Whilst working for yourself doesn’t necessarily mean more free time, it does offer the freedom to work on your own terms – whether that’s setting your own hours, calling the shots or knowing that every effort you put in is for yourself.
Photographer Cameron Aird set out to capture the stories of female entrepreneurs across Jersey, photographing a diverse range of business owners – from bakers and salon owners to distillers and dance teachers. Each of them has carved out a career that reflects who they are and how they want to work.
We asked them about the moments they’ve been able to make time for because of that flexibility. For some, it’s stepping away when it matters – through family time, a morning swim, or just a quick breather. For others, it’s about having full control over their space, their team, and the way they work.
Through this series, Cameron’s portraits highlight the women behind the businesses – the ones putting in the work to create careers on their own terms, with the flexibility and freedom to shape their own time.
Melanie May La Bouche
“I love being able to be as creative as possible – I used to draw on the windows of La Bouche in a pen that you could rub off for each different season, or I would create a display for the walls. It’s all your own vision – down to the vintage cutlery and souvenir spoons. Making that come to life is one of the most fulfilling things you can ever do. / I collect souvenir spoons for the restaurant from different places in the world, and every now and then I’ll have a magical moment where a customer happens to be from the same place as the spoon I put on their coffee saucer. It sparks an amazing conversation – being able to speak to customers about their lives, without feeling guilty about it because it’s your business, is one of my favourite things.”
Kirstie Taylor Flour
“I think the memory that springs to mind would be the first weekend after I opened the new shop at Colomberie. After having designed the interior, taken part in the building and installed furnishings and equipment, I sat down in one of the booth seats at the back of the patisserie and just took a moment to reflect on how my vision had slowly come to life and how it was all just as I imagined but right there in front of me. It was quite a surreal feeling that sparked up such a feeling of accomplishment.”
Lucy Cooper The Happy Hyroxer
“I got a puppy in November, and the ability to be really flexible with my hours when he arrived home was something I really appreciated. Having the first two weeks off with him was something that I was only able to do because I work for myself.”
Kirsten Emily Chapman Island Dance
“There’s a freedom in working for yourself, but the best part for me is surrounding yourself with like-minded people, who uplift and inspire you. I’m most proud of the moments when my friends and I are able to create together. We’re able to bounce our ideas off each other, and support each other, we get excited for one another, and always big each other up. Whether it’s live performances, music videos, events, classes or whatever it is, being in control of my own time and having the freedom to work together, creates some really special moments both personally and professionally.”
Dominique Harris Blend Artistry
“Since becoming my own boss, I’ve relished the freedom to weave work around precious moments with my family, striking a balance that feels right! One core memory is the day I surprised my children with our puppy Ginny, who is now my little salon sidekick. / On top of that, I feel incredibly fortunate to share this journey with my sisters and best friend, working side by side, making everyday more fun!”
Aurelie Verrell JUST LOLS
“One of the most rewarding moments in my career was opening my own business and creating a space where creativity, passion, and teamwork could thrive. Having the opportunity to build a team, share my artistry, and help clients express themselves through nail design has been an incredible journey. There’s nothing more fulfilling than turning a vision into reality and watching it grow.”
Lauren Rhodes The Creative Club Jersey
“Every Thursday I take the morning or day off to have a mother-daughter day, when I either go swimming, to the park or to the beach – just me and my daughter. It’s quiet as it’s midweek and the two of us together just get to properly connect. That’s the most precious time to me and I make sure I completely switch off work for it.”
Danielle Gallagher Lick Studio
“Being a fairly new business, this shoot has been a favourite! Getting involved in celebrating local women and their businesses is a highlight, as is making my own clients feel good by giving them a space to express themselves through nails. I love to sit down and chat with people whilst painting nails all day!”
Claire Evans Eden by Claire
“I bring my dogs into the shop with me every day. I get to do a job that I’ve loved for 29 years – Eden being nearly 13 years of that – whilst being surrounded by lush plants, flowers and my two frenchies Moss & Fern.”
Sarah Gaudion Sea Level Distillery
“I have the ability to travel with the children regularly, which I couldn’t do in a more traditional job. We’ve been interrailing around Italy, and gone on trips across Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Arctic Circle. We’re off to Switzerland in a few weeks and Marrakesh. / It’s important to add, however, that when you work for yourself you’re never actually on holiday. There’s no such thing as a day off!”
Birdie might just be Jersey’s most Insta-famous toddler. She is best known for her groundbreaking work on sweet pea teapees, repotting seedlings and wishing a dead mouse a Merry Christmas at its funeral. Her mum, Nyah Whittingham, is a 23-year-old with a passion for nature, gentle living and slowing things down for the next generation. Since becoming a mother, she’s been drawn back to the outdoors, grounding herself in life’s simple pleasures and reconnecting with a childhood that existed before the rise of the iPad kid. For her, nature is more than just a backdrop, offering healing to anyone searching for calm in an increasingly fast-paced, tech-driven world.
When I heard that the theme for this issue was ‘time & generations’, my mind was immediately cast to the importance of how we choose to nurture future generations as parents. Because the way we show up today will affect not only our own children but the children who come after them, too.
In our modern world, many of us remember grandma’s recipes, the scent of a late loved one’s perfume, and perhaps some stories passed down by older relatives, but I fear we are losing touch with not only meaningful connections to one another, but also simple skills and understanding of the natural world.
