:00:00. > :00:07.Good evening, I'm Charlie McArdle, welcome to BBC Channel Islands.
:00:08. > :00:13.A frenzied Friday for shoppers sees a buying boost
:00:14. > :00:18.Bed shortages and cancelled operations Jersey's hospital
:00:19. > :00:27.continues to struggle under pressure.
:00:28. > :00:29.We count down the weird, the wonderful and heart
:00:30. > :00:35.warming stories that got you talking in 2016.
:00:36. > :00:42.We have quite a blustery Christmas ahead of us. Quite mild, but next
:00:43. > :00:43.week it is somewhat colder. I will have all the details later in the
:00:44. > :00:48.programme. It's frenzied Friday
:00:49. > :00:50.for Christmas shoppers. And this year, while it may have
:00:51. > :00:54.been a bumper time for people buying online in Guernsey,
:00:55. > :00:56.it seems the High Street It's thought changes made to parking
:00:57. > :01:01.in town at peak times has encouraged people to get out and go shopping
:01:02. > :01:04.as Lucy Bickerton has With just two more sleeps
:01:05. > :01:11.until Christmas, it's But how much present buying has been
:01:12. > :01:27.done from the comfort of home? Half-and-half. This year we did do
:01:28. > :01:31.some shopping online, but now we are doing more on high-street.
:01:32. > :01:37.High-street mostly. Yes, for me as well. Mostly online. Definitely. You
:01:38. > :01:41.won't be able to buy lovely jumpers like this here. On the high street,
:01:42. > :01:43.because I prefer to see what I'm buying. If it doesn't fit, I take it
:01:44. > :01:45.back and change it. Guernsey Post says they've
:01:46. > :01:47.had their busiest December yet. And put the increase down to more
:01:48. > :01:49.people buying online. But initial views are that shops
:01:50. > :01:52.are also doing well this Christmas. The good weather may have helped,
:01:53. > :01:55.but its thought relaxing some parking restrictions in town has
:01:56. > :01:57.also meant more people It's one of those things
:01:58. > :02:05.where you you do come with an initiative which this year
:02:06. > :02:08.has been fantastic, you work on that and next time we'll perhaps get
:02:09. > :02:11.through to the public who perhaps So has this really encouraged some
:02:12. > :02:24.people away from their computers I definitely brought mum in today
:02:25. > :02:28.knowing that we probably had a bit longer because it takes a longer
:02:29. > :02:32.walk in and everything. It's a good idea. Anything to encourage people
:02:33. > :02:36.to come into town and support local traders is a good idea. I don't
:02:37. > :02:40.think so. I think shopping is a must, so if you need to come into
:02:41. > :02:41.town, you need to park and that's it, really.
:02:42. > :02:44.The festive retail number crunching won't take place until the new year.
:02:45. > :02:46.But for now it seems many will be raising a glass
:02:47. > :02:54.13 planned operations have had to be cancelled so far this week
:02:55. > :02:58.as Jersey's hospital continues to come under stress.
:02:59. > :03:01.Recent staff illness has added to the pressures of severe bed
:03:02. > :03:03.shortages and it's not known whether the situation
:03:04. > :03:11.Emma Chambers has the latest details.
:03:12. > :03:14.As you see with all the lights on in the wards inside,
:03:15. > :03:16.the hospital is far from closed, but it is under pressure.
:03:17. > :03:19.Managers admit there is a strain on resources at the moment -
:03:20. > :03:22.this week the hospital has been on red alert, the second highest
:03:23. > :03:25.category, but has since stayed stable at an amber alert
:03:26. > :03:31.That means there's a low number of beds available.
:03:32. > :03:39.The situation hasn't been helped by higher than usual numbers
:03:40. > :03:42.of staff off sick, which has led to the cancellation of a number
:03:43. > :03:44.operations including six yesterday and two today.
:03:45. > :03:45.The hospital says it's regrettable but unfortunately unavoidable.
:03:46. > :03:49.In total 13 operations have been cancelled this week.
:03:50. > :03:53.So with Christmas round the corner, what does the next few
:03:54. > :03:56.Well, the good news is that there are fewer procedures planned over
:03:57. > :04:00.Christmas until the New Year, so clearly fewer operations
:04:01. > :04:16.But there also are asking people to act appropriately.
