A load of Surf's Up! Boardshort

I've sneaked a peak in the 'secret cupboard' and I believe that 2012 will once again be the Chinese Year of the Sock. I'm happy with socks; you can't beat a good thick woollen pair in my experience; unlike an egg (geddit!). I've become quite a dab hand with an egg as it goes. My poached ones this morning were out of the top drawer. Springy to the touch and soft in the middle - Monica Galleti would have trouble finding fault with those puppies. Seasoning was spot on too. Which reminds me - chickens are for eggs, not for Christmas, they need a bit of looking after. ("All I'm saying is that it doesn't taste like Turkey" commented Grandma.)

My reference to the tramp, wasn't a joke. I did actually buy a tramp some chips. Myself and Billy had been down to the Royal William Yard to check out the new River Cottage (which looks amazing and totally unaffordable! You have to admire people with so much flair and imagination) and we stopped on the way back for a Mackie D's (much more in budget). As we entered the eaterie I noticed this chap in his 50's checking out the bins and scouring the floor. We got our order, jumped back in the car and on our drive out I spotted the man again. We pulled up alongside and opened up the window. "Dude, you look hungry," I said as I handed him the large portion of fries. His eyes lit up, he was truly stoked. Billy took this all in, then a few minutes later piped up. "Dad, why did you do that?" "Well son, you know sometimes people fall off the track. It's nice to be able to help out those who've fallen on hard times. It's good Karma." I enlightened him. "Yes, I get that Dad. But why did you give him my chips?" He enquired. "Mate, I'm starving! Now less chat and pass me those onion rings!"These life lessons are so important.

I'm deep into a brilliant book at the moment, The Sixth Man by David Baldacci, should nail that one by the end of the day; One of my favourite books of all time is Bounce by Matthew Syed. If you're a parent or coach, I urge you to read it; I see 'Big Dave' (as we know him) Cameron is up against the mighty Merkozy. Big Dave and family have been regular visitors to the surf school this year - he should resist any calls for a referendum. Wagner was kept in for eight weeks on the back of a public vote, I rest my case your honour!

Find a quiet little spot

Big Sam making the most of the difficult conditions. Super windy at this local spot with just Wailo and Sam in the line-up. Bit wet for the photographer as well!

Double Puffer

The wind is a blowin'. It's a double puffer morning make no mistake - gillet and full polar combo. On the beach, the water flowing down stream is heading back upstream from whence it came; the Oystercatchers are stood in formation, bills set to the North-West; and I nearly lost my Mocha, set on the side whilst I took this snap of the lifeguard hut. Now that would be a bad start to any day.

Thought I'd give you a run down of our opening times for the Christmas Period - basically we're open everyday for hire and surf lessons except Christmas Day and a lazy start on New Years Day. The shop will be open during this period as well. Wailin, Big Sam and Paddy are at the helm. Surprisingly, the Beach House is still available for Christmas (23rd - 30th December £650 including any surf hire, sleeps ten right on the beach) when I said before it was 'free', I meant 'available'! We've had new carpets put down and Wailin's been giving it a lick with the furry stick. Come up a treat, ready for 2012.

Surf's Up! Christmas combo's have gone down a storm, enough time to get pressies to you before the big day if you're still on the hunt. I've gone all salesy! I can only apologise; let's change the subject... fitness campaign in full swing, inspired by a conversation with Janey. Stood with little on and giving it the full Arnie pose, I asked her, "Name your three favourite body parts." "Your chin!" she replied. Well cut me down... expeditions across Dartmoor on the road bike are getting results; our gig last weekend finished with a bang, if you weren't there (quite likely as only about 30 people were!) you missed guitar supremo Sam Horan joining us for a rendition of Rockin in the Free World. Reminded me of the Drum Battle between Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, only with axes. Wailin and Sam went head to head in a guitar frenzy; I bought a tramp some chips yesterday which seemed to go down well; I know, it's a slow news day, make no mistake!

Hold onto your hats and take care out there. I'm going outside - cover me!

Combo's

Shall we get the business stuff done first? Yeah - and then that's done then isn't it? We've put together some Surf's Up! Christmas Combos - some unbelievable combos actually of hoodies, lesson vouchers, mugs, calenders etc that Santa can slide down the chimney with easy peasy. No need to grease the big f

ella up. All the bud ticklers are on there for a butchers click here (very amateurish Pete). Ooh, fancy! And! And the Beach House is still free for Christmas up until the 30th December - sand in your toes on Christmas Day, it's what dreams are made of.

Now for a quick fire round-up!... firing, what a period of swell that was! Pretty well unprecedented in my lifetime.. and I'm long in the incisor. Overhead glass - all the spots were dropping bombs for what seemed like weeks and weeks. Here's Sam below, at a secret spot (that everyone knows) tucking into a sweet right. When I went down there to take this snap there were a few students camped out in tents. I thought, if you're going to participate in the 'Occupy' protest, then this is the spot to do it. Smart kids. I approached the mob with well constructed discussion points. But as it turned out, they'd surfed until midnight under the light of the full moon. How cool is that? Unfortunately I've been out of action with a bad neck, something to do with bouncing on a trampoline 50,000 times and getting a bit over-confident with what I call my 'Beetle Spasms' - you lie on your back and throw your arms and legs skyward at the same time - great for abs, turns out it's rubbish for necks. I think I must have gone a bit high. I was, to be fair, excelling!

