Jersey, Wednesday

Dear all,
After breakfast walked to where we were had planned to meet the cousins at 1.00pm. This pub was very close to us but in the opposite direction to St.Aubin where we had walked previously. We found it easily. Afterwards we went back to the guest house to pick up the car for a drive to St.Helier. I decide it wasn't worth trying to paint before our meeting so wanted to fill in the morning. Thought we may have had a quick look at the Gallery and Museum but ended up just driving around St.Helier looking for a car park. After eventually finding a multistoreyed car park we walked around the shops to get the feel of the city. Afterwards we took a very long time trying to escape the maze of one way streets to find the coastal highway heading west. Eventually we realized it was west that we were looking for and a few familiar land marks set us on track. We arrived back just in time for our rendevous but not with out panic and stupid windscreen wipers working overtime! It was lovely meeting Philip, Chas and Katrina de Carteret again after twenty two years. Didn't really remember them after all this time but remembered things that we had done. We are looking forward to going to Chas and Katrina's place on Saturday afternoon- possibly some other brothers may be present too but it looks as if they will probably be away at this time. Roger's great grand father- Philip Vaudin and their great grandfather Frederick were brothers. I hope I have that correct. Roger's great grand father was an architect who came to Australia in the landboom of the 90s. Tragically, he fell from a construction site and died in his 40s- (there is something about these accident prone de Carteret men-even Philip Malet de Carteret St.Ouen's manor lost an eye in a university tennis accident and Rog's dad, Reg had an altercation with a bus in his youth.) Anyway the sad incident meant that Roger's grand father had to leave school at 14 started work as a builder. This tradition of building and architecture has continued through the generations. Anyway we are looking forward to Saturday. Apparently Chas and Katrina have a beautiful garden which is at its best in Spring. On Sunday we are dining at the Manor if they can find lobster otherwise we will take
them out as it is our turn. This afternoon Roger found a hairdresser and smartened up his appearance. He was beginning to look like a bush ranger, so it is good to see him spruced up for our social happenings.
Roger didn't want to come to St.Ouens with me and I think he had a snoozette in the lounge at Ocean Walk. I probably only painted for a couple of hours because it started to sprinkle with the gentlist of misty rain. It has been in the early 20s today and very pleasant. Was pleased that I found St.Ouens without needing to refer to the map or ask directions - am making progress.
Had tea at The Goose where we had met the others for drinks. This pub is not unlike those at home but the food was reasonable - I had a fish pie and we only had to walk a short distance. Walked along the beach where they have a wide walking footpath and another bike only lane that you walk on at your peril. Put on the TV when we got back to our room to hear an Australian accent talking about Philip Island penguins. There was a whole programme on this but did not catch what it was. I had to fill in half an hour. Now have competition for the computer. There are some young German tourists who have begun to threaten my monopoly. We are both tired today- Roger is upstairs probably sleeping by now and I hope to blog for a while to complete the missing episodes of the grand tour.
Love to all
Jo and Rog