:04:17. > :04:18.That means only using the emergency department if absolutely necessary,
:04:19. > :04:21.cancelling appointments if patients have had flu or vomiting,
:04:22. > :04:23.and contacting GPs and pharmacists for advice on norovirus type
:04:24. > :04:29.It means using the emergency department just for emergencies.
:04:30. > :04:32.A 31-year-old man in Jersey has been committed to the Royal Court to face
:04:33. > :04:38.Wayne Highfield of Regent Road in St Helier is accused of sexually
:04:39. > :04:42.assaulting a 25-year-old woman at the end of last year.
:04:43. > :04:45.This morning he appeared at Jersey Magistrates' Court
:04:46. > :04:50.where his case was committed to the Royal Court.
:04:51. > :04:53.Fishing for sea bass has been banned in Jersey's waters.
:04:54. > :04:56.The island's Environment Minister says he's made the move to ensure
:04:57. > :05:01.the survival of the fish for future generations.
:05:02. > :05:03.Commercial ships won't be able to fish for bass,
:05:04. > :05:07.and recreational fishermen will have to put back any bass they catch.
:05:08. > :05:12.It's the latest step as part of efforts to protect local stocks.
:05:13. > :05:15.The latest figures have been released revealing the numbers
:05:16. > :05:18.of births deaths and marriages in Jersey for 2015.
:05:19. > :05:24.The annual report shows 1052 babies were born on the island -
:05:25. > :05:27.the vast majority in St Helier, where the hospital is, with just 22
:05:28. > :05:33.Almost 500 couples got married and additionally
:05:34. > :05:43.778 people died - 96 more than the previous year.
:05:44. > :05:45.Christmas not only dents our purses, but also our relationships.
:05:46. > :05:48.Citizens Advice Jersey say January is the busiest month
:05:49. > :05:51.for relationship advice because of the financial
:05:52. > :05:55.and family pressures that come with the festive break.
:05:56. > :05:58.It says there is lots of support and advice out there
:05:59. > :06:02.for when relationships break down, but how you cope on the day can
:06:03. > :06:16.Some children go up -- grew up hating Christmas because of
:06:17. > :06:19.arguments and what happened in their household. Don't let that become a
:06:20. > :06:25.legacy of the break-up of your relationship or indeed your divorce.
:06:26. > :06:27.Try and, you know, keep it civil for ever on's benefit and think of the
:06:28. > :06:31.longer term goals. -- for everyone's So as we steam ahead towards 2017,
:06:32. > :06:37.we thought it was a good opportunity to look back at the year's big
:06:38. > :06:40.stories - but what were they? Penny Elderfield has the top ten
:06:41. > :06:42.stories that got you talking and clicking on this year -
:06:43. > :06:52.and there are some surprises. 2016 has a lot to be remembered for.
:06:53. > :06:56.At number ten, it's the tale of this sick cat which was taken to
:06:57. > :07:01.Guernsey's animal shelter. Things weren't looking good. Until, that
:07:02. > :07:05.is, it had a good wash, when it became clear it was just a puppet.
:07:06. > :07:09.Number nine, it is the five Jersey boys who went for the England
:07:10. > :07:13.manager job. What are you doing in here? Eye after my job? They ended
:07:14. > :07:20.up meeting the man who got it, Sam Allardyce. He is a big friendly
:07:21. > :07:24.giant. Very friendly. We now know he wasn't there for long. The number
:07:25. > :07:29.eight spot goes to Guernsey's election. With all be hellos,
:07:30. > :07:37.goodbyes, highs and lows. That's politics. You know, move on to other
:07:38. > :07:41.things. An appearance at number seven, although it is all about
:07:42. > :07:46.where you do another one or two on board. The ferry operator had to
:07:47. > :07:49.change its toilet signs from ladies and gents to symbols after a
:07:50. > :07:52.complaint or transgender discrimination. Wrapping it up at
:07:53. > :07:58.number six, it is the wrapping teacher from Jersey. Catching the
:07:59. > :08:10.attention of American rapper 50 cents. He thinks he has some flow.
