Apart from running I have been having a look round. I found some cemeteries to visit and read the gravestones, fascinating some of them, several generations buried in the one plot. I visited one at St Johns Road and there is an old peoples home next to it, must be really encouraging for them, get up every morning, look out the window and there is a reminder of what the future holds!
Saturday 9th May was the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Jersey from the Nazis. I didn't know that when I booked the weekend, I just choose it because I was off. However, as it was a special day most of the shops were shut, not that I go in them much as Linda is not here. The shops here are more expensive than in UK, even Marks and Spencers. The Liberation service started at 10:58 with the fifthteen gun salute from HMS Iron Duke berthed in the harbour. Liberation Square was crowded but they had not put any loud speakers in, so unless you were right up near the stage then you couldn't hear much or see anything. It was also cold and there was a slight drizzle. I stayed till the end, but then as I was cold went for a coffee. In the afternoon there was a parade of the old motor cars, military vehicles, armed forces and so I was back for that, it was a really good interesting parade and the weather had brightened up. They were going from Liberation Square to The People's Park where there was a show going on, the Countess of Wessex was there. I think I saw her car leaving when out running, but didn't really take much notice!
On Sunday I went to the local Baptist Church for the morning service. They had about fifty people there and it was a good message, even better the service only lasted an hour! They had some good songs, but the congregation didn't appear to be into singing too heartily. The message was on Acts 1:1-11 (Ascension story) and the focus on the disciples who were standing there looking into the sky, rather than getting on with the job of spreading the gospel.
I have found a nice coffee shop, Cooper and Co., who do the best cappuccino in Jersey. It is really nice, so I went back several times. There is unfortunately no Starbucks here, although I saw three Costa's and a Coffee Republic. I would sit in the coffee shop and plan my next sermon series which focuses on the community activity at wells in scripture. It's actually amazing what went on at those wells, they were probably an Old Testament equivalent of Starbucks! Anyway if you want to know more then it starts at Eastwood on 24th May.
I have also managed to read three books, an autobiography of Rosa Parks, the history of the Romans by Boris Johnson and a book on running a marathon. The bus service is good here and the number 15 goes from St Helier to the airport. I stayed at the Hotel Revere which is good. The Internet is very slow but the room is nice and plenty of drawers to split normal clothing and running kit. The breakfast is excellent, allows me to fuel up for the day and there is a kettle in the room. The flight from Gatwick is around an hour with BA, but once landed the baggage arrived quickly, I suppose there is not much else for them to do.