Wendy Maitland, background, and photographer Sue Daly signing copies of Images of Sark and Beyond at the book’s launch at Hathaway’s. (Picture by Bob Parsons)

SEPTEMBER is a bonus – warm, sunny days with hardly a breath of wind and time to enjoy the island for ourselves. It’s noticeable that everyone has more time for each other and even the type of visitor is different, as they look for eye contact and greet strangers.

Tourism Committee chairwoman Sandra Williams, reflecting on the year so far, was upbeat in her assessment that visitor numbers are good. Even the Manche Iles connection from Granville and Jersey, although with 40% fewer sailings, has carried just 10% fewer visitors.

This is all positive news and especially considering that some hotels have been closed for refurbishment.

The long and somewhat dusty summer has allowed work on these and other projects to move apace. The Dixcart and Moinerie hotels will be open for next season and Stocks is advertising its reopening on 19 February, with a celebratory dinner on 16 April. There lies the enchanting prospect of quieter and greener times to come next season.

The warm and dry summer has helped the newly-planted vineyard and in the early-autumn sun a feel of Provence adds a few degrees to the temperature.

Sark is upping her game. Let’s hope she will always be a somewhat remote and unspoiled gem, uncluttered by ribbon development and open to the elements.

A place where one can enjoy the island’s wildness, get wet and get muddy but at the end of the day retire to the comforts of the hotels and restaurants serving food that has travelled no more than a mile or two.

Wendy Maitland has celebrated her love of the island with the publication of a book of poetry entitled Images of Sark and Beyond.

Accompanied by photographs taken by Sue Daly, it is a first for the newly-formed Small Island Publishing and is available in local outlets. There are more publications in the pipeline and, as Wendy said, Sark just lends itself to writing – and on an incredibly diverse range of topics.

The Sark Theatre Group is advertising for volunteers and hopefully they have a mid-winter extravaganza in mind. It provides an outlet for people’s creativity, wit and – in some cases – hairy blokes’ penchants to cross-dress.

Their productions are not to be missed and as if there’s not already enough creativity and wit, we have the chance to meet the conseillers on Monday evening to discuss any issues prior to the Michaelmas Chief Pleas.

There is a lot to look forward to and especially as most restaurants along with – what is for me – the life-changing bakery will remain open. To go into winter in the knowledge that good coffee is available along with tasty French bread and croissants does mitigate its prospect.