:08:11. > :08:17.At number five, -- rapper 50 Cent. The greatest honour any diplomat can
:08:18. > :08:21.display. This Jersey woman sheltered her Jewish friend for 12 months,
:08:22. > :08:27.risking her own life to save his. Another act of wartime bravery at
:08:28. > :08:30.number four. These men were deported to prisons in Europe for
:08:31. > :08:33.distributing news sheets. After seven decades of searching, this
:08:34. > :08:43.year their daughters finally found them. At last. I have found the
:08:44. > :08:46.closure I was looking for. At number three, enjoying the December
:08:47. > :08:51.sunshine may be the best option for pupils at this Jersey school. After
:08:52. > :08:56.their annual summer beach trips were cancelled because of health and
:08:57. > :09:00.safety. A nautical number two, and the quest to find a name for this
:09:01. > :09:08.research vessel. Eventually, it was after Sir David Attenborough, but
:09:09. > :09:14.the public voted for Boaty McBoatface, a suggestion from
:09:15. > :09:18.Jersey. The chief Mr Hurd made headlines after describing the
:09:19. > :09:23.island as Islamophobic when talking about the decision not to accept
:09:24. > :09:26.refugees. He later apologised for his comments, but perhaps won't be
:09:27. > :09:31.celebrating his win on this occasion. An eclectic win to say the
:09:32. > :09:38.least, but bring on 2017 and all the weird and wonderful news we get to
:09:39. > :09:41.hear about. Some great stories there.
:09:42. > :09:44.Jersey's Christmas Day swim in St Ouen's Bay has had to be moved
:09:45. > :09:46.for the first time because of Storm Barbara.
:09:47. > :09:49.Stormy seas and strong winds mean the conditions are just too
:09:50. > :09:51.dangerous so instead it will be held at St Brelade.
:09:52. > :09:54.Scores of people are expected for the event which sees swimmers
:09:55. > :09:59.take a dip in the winter waves without a wet suit.
:10:00. > :10:05.This is the first time we've moved it. Obviously we've been looking at
:10:06. > :10:09.the weather charts for the last week, and obviously the isobars are
:10:10. > :10:17.tallying up. That rapper tightening up. The wind is increasing. With the
:10:18. > :10:18.wind and the swell, the rips etc, it will be slightly dangerous for
:10:19. > :10:20.swimming in the Bay. That's just one of the many
:10:21. > :10:23.Christmas day swims taking place but will the weather help us
:10:24. > :10:33.into the icy waters, Thank you. Hello, good evening. I
:10:34. > :10:37.think that Christmas this year will not be too bad for the islands. It
:10:38. > :10:41.will be quite blustery. Generally quite mild, and we will see some
:10:42. > :10:46.showers dotted around from time to time. They're set up at the moment
:10:47. > :10:50.is for quite deep areas of low pressure to pass between Scotland
:10:51. > :10:53.and Iceland. One that is moving away through the night to come, and
:10:54. > :10:57.another quickly follows. The races in the same sort of direction toward
:10:58. > :11:01.Iceland through Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day. The weather
:11:02. > :11:04.front that trails behind that will eventually get to us, probably not
:11:05. > :11:08.until Christmas Day night and the small Isles of Boxing Day morning.
:11:09. > :11:13.Until then, we have some patchy rain to get rid of first, and those
:11:14. > :11:17.blustery winds, but they should die down later this evening and with
:11:18. > :11:21.clear skies at times, tempered as well into single figures, down as
:11:22. > :11:28.low as 7 degrees. Tomorrow, Christmas Eve, bright, dry and
:11:29. > :11:32.breezy day. Some sunshine. Just the chance of a few passing showers, but
:11:33. > :11:36.they will be few and far between. Still quite mild, ten or 11 degrees
:11:37. > :11:39.I think will be the maximum temperature with a brisk west or
:11:40. > :11:50.south westerly breeze. Our times of high water. St Hilaire 2:33am and
:11:51. > :11:55.250 7p. Some big waves have been generated by those two areas of low
:11:56. > :11:58.pressure in the Atlantic. I don't think the server will be that clean
:11:59. > :12:02.with onshore winds. The winds are from the West tomorrow, Force five
:12:03. > :12:07.and occasionally six. Generally fair with good visibility. Here is the
:12:08. > :12:10.outlook of way to and including the early part of next week. Sunday
:12:11. > :12:15.starts bright and dry. Christmas Day. We will see pretty good
:12:16. > :12:19.temperatures on Sunday, 12, 13 degrees. A blustery south west wind
:12:20. > :12:23.which will increase through the morning and become strong to gale
:12:24. > :12:27.force in the afternoon. A front going through overnight, so Boxing
:12:28. > :12:31.Day is bright and dry with lighter wind and then turning cold and
:12:32. > :12:34.quiet. For the early part of next week. Have a good evening.