In modern society, where convenience has taken the limelight and disconnection is rife amongst ourselves and also our children, I feel it is important now more than ever to highlight the ways we can inspire ourselves and the next generation to feel more grounded, seen and heard. Because a truly connected child understands their importance, knows their worth and recognises their role, no matter how small, in the way they relate to others in their family, their community, and in their world.
Taking Responsibility for How Children Experience Childhood
I am grateful for having spent years of my childhood building dens, climbing trees, and being more gibbon than I was human… but from around the age of 13, when smartphones came onto the scene, I feel a sense of loss. The overstimulation, constant pressure to compare myself and the rush of trying to digest the overwhelming flow of information definitely took things from me, so I want to acknowledge those things as I feel they resonate with what is being lost in the children of today: Hours of free time away from screens to explore their own interests, the chance to be fully present with the world around them, the moments when boredom and natural curiosity leads them to their next passion, the opportunity to build an unshakeable sense of self outside of societal pressures, time to explore nature, and most importantly- the innocence of NOT knowing everything.
We were never meant to be reachable all the time. Our brains were not designed to take the weight of instant access to everything negative in the world. We were never meant to lose touch with our simple nature. In a world where technology now plays such a large role in our lives, we find ourselves lacking what matters most: real connection.
As an adult, I have a lot of appreciation for the opportunities that are found online such as community building, contact with long distance friends and family, the ability to self-educate ourselves on what is happening in the wider world and the ability to learn new skills online. I don’t believe we should live in fear of the modern way, because technology and social media is here to stay. But we can set healthy boundaries and make a conscious effort to build a more real life for our children to witness and experience.
It only takes one scroll in the right comments section on Facebook to realise that older generations are wondering why our modern world is showing symptoms of dysregulation, loneliness and disconnection. People wonder why our children are losing their innocence, why they talk like angry adults, why some choose violence over play, why anxiety and depression rates are at an all time high, they wonder why our kids don’t play on the street anymore, and where, oh where are they adopting their negative thoughts? Some people simply blame the children and deem younger generations a ‘lost-cause’.
We need to do better in 2025, and take responsibility for how today’s children experience childhood.
A Generational Shift
In the coming decades, I predict that we will see a shift in how parents choose to introduce technology to their children. We are moving away from a generation of parents who had no experience of the impact of online exposure, and no option but to meet with friends in real life, explore nature and find their place in a community… To make way for a generation of parents who look back on their childhood and acknowledge how much they lost due to unnecessary pressure and unnatural stimulation.
Since healing from my own mental health struggles as a teenager, I’ve spent my motherhood reconnecting with my roots. I am dedicated to rediscovering the places and practices that bring me true joy, and the things I can do more of in order to model a woman who is truly happy and fulfilled by her real life, to my daughter, and one thing has become crystal clear: nature is our antidote to the disconnection we face in the modern world. What better remedy than remembering how deeply connected we are to every aspect of the natural world? Even though daunting, I find it beautiful to think about the power we have in raising a happier generation.
By returning our focus to the natural world and choosing to do more simple things like growing our own food, taking care of seedlings, celebrating seasonal change, learning the names of plants in our environment or simply walking outside more, we model an important connection to our children: one that is grounded in appreciation for the Earth, one another, and ourselves.
A More Grounded Generation
We are at a crucial point where parents have a say in whether the next generation is consumed by external pressures, or empowered by a sense of connection to the world around them.
It is our job as a community to ensure that children are held by a life that goes deeper than Snapchat and societal judgement. It’s our job to ensure their feet are rooted in self acceptance and the exploration of their own interests, to make sure they grow up to be fulfilled people who can sense how much they are valued, and find a purpose that drives them to understand our real world better.
Creating Our Children’s Future, Today
The pace of modern life is steadily increasing, pulling us further from the rhythms of the earth and deeper into cycles of stress, dissolution, and burnout. But as parents, we can choose a different path for our children. By embracing slower habits, connecting with nature and adopting a more present way of living, we provide the next generation with a foundation of balance, self-trust, and connection.
When we consciously choose to slow down and form habits that honour our connection to nature, we offer our children something invaluable, that can be passed on for generations- peace. By deepening our connection with the real world, we teach them that peace isn’t just a state of mind, but a way of life- a way of life we have become detached from over time. But one that we can get back. Modeling a curious relationship with the natural world and being present with our children in these moments is how we can find joy ourselves, but also show our children how to remain grounded in a fast-paced world.
When we prioritise our own happiness and connection with the earth as parents, we aren’t just raising children, we’re shaping future stewards of the Earth. We will raise a generation that will grow up knowing how to care for the world around them, and that their presence is valued in our real world.
We may not be able to stop time, but we have the power to choose how it is spent. The choices we make today will shape not just childhoods, but the world our children will inherit. Let’s make it one where they feel connected and empowered to care for the Earth, for each other, and for themselves.
Architecture is a balancing act, working to produce something new whilst balancing functionality, adhering to regulations and still allowing enough enthusiasm to add some unique design and flair. Whether it’s turning worn-out residential properties into buildings worthy of Grand Designs, or constructing a modern-day palace for the States carved out of marble and glass, the aim is to shape an environment that reflects the needs and desires of the times. It’s a craft that incorporates precision and artistry, all whilst being mindful of maximising space.
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In the same way that the rise of digital technology revolutionised fields such as graphic design – turning a tangible, hand-drawn craft into one redefined by software – architecture experienced its own transformation. Traditional drafting methods gave way to computer-aided design, with 3D visualisation tools eventually evolving into AI-powered computational design. The level of precision and efficiency offered by new technology is undeniable, but when looking at some of the new apartment buildings in town, it’s easy to mourn the loss of a little character.
