Diary. Saint Peter Port

Yesterday it was on, off, on again all day. Hugh and I, having survived the first scary Bordeaux - England wine voyage all those years ago - when we clung to the mast and our bottles of Marcel Ragnaud's finest VSOP in the storm - had insanely wanted to do the voyage again. Well, he did and I couldn't be chicken.

But we had to be in England for the special vineyard planting. That being done, Hugh was bellowing down a crackly line to the First Mate about how they should put in somewhere so we could get aboard.

Finally the ship agreed so we rushed to Gatwick - Flybe 19.50 to Guernsey - and a good fish supper. Him turbot, me plaice. Fresh as fresh. With a 2010 Muscadet. Perfecto.

Morning, no contact with Irene of Bridgewater. And that Marine Tracker website still not picking her up. Where is she? Where's my wine? Lost? Mutinied? Got a better offer in Brest? Probably just wind has dropped, and they are away from shore.

We climb up Cornet Castle, scan the horizon (20p telescope) and wait.

Finally a call from Hugh's son Red to give us a rendez-vous in Moulin Huet Bay at 9am tomorrow. She doesn't want to stop – we have to go out to her. Receptionist suggests the No.5 bus. We think a boat might be better … Plus there's now this long list of stuff like sleeping bags and oilskins we didn't know we had to have and a longer list of provisions they apparently need. Like bread and beer. So we do more tourist, shop and eat more fish. Lobsters are cheap here.

It’s a very pretty little seaside place. Colourfully dressed holiday people mixed oddly with masses of serious guys in grey suits, frowning at blackberries. Offshore bankers, I guess.

I have never been to the Channel Islands before, tho' I pass by often on the St Malo ferry. I will recommend to herself that we have a break here sometime. The 'Duc de Normandie' was perfectly OK, except we got shoved out after a night. Nothing we did. Just overbooked.

Now 'Le Fregatte' is really nice with a fabulous terrace bar for watching the harbour and sea lanes. A chap could retire here. We'll track down more fish tonight and see what the morrow brings.