anyone know anything about Guernsey???

[bosscatsroastingonanopenfire]

dh has been shortlisted for a job there and will be interviewed next week. Can anyone help with any information about what it is really like living there? I've got all the official bumph but am after the reality.

Ta x

been quite a few times

my bro and sister live there

what do you wanna know

My sister lives there - have been over several times also and love it. Sis loves living there too

katz, just the reality of living there really. I've only ever lived in big cities and wonder if the fact its a tiny island would drive me bonkers. What is the day to day life like? Is it very out doorsy, are there lots of restaurants, childrens clubs. I guess I need to know what life with 2 small children would be like as I rely so much now on distractions and am not sure if I could do one on one entertainment IYSWIM? Also are the schools good? do they visit france a lot?

merrychrishmash, does your sister have small children too? how did she cope?

Hi Bosscat
Sis isn't married so no small kids but she has friends with kids so I will ask her. Where abouts will your DH be working if he gets job? I presume St. Peterport? Funnily I am from a small town in West of Ireland and my sister lives in Guernsey as does my DD's Gymnastics Teachers son, another guy who lives about 14 miles away and a childhood friend. Strange

Bosscat
Loads of fab restaurants, lovely shops too.

yes st peterport. we will both go and check it out when he is interviewed as they plan to let him know there and then and want a decision. do you think you could live there? what would put you off if anything?

I know a couple of people who have moved there for a few years for tax reasons and they hated it, too claustrophobic. I also know a family who have lived there all their lives and love it.

I think if you are incoming the scene can be rather pink gin and golf course

hmmmm. not sure about that. not us at all. I went to Martha's Vineyard many moons ago and thought I could live there and that was a tiny island. trouble is I've got it into my head I will finally be able to open a business which is what I've wanted to do for years. In my head, I'm like Juliette Binoche in Chocolat

Not done it myself but know a few people who have lived on islands - fine for a few years but eventually they have felt restricted and yearned to escape. dh is adamant he wouldn't want to live on either Jersey or the Isle of Man , having visited both for work and has colleagues who live there, even though we have already been expats.

house prices are high, especaily in the higher parishes which is where you would want to live if you had children.

its still got the gramma school system their so if your children were the right age then they would have to sit the 11+

I would find it too small but then i'm a big city girl. My bro and sister love it. We have chosen my brother as our childrens guardians because we would love our children to be brought up in the guernsey way of life. Its a bit like living in Britain 25 years ago, the shops have only recently started opening on sunday ditto the pubs.

You would need to car each unless you lived in town.

What does your DH do?

there is a lot of money to be made childminding, £4.50-5 an hour.