Curry
It’s a sentiment shared by Leah Bohea, an archivist and artist working under Stuart Fell at the Société Jersiaise. What began as a volunteer project digitising old film slides became a dedicated mission to revive Jersey’s historic architectural drawings. These blueprints – often hand-drawn by artists – don’t just depict buildings but also the environments that frame them. As standalone works of art, they serve as both historical records and sources of creative inspiration for Leah.
“I was always fascinated by what was around me, especially buildings,” she recalled. “They had such a massive impact on my mood.” The old maps she set out to recover, with Stuart’s guidance, opened new creative doors for her. Her work focuses on the fluctuations that occur across time, and immersing herself in the history of these drawings fuels her artistic process. “The intricacies in the drawings – they’re so pretty, dainty even,” she said. “The buildings hold so much vibrancy, thought, and character. It’s refreshing to see something different from the architecture you commonly see now.”
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While some of the plans depict buildings that have since been demolished or altered, many original structures still stand, making it fascinating to see the visions they materialised from. Preserving these snippets of inspiration is a painstakingly precise process, involving special rubbers and chemical solutions before scanning the restored drawings using high-resolution photography under controlled lighting. “Every drawing is different,” Leah explained. “There was no standardised paper back then – some are on tracing paper, others on thick card or delicate parchment.” She added, “We have lots of architectural drawings that use colourful ink. There are even some crazy ones by an architect called McClinton, who would only draw in red.”
Floor plans reveal trends and interior layouts that would seem idiosyncratic today. Leah recalls scanning the blueprints of an old convent, only to discover a room solely dedicated to beer storage. There’s so much stuff that would seem unheard of now,” she laughed, “but back then, they were just normal parts of life. People had floor plans that referred to bathrooms as ‘powder rooms’ and typically dedicated much more space to communal areas.” She continued, “I’ve handled hundreds of drawings, and every one of them has something unexpected.”
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By the end of the year, Stuart and Leah plan to showcase 300 recovered architectural plans in an exhibition, featuring designs from the mid-1800s to the late 1900s. They hope to highlight not only the evolution of architecture over time but also how it reflects the community it serves. Each set of drawings will be accompanied by information about the original architects and their buildings, aiming to foster greater appreciation for Jersey’s listed structures and architectural heritage. “The tops of almost every building in town are still original and in pristine condition,” Leah noted, “and I feel like sometimes people don’t realise how lucky we are to have so much of this historic architecture.” By restoring these drawings, Leah and Stuart hope to keep a part of Jersey’s architectural history alive, and show that there’s still value in the craftsmanship and character of the past in an age of digital precision.
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An Artistic Extension
Leah’s art has been shaped by her time in the archive, exploring themes of change, time and the past. These are ideas that have fascinated her since she was a teenager, adopting the mantra “time is a healer.” The intricacy and sense of nostalgia woven into the architectural drawings inspired her to blend illustration with photography, experimenting with collage and fine details. “Change, time and flow have always been at the root of my work,” Leah reflected, adding, “it’s always held a kind of hope for me.”
Karl Fitzpatrick’s favourite trainers may be Adidas Adios Pro 4’s, but there’s one particular shoe that holds a special place in his heart. He’s had a love-hate relationship with this shoe since 2022, after his close friend’s dad passed away at Jersey Hospice. Seven days after this phone call, Karl decided to run his first half marathon: “I’m not really a runner,” he said, “so I decided to run 10K Monday night, 10K Tuesday night, 20K on Wednesday night, and then the Hospice Half at the end of the week”. From there he ran the London marathon, before fully embracing his calling: running in the Hospice mascot costume – a giant running shoe.
“It’s quite hot, it’s quite chafe-y and about 7kg when dry and 10kg when wet,” noted Karl, filling me in on the logistics of running in a massive shoe. “I’ve sort of taught myself how to run slightly strangely… it digs into my shoulders and I have to carry it, so you have to run without using your arms.”
“It chafes in places you don’t want to know about,” Karl remarked. “It’s not good.” He added that despite the uncomfortable side effects, “the shoe acts like a little superstar that kids and grannies love. It puts a smile on people’s faces, so it’s worth it.” The struggles of Bodyglide gel and flying to London with an oversized hold bag fade in comparison.
“I was standing at the starting line once, and I could see a poor lady who seemed a bit sad,” Karl recalled, “she had a picture of either a brother or a dad that passed away, and that’s why she was running in London. And then, as she was getting upset, she looked at me in the shoe and the fella next to me who was in a banana, eating a banana, and just instantly started laughing. Moments like that make you realise why you’re doing what you’re doing.”
The shoe has brought a lot of joy to both the spectators and runners of the London marathon, but there’s plenty of people closer to home that have fallen in love with Karl and his shoe. It’s essential for him to train with the shoe before races, to perfect his adapted running technique and learn how to shoulder the extra weight. “If you run 20K in the shoe, it feels like you’ve been run over by a tractor,” he joked, before telling me about a run he’d recently completed around Jersey’s green lanes.
“I ran 17K in the shoe yesterday,” Karl said, adding “Lots of people always stop me to take a selfie, but yesterday I must have stopped about 20 times, chatting to people, taking pictures, telling them about the Hospice. Sometimes people give me cash as I run, and I always try to remember their name so I can thank them on the fundraising page.”
