The signs of winter wind-down
THE clocks have gone back, the nights are drawing in and Sark's carriage horses spend more time seemingly relaxing in fields than they do lugging cart loads of tourists to La Coupee and back - via the gardens at La Seigneurie, of course.
THE clocks have gone back, the nights are drawing in and Sark's carriage horses spend more time seemingly relaxing in fields than they do lugging cart loads of tourists to La Coupee and back - via the gardens at La Seigneurie, of course.
In short, the island appears to be winding down, although there will be those for whom the period between now and Easter means a programme of maintenance, staff recruitment and working to ensure that there will be customers in 2011 for whatever they sell - be it goods or services.
They will do so in the knowledge that next year, as every year, they will have no control over the factor that above all others determines whether the season is good, bad or indifferent - the weather.
One of the regular features which marks the end of the tourism season and the onset of winter is the change in emphasis in the notices on shop noticeboards and windows. I've written in previous years about how Sark people always know when winter is approaching because Lorraine Nicolle starts advertising her pottery lessons - for adults as well as youngsters - and this year is no exception.
Stocks Hotel, which has been closed all year for extensive refurbishment, is now advertising for suppliers of local produce to get in touch - yet another hotel/restaurant joining the informal but effective 'come to Sark, eat Sark' campaign.
The hotel is also advertising for local staff - something which made me smile given the huge (for Sark) staff accommodation block they've just built at the head of Dixcart Valley. If they are successful in their recruitment campaign, then what will they do with all that block's spare space? Space which, I was told by a member of the planning committee, can be used by hotel staff only.
Those of the island's restaurants which vie for residents' (and the occasional tourist's) custom at this time of the year are also prominent among the advertisers, although some are closed at present for annual holidays.
Among those advertising are Maison Pommier, Hathaways, Beau Sejour, Petit Beauregard and Petit Champ and no doubt some of the remainder - Stumbles, Time and Tide, the Aval du Creux and Hugo's at the Dixcart Hotel, to name those I can remember - will also be helping to maintain Sark's enviable reputation as the place to eat in the Channel Islands.
An addition to this winter's list is Le Vieux Clos, a licensed guest house near the mill, which, according to friends who've stayed there, does a nice line in breakfasts and afternoon teas. It will be interesting to see if its evening meals and Sunday lunches match up.
Another new venture I spotted was one placed by Jade Armorgie, who has started business on the first floor of one of the shop units in The Avenue. The intricate details of Jade's business are a mystery to mere men but I did have a chance to see her working at a charity event last Sunday at Natalie Tighe's Time and Tide Restaurant.
*
Beautician Jade had teamed up with hairdresser Andre Quintal and Sark photographer Lydia Bourne to raise money for Sark's fire and rescue and ambulance services. When I called in - not to have anything done, because they had neither scaffolding nor Polyfilla, prerequisites for fixing my aging features - all three experts were busy and co-organiser Pippa Curtis was delighted with the way things were going.
'We had some extremely generous raffle prizes and we hope to raise enough to pay either for some specialist equipment or special training for the emergency services which serve Sark so well,' she said.
A great idea and a worthy cause, I reckon.
The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net.