Anyway, November 5th was a nightmare! Hiss, bang, whoosh and all I could observe were the ohs and ahs and the tarmac at my feet. Very disappointing - nothing better than a good bombette in my opinion. Physical update - neck better, belly a bit chubster.

And on we go. Stay with me team! Our life has been thrown into a small amount of turmoil. Our eldest, Billyman aged twelve, big curly mop has this unwavering dream of making it as a pro footballer. I know, we live on a beach, how ironic! He plays for Plymouth Argyle (stop that! the youth set-up is pretty strong!) and the closest school that can realistically help him achieve this goal is in Ivybridge at the footie academy where they have a small group of players who train intensively during school time. We toddled along for a chat thinking that Billyman would go there in a couple of years time, but they said that he should start straight away - so one week later, he did! Now we didn't see that coming! So we've rented a place in Ivybridge and myself and Janey take it in turns to be up there during the week, one of us staying in Polzeath to be with Fin, our eight yr old, who doesn't have a curly mop but who is also football mad - I know, don't say it......! So it's a bit weird, but Billy's really getting stuck in, and you just have to do what you can do to help them on their way. Everyone's happy.

Nothing changes with Surf's Up! - in fact, a change is good, and I feel more energised being away from the beach for a couple of days a week than I did being right on top of the business all the time. Cabin Fever. And I'm loving the cycling up on Dartmoor, although on Tuesday I felt like a contestant through to the final stages of Wipeout. I thought I could beat that weather front - but it wasn't to be. It's seriously brutal up there, even on a sunny day. The open space is great for blue sky thinking.

Surf's Up! shorts - economy looks a bit shot, we made a commitment to our clients this year to hold prices, we were one of the only ones to do it. The intention remains the same for 2012. I can't see us putting prices up. I've noticed lots of up-selling when out and about.. "Would you like a Muffin with your Mocha?" "No thanks" "An extra shot of expresso?" "No thanks" "Would you like to sign my Grandmothers birthday card?" It's all getting a bit out of hand; I've recently discovered the world of the Dongle, it is a good world that opens doors. All praise to the dongle; our chickens are troublesome, more specifically Jalfrezi who has the genes of Ranulph Fiennes.. nothing is too high to scale or too far to venture, trying to find her is an exploration in itself; Mahoustic, the Surf's Up! band is making a final appearance of the year at Carters tomorrow night (friday) looking forward to strutting my stuff; and finally, my favourite radio programme 'Just a Minute' is coming to the tv to celebrate it's 45th birthday, this makes me very happy. And on the basis that I've hesitated, deviated and no doubt repeated myself, I suppose I should call it a day.

Don't forget Christmas is free at the Beach House, there's lots of great Surf's Up! pressie combos in the on-line store and if you want to sign my Grandmother's birthday card, you know where I am!

Seriously, the pleasure was all mine.

When will it ever end?

On and on it goes! Well overhead on the sets, maybe double.... offshore breeze. Make no mistake, this is Polzeath at it's very, very best!

So there we were walking across Dartmoor with the kids. Jane says "I told Phil (he's the main youth man at Plymouth) about Billy changing schools. He asked me how that was going to work and I told him that we were going to have to split and take it in turns with the boys. He looked horrified." There was pause to reflect. "Oh no" she continued. "He must have thought that I meant that we were splitting up! I'll have to ring him to put his mind at ease."

Twenty minutes later, having negotiated what we were pretty sure was a Bull, we got back into the car and I promptly reversed into a wall. There could be no complaints - it was a Roman one, it had been there for a while. Anyway, although me and the boys could see the funny side, Janey didn't and all I can tell you is that she hasn't phoned Phil yet! I think after 17 years I'm back on trial!

Surf continues to hang in - 2ft, brisk offshore and the seal is in a very inquisitive mood. I saw one surfer using his arms as flippers to ape the sea creature, but I don't think it was impressed.

Remembrance Sunday

Pumping glass

What's happened? Pumping glass again today. Head high glass. Didn't get a snap - here's one of Big Sam from last week. He's a charger!

Follow Your Dream

It's been all go back here with some pretty big decisions being made. Last Friday, myself and Janey went up to Ivybridge to find our more about the school and more importantly, the Football Academy... thinking that this might be a great place for Billy to go sometime in the future. One week later and Billy is enrolled (starts on Monday) and we've rented a house up there. Findog will be staying at his school for the minute back in Rock, so we'll be doing the back and forth, taking it in turns staying up in Ivybridge and down here at Polzeath. Could be a crazy few months while we work it all out.

If you've got a dream, then give it your best shot, that's our view. The Football Academy allows those with a dream of playing professionally to put the time in during school time - it's quite unique and we're totally stoked that Billy is getting his chance. The fact that he's prepared to leave his mates and go to a new school mid-term, speaks volumes where his head is. Also with sweeping changes being introduced next year re. football academies, now is the right time to get the foot in the door. We're really excited for him. Can't believe it all came together so quickly - but it all just fell into place like it was meant to be.

Pumping

Big Sam makes the most of a three week non stop swell pattern ... it just goes on and on. Sean who owns the Vanilla Coffee shop in Polzeath tucks in to a sweet one - both photos taken at a local secret spot. I say secret... it's a secret one that everyone knows about just a short walk from Polzy. Happy days.