Karl also whips the shoe out for the annual Christmas Day Swim at Greve de Lecq, organised by the St Ouen’s Football Club in support of Jersey Hospice. Each year around a thousand people pile onto the bay, half in the ocean and half on the beach, in honour of one of the Presidents of the club who spent his last days in the Hospice. “I’m the foot soldier,” Karl described, “I don’t swim, but I go around in the shoe costume, making sure everyone’s having a good time and getting donations in. After that I just run around, taking photos with the kids, making sure that everybody has a good start to their Christmas Day.”
When I asked Karl if he’d consider branching out from the shoe into other effective forms of fundraising attire, he joked, “if somebody wants me to, I’d run with my hair pink. I’d carry a fridge if I had to, as long as it’s for Hospice and raising money for a good cause.”
“But at the moment, the shoe is what people recognise me as. There’s a million spectators at the London Marathon, and people like seeing the shoe. They like shouting out the name, and it’s quite a little novelty. It’s a motivation to keep you going, and that sort of gets you over the line as well.”
Profile
Name: Karl Fitzpatrick
Nickname: ‘The Shoe’
Age: 52
Favourite roadside heckles: “That’s sole destroying,” “I’d love to run a mile in your shoe,” “A-Shoe (sneeze),” “Your lace is undone.”
When not being a shoe I am: Husband to Claire, and Dad to son Harley and dog Rafa. Also enjoys walking, biking, football and golf.
Running shoes recommendation: Adidas Adios Pro 4’s –“it’s like running on marshmallows.”
Shoe height and weight:4 foot, 7kg (10kg when wet)
The inhabitants of 10 Minden Street were pretty excited when they found out that Nomu, a new Asian fusion place, was opening just a few steps away on Bath Street. After all, who doesn’t love a bit of MSG every now and then? Since our first visit, many more “important lunch meetings” have been taking place at the venue, with deadlines negotiated through mouthfuls of noodles and sushi. It is also conveniently located next to Premier Inn, in case you need a spot to sleep off the food coma before resuming the day’s commitments.
The drinks menu is varied, with everything you’d expect – and an extra garnish. There’s wine from Japan, sake and many non-alcoholic wines and beers if you’re taking a break from the bevvies or need to be productive in the afternoon. The mango non-alcoholic cocktail was so tempting that three of us ordered the same – it was incredibly sweet, with a slight zing, and extremely difficult not to finish before the food arrived. Flo commented that the mocktail was “so delicious, and an excellent pairing for the pork bao bun.” Toby ordered the Tokyo Fizz, a gin-based cocktail mixed with lychee liqueur, lemon juice, egg white, soda, ice and lemon, garnished with even more lychee. He did not regret his choice.
The biggest shock during our dining experience at Nomu was how quick the service was. Our dishes genuinely arrived in under ten minutes, under the watchful eye of David Cameron, the executive chef of Randalls, who has a long history in the restaurant industry. He’s a safe pair of hands for sure, and presented us with a feast of flavours. A favourite was the Grilled Chicken Ramen-Style Noodle Bowl, served with chicken dashi and miso broth, bamboo shoots, marinated beansprouts and a tamago egg. Toby commented that it was “very filling” and “exceptionally tasty,” adding that “it’s all you need for lunch, really. I’d give it an eight out of ten, as my only complaint is that it was a tad too salty.” The stir-fried Yakisoba Noodles were also a hit, coming with chicken, mushrooms, cabbage, carrot, onions, spring onions, shredded pickled ginger and aonori. Ben enjoyed its “strong flavour” and noted that it was a dish that could easily be shared – “unless you’re ravenous.”
Almost half of the smaller dishes on Nomu’s menu are vegan, and of the main dishes there are six different plant-based options to choose from. However, if you’re a lover of firm tofu, walk – don’t run – to Nomu. “I was expecting firm tofu and wasn’t the biggest fan of silk,” Flo commented, adding, “but that’s just me. Crispy tofu would have been better.” Aside from the limp tofu, Flo did praise the Prawn Toast as the best she’s ever had – a delectable dish amplified by the fact that her last sales job at a vegan food company forced her to adopt the lifestyle for marketing purposes. It was £10.50, but despite the price, the perfect trophy to celebrate her newfound food freedom.
The Hoisin Duck Fried Sushi Rolls came in six pieces, garnished with citrus, wasabi and miso mayo, teriyaki sauce, picked ginger and spring onions. They were tasty, surprisingly filling and generous in the right places, but I wasn’t wholly digging the fried-over-traditional sushi vibe. In Nomu’s defence, their menu does state that the dish is something different, and the hoisin duck in terms of flavour and texture was great. There’s also an argument to be made that if you had a one-track mind for sushi, you’d probably be making a reservation at Kyoto anyway. But introducing traditional sushi would be a way for Nomu to work some more gluten-free options into their menu, seeing as the only main option for this demographic is the Salmon Tataki Poke Bowl. Of course, there’s the option to compile a meal of appetisers such as Goma Seaweed Salad, Miso Soup, Skinny Fries and Squid, or alternatively, indulge in some mochi or ice cream from the children’s menu.
