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AMA
Original poster

I live in the Channel Islands (yes we pay tax) AMA!

50 replies

GuernseyLife · 13/08/2018 10:00

So I'm a boring soul and the only thing I can think that may possibly be of interest is that I live in the Channel Islands (Guernsey) although I have a lot of knowledge about Sark, Herm and Alderney too as I've spent extended periods on those islands.

There seems to be so much misinformation in the press about life here (usually related to tax because we don't pay tax to the UK just like you over there don't pay tax to us Wink although we don't mention it as often as you Grin)

But seriously, if anyone has any questions about life, education, health, or just general way of life then please.... AMA!

OP posts:
Original poster
GuernseyLife · 13/08/2018 12:29

is there an undercurrent? I got the impression there was something nasty in the woodshed

Interesting question... from my point of view it does seem all sweetness and light, I love it. We certainly have a hell of a lot less problems than the UK. No national debit, we only spend what we actually earn in tax revenue, and we don't have the social problems that some of the UK has (of course there are drugs but it's not a "problem")

I'm sure there are downsides but generally I'd say most people were very satisfied.

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EleanorRigbey · 13/08/2018 12:34

No questions but I spent a summer working in Jersey when I was 18 (I'm Irish). I loved it. Beautiful island. I'm now 40 and you've just reminded me of the islands, must organise a trip back with the girls I went with.

user1471530109 · 13/08/2018 12:35

That is interesting Grin. Is that because state education isnt thought of highly?

Original poster
GuernseyLife · 13/08/2018 12:41

@user1471530109 I think it might be in part due to the private school fees being cheaper than in the UK (£10,000 a year which I think is less than over there?)

Also there are plenty of high earners so enough demand. The state schools are very good though.

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pieceofpurplesky · 13/08/2018 13:15

@user1471530109 there has been a grammar system in Guernsey for many years with the top level colleges (boy/girl), then grammar and then the comprehensives. Parents would pay private to get their children in to the colleges or the private schools to avoid the comprehensives (and of course other reasons).
They are now getting rid of the grammar system and it is predicted that the need for private school places will rise.
The grammar school is becoming a post 16 college.

SideOrderofSprouts · 13/08/2018 13:34

Hello from the larger sister island!

user1471530109 · 13/08/2018 13:45

Wouldn't be able to afford private with one income anyway.

It's all v interesting and like I said, I do fancy it and think it would be lovely! I'd love to live so close to the coast too. I found the mix of nationalities on Jersey last week wonderful. I found everyone so so friendly too.

But it's something to put to the back of my mind as like I said, exh would never agree to me moving with the DC (quite rightly really Sad).

ThunderStruckMuck · 13/08/2018 14:12

What's the weather like?

Original poster
GuernseyLife · 15/08/2018 10:39

What's the weather like? very nice. Mild winters and warm summers. Similar to the UK but just better. We are on the same level as France so I guess similar to French weather.

It can be windy by the coast but you can always find a beach that is sheltered even on a windy day, as long as you check the forecast for the wind direction.

I'm actually surprised nobody has mentioned tax as I thought the whole UK opinion was that the channel islands were some sort of tax haven! Maybe I've just been unlucky with the news articles I've seen!

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MrsPatmore · 15/08/2018 10:53

Silly question but what currency do you have of you're not part of the uk or Eu? Also where are properties advertised for sale?

Original poster
GuernseyLife · 15/08/2018 11:05

what currency do you have of you're not part of the uk or Eu? Also where are properties advertised for sale?

We have the guernsey pound which is tethered 1-1 with the British pound. However it isn't legal tender (and cannot be used) in the UK.

Photos of our money:

www.google.co.uk/search?q=guernsey+pound&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjjy5_O5e7cAhUQYxoKHZN2A2EQ_AUICigB&biw=1418&bih=715

Properties are on:

www.swoffers.co.uk/

or

www.livingroom.gg/

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ilovebrie8 · 15/08/2018 11:24

I lived in Guernsey for several years...I found it to be very small and insular and you do need to get off the island regularly. Everyone knows your business. I went with my job and it was okay but I couldn't live there long term....incomers are known as grockles and locals were treated better and had preference in work. I enjoyed it for a few years but had had my fill. Sunday's were really dreary nothing was open and when I was the there you couldn't buy alcohol in a pub/restaurant on a Sunday unless you had a meal. Maybe that has changed now. It is a bit like stepping back in time...I did like buying nice fruit & veg in the lanes that people left out for sale and you dropped your money in. It is very small you can't really go for much of a drive!

Original poster
GuernseyLife · 15/08/2018 11:31

I don't personally find that everyone knows our business but it probably depends which circles you move in etc.

It has the same population as Inverness, Durham, Canterbury and St Albans. So it's small but not tiny.

Amongst my friends very few of them are local, the rest are incomers like us but that is always going to be very specific to the demographic you find yourself in.

For example if you're Polish then you probably socialise with the Polish people and not really the locals so your friends aren't going to be calling you Grockles as they themselves are!

On a Sunday I take the kids swimming, to the soft play, for a walk, to the park, the beach (even in wellies in the winter), out for lunch or we watch a film. I don't drink so not sure on alcohol laws.

