Guernsey 2006

[Magpie]

Jez,
Living is expensive, the main cost being accomodation, its not cheap, renting or buying, particularly for the open market property you would need.

There is a mountain bike club with lots of members who organise regular races so you'd be alright on that front.

Your missus should be able to get a primary teaching job. There are lots of teachers over from the mainland, but they would probably only give her a certain licence length 5 years or something. Have a look at http://www.gov.gg/ccm/navigation/education/teachers/ that gives you some contacts for the education dept.

Hope that helps mate.

 

[foxfish]

Hi Jez, what does a planning officer plan?
Magpie speaks the truth about accommodation but I guess it is all relative. I think our quality of life is good. As regards moutainbikeing, you dont want to sell your bike. Surfing can be fantastic but intermittent, certainly popular. In fact virtually every sport is available & normally of a high standard. Then of course we have the sea, plenty of sea over here mate. White water kayak "A" try the right hander at Foxys spot, if you are up to it!
Any how you will be welcome to visit us spearos any time
Teachers are in high demand at the moment, PM OMD

 

[spicer]

Hi Jez,

Guernsey is great. Made the move about a year ago and have enjoyed every moment. The only difference is that in defiance of nature the wind sucks here.:hungover

 

[portinfer]

Jez - life here is good - I moved back here after most of my life away and am still here 4 years later

Water is alot clearer than the UK I am lead to believe and the most I have seen it was 13m+ crystal clear in the winter.

My brother learnt to surf here when we were younger - surf is ok and alot of my mates surf - alot of breaks - alot more than you think! For example the Fontenelle is massive at select times - you can also find out alot of paddling info over at guernseypaddling dot com or something like that - a guy called Chris Harvey - he runs the site and is into wave kayaking in a big way - think he is a champion of something or other.

Living costs ... depends how you live If you do alot of aquatic shopping it needn't be too bad but other costs are accomodation - some people pay about £500 a month each for a place - maybe £700 to £1000 for a place for a couple ?? Not sure ... check the local estate agents pages (all crooks ).

Getting on and off the island can be pricey... and alot of fog at the moment....

But as far as a good move then yes I can recommend it. Depends what you make of it but if you put the effort in to get involved with things then it is satisfying here.

Hope that helps - Ed

 

[portinfer]

Dave have your Ice fins come yet Need a hand camo-ing them ? !

 

[Old Man Dave]

Fins came today - after nearly 3 weeks. Look good.

Unfortunately the box was avec fins but sans new 7mm spear. Nice little 7mm hole in one end of the box though. Filled in a claims form. Think they make it 2 pages long just to put people off.

Also got some 5mm socks and my fins are the larger size. Seem to fit okay. Well, at least as far as finning around the lounge is concerned.

Ed, not sure your cammo idea suits me as much as you, but everyone to their own :t .

Isn't the weather PANTS!!!!!!!!!! Must be cause I'm on holiday.

Dave .

 

[loops]

Hi Dave
Andy in jsy, where did you get your ice fins and 7mm from.

 

[Old Man Dave]

Hi Andy.
Cheapest price was Scubaland, also best selection. Have bought in the past from DB shop. DB has good prices and quick delivery but limited stock, also some items eg fins are more expensive delivery. Scubaland advertises large stock and has good range on offer but delivery is hit or miss. My mate got a suit in 4 days, my fins were 3 weeks and of course the spear didn't make it at all. My brothers bought quite a bit from the Froggies too but as with me some of his gear took ages to come. Fins were 108 euros (£73.50) and total delivery for 4 items was 15.5 euros (£10.50). Main trouble with scubaland delivery is it's via post office and goes to coventry UK first. DB is DHL air freight and takes about 2/3 days.

Dave .

PM me if you want more info. Also Ed is "the" internet shopper especially if it's italian.

http://www.scubaland.fr/index.php3?newlang=2

 

[portinfer]

Try and stop me ! If it comes smelling of espresso then I'm in ! All those sleek curves and smooth surfaces .. and the guns aren't too bad either

 

[SpeedySpigola]

Oh yeah sorry Dave, happy birthday for around a week ago!
Lots of love Lora & Marco

 

[spicer]

Was a bit desperate after all the bad weather and went in for a quick squiz. Viz was stil fairly poor but loads of sandeel around normal wrasse and one medium mullet. The wind picked up again :head and I decided to call it a day. Bring on the summer.