The Steamed Hirata Buns were genuinely the best thing ever, and got glowing reviews all round the table. We ordered the chilli fried beef buns with hoisin sauce, spring onion and ginger, as well as the crunchy pork belly ones with chilli, garlic, ginger and beansprout salad. You could easily demolish the two buns that come with each serving and still have room for a side. Ben enjoyed the Chilli Fried Beef on Crispy Noodles, and edamame always go down well. The wasabi peas are described as “a bit spicy” on the menu, a statement that proved entirely accurate – enough wasabi for the mouth, not enough for the nose. The vegetable spring rolls were, in my opinion, just like the ones you’d get anywhere else, but the hoisin duck topping the Tokyo fries was to die for. All in all, the great flavours on Nomu’s menu far outweigh the dishes that didn’t feel too special, and it has proved to be an incredibly popular debut menu across the park.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is clean, simple and pared-back, with a hint of Asia. In the words of Ben, Nomu is “a homage to the communal eating of everyone’s favourite Asian restaurants at London airports.” The playlist left a bit to be desired, as it was hard to get into the Asian fusion vibe whilst being serenaded by the likes of Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan’s ‘Pink Pony Club’. “The ambiance was good,” Flo said, “but the music was a bit TikTok-esque. You want to imagine that you’re in a cool Asian bar in the city.” No hate – we’re all Swifties, just in the right context.
One of the perks of Nomu is that it is a Randalls venue, so if you’ve got the app downloaded, you can get ten percent of your meal back. This is great for people who actually remembered to sign up in between pints at one of the chain’s venues, but irrelevant for those like me with the brain of a sieve. They say if you face a task that can be completed in two minutes or less, you should do it now instead of adding it to your mental to-do list. Think of all the free ramen you could be eating if those after-work pints were contributing towards something other than a hangover.
Some days I wake up, open my curtains, and the sun is out. I walk downstairs to make a near-nuclear cup of instant coffee with not a single thought in my brain, before heading out into the garden barefoot, to feel the rays on my face.
Other days I wake up, open my curtains, and – because pathetic fallacy only exists in books and movies – the sun is shining. I think, ‘the light coming through my window has taken eight minutes to travel 186,000 miles per second from the sun, meaning the centre of our solar system could have exploded seven minutes ago and I’d be none the wiser.’ I walk downstairs to make my near-nuclear cup of coffee and as I add the milk I’m reminded that if you went down to the sub-atomic level of this beverage, there are tiny little quarks, blinking in and out of existence at random, completely uncaused by anything, and that this is similar to how the universe supposedly started: a quantum fluctuation with no external cause, rapidly expanding to create space and time, scattering the ingredients of the universe. But if that’s the past, what’s the future? Will all the black holes littering the universe – about thirty more forming in the time it takes to blink – get so big that they’ll be a massive cataclysm where they all smash into each other and destroy everything we’ve ever known? Does it end there, or will it start again? Will there be a point, 13.8 billion years later, when something resembling a human on a planet somewhat resembling earth, will look up to the sky wondering what their purpose is, if there’s a meaning to life, and whether the sun exploded about seven minutes ago?
Like others who attempt to understand the universe after being spoon-fed basic cosmology through the medium of a popular non-fiction book, I can spend a bit too much time down the rabbit hole, thinking about things that are impossible to know that much about. When I met up with Howard Baker – the guy in the library who seems to know everything – I had planned to talk about some of his recent research projects, his favourite periods of history and what his day-to-day life looked like. But no sooner than five minutes in, we started speaking not about what Howard does know, but what he doesn’t. True to his words that he is “encouragingly curious about a perplexing world,” we veered off the topic of human history and went down a tangent into deep time, along with what advice he’d give to a curious person facing what is essentially unknowability.
Trying to obtain complete knowledge is, in Howard’s words, like running on “a treadmill into infinity.” “As I grow older,” he explained, “the more I realise how little I know about everything. When you become aware of that, you become quite humble. You’re facing a contradiction. You’re looking at the unknowable, but trying to know it at the same time. It taunts you. You ask, ‘Why? How?’ And there are no answers.”
“The huge picture – the infinite picture. It’s bewitching. It’s awesome. ‘Awesome’ is a word that’s frequently overused, particularly by surfers,” Howard joked, “but that is what I like, feeling in awe. I’m looking up into the night sky and thinking, it goes on forever and ever and ever.”
“These are topics that even scientists can’t understand,” he added. “They can mathematically prove it, but they don’t really understand it. If a scientist were here right now, they’d say we can’t really get our heads around it. It’s mind-boggling to even think that, at one point, nothing we know existed – no dimensions, no time. How can you get your head around that?”
In the days of modern science, it’s quite easy to fall into the trap of believing we already know everything. To everyone but conspiracy theorists the world is spherical, we can travel to the moon, and there are space telescopes capturing high resolution images of neighbouring stars and galaxies. When you can count and order the planets of the solar system on your fingers and have access to bite-sized overviews of their properties, space can feel pretty digestible. But all it takes is watching a bird’s-eye video zooming out from earth into the expanse of the universe to be confronted with the near totality of your ignorance, abetted by the brevity of your human lifespan. When I asked Howard how he felt about this, he looked at me almost knowingly and said, “I think the danger is that if you’re not careful, you can slide into a dark hopelessness. ‘It’s futile. Why bother? Who cares? It’s all going to end in tears.’ And that’s when the difference between being a pessimist and an optimist comes in.”
“I can’t pretend that I’m permanently an optimist,” he admitted, “sometimes, you can go down into a dark well – the dark night of the soul. But I think that any time you spend down there, it’s a waste of time. It’s destructive, negative. I would say, it’s time to turn your face to the sun.”
