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| Journal - |
| June 23rd, 2005 > Migrating picnic tables, wacky plants, bad timekeeping |
| I finished off last time with “Expect the next journal to include tales of lost baggage, miss-behaving children and un-identifiable objects in the showers”. Paradoxically the prediction was not all that far off; the first busy weekend of the summer proved to be one of un-identifiable baggage, lost children and miss-behaving showers. The main area of the campsite, the most profitable and thus important, is the central field that accommodates our rental tents. Or rent-a-tent as I prefer to call them. Each a large six-berth tent, fitted out with basic essentials and effectively a hotel room in a field, it is the job of Wil & I to put them up and turn them around after departure. My tidy, freshly mown fields were transformed into a small shantytown of tents, stray footballs, abandoned frisbees, loitering children and migrating picnic benches. All in all, the week went well. It was the first test for all new seasonal workers on the island and an opportunity for me to get a feel for things and make notes for possible improvements. With some dismay I learnt that it is not possible to walk from the lurve shack to the shower block, a mere hundred metres, without being accosted by somebody wanting something. I now move about under the cover of darkness or when flushed out into daylight I slink along the hedges to get about. On reflection, a still summer night when the site is full of families and children wasn’t the optimum time to throw a party at the lurve shack. Partly to celebrate a successful weekend, partly to welcome my good friend Chris who had arrived for the week, but mostly for the sheer hell of it, we decided upon a bbq. Consequently I received my first reprimand for excess noise, and spent much of the following morning skulking around the site with my tail between my legs, apologizing to the inmates. Last Sunday was a busy departure day for us, many people were clearing out at this time. With eight boats a day to choose from, and everybody wanting to board a different one, we are faced with a small logistical nightmare. Wil & I performed, I’d like to think, a beautiful ballet of co-ordination with most people reaching their destination with their very own luggage. Then begun the task of putting everything back where it belongs. And this is the juncture when you first discover just how efficiently a half eaten lollypop sticks to canvas, along with the difficulties of sweeping beach sand from a groundsheet. The fine weather had also broken, introducing mud and grass into the messy equation. |
| Name: From: Age: Why Herm? How do you fill your day? Best party trick, or special talent? Herm veteran or Herm virgin? Favourite place on the island? Porn Star Name? (first pet name & mothers maiden name) Where do you go from here? |
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| click logo to visit Herm |
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| click logo to visit Herm |
| Contact me like this: |
| Snail Mail - Timo (campsite warden), Administration office, Herm, Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK |
| mobile sms - UK 07781 437 481 International +44 7781 437 481 |
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| Katell Isle of Skye, Scotland 21 A lucky accident In the exciting world of administration! Being the multi-talented person that I am I can't choose between them all. But I'm double jointed & can bend my fingers funny ways. I also know some great jokes. Oh & I can put my legs behind my head too! Virgin It's got to be the amazing beaches. They really have to be experienced first hand to be believed! Oscar McCulloch Wherever the wind (and any money I manage to save) takes me. But most probably Paris. |
| People Profile |
| I recently told you there were no vehicles on Herm, other than a few old tractors and one or two ATV bikes. I lied. Unintentionally of course…. I only recently lifted a canvas sheet in the barn to discover a small jeep. Somewhat confused, I initially thought it was the residents’ secret winter plaything. Perhaps they take turns at driving around the island to remind themselves what it’s all about. My illusion of this car free island was shattered until I peeled back the sheet further to reveal the true purpose of this mechanical wonder – the island ambulance. |
| Small is Beautiful |
| I was lucky enough to get on an evening charter fishing trip recently, one of ten men eager to prove their worth against any passing creatures of the deep. Everything was supplied, we needed only bring ourselves and some light refreshment. As is always the case with trips of this nature, light refreshment was unanimously understood to mean beer, of which plenty was brought aboard. Despite a flat calm sea, when stationary the boat still rocked back and forth a surprising amount. And this is where men excel at communicating without the need for speech; the light refreshments were consumed at record breakingly slow pace, most of our ambitious quantity of beer was taken off un-opened at the end of the evening. It didn’t matter really; with few fish to carry there was plenty of spare hands. Brian the pastry Chef caught a beautiful Cuckoo Wrasse, known to be the most colourful fish in European waters and only a few ounces off the record. |
| If it’s wacky plant life that grabs your attention, the island is guaranteed not to disappoint. The two man gardening team nurture a wild profusion of Jurassic style plant life like I have never seen before in the British Isles. Testament to the island’s mild climate, they get away with many species found normally in the Southern Hemisphere from New Zealand to South America, Australia to South Africa. Various tenants dating back to the late 18th century have left their mark on the landscape with the introduction of various species. Prince Gebhard Lebrecht Blucher, the ill-fated Prussian aristocrat and island tenant from 1889 to 1915 introduced the Monterey pines and many plants that can still be seen today. He created winter gardens around the manor and the walled garden that today contains an orchard and the island nursery. Despite having renounced his nationality in the build up to the First World War, Prince Blucher was branded an enemy alien and evicted from the island along with his family. Post war, it was Sir Compton Mackenzie who continued the trend by introducing plants such as New Zealand Flax, Royal Fern and Fuchsia bush. I feel a kinship with Mackenzie; like me, he was planning a voyage to New Zealand when he happened upon Herm. He stayed here eight years; I’m staying nearly eight months! Successive tenants Lord Perry, Major Wood and Wood