Typically people think there are 2 types of squirrel, but amazingly there are three. The first two are pretty similar, they are cute and fluffy and spend their days finding nuts; these are your common or garden red and grey squirrel. The 3rd type is really rare, very welcome when it comes and always brings a smile to your face; this is the secret squirrel and leaving France we turned into secret squirrels.

After the dogs had finished being blown off their chains in the Bay of Biscay we could venture out to sea and we headed offshore for Guernsey. In Guernsey we had a date as a secret squirrel and all the planets were aligning.

As is usual for Ruffian we sailed downwind and downtide, dolphins flitted around our bow and the sunset and sunrise were spectacular. Sleep however was not forthcoming. We knew the tides at Guernsey were ferocious and because the planets were aligning we had tides with such massive ranges that even squirrels inside their warm furry coats would shiver in fear.

Finally the moment of deploying the secret squirrel was upon us. Inside Guernsey Yacht club were Emma, Toby, Anne & secret squirrel organiser Martin. The old gang had no idea of our presence and we deployed our best paws (if squirrels have paws) to sneak up and surprise them.

There were whoops of joy and surprise, hugs and kisses exchanged, including a few too many between Toby & Iain to be socially acceptable and smiles for miles all parties. It was like we’d never been parted with, Toby & Iain playing tricks at every turn, Anne doing her best Michael Jackson moves, Emma being the best plaything ever and Martin knowing that he’d earned his degree in secret squirreling from the MI5 university of secrets.

The fun with ‘The Gang’ continued on Herm and it was once again time for us to play the secret squirrel game. Hiding either side of a courtyard entrance we jumped out to a shocked Jodie & Toby W. With shock changing to excitement we feared that Jodie would have a ‘pelvic floor’ moment as she was jumping about so much.

Now with everybody together we could embark on a classic English beach holiday. The main event of the day was a hole digging competition and with Lexie choosing Toby, Iain, and Toby W for her team and Carrie choosing Fiona, Emma, Anne and Martin. The competition was on. Armed with little sand castle buckets and tiny plastic spades sand flew in every direction and down we went.

Carrie’s team didn’t stand a chance, like a well oiled construction team Lexie’s team got to an official depth of 2 Lexie’s and were crowned hole digging champions.

Like all the best British beach holidays rain stopped play and in its place we kicked off the BBQ. This is where the great British beach holiday took a strange turn. Instead of turning out sausages that are charred to death on the outside and swarming with e-coli on the inside Martin served up a sumptuous spread that was cooked to perfection.

There was another strange turn of events after the British beach holiday. Not only was Ruffian tied up in a marina, but Fiona was also to be left home alone. Iain was to spread some wings, leave Fiona & Ruffian alone for the first time in 4 years, don a suit and leather soled shoes and enter the corporate world for a meeting at PTC.

This IS NOT fun sailing.


France were so happy we were leaving they laid on a show for us.


This IS fun sailing.


Another night at sea another amazing sunset.


Goodbye France. Hello England.


Tobytastic Toby is put to work on Ruffian.


Smiles for miles.


Herm is pretty cool.


Larry finds a new friend to play with.


‘The Gang’ + A beach + Spades = Massive hole.


Y-oooooo.


All Martin needs now is an inflatable chair and a can of Budwieser.


Who would think we’re only 80 miles from England.


Classic conditions for BBQ’ing in Europe.


There are some pretty unusual transport options on Guernsey.


Friends reunited.