He told me that if you spend all your time in your mind, the only outcome is something “quite disturbing.” “If you’re endlessly thinking ‘why or how or what,’ it can be quite worrying. You’re living in a dark world that you don’t really understand.” When you’re constantly evaluating, questioning and finding flaws in what you view around you, it’s easy to fall into a mindset that is perhaps too skeptical. “I sometimes catch myself and have to say, ‘Howard, you’re being cynical.’ It’s okay to think of things in that way,” he added, “as long as you think about things the other way too. You’ve got to be aware of the need for balance.”
“Turn the other cheek. Become aware of the fact that you don’t want to go too far down that road, and make a cognitive decision not to. Try and simply say, ‘I’m going to turn my back on it. I’m going to refuse to allow my mind to be brought down.’”
“Sometimes curiosity can backfire on you,” Howard explained. “In addition to making you aware of how amazing the universe, life and human beings are – curiosity killed the cat. I would suggest that if you spend too much time in your head, there is a danger that you might become obsessive, anxiety-ridden, self-absorbed and disassociate yourself from the rest of humanity.”
“I think a mistake that people very often make is that they perceive the world, looking at it as though they are not part of it,” Howard said. “I’m endlessly reminded that I am a part of it. With all its stupidity and its failings, but also with its grander moments.”
Usually, when someone pursues an interest as wholeheartedly as Howard pursues research, you’d expect it to be quite central to their life philosophy. But for Howard, it takes a back seat to other aspects of life. “I think the joy of being alive is experiencing the joy of being alive,” he said, and when I asked whether this positivity affected his research, he said, “Yes, because I no longer really want to do research. I think, ‘I’m going to go to the beach,’ ‘I’m going to have a swim,’ ‘I’m going to go and talk to people.’” In these moments, wanting or needing to know becomes far less important.
“When I was younger I worked on various building projects, and I thought, ‘This is fabulous. I like the guys I’m working with, we’re out in the open, we’re fit, we’re carefree, it’s a bit of a laugh – I’m loving it.’ I can’t remember ever feeling that sense of joyfulness from research.”
Howard told me that if you were to imagine deep time as analogous to the length of St Catherine’s Breakwater, human beings would only come into the picture once you’d reached the final lick of paint at the end of the railings. With our knowledge of the entirety of human history being patchy at best, this visual puts the quest to understand the universe into perspective.
“Why do you need to know?” Howard asked. “Sometimes, if you’re meditating or if you’re in a very relaxed state, you’re in a place where you’re not seeking knowledge. You don’t need to. You’re in a quiet place, where knowledge doesn’t really have such an effect.” He went on to say that the most profound knowledge he has encountered wasn’t found in books or research. “On the odd occasion when you’re confronted by the knowledge that somebody loves you, that is the most amazing experience I’ve ever had. That’s got to be one of the highest points of human awareness – to be aware of love.”
Whilst most of us only rush when we’re late, the Spartans have turned speed into a lifestyle. Since the theme of this issue is ‘time’, it only made sense to reach out to the fastest runners in Jersey – athletes who spend an unnatural amount of time sprinting in circles, hurdling over things and generally making the rest of us look slow.
We threw them some random questions – some about running, some not – to find out what’s going on in their heads when they’re not counting seconds. Read on to discover who thinks they’d outrun a grizzly bear, who despises beach runs and how many of them are, in fact, running from existential dread.
Top Row: Lucy Hunt, Evan Campbell, Steve Mackay, Tyler Johnson and Peter Irving.
Bottom Row: Jamie Oldham (who wasn’t fast enough to get his answer in by the deadline!), Antoinette Kyriacou, Olivia Allbut, Jess Troy and Will Brown
Lucy Hunt
400m, PB 58.50s
How did you get to where you are now?
I started out doing cross country when I was younger, but over time the distance I was willing to run became shorter and shorter, until I landed on 400m and 200m!
What’s the fastest animal you think you could beat in a race?
Maybe a baby giraffe.
Beach or road run?
Road run. The only time I ever run on sand is when Pete (our coach) makes us run up and down the sand dunes during winter training.
Favourite running route in Jersey?
If I do opt to go on a run somewhere other than the track, I like Queen’s Valley or along St Ouens.
Trainers you swear by?
ASICS Novablast, 100%.
Resting VS Running Heart Rate?
I don’t actually wear a watch when I run that tracks my heart rate, so I could take a guess but it would probably be very wrong.
Favourite movie?
I am way too indecisive to answer this.
Favourite getaway?
Brighton for the weekend, for the shopping and restaurants.
What are you running from?
The giraffe that’s chasing me.
Evan Campbell
100m Hurdles, PB 15.06s
How did you get to where you are now?
Luck, obsession and gratitude.
What’s the fastest animal you think you could beat in a race?
An unfit cocker spaniel
Beach or road run?
Road
Favourite running route in Jersey?
Trinity back lanes
Trainers you swear by?
Nike Pegasus
Resting VS Running Heart Rate?
45ish vs 180+, I’m not built for long distance.
Favourite movie?
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Favourite getaway?
Budapest
What are you running from?
I don’t know yet
Steve Mackay
100m/200m, PB 10.80s/21.60s
How did you get to where you are now?
Hard work and having the right people believe in me. I started at 18 when my Tutor at Highlands brought me down in his own time to a race one weekend, and it all happened from there! He believed in me after a pretty good sportsday and I appreciate everything he had done that day.
What’s the fastest animal you think you could beat in a race?
