The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (195) Pancake Day

 

February

 

St Giles Island is the smallest of the two Bay Islands, 6 miles long and 4 miles wide.

Following the formal end of the Roman occupation of Britain at the beginning of the 5th Century AD, the islands were largely unoccupied until the arrival of the Norman’s after their victory over King Harold at Hastings, when a minor nobleman, Gilbert du Beaumont, claimed the islands for himself, and took up residence on the larger Island which he promptly named after himself. 

He named the smaller island St Giles du Cabot in honor of his cousin and childhood friend who died of his wounds after the battle.

It was a rugged, inhospitable, and largely uninhabitable island surrounded by treacherous rocks.

For hundreds of years following the dissolution of the monasteries a hardy community of Monks eked out a meagre existence before they had to share their seclusion when work on a lighthouse at Cabot point began in the middle of the 19th Century.

By the 21st Century, three quarters of the island is a Wildlife Sanctuary, there is a small Meteorological Station, a small Hotel, the Seaview, and the Monks, who now ran St Giles’s religious retreat, which meant there was a population of between 50 and a 150 people, depending on the time of year. 

There is no Church on the Island but for those of a religious bent were always welcome at the St Giles Chapel.

 

The port of Cabot Town, in the southwest corner, was actually just a hamlet, and was also not really a port, it was just a jetty for the car ferry and a small quayside.

The fresh water on St Giles came from Hastings Lake, which was surrounded by woods, both courtesy of the Monks, who cleared the lake of silt and debris, then planted and managed the woodland.

Over the centuries the lake and woods have become an excellent source of sustenance in their lives 

 

There were two beaches on the eastern side of the island, Smuggler’s Beach is on the northeast coast below the cliffs, but no one knows why it got the name as there was no evidence to suggest it was ever used for smuggling.

The only other beach was Broad Beach Sands, a wide and deep expanse of yellow sand at the narrowest part of the island.

The whole southern end of the island below Broad Beach was the Wildlife Sanctuary and was out of bounds to residents and visitors alike and a permanent presence of wardens on the island keep the over inquisitive at bay, but there were a large number of hides for bird watchers.

However, visitors still had the beaches, bird watching and fishing in Hastings Lake to amuse them and the Seaview Hotel was the place they stayed.

 

The Seaview Hotel was run by 30-year-old divorcee Cordelia Caldwell.

It had belonged to her parents before they retired and now it was hers, and it was where people spent many summer holidays and weekend breaks.

She had moved to the mainland after university, but the place held very special memories for her and after her marriage ended acrimoniously she moved back and now she couldn’t envisage living anywhere else, it made her feel good to think of those happy days, and she wasn’t sure what possessed her to move away.

But living there soon reawakened those happy memories and in the three years since she returned there she had made new memories, some very good friends and perhaps more importantly, in the twelve months since she took over the Hotel, she had met Michael Stones.

 

He was a tall, muscular thirty-two-year-old with sandy hair and a weathered complexion, who was the temporary head at the Wildlife Sanctuary.

Michael was the complete opposite of her, he was tall she was short, he was lean, and she had a fuller figure, he was tanned, and she was pale, but regardless of the differences they were a perfect match.

The only problem was that she lived at the Hotel and never seemed to have an hour to herself, and he worked strange hours, so she couldn’t see how they would mesh, but they had got to spend some time together, but not as much as she’d like, and that was the thing on her mind as she made her way to the kitchen to meet her three closest friends, Hotel cook, Anelita Gordon, and sisters, Rebecca and Sally Root, and the reason they were going there was because it was Pancake Day.

“Happy Pancake Day” Cordelia said as she pushed open the door.

“Happy Mardi Gras” Sally retorted.

“What’s that?” Cordelia asked.

“It’s what the American’s call Pancake Day” Anelita replied.

“I thought they called it Fat Tuesday” Rebecca added.

“Fat Tuesday? Why did you say that? Why would you say that?” Cordelia asked with panic in her voice “Do I look fat? I look fat, don’t I? I knew I shouldn’t have worn these trousers, I knew I should have worn a dress.”

“Calm down” Rebecca said and hugged her “you look gorgeous, now sit down and eat some pancakes.”

 

So, they sat and ate far too many pancakes than were good for them and talked about what was going on in their love lives, and the last one to speak, was Cordelia who told them how happy she was, and that prompted Rebecca to respond.

Aren’t you forgetting about the elephant in the room Cordelia?”

“What elephant?” she retorted and looked over her shoulder.

“What Rebecca is referring to is the fact that the temporary head of the Wildlife Sanctuary is leaving for the mainland and may not be coming back” Anelita explained.

“And ….”

“And?”

“And what about Michael?” Anelita confirmed.

“I don’t know” Cordelia replied.

“Haven’t you asked him?” Sally asked.

“No” she winced.

“Oh Cordelia, you need to get a wriggle on” Rebecca said, “or you’re going to let him slip through your fingers.”

“I know, but I just haven’t been able to bring myself to ask him” she said, “I’ve just concentrated on enjoying being with him.”

“Well, here’s your chance” Sally said and nodded towards the door and Cordelia stiffened.

“Hello ladies” Michael said as he approached the table and then he leant down and kissed Cordelia’s cheek, and she smiled but said nothing.

“So, no work this morning?” Anelita asked.

“No, I’ve finished” he replied.

“What half a day?” Sally asked.

“No, I mean I’m all done” he said, “I have to get to Abbottsford.”

Rebecca was studying Cordelia’s face as he spoke and saw the look of horror that swept over it.

“Well as you’re a man of leisure why don’t you join us” Rebecca said, “The pancakes are wonderful.”

“I’m afraid I can’t” he said checking his watch “I have to get going.”

“What?” Cordelia exclaimed “Your leaving now?”

“I’m afraid so” he replied.

“Where are you going?” she asked, unable to hide the panic in her voice “When will you come back to see us?”

“Erm, we’re having dinner tomorrow night remember” he said and smiled.

“Yes but…”

“And I’m not leaving for good, I’m only going to the mainland for a meeting, confirming my promotion to Wildlife Sanctuary Head.”

He added and kissed her.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”