Happy New Year everyone! Many thanks for the excellent farewell party on Dec 12 and for the very thoughtful gifts of a Kindle and some bubbly– both very good aids to seasonal relaxation. The Kindle has become a favourite possession in my (almost) bookless transition to the Channel Islands. The farewell card signed by so many is a great memento of my time at UC Library.

As you can imagine, life has been rather hectic with the move over here but I am gradually settling in. People are generally very friendly and helpful, and my new colleagues at the Société Jersiaise particularly so. The Library has a fascinating collection of materials with books and documents on Jersey going back to the 16th C. It has been very under-staffed over the last few years and is also a bit short of space (fancy that!) but now the funding has been sorted out. There is heaps to do and we are about to embark on an exciting digitisation project. We have a close relationship with the Jersey Museum just next door, and the geology & archaeological sections of the library’s are collection is held a few miles away at La Hougue Bie. Jersey is crammed full of history and pre-history: on my recent sunny Saturday morning walk I passed a Neolithic grave site, a medieval church, a Napoleonic round tower, some Victorian cottages and German WWII fortifications – all sprinkled along a stunning coastline. I must admit the weather here is often dramatic, with impressive winds and raging seas but it is not actually that cold. I have bought a bike which has just arrived on the ship from England. I am looking forward to riding along the country lanes, less so the very narrow main roads.

I imagine you all in the Canterbury summer (sigh!) and hope you enjoyed your holidays. I will be moving into a little country cottage in a couple of weeks. Do stay in touch – you can reach me on bronwyn.matthews@societe-jersiaise.org.

cheers,
Bronwyn