Cheetah
Beach or road run?
Got to be at the beach!
Favourite running route in Jersey?
FB Fields Track
Trainers you swear by?
It used to be Nike, but now it’s Adidas
Resting VS Running Heart Rate?
Haven’t a clue, I just run fast
Favourite movie?
Tough one, probably anything Star Wars or both Top Gun movies.
Favourite getaway?
Can’t say
What are you running from?
Myself
Tyler Johnson
400m, PB 47.72s
How did you get to where you are now?
A lot of training
What’s the fastest animal you think you could beat in a race?
Currently probably a snail, back in the day a cheetah
Beach or road run?
Road
Favourite running route in Jersey?
The track but if not, St Aubin’s Bay
Trainers you swear by?
Can’t go wrong with Nike Pegasus
Resting VS Running Heart Rate?
49bpm vs probably 180bpm
Favourite movie?
John Wick – we binged the whole series at the Guernsey Island Games
Favourite getaway?
Anywhere hot and all inclusive
What are you running from?
Getting old and/or chores
Peter Irving
100m Hurdles/400m Hurdles, PB 15.02s/52.57s
How did you get to where you are now?
Hard work, determination, sacrifice, and a lot of time!
What’s the fastest animal you think you could beat in a race?
Well, that would depend how far, the longer the race the more I am winning ! Otherwise, anything that runs on two legs. Those four-legged animals will always win!
Beach or road run?
Trails!
Favourite running route in Jersey?
Railway walk or north coast paths.
Trainers you swear by?
Still searching!
Resting VS Running Heart Rate?
Right now, 46 vs highest when training 205!
Favourite movie?
Remember the Titans
Favourite getaway?
Camping
What are you running from?
The unstoppable marching of time!
Antoinette Kyriacou
Marathon/Half-Marathon, PB 2h 54min/1h 25min
How did you get to where you are now?
Years and years of consistent running.
What’s the fastest animal you think you could beat in a race?
Elephant
Beach or road run?
Road
Favourite running route in Jersey?
Green lanes in St Martins and Grouville.
Trainers you swear by?
Anything made by Nike.
Resting VS Running Heart Rate?
56bpm vs 134-165bpm
Favourite movie?
Anything with a good storyline and a bit of humour.
Favourite getaway?
Anywhere hot and sunny with a beach.
What are you running from?
My stress levels and sometimes (rarely) my 2 kids.
Olivia Allbut
400m Hurdles/400m, PB 61.1s/56s
How did you get to where you are now?
Lots and lots of hours at the track and in the gym!!
What’s the fastest animal you think you could beat in a race?
An injured greyhound…
Beach or road run?
Beach
Favourite running route in Jersey?
If I’m ever forced on a long run then I love going along the beach at St Ouen.
Trainers you swear by?
ASICS Novablast
Favourite getaway?
Skiing or summer holiday in Italy.
Jess Troy
Half Marathon/5k, PB 1h 25s/17m 51s
How did you get to where you are now?
A great coach and some great training buddies.
What’s the fastest animal you think you could beat in a race?
Hamster?
Beach or road run?
Road, sand is a pain…
Favourite running route in Jersey?
The lanes in Trinity around my childhood home.
Trainers you swear by?
Altras Vanish Carbons for racing!
Resting VS Running Heart Rate?
45bpm vs 177 bpm
Favourite movie?
Four Lions
Favourite getaway?
Anywhere with friends and good food.
What are you running from?
My troubles.
Will Brown
400m, PB 50.1s
How did you get to where you are now?
I’ve just stuck with this sport for a long time, since I was about 8 years old which means I’ve had lots of time to train!
What’s the fastest animal you think you could beat in a race?
Over 400m, I think I could beat a grizzly bear, but only because I think it would struggle on the bends and it may even be disqualified for moving out of its lane.
Beach or road run?
Beach run. I like running barefoot and the beach is nice for that.
Favourite running route in Jersey?
St Aubins seafront
Trainers you swear by?
I’ve always liked the Nike Pegasus trainers; they’re a great all-rounder for training and do well on the track.
Resting VS Running Heart Rate?
I’m not too sure, I don’t often measure heart rate. I would think that during some of our training sessions it would go very high, probably 180+. And the lowest I’ve seen my heart rate drop is 39bpm, but that was during sleep so not sure if that counts. It’s usually closer to 50bpm if I’m awake, I think.
Favourite movie?
A Knight’s Tale
Favourite getaway?
Somewhere hot where I can do both active things and relax as well. I like a location with mountains to hike on and beaches to relax and swim at.
What are you running from?
The grizzly bear of stress, sadness, and anxiety. If I’m not consistently going to the track and running, say if I’m injured or ill, my mood drops completely and I feel stressed and restless.
Combine a love of print, collaborative art-making and a dog with a ball and what have you got? You have the opportunity to get a pretty cool-looking print edition from local artist Nick Romeril, courtesy of the achingly cool printing presses of Luddite Press and Parker Editions.
It’s a full-circle story of collaboration as the genesis of Luddite Press is partially attributable to Nick, who loaned Tom (Parker) his old printing press back in 2018. Such was Tom’s enthusiasm for the lost art of print-making that later that year he partnered with Tim Le Breuilly, and Luddite Press was born. The duo acquired two more presses and set up in a new space at Greve de Lecq Barracks.