:12:35. > :12:36.Before we go, just a reminder there are regular news,
:12:37. > :12:38.travel and weather updates on BBC Radio Guernsey
:12:39. > :12:43.From all of us here at BBC Channel Island News,
:12:44. > :13:00.finish it off. Enjoy. I will, probably too much. That is very nice
:13:01. > :13:04.actually. I do have to go back to work boat. See you in a bit, go on,
:13:05. > :13:06.go. Still to come in
:13:07. > :13:22.tonight's programme... Join me for corals and horses at
:13:23. > :13:24.Bigley barracks. -- carols. And a blustery Christmas I had. Quite mild
:13:25. > :13:33.but next week at a somewhat colder. Now the last of our
:13:34. > :13:35.Santa Steam Train series. Given the time of year we've been
:13:36. > :13:38.taking some special journeys on the railway and tonight we travel
:13:39. > :13:41.between Paignton and Kingswear. On the Spotlight Express we meet two
:13:42. > :13:43.young passengers whose lives are affected by illness this
:13:44. > :13:45.Christmas. Our reporter John Danks
:13:46. > :13:47.followed their trip Welcome aboard the spotlight express
:13:48. > :14:20.on the Dartmouth steam railway. As the train steams on towards
:14:21. > :14:24.Kingswinford Dartmouth the excitement is on board is building.
:14:25. > :14:30.One passenger trying to take it all then is four-year-old Flynn who is
:14:31. > :14:36.here with his grandparents. Flynn's is with us today because his big
:14:37. > :14:41.sister has been rushed to Children's Hospital. She is being treated for
:14:42. > :14:44.cancer at the moment and has been fighting for 15 months. Her third
:14:45. > :14:50.session of chemotherapy so she is away for three months now. Doing
:14:51. > :14:53.events and trips like this with the little one is very special to him
:14:54. > :15:05.because he misses his sister and his mum. And soon it is time to meet
:15:06. > :15:12.Santa himself. I like your jumper! I wish you a very Merry Christmas.
:15:13. > :15:16.Thank you very much. Flynn's trip was paid for by the Torbay holiday
:15:17. > :15:22.helpers network, a charity that specialises in days out for families
:15:23. > :15:27.with seriously ill children. I wish you a very Merry Christmas. Also
:15:28. > :15:32.getting into the festive spirit is four-year-old Harry from Newton
:15:33. > :15:39.Abbot. Is ticket provided by a cancer charity. He has been
:15:40. > :15:44.undergoing treatment for leukaemia since April. It is one of those
:15:45. > :15:50.little things, it is very small and it means so much to them. He has
:15:51. > :15:56.been so excited. Because Father Christmas is here so it is brilliant
:15:57. > :15:57.really. Magic of it. And Flynn already knows what he wants for
:15:58. > :16:10.Christmas. To play with Allah. -- for to play with Ella. It looks
:16:11. > :16:16.like these two have headed off. In the run up to the big day we've
:16:17. > :16:20.seen families reunited as servicemen and women return from tours of duty
:16:21. > :16:23.- others of course won't be home We'll hear their Christmas
:16:24. > :16:26.message in a moment. But first military families have
:16:27. > :16:29.gathered to sing carols at the home Johnny Rutherford is
:16:30. > :16:40.at Bickleigh Barracks. A carol service with a bit of a
:16:41. > :16:44.difference, isn't it? Actually we are at Bickleigh Barracks but have a
:16:45. > :16:48.look around, this is in fact the stables at Bickleigh Barracks. Where
:16:49. > :16:53.22 horses although they are not quite military forces but I will
:16:54. > :16:58.explain that in a second are here at Bickleigh Barracks. Earlier on I had
:16:59. > :17:02.a look around the stables. The stable club was founded in 1961 but
:17:03. > :17:09.the horses aren't actually military working horses, no Trooping the
:17:10. > :17:12.Colour here. Some are owned by military personnel and some by
:17:13. > :17:20.Republic. Cathy Gillespie runs the stables. Who are the stables
:17:21. > :17:23.actually for? They are here for families and their children and not
