Today I woke up with a knot in my stomach. It's not the knot I feel when I'm filled with stress or anxiety during exam week, or the knot that I get when I'm feeling guilty about something. It's the knot of excitement. In five days I'll be boarding a plane in Fort Myers to North Carolina then to Gatwick in London. Once I arrive in London, with my dad, we will have a four hour layover. Then we simply take a small plane to Jersey and there we will be met by Gyles and his family. It's that exact moment that I can't wait for. Seeing Gyles in person and giving him the biggest hug ever. Followed by the biggest kiss of course.
Over the past few days I've been creating a list of places in Jersey that I want my dad to see and experience. One of those places is definitely the Jersey War Tunnels. A museum dedicated to telling the story and history of Jersey during the German occupation in World War Two. From 1940-1945 Jersey was under German occupation and this museum tells the entire true story from beginning to end. The first time I visited the War Tunnels I couldn't believe what I was hearing and seeing. I cried a few times during the visit just thinking about what the islanders went through in those times. There are tons of testimonials from all types of people who lived through it. I think that's the hardest part knowing that it's real. It's a great history lesson as well as an experience of a lifetime. I don't want my dad's trip to start off without him knowing the history behind the island. But if we don't make it to the War Tunnels on the first few days we'll visit before he leaves.
Another destination on my list is eating at Partners. I'm sure to most islanders eating at Partners isn't something they would put on a high-priority list for visitors, but to me it's a special place. Not only is the food there absolutely amazing and delicious, but some of my fondest memories of Nan took place at the old Partners. Her and Pop would take me there on days when Gyles and everyone else had things to do that didn't involve me. We had some memorable conversations at the round table in the back as we chomped away at chips smothered in malt vinegar and sea salt. That's one thing I'll never forget about Nan...she loved her salt! She salted her chips just as much as I did except for my chips were always way more soggy from the tons of vinegar I put on them. Right before I left Jersey last summer Partners was just about to open their new restaurant right across from their old one. I hope they still have the same menu. When I get there I want to have the chicken tikka. It's an Indian dish similar to having a curry. The chicken is diced into cubes and then added to a sauce and served to you sizzling on a hot plate. It usually comes with a side of white rice, but you can substitute the rice for chips if you'd like. Or you can ask for half chips and half rice, which they would also willingly serve you. The owners of Partners happen to be dear friends to Gyles and his family. They're very nice people and I look forward to seeing them again too! I wish I had some pictures to show...I'll have them soon!
Wish me a safe travel everyone. Love you all!
xx
Lindsay
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