 

[portinfer]

East coast yesterday... no swell ... vis about 5m .. no fish ... 10m aspettos ... where is summer

 

[Mr. X]

East coast yesterday... no swell ... vis about 5m .. no fish ... 10m aspettos ... where is summer

Countryfile weather forecast this morning showed weather improving a little Wednesday & much improved Friday.

 

[portinfer]

Weather : http://magicseaweed.com/Guernsey-Surf-Report/167/detailedLongRange/uk/

Looks like there is no swell but not sure about the wind...

_________________
Edward

 

[Old Man Dave]

Weather man was a bit out today. Started sunny, stayed sunny, started wind force 4, died to almost nothing. Little improvement? You bet ya! Too good a chance to miss.

Didn't realise it was such a big tide. Been too long, lost touch with the rhythm of the sea. Some swell but went on the NE lee coast so looked fishable.

Vis was better than I feared but worse than I'd hoped. Couple of spots the speartip disappeared into the gloom but most places 10 foot vis offered a good chance of seeing fish. Deepest water was clearest at maybe 15+ foot but anywhere you had to watch for swell.

Too much swell and too poor vis in most of the shallows for my favourite indian method and where it was fishable there didn't seem to be any fish.

So headed out round the reefs. Skirting the outermost reefs on the edge of strong tide I noticed a crabpot sitting about 8 foot down. It was on a reef that went from the surface to the sand at 30 foot below. Saw a flash of blue in the pot as the tago wafted over it. Went for a look. One undersized lobby sitting in the "parlour". A few yards on I saw another pot so out of curiosity went down for a look. Well I never, another small lobster. Seeing pots and lobsters is not unusual but 2 in a small area seemed like an omen to me.

Only needed 3 dives to find a nice big "Bluey" sat in its hole. Really wanted this one so prepared well. Unloaded the gun and set it next to the hole. Did a bit of gardening to trim back some weed. Big breathe up, wait for a lull in the swell and down to the hole. Use the spear in my left hand, careful, careful, tap the tail, lobsters turning, lobster turning, yes, yes, now.... grab with the right hand, got a firm grip on its back, drop the gun, up, up, surface, done it . Had my small net bag tucked under my jacket so secured lobby and retrieved gun.

Spent another hour working a small shallow bay for nothing seen and then wizzing off down tide. Picked off a couple of size pollack and spent a few minutes terrorising some big wrasse which were hiding in the lee of the tide behind various reef heads. Took the pollack for a feed but left the wrasse as am waiting 'til Mart fires up his smoker and barby.

To cut an already long story short, the lobby was - BIG, the pollack about 1.25lb and didn't see one bass or even one mullet. Dive time was nearly 2 1/2 hours and yes I like my new Ice 3's. Very soft but powerful and glad I got the bigger size and new 5mm socks. Those Omer footpockets are tighter than my paymaster.

Dave .

 

[foxfish]

Well done Dave. I have been covered in fibreglass dusts most of today, with a sore head :hungover Most lightly recommission the smoker next weekend, quite fancy smoked lobster.

 

[Magpie]

Good work Dave, never really thought what I'd do if I came across a lobster in a hole, now I know!

Ice is nice eh, did you find yourself looking back at them as you swam along?

 

[beardy241]

Beauty Dave. Well done. Got me green with envy now!

My Dad had a bass-boat in Port Grat when I was growing up. He used to spend a lot of time out in it, fishing and potting. You know how as children we take things for granted? ...I now know what a privileged upbringing we had - practically living on Blues!! (and Spiders, and Mackerel etc. etc.)

 

[Old Man Dave]

Just a quickie report tonight as on grandson baby sitting duty.

Went east coast. Flat calm but crap vis. One and a half hours of going indian in the bootlace with max vis of about 8 foot. Took 6 big mullet from several dozen seen and managed to increase my bass total by 2. One bass was about 4lb and the other 2 lb+.

Dave .

 

[spaghetti]

Just a quickie report tonight as on grandson baby sitting duty.

Went east coast. Flat calm but crap vis. One and a half hours of going indian in the bootlace with max vis of about 8 foot. Took 6 big mullet from several dozen seen and managed to increase my bass total by 2. One bass was about 4lb and the other 2 lb+.

Dave .

Hallo, may I come in?
Talking about mullets, they're my obsession this year: since almost three weeks I'm spearing nothing but mullets, mullets, mullets, and I'm tired of eating them in the same old ways. Any english (or fancy) recipe to cook them? (talkin about adult ones, from 1 to 2 kilograms).