The past few months have been a bit of a blur. I’ve visited 2 new countries, returned to Spain for a week, been to Guernsey (again!) started wedding planning and found out Monday that I’ve gotten a new job. Oh and my mother lands here in 5 days. Let’s just say the second half of this year has a lot to live up to!
I haven’t thought a lot about the blog since my last post in April and it was refreshing. I’ve discussed with blogging friends at length in the past that I think I’m over the blogging thing. Then I’d get hugely motivated and be back to regularly posting. I think what I’m really over is chasing the numbers, making contacts and engaging in blogger activities.
I’ve taken the contact page down from my blog and while I’m not opposed to doing events in future I’m no longer actively seeking them out. I find a lot of people at those events are kind of blog snobs. I like my little corner of the internet and I don’t care about churning out posts that I think might land well with readers. I was doing that for a while and it’s not me so that chapter is done. The blogs I enjoy reading most have none of that involved so I’m going to follow suite.
Anyways, back to the point of this post. This past weekend while I tried to not think about how I did in my interview and if I had gotten a new job I visited Guernsey Jen. We last met up in Iceland in March so a catch up was over due. Also when your friend lives in a barn in Guernsey do you really need an excuse to go again and again?
This time I traveled with a friend who had never been as we wanted a budget break. It was what I needed and I was reminded that the channel islands really are a little slice of paradise. Our flights were £114 return, and beyond that expense I think I spend maybe £50 for the weekend. Of course if I wasn’t able to stay in Jen’s barn the cost would be up but it would still be a very inexpensive break. I will always sing the praises of Cornwall but you can’t get there as quickly as the channel islands with a flight to Guernsey only 35-40 minutes.
As this was my third time I was relaxed about site seeing and let my friend Nicole set the pace. Turns out her pace is quite similar to mine and we explored most of the day Friday even though it was heavily raining. On Saturday we ventured to Herm for the day and we found that it was charming as much as it was stunning.
Herm has its own micro climate so while it was a cool in Guernsey it was nice and warm in Herm and perfect for our kayaking mission. Don’t be fooled though like we were, the water was still ice-cold so I’d recommend a wet suit but it was so clear and clean. If I didn’t know any better I would have thought I was in the Caribbean.
We hired a two person kayak for an hour and blissed out on the water. The return ferry from Guernsey is £12.50 and should you visit watch the times because they appear to run a service for pensioners, the last ferry is at 5:35 pm. Herm is probably the ultimate day trip, plenty to do, actual sandy beaches and hardly anyone to share them with. A small price to pay for paradise.
Here There Everywhere 
Everything you said about blogging and bloggers is exactly how I feel too!! That is a huge part of why I stopped blogging for so long. So glad you had a good time in Guernsey – Herm looks amazing!
It really is a turn off isn’t it? Yes Guernsey and Herm were perfect, I’m excited for your upcoming trip, you will love it!!
Wonderful – and thank you for getting back to blogging for the sake of writing for the love of it.
Thanks Kat, it has instantly become more enjoyable again.
This is what blogging should be about – the joy of creation! Congrats on the job!
Thank you.
Congrats on your new job! Nice read – I like your writing style, and beautiful photos. I love your blog, as it opens my eyes to what’s in England. I’ve lived here so many years, yet never really travelled around the U.K that much. Anyway thanks for the posts.
Thank you!! I’m so pleased you’re finding new things from my blog. It might be weird but the blogs I read the most are usually people based in London. Maybe because I can go out and explore the thing they are talking about.
Nice one, Melissa. I think you have captured Guernsey well here!
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Guernsey makes it easy though!
In full agreement with you about the blogging thing. Thanks, again, for sharing about Guernsey. This is making it difficult for me to decide what to do upon my arrival for my friend’s wedding in January. 😐
Ah January, ok well if you have time let me know and we’ll meet up. Always hard to pinpoint what to do when there is so much choice! Well Guernsey is a great one, it gets more sun than the UK so there is that to consider.
Yeah, definitely trying to do a side trip while I’m there for the wedding. Decisions, decisions… 😐
Good photos.
Thanks!
Okay, I remember reading this.
I could relate to so much of your blogging thoughts. I have felt a sense of snobbery and cliques at some events and I don’t like that aspect of it and I too have started to reflect on how uninspiring I find it to blog for the sake of numbers and hits. I love writing and that’s the reason o blog and it can get very demoralising and mundane when that gets forgotten and it gets replaced with all sorts of other irrelevant facets. But moving onto this actual post, o had no idea Guernsey was so beauty! My hubby has been to Jersey already so maybe Guernsey would be a nice mini break location for the two of us!
So glad I’m not alone on this! It is refreshing to hear. You need to get to Guernsey! I hear Jersey is great and better set up for tourists but Guernsey is a bit more beautiful and quiet.
Oh wow – can’t believe this is Guernsey! My family live in Cornwall but I’ll have to skip a visit and go here instead. Beautiful pics.
Crazy isn’t it! Cornwall is gorgeous but Guernsey is a good runner up.