:17:24. > :17:29.just the military but also be public as well so anybody can come up and
:17:30. > :17:36.have riding lessons and see the work that we do, our primary purpose is
:17:37. > :17:41.to provide riding lessons and horse care for military families. Would
:17:42. > :17:44.you like to have a look around? That would be great. Let me put Bob to
:17:45. > :17:52.bed and there will be right with you. This is thin. Hello. He is
:17:53. > :18:00.still a baby. Here we have grace. Hello. She is wondering what is
:18:01. > :18:05.going on. She is gorgeous. And then we come to my favourite because he
:18:06. > :18:13.is my horse. This is labour. The stables here, we work very closely
:18:14. > :18:18.with soldiers who have PTSD and problems like that so we are doing
:18:19. > :18:22.therapy with them. We're going to be extending that into 2017. Quite a
:18:23. > :18:27.big thing because back in May the stables were close to closing and
:18:28. > :18:34.within two weeks, and now all good to go. 2017 is definitely for you to
:18:35. > :18:38.be our year. Something special going on? I am not going to say, watch
:18:39. > :18:45.this space, but there is going to be something very special happening
:18:46. > :18:52.over 2017. The commander of 42 commando is here. What does this
:18:53. > :18:56.mean having the stables here? It is wonderful, it brings great warmth
:18:57. > :18:58.and character to the unit. We are having the carol service this
:18:59. > :19:04.evening not just to get into the Christmas spirit to remember all the
:19:05. > :19:10.people at 42 Commando deployed at the moment. Members in the Middle
:19:11. > :19:13.East but also people in the Naval service and wider Armed Forces
:19:14. > :19:19.working for Christmas and means we can figure them. There are some
:19:20. > :19:22.families here this evening? Yes, the stables live with us here at
:19:23. > :19:26.Bickleigh Barracks but they work with servicepeople from all over the
:19:27. > :19:28.Naval service and give a lots of the community so we are bringing in the
:19:29. > :19:36.family is deceiving to say thank you. It is always a difficult time,
:19:37. > :19:40.to be away from families. Yes, as I said we have people away and it
:19:41. > :19:42.gives us a moment to think of them. The stables are all about a
:19:43. > :19:46.community and family spirit and there is no better time than
:19:47. > :19:52.Christmas to have that. Hopefully we will hear some music later on.
:19:53. > :19:54.As we mentioned - many military families won't be
:19:55. > :19:56.together this year - spending the festive
:19:57. > :20:01.The men and women on board HMS Ocean which is currently out in the Gulf
:20:02. > :20:31.have sung their Christmas wishes ? well, almost.
:20:32. > :20:39.# Were going to have a party tonight.
:20:40. > :20:48.# Snow is falling, all around me, children playing, having fun.
:20:49. > :20:56.# The season, love and understanding, Merry Christmas,
:20:57. > :20:59.everyone. And you can see the full video
:21:00. > :21:20.on our Facebook page. Well, the big day really is almost
:21:21. > :21:23.upon us now and here at Spotlight we're big fans of Christmas,
:21:24. > :21:32.so our Christmas celebrations Here is a reminder. It is nearly
:21:33. > :21:36.over, this stupid money spending bracket we call Christmas. The
:21:37. > :21:40.pantries are stuffed with charities, cakes and puddings. Sellers are
:21:41. > :21:52.dripping with... Sorry, I have forgotten it. Can we start again?
:21:53. > :22:00.What a fantastic site. And Santa Claus has got 31 hours. How much do
:22:01. > :22:04.you get paid? I think that is a personal matter, isn't it? Would you
:22:05. > :22:16.do it for nothing? I would if they wanted me to.
:22:17. > :22:25.I looked across the field. I thought I saw a rabbit, spiced the rain
:22:26. > :22:36.gear. When we came close it was a baby reindeer! 531 hours and that
:22:37. > :22:55.gives us the speed which is 6 million mph.
