THESE are days to treasure in the memory.

Jersey is beautiful in all seasons, but this late-coming Indian summer seems to have cast it in an especially golden glow which has done more than could anything man-made to provide a much-needed lift to the spirits – and all the more so for coming as it does after the disappointment of the true summer months.

It is often said, but bears much repetition, that people fortunate enough to live in Jersey have a tendency to take it for granted. Sometimes that tendency is corrected by visits to other places which, it sooner or later becomes clear, cannot match the indefinable magic produced here by the interplay of scenery, climate, culture and community. At other times, the renewed sense of appreciation comes simply from stopping and looking at the scenery, and it always comes more readily when the sun is shining.

This, then, is a time to get out and about and do just that, taking by whatever means necessary the proverbial time to stand and stare. Islanders have also been seizing the unexpected opportunity to keep on enjoying summer pursuits even as the autumn leaves pile up. Happily coinciding with spectacular tidal rises and falls that have made the outlook even more appealing, this sunshine bonus has reminded us all not only of the beauty we are privileged to inhabit but also of the easy availability of simple traditional pleasures like a beach barbecue, a country walk or a low-water fishing expedition.

The warm surge of nostalgia for simpler times has even been enhanced this week by the odd power cut, a rare occurrence these days and, for most, less of an inconvenience than a thought-provoking break from the modern treadmill of relentless communication and activity.

In the last 40 years or so, partly for reasons beyond our control and partly for those which have been self-inflicted, life in Jersey has gone from being simple, cheap and relatively carefree to complex, expensive and stressful.

One thing has not changed, however, and that is the ability to enjoy the psychological safety valves of natural beauty and outdoor delights of all kinds within a short trip from home.

This late summer encore, inviting a welcome change of pace to enjoy it, has reminded us once again that the coast and countryside are not incidental luxuries but represent the very essence of Jersey and what makes life here worth living, and that they must be protected with all the determination that demands.

The old-time pleasures of a long Jersey summer are freely on offer for a few days longer this year. Make the most of them.