Summer Report

I am going to do a Summer Round-up. Should be able to get around to it in next couple of days. It's all gone quiet now - that'll be the kids back to school and bad weather combo! Windy woo. Not that it stops our clients from heading in.

Just a bit cross!

Turns out Esme has been lost 250 miles away. The people who took her had a big black rottweiller and our best guess is that as soon as they opened the front door, she decided she was outta there, no doubt onto the busy road at the end of the terrace! Unfortunately the cat nappers seem to have taken on absolutely no responsibility to help find her, so we went there ourselves on Bank Holiday Monday, stayed overnight and have done our own door to door search. But with no luck so far.

It is soo frustrating! We've had her since she was a kitten, she's 6 now. I was trying to work it out, give or take a week here or there for holidays she's been with us for 2280 days. You form bonds and we're responsible for her. She used to come with me to walk the dog around the field in the evening or walk down to the beach to do the final trailer pack. In the evening she'd settle on Fin's bed whilst he went to sleep and then I'd put her out when it was time for me turn in. She was part of the family. Why someone chose to take her I have no idea. And then having discovered that she did have a home, lose her? And then having lost her, make no efforts to find her. It's beyond belief really and very, very selfish. So unnecessary. Bit of a sad cloud hangs over the Craskie household at the moment. I know, I know, she's just a cat. Doesn't mean that we shouldn't care.

Smelly Poo Protest

Our cat Esme went missing - so we went in search. We know that the local caravan park is a favourite and only a short meander away. People had seen here around, but not for the last few days. So we put up a load of posters to see if we could get some info. We thought she perhaps had been locked in a caravan by mistake, sneaked in as someone packed up to go home - so we checked all the empty caravans. But no success.

To cut a long story short and following many, many search missions. We found her. In a locked caravan? No. Got stuck in a bin? No. Got shut in the old white house? No. No we found her in Stoke on Trent!

I'm not sure exactly what happened yet, but someone must have fed her, thought she was a stray and bundled her into the car at the end of their holiday. I can't quite get my head around this because if you know cats, you'd know that if you feed them and encourage them, they'll be your best friend. But that doesn't mean they're stray. Esme looks far from a stray, she just likes chicken! It's one thing to feed a cat for a few days and quite another to then bundle them into the car. And I do think that if they'd really thought about it, they'd have asked at reception if anyone knew who the cat belonged too. Driving past reception they must have known they were doing something wrong. She's well known to most people on the camp site. What makes me laugh is she's not a good traveller - howls like a banshee after 400 metres. Hit the 5 mile mark and she'll release a stinky poo protest unlike anything you've ever smelt before. We've had to make an emergency evacuation of the car before now!

They're driving her back today (from Stoke on Trent) - it'll be great to see her.

Green Army! Great news last night that Plymouth Argyle are to survive- we got the news at the boys training. On a selfish level, it would have been a bit of a blow for the boys had they gone out of business. It's tough to get in. The Cardiff supporters and coach were very complimentary about the way Billy played after the match on the weekend and they had him down as the one to watch. That's my boy!

Bank holiday weekend - here we go! Is it going to be busy? I have no idea. Weather looks okay. Better than yesterday. But the surf was cranking - had a few sweet rides. Oh, and let's look out for the waves from Hurricane Irene - normally takes about a week for the swell to get here. It's always the best type of swell, long travelled, big gaps between the sets - happy days. I'll keep you posted on when it's expected to arrive so you can get down here.

Here we go - a nice little wave to be had and really not that busy.

Now then, what's to report? Sooo much driving, that's all I know! Went up to Cardiff over the weekend, Billy had a footie match. Now I understand what it's like when visitors make the long drive home. It took us six hours to get to Wales! And they lost 4 - 0, that was the bad news. Good news, Billy played a stormer. The score line isn't a true reflection of the game - the oppo had two teams and Plymouth ran out of legs in the end on what was a scorching day.How do you walk around the turrets of a Castle? Caerphilly! Someone had to say it.

And the chickens are here!! Jalfrezi, Drummer, Nugget and Nora, picked them up yesterday and they're all bedded in, happy chucks.

Bang!

The British Firework Championships down at Plymouth were pretty cool last night. Couldn't believe how many people were there! Thousands and thousands! It's on again tonight 9.30pm.

Janey's staying down in Thurlestone for the week with the boys - I stay behind to keep an eye on the empire. With a good team behind us, I'm able to travel over most days. Don't really know that stretch of coast that well, but loved North Sands and Salcombe. Oh and we went to Quay West in Paignton. Quay West is the number one water park in the UK! Exactly, I didn't hold out much hope either. But much to my surprise it was really good, loads of fun. We've been to water parks all over the world, and if the way you judge a water park is fun per square inch, Quay West does it for me. Because the rides are short, twisty and fast, banging your head on the side is a given. Cool thing is you can wear wetsuits - pure genius.

Speaking of genius, two other nice surprises this week (slow news day) - David Sedaris, listened to him on Radio 4 - that man is hilarious. And Captain Flint's in Salcombe - pizza and pasta family restaurant. With a queue forming down the road at 5.30pm prior to opening, you know they must be doing something right. Highly recommended - great food, but more importantly with kids, quick, quick service and delivery of grub.