:22:56. > :23:09.Looking at the plumpness of the breast. Do you agree? Yes.
:23:10. > :23:15.The knowing nod. I think someone is following you around. I will miss
:23:16. > :23:18.him after Christmas. It feels like Christmas eve, but that is not so
:23:19. > :23:19.plenty of time to start the shopping! I would think about what
:23:20. > :23:32.It looks like we will have a relatively quiet Christmas. There
:23:33. > :23:36.will be some wind. Quite a strong wind. It is easing off a bit
:23:37. > :23:41.tonight. It will return tomorrow. Generally it is mild and we will see
:23:42. > :23:46.some showers dotted around. Compared to other parts of the country we are
:23:47. > :23:51.doing quite well. That book of cloud to the north-east is one area of low
:23:52. > :23:55.pressure. That is leaving Canada. Tracking across the Atlantic and it
:23:56. > :24:00.has been given a name and it looks like that will head towards the
:24:01. > :24:04.centre of Bavaria. Heading towards the far north of Scotland. For much
:24:05. > :24:11.of Christmas Eve for tomorrow looks like it will be dry. A few showers
:24:12. > :24:15.dotted around. That turns up through Christmas Day. The weather front
:24:16. > :24:19.will arrive late in the day for us on Christmas day afternoon into
:24:20. > :24:23.Christmas Day evening. Let's have a look at the rain we saw earlier
:24:24. > :24:27.today because that is now clearing away from Dorset and the east of
:24:28. > :24:31.Somerset and what we are left with is more broken cloud over to the
:24:32. > :24:36.West. This was earlier today where is there was some pretty big waves.
:24:37. > :24:40.Strong gusts of wind earlier today have whipped up the seas. Not too
:24:41. > :24:43.bad for people other than the bug with the breeze nowhere near as
:24:44. > :24:50.strong across the northern half of Britain. 40 or 50 mph. Those winds
:24:51. > :24:54.have eased and I think for tomorrow it won't be nearly as windy and
:24:55. > :24:58.actually quite a bit brighter too. This evening and overnight tonight
:24:59. > :25:02.the first line of showers clears away and we are left with clear
:25:03. > :25:07.skies. Just a few showers dotted around. In between some lengthily
:25:08. > :25:12.clear skies which will it turns quite cold. Overnight temperatures
:25:13. > :25:16.could well be as low as three or four Celsius. I don't think we will
:25:17. > :25:19.see a frost but it will be a cold start. We should get some morning
:25:20. > :25:22.sunshine before the cloud thickens and later in the day we will start
:25:23. > :25:27.to see thicker cloud approach from the far west but most of the day
:25:28. > :25:30.brightened dry. The chance for a few showers. Otherwise a dry story and
:25:31. > :25:37.not as windy is today. Temperatures getting up to an around ten or 11.
:25:38. > :25:46.For the Isles of Scilly bright and breezy then cloudy in the afternoon.
:25:47. > :25:53.For other surfers the waves are going to be big. Very messed up
:25:54. > :25:57.because of the wind. Ten feet along the northern shores of Cornwall. The
:25:58. > :26:04.winds for the coastal waters are westerly. Forced 5-6. Mainly fair
:26:05. > :26:09.with generally good visibility. Here is the Christmas Day broadcast. A
:26:10. > :26:16.lot of cloud and also quite windy. Not strong to start with but picked
:26:17. > :26:19.up and in the afternoon on the coastline we will have gale force
:26:20. > :26:23.winds. Through boxing day and the early part of next week it is much
:26:24. > :26:28.quieter but also quite a bit colder. The only white stuff we are likely
:26:29. > :26:30.to see is a bit of frost from early next week. From all of us have a
:26:31. > :26:33.lovely Christmas, back to you. Well, that's our last full
:26:34. > :26:35.programme before Christmas - we will, of course, keep you up
:26:36. > :26:38.to date in our bulletins We'll leave you tonight
:26:39. > :26:47.with the sound of members From Arsenal, a very happy
:26:48. > :27:10.Christmas. -- we leave you with Rudolph, the
:27:11. > :27:16.red nose reindeer.