Sydney and Marvin: Life Lessons on the Wing

Two Seagulls meet by accident on the North Coast of France near a Ferry Port, one is a Young English bird (Sydney) and the Other is a wise, experienced old French bird (Marvin).

Sydney until then in England had led a lonesome life as a late developer and it is not clear whether he had a family of his own. Marvin befriends Sydney and introduces him to his environment and friends.

Over time they form a friendship from which Sydney draws valuable life lessons. Sydney is exposed to new experiences he had never witnessed before. Marvin accepts Sydney into his family through his sister in law leading to a romance between Sydney and Marvin's niece.

Sydney learns that Marvin had recently lost his wife through a mishap a storm over the sea. Sydney meets other species of birds, the friendly ones and the not so friendly. He learns of other fish and the abundance of shellfish.

There is an early introduction to man's technology and the harnessing of nature. During several months he settles into his new life and marries his first and only sweetheart (Sophie).

Although very happy, homesickness sets in and he and his new wife Sophie return to the shores of Cornwall accompanied by Marvin and his sister-in-law. Through a conversation with Pete (an English Puffin) he discovers Marvin's lost wife might have survived after all, and is somewhere in the South West of England.