Back to the beach - the mixed bag of weather has not been that great. But then again, not too bad either. Surf's been okay. It's been quieter at the surf school generally this summer - we're cool with that. The shop on the other hand is doing great, well against the general trend on the beach I'd imagine. Not that that is relevant. We've put together some really cool Surf's Up! branded gear this year, and it's really apparent that whereas we used to just sell our hoodies etc just to our surf school clients, the shop is as popular with those who are buying the gear just because they like what's on offer, those who have seen others walking around in our stuff and come and find our shop. I think that's very positive and one reason why we're bringing the on-line shop right up to date. It's definitely opened our eyes as to where we want to go with it.

2012 Calendars - just in

A few snaps that we've taken of Polzeath assembled on an A3 format calendar, yes A3 - really pleased with it. Limited run of 500! Sweet - available through the on-line shop from .... now! £12!

Online Store

It's a big job, but it's starting to come together. We've got some great stock in the shop at the minute (thanks Sarah) but I'm pretty lazy when it comes to putting it all up on our online shop.I made a start yesterday with the help of Nephew Jordan who's been updating on the Mac. It's beginning to take shape. Reckon we'll have it nailed in a few days.

Thanks to Billyman and Fin and their cousins Charlie, Alice and Jamie who flew in especially all the way from Hong Kong to do their photos!

Take Action

Loving the vigilantes defending their own communities. Good on 'em. The yoofs have shown themselves to be ignorant and stupid. Looting Lidl's? Honestly! Waitrose or the Marks and Sparks Food hall, now that I could understand!

Surf today? Like my wife, small but perfectly formed!

Let's just take a moment....

We may be a long way from the city, but our thoughts are with the families and businesses affected by the mindless violence last night. I watched Sky News until the early hours of the morning, stunned, like most people no doubt at what was unfolding.

Hats off to the lady in the red coat sat at the bus stop, sitting patiently for the number 42 whilst all around was carnage. You wait for a bus and then....... none come along! Hm, I blame the glaziers - they started it.

If you've read The Master Strategist (I recommend it) Mr. Patel discusses that this age we live in is the tipping point, where the best of everything can be the worst of everything. Developments in communication, warfare, medicine, technology, transport etc - can all have very positive effects on our lives but at the same time can be very destructive. Social networks, blueberries etc can bring a swift call to arms - and that is very dangerous, particularly in the hands of a disenfranchised youth. The other side, is we can all take photos of the hooligans on the mobile phones and give them to the police.

Blast from the past

The boys are back in town - Nigel on the left and Ben on the right. I'm the pretty one in the middle! Ben and Nigel came to the surf school in our first year. Nigel choosing us because we were the only school that gave a hand written reply to their enquiry (the others must have had typewriters) so this was back in 1995. They visit now and again and it's always great to have a catch up. I love these guys. We went for a couple of surf's together - sun out 3ft on the sets, sweet as.

Ben runs the Black Bottle in Winchester, if you're passing pop in and say hi. There's no bar, you get your drinks from wall dispensers. Brilliant. And if you need to get there from Portsmouth then Nige may well be driving your train! Top blokes - happy days.

Now on a more sombre note - if you follow our blog (I say, our. I mean, my) you'll know that we go to Plymouth a lot - five times this week in fact, for the boys footie training. We got invited for a meeting at Home Park last night with all the junior squads which was very interesting. (They say that one in 10,000 junior players make it, but once you're in a club squad that figure goes down to one in ten! All to play for.) Anyway last Saturday we went into the City centre for a few bits and pieces. We couldn't believe what we were seeing - five shops in Drakes Circus have closed down and the less said about the two main shopping streets the better. It's as if, all of sudden, business owners have got out while they can. It is dire and actually quite shocking!

Polzeath has been quiet. Very quiet. Camps sites at the end of July a quarter full compared with full last year. We're protected at the surf school a bit because we get a lot of schools pre-booked, we're not reliant on passing trade, but even we're quieter than normal. Having said that the shop is up on last year following a strong July - against the odds! Yippee! And I have a theory on this. Firstly, we've got a lot more choice - it's not just hoodies and tees anymore. We've got a whole range of men's, women's and kids clothing plus own brand wetsuits. People have commented when they visit the shop that there's so much to choose from now. And secondly, I think we've got the pricing spot on. The Surf's Up! philosophy has always been to make what we do accessible to all - the surf lessons for example are £26 - in Newquay or Harlyn it'll be nearer the £40 mark! And yet the quality of the lesson, I would say, is the best on offer anywhere. And the hoodies for example, start at £25 and go up to £35 (the ones that came in yesterday are stunning!), compared to £50 plus for a main brand name. So it's a part of our business that we're really happy with - well done Sarah. I should say that the beach team is doing a fantastic job and following a chat with Wailin yesterday we're going to be working hard to keep the same team together for next year.

The other side of the business, the Beach House - has also been rocking and rolling.

Surf today? 2ft, light winds - sun trying to break through. I'm going to tickle into a few at low tide with the boys.