In Love with Life: 2016

Monday, December 5, 2016

Living in Guernsey and Its Perks

Hello!

So here comes another island in my life, Sark's big sister Guernsey. Although it is the finance industry heaven (which I'm not that keen on) it has beautiful nature and my favourite sandy beaches. Guernsey cows are nearly on every corner I go and hedge veg stalls have loads of autumn goodies.

When you don't work, you have so much free time to do whatever you want. I've been indulging the beauty of green rolling hills, swimming in cold sea, riding my orange bike and trying to remember how to surf. The winter is here which means losing light already at 4 o'clock in the evening and with my 10 hours proper sleep everynight (:)) that leaves only 5 hours of daylight. So I've been walking or riding around with map in my pocket (like real tourist..) and trying to familiarize with narrow small roads that from first glimpse look all the same.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I am slowly joining the drivers community. Learning to drive in Guernsey is tricky. The roads are so narrow that they look like one way roads and to avoid smashing into cars you need to drive on the pavements. I need to make sure I master my reversing as well because often you don't even have space to pass by other cars. O dear, why did we invented motor cars? I would be happy to continue with horses, haha.

The van converting is going slowly but hey ho, it's the process that counts, yeah?

My free days are over now. I'm officially a bartender again. And I think I chose one of the last pubs in Guernsey where community feeling is still around, where people leave their wallets or phones on the bar without fearing to loose them, where nearly every person coming to pub has ''special needs'' as I call it (their favourite drink, favourite glass and favourite seat, am I in Bel Air again, haha?).

So life is good, as always or at least most of the time.

Merry December!

Ligita

Colourful autumn in Guernsey

Beautiful Vazon Bay

St Peter's Port

Pumpkin Paradise

My first attempt to do meringues..

...and it worked!!

Jess playing

Jess told me she likes Dom's hat and I think she looks better :)

Seagulls gossiping...

Our baby

It's hard to be short sometimes

Dom is doing good job...and I'm just taking pictures

Oh dear...

Preparing to drive

awww. Jess...

surfers loving it

Future roof windows!

Dom with my cat Cipsas

biggest river in Lithuania

happy

I call it love

exploring Lithuania and fancy train

Beloved lakes...

Friday, October 21, 2016

Falling in Love With Britain.. Wait, What?!

Hi again,

Today I decided to write about Great Britain. Don't worry, it's not about Brexit, Immigrants or Tesco discounts. It's about my relationship with this funny island.

I remember the times when Great Britain to me meant Scarborough and Brighton; these two completely different towns which became my home for a while. At that point in my life I was studying and working full time so all I could do was to observe people of this country. A lot of things did make me laugh, I could not understand this friendliness and politeness that I was so not used to. Thank you, please and sorry became my every days prayers. It did feel strange at first but couple of years and I already was 'one of them'.

While indulging conversations with locals I started to understand a lot of things. Some things made me angry, even disappointed, but most of them are now kept safely in my heart. The memories of beautiful people who beat any stereotypes or cliches.

And then, Great Britain became my transit country. It seemed like everywhere I would go, I would always pass by Britain. But this time I created different relationship with this country. Suddenly I realized why millions of tourists come and spend their money there. To me it was the nature. Green rolling hills with sweet little sheep around, traditional country pubs in the middle of nowhere and, of course, 4 seasons in one day.

On my latest transit trip (which by the way ended in missed flight to Lithuania, ha!) I discovered Lake and Peak Districts. Beautiful hills and mountains surrounded by lakes and streams. The wilderness that every true adventurer is seeking for. Face biting winds and drizzle which always bring a sunshine. How dare I think that Britain is boring. Forget about that consumerist face of Britain that you always hear and see in media and go and explore the forests around, the fields, the streams, the lakes and mountains. I'm sure you will fall in love again.

I am saying huge thank you to my friends, who still live in Britain. Thank you because of you everytime I get fascinated more and more about the nature of your country. And you can learn a lot from it.

Now I am back in my beloved Channel Islands. Indulging the ocean life. It's time to learn how to drive and convert a van for new adventures in the future.

Enjoy October!

Ligita