by herm, Monday 27 February 2012 19:23
There is a new Herm book on the block! Pirates and Princes is a simple history of the island aimed at children, detailing the most exciting parts of Herm's history. With chapters on pirates, ghosts and skeletons, it should be popular with any children who are fascinated with the macabre side of things, or anyone else who might like to read an updated version of the island's past.
The book contains pictures of the Herm children from their Invaders and Settlers calendar, and a percentage of profits will benefit the Herm school. It is written and published by island Press person, Cheryl Lee Latter.
This is the first non-fiction Herm book in 16 years, following the very informative Hidden Treasures of Herm Island by Catherine Kalamis in 1996. The 44 page booklet is available from the Herm gift shop directly or through their ebay shop. For our Guernsey friends, it is also being stocked in the Press Shop, Aladdin’s Cave, Candie Museum and the Tourist Information Office.
Hopefully it will travel far and wide, and help spread the word about our beautiful and fascinating island.
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by herm, Monday 20 February 2012 07:20
Two teams from Herm took part in the Guernsey Mud ‘n’ Fun run. After a very wet morning the sun came out just in time for the start so the run was slightly more pleasant than it might have been if it had been pouring with rain. Getting wet was the least of the teams worries though as the run involved wading through muddy ditches, some of them more than waist height in mud the consistency of thick soup, marching through marshy fields and negotiating muddy obstacles.
The run takes place every two years and is around four miles long. The first Hermite home was 17 year-old Richard who got round in a speedy time of 51 minutes. The ‘Herm Chicks’ couldn’t linger too long on the course as there was only two hours from the start of the race until the boat left for Herm! They got round in 1 1/2 hours which left just enough time for a very quick shower before getting the boat home. Fun was had by all!
by herm, Wednesday 15 February 2012 15:32
Each year the start of winter is heralded by the arrival of a flock of Brent Geese that over-winter in Herm. This winter over forty of them have been enjoying the water around Herm and can be seen at low tide wading in the sandy water of Fishermans Beach. At high tide a flock of them often gather in Fishermans Field seeing what they can dig up with their beaks. If an east wind is blowing they bob about in the water off the east coast between Belvoir and Shell Beaches.
They come from the Arctic tundra and will return there in the spring where they will nest and breed. They will lay three to five eggs which hatch in three and a half weeks and within three months the young birds must be ready to fly south!
If you are visiting Herm in the next few weeks see if you can spot them.
by herm, Thursday 9 February 2012 19:25
This pictures were taken from a Herm holiday brochure from 1947, and offer a fascinating insight into how the island has developed over the past 65 years.
The 34-page brochure has photos of well known fixtures such as the White House Hotel and the harbour, and the short-lived golf course. The photo of the Mermaid Tavern actually shows the hotel rooms in the Mermaid Cottages and states that there are tea gardens in the back and a paddock next door. The paddock contains a ‘mini Grand National Course’ to exercise the island’s 12 donkeys!
At the time, there was both ‘White House and Mermaid hotels’. Bookings for holidays were taken in the Herm office in Guernsey, and there was a cafe at the pier in St Peter Port that only catered to Herm visitors.
Passports weren’t needed, but all guests had to bring their ration books. There is also an ad for 'Bobby Ale', which is apparently what all good Hermites were drinking in 'the old inn'!
by herm, Sunday 5 February 2012 12:44
With some parts of the UK reaching temperatures as low as -12°, it seems like winter is suddenly arriving with full force. But it's comforting to see that on Herm, signs of Spring are already starting to show.
Every year it seems the first solitary daffodil appears overnight on the Drive, giving us hope that the winter won't be too long. The first week of February has seen flowers beginning to spring up all over the island.
Many more flowers are colouring the holiday cottage gardens already. It won't be long until the sun is out, the sands are warm and the smells of cut grass and sea salt fill the Springtime air.