ROSE

We know each of you discover a unique path as you explore our island and we love to introduce you to people that live and work in Jersey and introduce you to the island through their eyes.

This edition we meet Harriet, proprietor of one of the prettiest little giftware shops in St. Helier.

The weekend starts with… Work! I know, I know, but having a shop in St. Helier means that nearly all Saturdays are spent working in it. Which, in truth is no hardship. Saturdays are a good and busy day in St. Helier, with my crack team of Saturday staff, and a buzzy town centre. I nearly always start my Saturday with a coffee from Locke’s on Pitt Street and grab a bite to eat for lunch from the market. As a result Friday nights are nearly always a chilled one at home with the family and dog (though increasingly, with teenagers, there are some taxi related errands too!). I have learned the hard way that a big Friday night always makes for a very long Saturday, though occasionally I test it out just to check, and have been known to pop to Upstairs at Anley for a Friday cocktail which has led to several, and a dusty Saturday morning.

Saturday nights are for… seeing friends. Whether it’s dinner out or at ours (or theirs!), Saturday nights are definitely for friends. We’re so lucky in Jersey to have an amazing array of restaurants on our doorstep, as well as great places to have a drink. Awabi is a firm favourite in town, with amazing Asian food and drink (have the chicken wings!). The Moorings in Gorey is a lovely cosy restaurant, and (just about!) walking home distance.

On a Sunday it’s definitely a slow start. Well, as slow as it can be with our dog, Finn, who knows no boundaries and has no concept of a lie-in. He knows Sunday is a big family walk, and inevitably some treats for him on a beach. Depending on the Saturday night before, will depend on breakfast. If it’s been one involving a little too much wine, we always head down to Long Beach in Gorey and to Rhona’s for a curative bacon, egg and sausage (on Portuguese roll) with a coffee, whilst Finn lives his best lift chasing balls up and down the beach. During the summer months, we’ll often get in for a dip as well, but I’m not ashamed to admit that I fall into the ‘fair weather’ sea-swimming camp and am rarely persuaded in during the winter.

St. Catherine’s Wood is also a firm favourite for a muddy Sunday walk, with options to add on extra distance and pop down to the Breakwater Café for a hot chocolate or ice-cream depending on the time of year. Also one of the best spots to forage for blackberries (but don’t tell everyone!).

Locke’s Pitt Street

+44 (0) 1534 855311

Upstairs at Anley Street

1 Anley St

+44 (0) 1534 728198 Awabi

63 Halkett Place

+44 (0) 1534 888981

The Moorings Gorey Pier, +44 (0) 1534 853633

Rhona’s Gorey Coast Road

+44 (0) 7797 939371

St. Catherine’s Wood

Breakwater Café La Route de St. Catherine

+44 (0) 1534 851141

Sunday afternoons are usually spent catching up on homework and cooking a roast dinner. With all the honesty boxes dotted around the island, it’s always really easy to pick up local, seasonal veg and we often grab some from the end of our road.

When family and friends are staying, we stretch our legs a little more, and make a little more effort to get out and about. A favourite walk is from Grève de Lecq, up along the cliff paths to the Devil’s Hole (grabbing a bite at the Priory Inn or La Mare Wine Estate) before heading back along the lanes to the beach. When we have friends with young children staying, we nearly always head out on the SUPs at Archirondel or Green Island, or to Bouley Bay for a dip and jumping in from the steps. The more sheltered bays are perfect for getting up the confidence of younger swimmers and the steps make for easy (if not bracing) access into deep water.

My favourite beach is… well it’s more of an are. It’s impossible to choose one! For a summer dip after work, Belval, just around the corner from St. Catherine’s is my absolutely favourite. At high tide it’s just lovely, and last Boxing Day we sat on the beach with mugs of tea post dip watching a seal bobbing around. Portelet and Plemont are worth the steps and the effort. Unspoilt, idyllic, and with excellent food options at both, I love setting up for a few hours at one of them in the summer and seeing in the sunset over dinner out west is never a bad idea. In the summer my girls love to surf, and sitting outside the Watersplash with a shandy in the sunshine makes everything seem right. Especially with the curly fries. There really is a beach for everyone here though, and they never, ever feel crowded.

La Mare Wine Estate Page 72.

Archirondel Page 82.

Bouley Bay Page 82.

Portelet Page 85.

Plemont Page 85.

The Watersplash Page 117.