Sark Life Coming to an End?

“Hello, you alright? We’ve heard you are staying.” News to us. It’s a strange phenomenon that Sarkees know so much more about our lives than we do. Our Sarkee exit (Sexit) seems to be the talk of the Avenue and bless, we are becoming more unsure about leaving as the end of season approaches. The passed month has been a Big Sark settling in time and we can both see that yes, we could continue to do this. But do we want to?

Pearla and Pearla settling into the rhythm of the kitchen

We’ve had some frantic days in the kitchen where large orders have been stacked up and it has taken some calming self talk to get myself through some times, but it’s early September, the kids are heading back to school tomorrow and we are able to have some quiet breathing space. But it’s a fine line between calm breathing space and being too quiet to keep staff on so Pearla and I are quite flexible and will just go with whatever comes along. I feel I’ve learned some good skills, produced the best scoans in alllll the laaaand and my quiches are getting the reputation that would make Jamie Oliver envious. Pearla’s new dishwasher arrived damaged, so it’s carry on with the dischloth, Pearla, as it goes back. The dishwasher arrived the same day as the new coffee machine and that, folks, is a thing of beauty. You’ll all be pleased to read that those early days of instant coffee at La Sablonnerie are well and truly behind me, with a now unlimited supply of Americanos/Cafe Cremes literally at my fingertip.

We are moving through our kitchen apprenticeships at lightening speed and we feel that we have some Pearlas of wisdom to share and I have asked Pearla if she’d like to be a guest blogger so watch this space.

Visitors to Sark

We have been blessed with visitors. I don’t think our friends Gill and Al from Wellington knew what they had stumbled across when they first arrived. But after a few days of exploring, evening drinks in the gardens, a boat tour around the island, a few hours gazing at the night sky in the observatory and many swims, they were in awe of our lives. Gill offered to help in the kitchen, and we got to test her floor washing skills. Gill managed to fall off her bike when it was stationary. Something to do with her shorts getting tangled with the handlebar?

My baby, Clair made here way over on the last bank holiday and we set her on dishes duty within hours. We met in Guernsey and it felt so good bringing her over on the ferry to my place. Mum and daughter reunions are to be cherished and remembered and I’m looking forward to seeing her again soon at the end of the season.

Sark Life – What We’ve Been Up To

It goes without saying that Sark life is at a slower pace. Peaceful days and nights are usually disturbed by the occassional passing tractor, or the chatter of people riding along the avenues. This doesn’t mean that life stands still here. There’s plenty to be doing and we do it. The many hours playing table tennis with the King boys at 16 are now paying off as I wander along to the hall on a Friday night to play with the Sark table tennis elite. They are very patient with me, bless them. Pearla and I attended A Midsummer Nights Dream – an outdoor theatre event at the palace and we are off to the opera on Thursday night, which is also at the palace. So handy to have friends in (very) high places/palaces.

Our commute to and from work these days involves stopping to talk to the newest Sarkees, Florence and Ruby. Florence and Ruby are two inseparable donkeys who have been brought to Sark for absolutely no reason at all, except to just be. Their usefulness extends only to providing manure to the rose gardens, and of course, stealing people’s hearts. I give myself enough time before work, to spend time with them and to make sure I am not late. I think Pearla is smitten, too and we took them for a walk last night, which was a real joy.

Where is Life After Sark?

So, Sark life will end soon and I am going to have to take another leap of faith, go into the unknown and trust that things will evolve as they are meant to. My plan for this year was to save enough during the season to travel for a few months, then head home and so far, things are going to plan. October and November will involve making my way to London to my baby and picking up my winter woollies and tramping gear for Scotland (yay, Findhorn at last), Cornwall and possibly Wales. Plans are loose enough to allow flexibility but structured enough to keep panic at bay. So, bring on phase 2 of my 2019 plan, but firstly, I need to brace myself to say good-bye to Sark. (Maybee…..)