of Herm Island bring us to contemporary times and have all added their individual touch to the environment. You’ll here much more about them in future entries. And so it is that I attended the popular garden walk with a view to finding out what all these weird plants are about. Held once weekly, many plant enthusiasts make a special trip to the island just to attend the walk. Our guide is Head gardener Peter Hollet. Trained at Kew Gardens, Peter rolled up planning to give it a try for a couple of years. Fourteen later and he hasn’t quite made it back yet. The walk commenced in front of the beautiful harbour beds that were created in recent years to welcome visitors from the ferry. Pete began by explaining the unique conditions that working on Herm bring. As I’ve mentioned often enough already, these southern most of the British Isles offer a mild climate with infrequent frost during winter. While this does offer opportunities for growing species that could be regarded as unusual on mainland Britain, other environmental factors must be taken into account. Salt laden winds can have the same effect as frost, so plants must have a high tolerance to this. The island has acidic light loam topsoil, a subsoil of light granite over solid granite bedrock, into which plummet some five boreholes that provide the entire islands’ water. Supplies are adequate, but not to be wasted, so there is no irrigation and limited watering. Thus, plants must be able to cope with extended dry periods. This year Herm is entering into the Floral Guernsey competition. The victors of this will go on to represent Guernsey’s entry into Britain in Bloom. Both of these prestigious and widely contested schemes demand the highest standards. As their names would suggest entrants are judged on the quality and suitability of their displays, and on how they are used aesthetically. To minimize import costs, Peter & Dave run an extensive nursery in which they propagate a significant proportion of the plants used on Herm. It’s something which clearly takes a lot of effort and skill; and the results are at this time beginning to show as the entire island bursts into a vibrant bloom of colour. In addition to the numerous flowerbeds around the island, all buildings are adorned with flowing hanging baskets. The residents too have a part to play in this, and all their gardens are required to be kept in good shape. Click on any of the thumbnails at left to view some of my favourite plants on Herm. Garden walks start at the harbour every Tuesday at 1100. Tickets available at Harbour Office or ferry office in Guernsey - GBP 5.75 |
| Fishing Trip |
| hover over any image for description, click to enlarge! How good is that? |
| An island that receives 80,000 visitors over the course of a year will always pick up a few casualties along the way. Strong sunshine, a few steep hills, sheer cliffs, and alcohol all take their toll and over the years the island residents, suitably trained to provide first aid assistance, have seen it all. A well-organised system is in place to evacuate casualties. The Guernsey based ambulance boat Flying Christine can be on the scene an impressive twenty minutes after being scrambled. Playing its part in the operation is this battered old jeep. I’m not sure if immobilised tourists actually ride on the roof rack where the stretcher is fixed; it’d certainly make for an interesting ride. |
| The Herm Island ambulance |
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| Plant Life |
| Those familiar with my wide range of habits will know that bad timekeeping is occasionally a feature of my life. Being a slave to the relentless ferry timetable has been good for me; boats come and go largely on time and I have generally succeeded at being there at the appropriate moment. But recently, I missed out on applying what could have been one of my best excuses ever for being late for dinner. To bless the new crane on the Sea Horse, I was invited to dinner at the Captains Table. Having had a busy day but still with one more tent to erect, in my usual style I figured I just had time to throw it up. Wrestling with the frame, twenty minutes to spare, I inserted a finger into a pole end to poke out some turf. You can guess the rest! Stood in a deserted field, intimately attached to a partially assembled family size tent, admittedly with a great view across the sea to Sark Island. My mobile remained tantalisingly just out of reach, thus I kneeled down to review the possibilities. Rolling a smoke was clearly out of the question and I guessed that forcing the issue would only lead to swelling and further embarrassment, Luckily after some fifteen minutes of contemplation the frame released its hostage without further problem. I even made it to dinner, just. |
| Before I make the dash back to the boat, I must quickly apologise for the delay in getting this journal out! Between work, visiting friends and a busy social scene I simply missed the opportunity last week. I have been reading a fantastic book, Hidden Treasures of Herm Island by Catherine Kalamis. Despite being quite familiar with this island already, I’ve actually learned a lot about it’s interesting and varied past. Next time on the Wander Years look out for a new Travel Trivia question and your opportunity to win a copy of this fine book. Also, a new people profile, another meet the natives, trips to Sark and France, Herm’s modern history and the staff beach party. For new arrivals to The Wander Years – please remember to check out the journal archives to catch up on the past few entries dating back to the beginning of this trip. And while you are here, why not hop onto the message board to say hi? See you next time! |
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| Oh Dear! Katell looking a little too supple! |
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| Name: Originally from: How long have you been on Herm? How did you end up here? How do you fill your day? Where do you go, to get off Herm? Favourite place on the island? Porn Star Name? (first pet name & mothers maiden name) What is the main attraction to living on Herm? If it couldn't be Herm - where else? |
| Dave Plymouth 8 years Wanted a change from the city! I'm a gardener Any winter sports destination On top of the hill overlooking Shell Bay Jack Flower It's a combination of peace & quiet, community spirit and great social life Cornwall |
| Meet the natives |
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| I'd like to say G'bye to Matti - in the short time I have known him he has become partner in crime, drinking buddy and future travel mate. He's left Herm for the far north of Norway, up in the Arctic Circle. Brrrrrrr..... Good Luck mate! |
| (he's the one on the right) |