Tuesday, November 13, 2012

~Pining For Guernsey~


Reading at Nascar Race speed,I completed "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" in about 3 days!Well,I would have been finished earlier_except,my norm is to read 3 books together at any given time.That habit was developed in my Twentysomething years_hard to break! At any rate,the last page had me "Pining For Guernsey"!

So,it was time to become a "Mental Traveler"_AGAIN! I pined to learn of this small country.But of course,this was not something new_my mind has a funny way of getting so involved with reading_ Off to this or that setting_book in tow!


 Here's a few of my other "Mental Travels":
"Out of Africa"_I sat around the table listening to the "Storytelling" like an Ancient African Griot!

"Leaving Tangier"
I joined in the seedy"bar hopping" & imagined the seedy creatures!

"The Birth of Venus"
I cringed as the serpent snaked it's way from the throat to private areas!

"In Morocco"
I joined my favorite Writer Edith Wharton as we climbed atop the "Blue Roofs" to
watch the sun set,cool off and socialize with other families in this unique tradition!

"The Second Glass of Absinthe"
I could only imagine the gory Hallucinations characterized by this drink.In turn,the Objects de'Art required for drinking Absinthe..became my new Collectibles!

"Team of Rivals"
Right there with Pres.Lincoln,choosing to work with the Enemy,better to keep
them close!

"Eat,Pray,Love"
I spent every moment with her on this journey!

"Peyton Place"
I recalled the days of my Medical Sales(2000) in Manchester,NH_wondering where
Grace Metalious grew up,roaming the streets I drove in this Mill town!

"The Catcher in The Rye"
I imagined Holden as someone I knew_especially in this Chapter 3 quote: What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.The Catcher in the Rye Holden Caulfield in Chapter 3

"Pamela"
Another Epistolary novel_ Pamela generally knows what she should NOT do, but her heart is, more often than not, confused about what she SHOULD do or think..I could relate to that in matters of love in my Twentysomething,Thirtysomething until I figured it out!  

So,that leaves me with Guernsey..24 square miles to roam as Juliet(main character)_
Dawsey(quiet ),Eben,Eli,Isola,Zenobia(the parrot),Amelia,Remy,Sidney,Sophia,Adelaide(Ms.Negativity),Kit(cute 4 yr old) and the memory they all shared of Elizabeth(wonderful human being).
The entire novel is conveyed through letters! I can imagine them walking to the nearest ...
..."Pillar Box"_to post their letters_in use since 1852..twelve(12) years after the first adhesive postage stamp and one of my favorite Novelist_Anthony Trollope visited the Channel Islands to figure out the best way Royal Mail could be delivered.Indeed,by then _during WWII_communication  was key via..
...traditional K6 kiosks on the island called "Phone Boxes". For sure you might have worn the longstanding tradition of a ...

..A Genuine Guernsey Sweater! Learn about that here: http://www.guernseyknitwear.co.uk/3.html .
On the other hand,if you were part of the gigantic Fishing industry_you'd wear one of these...
...the mainstay of the knitting industry_"The Guernsey",the handy work of the Fisherman's Wives.
Learn more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guernsey_(clothing) .

For breakfast you'd probably had a big cold glass of milk_from the "Famous Guernsey Cows"_
http://www.goodfoodguernsey.com/island-bounty/from-the-farm.aspx . Called "Jersey Cows" in America. Known in Guernsey for unique "GOLDEN"coloured milk!

Perhaps you'd feast on a traditional pot of "Guernsey BEANS"_especially Day2 when the flavor was really good! Here's the story behind that:  http://www.goodfoodguernsey.com/recipes/traditional.aspx

Who wouldn't want to know a little Folklore on Fairies & Witches:
http://www.heritageguernsey.com/folklore/

Stunning scenery,the Island's capital,St.Peter Port(a bustling harbour town),cliff paths,rustic rural walks,beautiful beaches: http://www.visitguernsey.com/ .


                                 

I'll send you a Postcard : http://www.visitguernsey.com/Guernsey-Literary-and-Potato-Peel-Pie-Society/


Here's the Recipe for Guernsey_"Potato Peel Pie"   http://cookeatshare.com/recipes/guernsey-potato-peel-pie-44749


Anyway,

....I'm Outta here....going RIGHT NOW...See Ya in Guernsey!

2 comments:

joey_bishop said...

What a speedy post on guersney! Im a food lover and I guess all restaurants don’t serve the wine and who serve, they have good policies of not to serve the wine even the beer to minors, that’s what I like about guernsey, I was on a short break to Guernsey when they refuse me to serve a beer, I was 17 then now I am 21, so guernsey, I hope this time u are not refusing me :D

The Sage Book Whisperer said...

Thanks!That's a good thing_because in some places_no questions are asked of age_with reference to serving/selling Beer or Wine_it's a free-for all!But,Of course there are laws here in the States against that...oh well.I'm a FOODIE also!Sounds like you're of sound mind and age for a drink now...Can I join you?:-)