Drop Everything

If you had any plans today, can I suggest that you change them! Polzy is firing - 3- 4ft, light wind from the South.

Sweet as

Sweet as this morning - head high on the sets, no wind. Definitely worth suiting up for and no horses in the line- up.

Eight eggs from the chickens this morning! They must be happy chickens. Got in a bit of a head spin when the flymo fired up.

King's Troop part 2

The King's Troop were back on the beach this morning - and apart from one of the riders breaking his leg, and a couple of horses bolting back to camp - one with jockey, one without - I think it went pretty well!

Surf's Up! shorts: Cat still missing : The chickens are doing well, I'm thinking of taking some photos to put in my albumen (you can have that one): I let them go free range yesterday, there was fantastic face off between Nugget and Libby, our black Lab... they were black nose, to yellow beak. Libby retreated gracefully giving it the old sideways white of the eyes worried look : surf today? head high, bit onshore, sun is out.. and the ice cream van has arrived, that'll be a Feast Original for me then.

Wellingtons are definitely going to catch on, loving them.. oh and an umbrella, the combo just works... is this an age thing? To be honest, it was wellies or Crocs. Shoes with holes in? Not for me : Two companies (one might be owned by the other) that I think are just the best example of what's possible in troubled times, Premier Inn and Costa, the Costa drive through, genius : Oh and postie Ken who's just been in for a chin wag asked how Billy's leg was. I've heard two Polzeath rumours recently, one was that Billy broke his leg and the second was that we're moving to Australia, neither are true or have any foundation whatsoever! I can only think that the local gossip mongers must be having a lean spell. You can't make it up,... actually you can and they do! Saddos!

Tinkling

Not a lot of people know this, but one of my great loves is the piano. And when we haven't got guests staying in our flat (not because I sound like Les Dawson, but because it's where the piano is kept) I play quite a lot. I was tinkling away only a short while ago and I was reminded of a funnyish story from a couple of years ago.

We took a group of local kids over to Brittany for a surf camp, where we stayed in this gothic mansion. It had three floors and a dungeon - great for scaring the kids on halloween (which it was). In the large lounge stood this white grand piano. Over the week, I'd sit down from time to time and play a few notes but not used to public performances kept it to a minimum. Anyway, I can't remember exactly how it happened, but one afternoon following a blinding morning surf, and gaining in confidence I let rip with a rendition of the Theme from Love Story. Mikey, who was in the next room, came and sat down on the long stool beside me to listen. Once I'd finished he was full of praise, seemed genuinely impressed and took it upon himself to gather the kids, so that I could give a repeat performance to them. I really, really didn't want to, but peer group pressure from the kids all sat behind me, was overwhelming. So I took a big deep breathe and gave it a go. It's funny how silly little things like this can make a grown man so nervous. It went well I thought - less Les Dawson than I'd imagined. And not bad considering my last outing would have been as an eight year old at a school concert.

Pleased with my performance and delighted to have finished, I turned to accept the justified praise, only to find that they'd all gone, tipped toed out of the room and left me to play all by myself. Oh yes, very funny. Very funny indeed. Textbook.

Mikey works for BT now - I might just remember that little episode when I next see him up a pole. Might have to take his ladder away when he's not looking - who'll be laughing then eh! "Say sorry Mikey? Say "please Petey, o great one, can I have my ladder back?""

That was one hell of a holiday - some of the best waves I've ever surfed, even got barrelled on a swelly. Solid overhead most days. Crozon Peninsula, don't say I didn't tell you.

ps horses gave it a miss today, but they're down on the beach again in the morning and on Sunday.

Kings Troop

The horses are back - The Kings Troop - they like a good canter around the beach, catching an early wave. I think it's the grooms that come down to ride them. Although one of the main men of the platoon (?) was there. I asked him whether these were the horses that were used for the Royal Wedding. Sadly not, but he went... as an usher! Also referred to I believe as a 'paid gentleman' .... one of a crew of ten from the military. That's the 'Fact of the Day'.

Now this is the sort of e-mail you like to get of a morning - and I quote -

"WOW – Just wanted to say a belated THANK YOU for not only the totally Stunning Calendar of Polzeath but the totally efficient way in which my order was taken and processed and sent out – a Wonder in a world where customer service is sometimes lacking, but not down with you."

