23/12/2016 Channel Islands News

It's frenzied Friday for Christmas shoppers.

And this year, while it may have been a bumper time for people

buying online in Guernsey, it seems the High Street

It's thought changes made to parking in town at peak times has encouraged

people to get out and go shopping as Lucy Bickerton has

With just two more sleeps until Christmas -

But how much present buying has been done from the comfort of home?

Probably about half and half, this year we did do a lot of shopping

online but now we are in the high streets doing some more shopping.

High-street mostly full by done most of mine on the high Street as well.

In the shopping online. Definitely. It wouldn't be able to buy lovely

jumpers like this. On high-street because I prefer to be at to see

what I'm buying and then if it doesn't fit I just take it back and

change it. Guernsey Post says they've

had their busiest December yet. And put the increase down to more

people buying online. But initial views are that shops

are also doing well this Christmas. The good weather may have helped,

but its thought relaxing some parking restrictions in town has

also meant more people Its one of those

things where you you do come with an initiative which this

year has been fantastic you work on that and next time we'll perhaps

get through to the public who perhaps didn't

even know about it. So has this really encouraged some

people away from their computers I definitely brought mum in today

knowing that we probably had a bit longer because it takes her longer

working there and everything. And it's a good idea come anything to to

come into town and support local traders is a really good idea. I

have Dewey McDonald think so, shopping is a must have you need to

come into town, you need to park and that is it really.

The Festive retail number crunching won't take place until the new year.

But for now it seems many will be raising a glass

Thirteen planned operations have had to be cancelled so far this week

as Jersey's hospital continues to come under stress.

The situation hasn't been helped by higher than usual

numbers of staff off sick - which has led to the cancellation

of a number operations including six yesterday and two today.

The hospital says it's regrettable but unfortunately unavoidable.

As we head towards 2017 - we thought it was a good opportunity

to look back at the year's big stories - but what were they?

Penny Elderfield has the top ten that got you talking

and clicking this year - and there are some surprises.

2016 has a lot to be remembered for. At number ten is is the tale of this

sick cat which was taken to Guernsey's animal shelter. Things

weren't looking good until it had a good wash, when it became clear it

was just a puppet. At number nine is the five Jersey boys who went for

the England manager job. They ended up meeting the man that got it, Sam

Allardyce. He is a big friendly giant. So he's very. The BFG wasn't

there for long. The number eight spot goes to Guernsey's election.

Volla lows, goodbyes, highs and lows. That is politics, so Comey you

know. Move on to other things. Condor makes an appearance at number

seven but it's all about we do a number one or two on board. The

Ferry Opera to add to change its toilet signs from ladies and gents

to symbols after a complaint of transgendered nation. Wrapping it up

at number six is the wrapping teacher from Jersey. I'm doing this

with a board marker #. Catching the attention of American

rappers 50 cents who thinks he has some flow. At number five and out of

defiance against the Nazis officially recognised. It is perhaps

the greatest possible honour and Israeli diplomat campus door.

Dorothy Shattered Dreams Friend for 18 months, risking her own life to

save his. And another act of wartime bravery at number four, Guernsey's

juggling and Joe Tierney were deported to prisons in Europe for

distributing news sheets and this year after seven decades of

searching their daughters finally found them. At last I have found the

closure I was looking for. At number three, enjoying the December

sunshine, maybe the best option for pupils at this Jersey School after

their annual summer beach trips were cancelled of health and safety.

Article number two and the quest to find the name for this research

vessel. Eventually it was after Sir David Attenborough but the public

voted for Boaty McBoat face, a suggestion from Jersey. In the top

spot a story from the top of Guernsey's Government with a cheap

and is committed world headlines after describing the island as

Islamophobic when speaking about the decision not to accept refugees. He

later apologised for his comments but perhaps won't be celebrating his

win on this occasion. And eclectic due to say the least. Bring on 2017

and all the weird and wonderful news we get to know about.

Here's your Christmas weekend weather with David Braine.

Thank you, nothing too dramatic for the islands in terms of whether for

this Christmas weekend, it will be a bit blustery and quite windy at

times. Generally mild with some showers dotted around as well. As

one weather front away overnight what we are left with is a ridge of

high pressure and westerly winds mean temperatures in double figures,

so not cold. There is another weather front coming our way towards

the end of the day on Christmas Day with outbreaks of rain associated

with that and the wind increasing again. Some patchy rain that cleared

earlier this evening is out of the way now and we left with clear skies

and just a chance of a few passing showers overnight and a lot less

windy with the wind from the west north west and 7 degrees will be the

maximum temperature. As for the forecast for Christmas Eve through

the daytime, it is dry with a chance of a shower but also, I think, we

should get some on and off sunshine. The wind is fresh and coming in from

the West or south-west. For Christmas Day there is a lot more

cloud around as the weather front approaches but still relatively

mild, 12 or 13 degrees will be the top temperature and Mindy and choose

day, Boxing Day and Tuesday, it begins to settle down with an area

of high pressure generally becoming quite quiet. Goodbye for now.

That is it from us, regular news travel and weather updates on BBC

William Guernsey and Jersey and also online UK. From all of us, Merry

Christmas. big day? Christmas Day. It will stay

mild and temperatures could reach 14, 15. He is down bet that the

national picture. It will be more northern parts of

the UK that see the worst of the weather. Another storm is developing

in the Atlantic. This will turn into Storm Connor. This cloud has wrapped

around storm Barbara. It brought gusty winds in the West. Some

localised flooding in Scotland early on and the strongest winds in the

north of Scotland approaching 80 miles an hour. The amber window

warning from the Met Office is about to expire. It