged into becoming army recruits! 
They were drilled and marched around the parade ground for a while, then led away to the battlements where, with the recruits' help, the '18th Century soldier' fired the one o'clock cannon. 
This is a day young Wilson is unlikely to forget in a hurry...



10/07/2013

Fix Bayonets!


Disembarking from the amphibious and entering Fort Elizabeth, Wilson confidently explained to me that it is called Fort Elizabeth because Mr Prince Philip gave it to Queen Elizabeth for her birthday when she was 100. 
We soon came across a man dressed as a soldier from the 1850s demonstrating how to use a bayonet and fire a musket. 
Wilson felt a bit poorly during the bayonetting demonstration, then during a talk by a blood-spattered 'surgeon' about battle-field operations (mostly amputations) he had to be helped outside and given a glass of water. 
Although it's well paid, I think he should cross Surgeon off his list of possible careers!



09/07/2013

Sea crossing to Fort Elizabeth


Today we're off to visit Fort Elizabeth, which apparently involves a short sea-crossing in an amphibious vehicle. 
Wilson is — how can I put this without causing offence? — a nervous sailor, so we were both relieved when we arrived to find the tide was out and our craft the "Charming Betty" would not be required to float, merely to drive over some very wet sand. 
Nevertheless, W paid very close attention to the location of the life-jackets and the 'evacuation procedures' video.



08/07/2013

St Helier Steam Clock


As Wilson has planned quite a heavy schedule for the next few days, we decided to spend a quiet day in St Helier.
He was a bit nervous about standing next to the mine, saying, 'Just read the sign! It says it's a REAL MINE! It could go off at any minute! Hello?'
In the evening I spotted the St Helier Steam Clock and I was reminded of the fantastical Guinness Clock which I'd seen in my childhood. I persuaded Wilson to wait until it struck the hour.
'It'll be amazing,' I told him. 'I expect people will pop out and the paddle wheels will turn and the whistle will blow and there'll be steam everywhere — you can't imagine how great it will be!'
We waited. The clock passed six. Nothing happened.
Well, that's 50 minutes of my life I'll never see again!' Wilson remarked, a trifle testily I thought.


07/07/2013

Wimbledon 2013


We completed our tour of The War Tunnels yesterday, then came Wilson's favourite part of any tourist attraction: the Gift Shop and the Restaurant!
In spite of the sunshine, today we spent the afternoon in our room at the hotel watching tv. Thank goodness we can receive the BBC here in Jersey, or we would have missed the Wimbledon Men's Final, and the day I never thought to see! Well Done Andy! 
Both W and I were emotionally wrecked by the end on the match!