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As one year comes to an end and we start the next, we’ve taken both a look back and a look forward.
Here are five things to remember from 2023 and five to look forward to during 2024.
This was the absolute highlight of the year for so many people.
Pictured: Cameron Chalmers running home for the gold medal in the men's 4x400m relay at the Guernsey 2023 NatWest International Island Games.
The sport, the supporters, the atmosphere – it was all a glorious success.
Well done to all involved, and thanks!
The little blighters have well and truly settled in the islands now, with numerous nests being found in Guernsey, Alderney and Sark this year.
Pictured: Asian hornet nests found in Guernsey and Alderney this year.
The largest one was spotted from a boat on Sark’s coast, while Guernsey’s civil protection volunteers and fire fighters had to help remove one from high up above La Vallette.
The fight to contain them goes on with the ‘Spring Queening’ and ‘Track don’t Trample’ campaigns expected to resume in 2024.
Rugby fan or not, the news that Jersey Reds had collapsed into administration was a shocker for everyone in September.
Pictured: Jersey Reds in happier times, celebrating their success.
The club was unable to pay staff wages and other bills with the States voting against using public money to prop them up.
One bonus for Guernsey was that former Red Dan Barnes came over to join the Raiders instead.
The Siam Cup is also confirmed for 2024 with the amateur competition due to be played in Guernsey in May.
2023 saw two separate debates on reforming Guernsey’s tax systems, with GST one of the main topics.
Pictured: Deputy Gavin St Pier gave many political speeches this year, but few resonated with me as much as this one...
Of all the words spoken during the two States meetings, we’ll leave you with this quote from Deputy Gavin St Pier: “I don’t like anchovies."
You’re welcome...
The visit of Storm Ciaran left our neighbours in Jersey with a lot more to clear up than us, for which we’re grateful, but we’re also grateful for the man behind ‘Inglorious Fishing’ who went out and about to capture the storm on his YouTube channel.
Pictured: Inglorious Fishing added storm chasing to his CV this year.
With repeated references to “absolute carnage” and “absolute devastation” he had 60,000 viewers at the peak of his storm experience.
Yes, 2024 is a leap year – so how will you be spending your day on 29 February?
Pictured: We'll get an entire extra day in February next year.
An Irish tradition states that women can propose to men on leap day – so if that floats your boat, go for it.
How about the Taiwanese tradition that sees ageing parents getting a meal of pigs trotters for their tea?
I might follow the Londoners and have a Leap Day Cocktail – invented in 1928 by Harry Craddock, a bar tender at The Savoy.
Easter Sunday falls on March 31 this year meaning we get to enjoy our chocolate eggs and roast lamb in just a couple of months
Pictured: Easter comes early this year, falling in March.
Easter is the start of Spring so it also means summer is on the way which is something to look forward to from the depths of winter.
Here is your advance notice that Liberation Day falls on a Thursday in 2024.
Pictured: The plans aren't out yet but we expect there'll be a Liberation Day cavalcade in 2024.
If you get your work holidays booked in soon you could take the Friday off for a four-day weekend.
OR with the May Bank Holiday falling on Monday 6 May, you could take three days leave and have the whole week off.
Usually held in September, but not this year – the Battle of Britain Air Display has been booked in for 13 June, 2024.
Pictured: They'll be back in 2024 - in June.
This mean’s the Red Arrows will be joining the other aircraft in our skies during some summer sunshine (hopefully).
The summer solstice on Thursday 20 June will see the sunset at 21:50.
That’s more than five hours later than sunset on the winter solstice.
Pictured: Sunrise captured by Deputy Tina Bury.
Five extra hours of sunlight – I can’t wait!
Take 5 is a regular feature in Connect magazine which can be read online HERE.
The next edition of Connect will be available online and in select locations across the island from 1 February.
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