We aim to please. If you haven't bought one of our calendars yet, then dive on in. One of the months shows a photos from when the horses came down last year.

Chicken!

The chickens have excelled themselves today, six eggs. Four chickens, six eggs! Okay they can stay! Here's Nora.

Findog holding Nugget, Nora looking on, Drummers bottom on right.

Tour of Britain

Stoked with this photo! The Tour of Britain rolled across Dartmoor yesterday. With the likes of Hushovd, Thomas and the main man, the legend that is Mark Cavendish in the line up, it was a must see event.

There's Cav, as I know him (!), in the white colours of HTC sitting in his usual low position, keeping out of the wind. It's a strange spectator event. You sit on the side of the road for two hours, the tension builds as motor bikes and support vehicles start to come through, then you see the helicopter.. by the time the riders arrive the atmosphere is electric. And then they're through, quick as that. Actually we were quite lucky that there were two break away groups - so we had at least seven minutes of action!

From high up on the Dartmoor, I then went over the Exmouth to see the final sprint. Exactly the same build up - it's pretty awesome. Loved it.

Decisions, decisions

The surf has dropped off a bit this morning - still a good size mind and it's cleaned up heaps. We've had a meeting this morning about next years clothing range and yeah, quite excited about what's in store (or will be in store). Few new ideas bouncing around and some blue sky thinking - inspired by the sun's re-appearance. My head is spinning!

It's been too long

It's been too long .. and to have all this humour inside and not share it with you guys. It's selfish I know.

The forecast was "Great Expectations". What we actually got was more, "Wuthering Heights!" The spin off from Hurricane Katia had the potential, in combo with a good spring tide, to create quite a stir at Polzeath. We moved the trailer off the beach two nights in a row in anticipation of a 'biggy'. But in reality, apart from observing the disconsolate man staring into his BMW as if at the round window of a Zanussi ZWG (should have shut your door mate, one more spin cycle, then you can stick it in the drier!) - there was little to cheer about. The highest surge just about reached the top of the beach. 'Much Ado about Nothing' I'm afraid. (You'll notice I'm taking you on a tour of 'book titles that I know' collection. Did you know? I got an 'A' level in English even though I never read the book, Middlemarch - the principle novel of the exams. Genius - although to be fair the grade was poor! There's a lesson there somewhere.)

Of course, if you want to see the last real storm here at Polzy and you haven't already seen it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOAKZLwHhXU - you won't believe it. And who's that handsome, young man?

Surf's Up! Shorts - last weekend I headed off to Swansea with Findog for a footie match, we stayed there over night. Went to the local water slide place, but had no shorts. Had to buy a fine pair of drawstrings! I looked just like my Dad. None of you were there were you? Phew! : Billy's started Secondary School - all seems to be going well. I remember when I was at school, admittedly a long time ago it used to really bug me when kids would bring in notes from home (NTC - not to change) to say they couldn't play games. I tried taking one into Chemistry once (NTC - not to chemistry) but was forced to do the periodic table. Not fair! : first couple of weeks of September have been surprisingly busy considering the weather, it's all been a bit Kamizakee (bit of a nip in the air), surf's been okay though : sold those last remaining wetsuits in about 5 mins : few Beach House dates available back end of September and early October if you fancy coming on down, best price, best price, you wan cheap watch? : off to see the Tour of Britain bike race on Thursday passing over Dartmoor, looking forward to seeing how fast they really go : Kelly Slater remains the man to beat on the ASP World Tour, can he really win 11 titles? Amazing.

Our chickens have laid some eggs - we're getting about two a day, which from my point of view, balancing work / reward ratio, is poor quite frankly. But they're sweet (and sour), that'll be the marinade I wash them in at night or as they know it, 'bath time'.

It's a given

Sarah's day off - I'm manning the shop. This is a mistake as I'm being creative!! Ladies size 14 winter West wetsuits - we've got three left - yours for £40 reduced from £150!! And everything on-line, no post and packing, for a few days until Sarah notices. Can't say fairer than that.

We thought it'd be a bit quieter today and then I noticed Wailin surrounded by the trailer on the beach!