A new Chief Minister, lots of sun and a mountain of cheese are all on the way.
Here are the ten things we have learnt this week…
1. Go on, eat it – it’s good for you
Given that you can go on holiday to France for two weeks and never see an overweight Frenchman, it is presumably scientific fact that cheese, sausages and cakes are essentially health foods. So get yourself down to town later this month for some life-extending Gallic fat, carbs and sugar. The Norman Market will be held in the Royal Square next Thursday and Friday before moving to Broad Street for the weekend.
2. He’s from Jersey, you know
Remember this face. And the name – Hamish Brodie. Because one day we may be proudly pointing out to friends in the UK that he comes from Jersey, just like we do with Henry Cavill and Graeme Le Saux. The 16-year-old has been accepted into the The BRIT School – a leading performing and creative arts institution which gave the world stars including Adele and Amy Winehouse. Very well done, Hamish.
3. Cyclists are everywhere (for now)
In recent weeks there has been a significant increase in the number of cyclists on our roads. With the cost of petrol now reducing grown men to tears on the forecourts, some commentators have suggested that more people are ditching their cars and turning to two wheels to save money. Or it could just be because it’s sunny. Let’s revisit this news item in November, when its 7°C and lashing it down.
4. And everyone’s swimming
If you see someone throwing themselves into the sea on a miserable, wet day, don’t worry, as there’s a good chance they are just frantically trying to complete the 30 Bays in 30 Days challenge in aid of Jersey Hospice Care and the National Trust for Jersey.
5. Even the slurry eater looked cute
Jersey got some prime-time exposure when it featured on everyone’s favourite Sunday night programme, Countryfile. And didn’t the Island look lovely? It was pretty much a whole hour of wall-to-wall sunshine, crystal-clear seas, rugged cliffs and rolling countryside. Even that weird robot which spends its days sucking up our doe-eyed little brown cows’ poo had a certain charm. Visit Jersey saw a surge in traffic to its website as we were showcased to millions of viewers in the UK. And we are on again this Sunday.
6. We have a new Chief Minister
Jersey has its first female Chief Minister. Deputy Kristina Moore was elected into the top job this week after beating Reform’s Sam Mézec by 39 votes to ten. During the contest in the States, she told Members: ‘Join me on a mission to rebuild trust, to unite our wonderful community and put put our Island back on track’. Suddenly, Jersey politics feels all positive…
7. It’s branchage time
We call it branchage. Hedgehogs call it the Parish Chainsaw Massacre. During the last few weeks landowners and occupiers have been busy strimming back any vegetation overhanging roads and paths to ensure they comply with the branchage law. So don’t be too concerned if you see a group of elderly men measuring the length of that elderberry tree at the end of your lane – it’s just parish officials checking that it’s not breaking the law.
8. This has happened…
Teenage boys dressing in suits and causing so much of a nuisance at screenings of the new Minions movie that some cinemas have banned teenage boys from turning up in said suits. It’s a craze, apparently. And it has even reached Guernsey. Honestly, when you think this world couldn’t get any weirder…
9. Sorry, you’re not sailing
One hundred and forty passengers booked onto the Condor Voyager this Saturday were told that they would not be sailing – as the ship was a life raft short. Apparently one of the rafts was damaged when the Voyager got a little too friendly with the Harbour wall – and Condor have been forced to reduce capacity for this Saturday’s crossing to meet safety regulations. The affected passengers were given some free sailings.
10. It’s getting hot, hot, hot
In this feature last week we ended with a screen shot of the five-day forecast, showing some fine weather was on the way with temperatures rising to the dizzy heights of 22°C. Ah bless. To badly misquote a line from Crocodile Dundee… ‘Call that a forecast? This is a forecast…’