The studio now offers a unique setting for artists and the community to make prints. With a significant amount of equipment related to many printmaking practices, the studio’s key objective is to advance the education of the public in the broader subject of printmaking and the skills associated with printmaking practice through workshops, classes and community projects. The studio membership scheme allows artists independent access to the print room to develop skills and realise their own projects. Residency opportunities are available for visiting artists. Following his new love of all things print, Tom returned to education, relocating to the UK and subsequently graduating last year from the Royal College of Art with a Masters in printmaking. Building on his studies, Tom now (as Parker Editions) offers printing and publishing of handmade prints in etching, screenprint and relief.
Nick studied painting at Camberwell College of Art in the late 1980’s and in 1991 to take a Master’s degree in printmaking. On returning to Jersey, Romeril set up a studio and began painting, sculpting and printmaking. He started lecturing at Highlands School of Art in 1996 until 2009. Since then he has held numerous solo exhibitions and many group shows in London, Switzerland, France, USA and Jersey. His artwork is immediately recognisable and his paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures are found in households and public spaces across the island and beyond. This new print is a return to old practices with a lively subject, as Nick trells us, “I love animals and they have been a subject in my work for a long time. I am making drawings of my dog Scribbles. She is a very cute dog and always has a ball in her mouth. I have wanted to make prints with Luddite Press for a few years now and haven’t made etchings for at least 15 years. This is the first series of work I have felt keen to make etchings from since then. It is the right subject.
With Tom and Tim’s support, Nick is now working in the print room at Luddite Press on a series of new etchings of Scribbles the Jack Russell terrier. The resulting prints set to be published later in the Spring. The prints will be available to buy direct from Luddite Press and in shops and galleries. Tom tells us, “We are looking back at those past etchings of (Nicks), which are great drawings and great prints, and seeing how we might develop them with these new drawings. The new series of prints is a homage to that and to his dog who accompanies him everywhere.”
For more information please visit www.ludditepressci.com
57% of Gen Z in America aspire to be social media influencers. The other 43% are either introverts or simply not enticed by the allure of lucrative brand deals, travel opportunities and flexible schedules. In an era where remote work is the norm, more young people are imagining a life where they swap weekly Teams meetings for personal storytelling through short-form video. For creative adventurers looking to make the most of their work-life balance, becoming a self-employed social media manager is an enticing alternative to climbing the corporate ladder, where work doesn’t need to be tied to a physical office.
For professionals like Yaiza Curtis – a UGC (user-generated content) creator and social media manager – as well as D’Arcy O’Neill and Emma Minty, specialists in Meta ads and social media strategy, working remotely has meant the ability to digital nomad their way through the world, experiencing new places without ditching the idea of a career. For Yaiza, travel is an essential part of what she does, proven by the fact that she was on her 16th flight of 2025 when I met up with her in February. Whether it’s Tenerife, Marbella, Amsterdam or Dubai, she said that “the better sunlight and locations all add to what I can give to a brand. My Instagram is also my portfolio, so visually travelling and being in multiple locations sells on social media.”
D’Arcy and Emma, co-owners of The Social Abyss, also take full advantage of remote work. In the summer, D’Arcy was working under his “desk umbrella,” sunbathing on the beach with his laptop much of the time. If there are no Jersey-based commitments for the next few months, they can pick up their lives and go wherever they want. “You could work out a way to work whilst continuously travelling,” D’Arcy added. “Everything’s online – we can speak to our clients from anywhere. The only problem is time zones, but if you’re willing to work in the evening, you could spend a couple of months further afield.” The pair are planning to live and work from Lisbon over the next few months, before continuing their travels across Europe.
While the freedom to travel is a huge perk, it’s definitely a highlight amongst the challenges of social media management. “When you’re self-employed, it’s not a case of clocking off at 5pm. You can’t stick to an eight hour daily routine,” Yaiza explained. “There’s no liberty to take a full day off because clients expect responses at all hours. If a message comes in, I have to deal with it immediately, whether it’s early morning, late at night, or the middle of a weekend. It’s a job that demands constant availability, and being online isn’t optional; it’s essential.”
The blurred line between work and personal time seems to be the price social media managers pay for self-employment and geographical freedom. Behind the scenes, their everyday routine mixes managing finances, client sales, troubleshooting technical breakdowns and shouldering an immense amount of screen time. “It’s more five-to-five than nine-to-five,” D’Arcy said, “sometimes you’re on your laptop at three o’clock in the morning editing something, after looking at a screen all day, and your brain’s fried.” Emma added, “there’s no point trying it if you’re not disciplined. It would fall to pieces straight away.”
“Social media is an ever-evolving landscape,” Yaiza pointed out, “the algorithm is fragile – what worked last month might not work this week.” The difficulties of navigating the numbers game was a sentiment shared by D’Arcy: “at the start, it was easy to get quite down about failures. But now we just see it as testing. You almost want to fail as fast as possible, so that you can figure out what’s good quicker. I actually love it when something bombs because then I can say, ‘right, that doesn’t work, let’s just move on.’”
Trials and experience have also allowed Emma and D’Arcy to find a niche within their business, tailored around their interests in the outdoors and travel. “When we started, we went very broad,” Emma explained. “Now we’re kind of going more into the outdoor, adventure and sustainability genre – things we’re passionate about, such as water sports, outdoor activities, retreats and travelling. We’ve got clients in Morocco, and heading further in this direction, that’s the dream.” For those in the industry, flexibility can be both a blessing and a curse – but for them, the perks of remote work definitely outweigh the cons.