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ilovebrie8 · 15/08/2018 11:51

I was moving in finance/banking circles so very well paid high earners...and there was a real mix of us incomers from the UK and locals a complete mixed bag. I was friends with many locals I still am....it was a standing joke they called us Brits grockles.

You seem to be being very defensive to anything posted....the term grockle wasn't meant to be nasty to us...it's a fact.

I'm not polish I'm British and spent 4 years in Guernsey in a very senior position and have fond memories of the place...just telling it how I found it.

I had a fabulous house, a local market house as it came with my job I had a licence to live in a local market property and it was stunning...loved that and not having a commute to work.

I'm just giving my points you seem to have an issue with every post I made....everyone has their own experiences. I enjoyed my time but it is different.

The point I was making re the alcohol was that we would sometimes go for a walk on a Sunday then pop in for a wine at our local sometimes but at that time the Sunday licensing laws were very strict maybe that changed but as you mentioned you wouldn't know about that.

People post AMA which is great....but as soon as someone has a slightly different less rosy view then they get defensive and contradict every point. I lived there, I visit there still, and still have many local friends there just giving my take on things....

Seththesheep · 15/08/2018 12:32

I've NC for this. I live in Guernsey and agree with brie Sundays are tough here as it's so quiet and lots of places are closed.

We moved for DH's job in Finance and on paper it's great- lower taxes, short commute, very safe etc but it isn't for us.

Recently I've found that some people there complain about minor things and don't realise what life is like elsewhere, for example there's free parking everywhere (except the airport) whereas I used to pay £10 a day to park in a town centre car park near my office.

The healthcare is a mixed bag- I found antenatal care excellent compared to the experience I had in London where everything was desperately overstretched and unresourced. However a lot of specialties only have consultants from the UK visit so it can take a few months to be seen, or you have to travel off island.

The hedge veg is fantastic though, nothing beats Guernsey strawberries.

ilovebrie8 · 15/08/2018 13:10

Thanks Seth I found Sunday's really grim nothing hardly open, so quiet etc.

That was pretty much my situation working in finance too...on paper it was fab...a big fat salary, lower taxes, no commute I walked to the office etc but the reality of living there was somewhat different. I stuck it out for a few years bit longer that I should've but hey ho it was an experience.

Oh yes the hedge veg was lovely...the freshly picked fruit & veg can't be beat!

Original poster
GuernseyLife · 15/08/2018 13:20

ilovebrie8 you seem to have completely misunderstood my post Confused

You said ... “I found it to be very small and insular. Everyone knows your business. incomers are known as grockles and locals were treated better and had preference in work.”

I then said PERSONALLY that’s not how I find it because I don’t know many locals. Nobody has ever called me a grockle. I said if you were in a demographic that included many locals (like you were) then it would be different.

I didn’t say you were Polish Hmm

You’re now contradicting your post and saying the “grockles” thing is a joke and I’m defensive and contradicting every point.

This is a bit surreal because both our posts are available for everyone to see up there so everyone can see that I explained I didn’t know many locals (but you do) so that’s why my experience was different.

I wasn’t contradicting you and the evidence of what I said is available in both our posts. Hmm

I’m not in the finance sector. I have a different experience to you. That’s not being defensive, it’s answering peoples questions with regards to my life and my take on it.

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Original poster
GuernseyLife · 15/08/2018 13:23

ilovebrie8 out of interest what was closed on a Sunday that you wanted to be open?

We swim on a Sunday, go for a meal, visit the garden centre and soft play, do a supermarket shop and aren’t really effected by it being a Sunday but you’ve obviously been inconvenienced. What do you wish was still open on a Sunday but isn’t?

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Seththesheep · 15/08/2018 15:06

Guernseylife I'd love Creaseys and M&S to be open.

EyeSpyaBlueFoot · 15/08/2018 15:22

Where would you recommend someone visit/stay who has never been?

AhhhhThatsBass · 15/08/2018 15:28

Can anyone move to Guernsey or does it need approval by the states? I have friends who just moved to Jersey to avoid a £10m tax bill Shock and they had to jump through some serious hoops to do so.

Seththesheep · 15/08/2018 15:38

eyespy it's a small island so you aren't far from anything! Depends on if you want a hotel or self catering?

Bass my understanding is that if you are in an open market property then anyone can move there. I'm on a local license and live in a local market property due to DH's job. Jersey has very different laws to Guernsey.

GreenRut · 15/08/2018 16:00

Op, can you describe the Guernsey accent please? And does it differ to that of Jersey?

Thanks!

FriendofDorothy · 03/11/2018 22:29

The Guernsey accent can be heard here... sounds.bl.uk/Accents-and-dialects/BBC-Voices/021M-C1190X0038XX-0301V0

FriendofDorothy · 03/11/2018 22:31

The Jersey accent sounds quite - different - almost South African at times.

I should also say that the Guernsey accent isn't always as pronounced as the one I linked to before.

I don't think I have a strong local accent but certainly use a few Guernsey patois words and phrases.

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