Council Reply

We are truly humbled by the support. I've just seen a response sent out today by Jolyon, Countryside Officer for Cornwall County Council, who I believe lacks the experience to head this up. I've inserted my comments - the lies, inconsistencies and inference that by adding a further surf school represents a step forward re. beach safety is totally incorrect, dangerous and foolish. Letter and reply as follows....  

The licence awarded to the existing provider of surf tuition from the Polzeath Car Park recently expired after a long period of operation (18 years).  The Council has a duty to achieve best value from publicly owned assets, which informed its decision to advertise two opportunities for licences (where and when was the consultation process to turn the car park spaces into a trading pitch - apparently the reason why this isn't being done on any other beach is because the consultation process is lengthy) through a publicly advertised (wrong dates, not on tender website, no reply to questions asked, submission date on bank holiday) competitive process . The existing provider was notified of the Council’s intention to tender (the first we heard about this was through our main competitor the day before it went in the paper - upon which we were given 14 working days. The previous tender was carried out over an 8 week period). 

The Council has now evaluated the tenders received and has offered the opportunity to trade from the car park to two successful businesses catering for surf tuition and hire. The Council’s proposed licence agreements would contain the same standards covered by the former WAVES scheme to ensure the highest operating and health and safety thresholds are met. (except the numero uno condition - they've taken away any restrictions on numbers ie we can take in as many students as we like with no reference to tide or season. Really? Wow! At high tide we used to be restricted to 20 students, we could now take in 100? plus the two other schools, plus any other surf schools operating on the beach as they've taken away that restriction too. Free for all.)

The Council recognises the importance of the beaches to the environment and economy of Cornwall and is committed to ensuring that it works with both local communities and businesses (the council have received over 500 e-mails opposing the introduction of a new surf school - it has not in any way worked with the local community or businesses) to ensure that these are managed in a sensitive way.  Revenue generated from the issuing of licences is used to support the provision of services such as beach cleansing and Lifeguards and the authority is required to ensure that it generates the best possible value for Council Taxpayers’ money. (which brings us back to - the tender sum will be the key criteria and why not roll it out on ever beach).

Local authorities in this area have worked with activity providers on the beach for a number of years to try and improve standards and manage the quality of experience in the surf zone. (so why change it now - why the backward step?) Polzeath has a number of surf hire outlets (including the surf schools) and shops in the village selling surf equipment, many of which operate without the formal structure that relate to Cornwall Council’s procedures. Establishing the new licensed framework for surf tuition from the Council’s land will enable the authority to set minimum standards to ensure a quality experience for the user in line with the historic standards within the former WAVES scheme. (Absolutely total rubbish!!! That is a complete falsehood of the situation and the statement should be retracted. What has actually happened is they've taken away any restrictions - ie we can teach as many people as we like at any state of time, whilst at the same time allowing any surf school to operate on the beach - the situation before was that there were only two surf schools permitted to operate, now any surf school can operate).

So in summary - it's all about the money, end of, cloaked in misleading info about making the beach safer. The statement 'new licensed framework for surf tuition from the Council’s land will enable the authority to set minimum standards to ensure a quality experience for the user in line with the historic standards within the former WAVES scheme.'.... is absolute nonsense. Complete nonsense. No one would agree with this statement. I think the council is assuming that you have no knowledge of how the beach works. With their actions I think you have more. This is a fob off and totally unacceptable. With falsehoods such as this, into misleading the general public that this is going to better.... I truly believe now that enough is enough and the council officers need to stand down or at the very least hold an open meeting so that the points can be discussed in an open and transparent way. 

I believe that there may be a fourth Muskateer who is watching all this from his ivory tower... you might like to make your views known.

Alford Jonny (jalford@cornwall.gov.uk)

Jolyon Sharpe - 01208 262836 / 07974 916505 jolyon.sharpe@cornwall.gov.uk

Off to see the solictors this afternoon - Compliants Procedure in process, Ombudsman informed and watching. Will consider a Judicial Review, may consider setting up a fighting fund in return for lesson vouchers to go down that route as it's costly. But all so unnecessary.

Other news - erm, well obviously this is dominating our every waking hour. Massive thanks to everyone who's shown such amazing support.. it's been quite a journey! We feel we need a knees up, music soothes the savage beast, so the Surf's Up! rock band Mahoustic (Wailo, lead guitarist; me, vocals and weak link; Grattman, bass former instructor; Will, drums and mate) - we're going to play up at the Oystercatcher this Saturday. Might just have a bit of angst to release with our Foo Fighter, Pearl Jam covers. All welcome!! Be great to see you there.

P of the Deep Blue C

Onward

I know of another 200+ letters that were sent via e-mail to the council on Friday and over the weekend opposing the new surf school. So that's over 500 that I know about. Will they read them? Doubt it! So Complaints Procedure in process, Ombudsmen informed and watching with interest, meeting with solicitors tomorrow. Not going to sit back and take it. Press lined up as and when we need them. We've had a deadline moved to Wednesday... think a lot will happen between now and then. Really miffed that the council misled the district councillor by saying they'd had a bid from a business that wasn't surf related - that was to deflect the criticism, it was a lie.

Surf today is massive! A 6.1 m high tide and it swept under our trailer - wow! That's never happened before. I blame the council. I told you they'd lost all control of our beaches!

What are the council thinking!

It's hard to find the words this morning. The council are going ahead with a second surf school in the car park - it's now a fact. The Polzeath that you and I love, won't be the same. The reasoned arguments that you took time to write down and send to the council officers, have fallen on deaf ears. The issues of overcrowding in the surfing area and the extra bodies walking between the cars in the car park have been superceeded by the need to raise money to pay for, and I quote, "Beach services such as beach cleaning." 

 

We went to a meeting on Wednesday at 3pm with the council to dicsuss the tender - we sat opposite the three council muskateers - David Attwell, Joylon Sharpe and Phil Jones (there was a forth person, a lady called Ann taking the minutes, she was lovely. Get out of there Ann before it's too late!)) - and we discussed all the points. What we argued was considered, both sides had their say. After the 90 minutes myself and Janey went to Morrissons for mug of coffee. I can't deny the thought of eighteen years of hard work going down the pan has put a huge strain on our relationship. We have our boys, but the surf school is like another child to us. We married a few weeks before we started Surf's Up! - it's all we know. Surf's Up! is a family business. We worked hard to create something that was different, that gave back. And we're comfortable that we've done that. We summised that the meeting had gone well and we'd said what we wanted to say.

 

And then I received a phone call yesterday to say the following - that we'd been successful in our bid, but that there would be a second surf school located some five yards away. I don't see that as being successful to be honest. That wasn't the end of it though. When we submitted our bid, there were many questions unanswered. Our biggest was that if we decided to put in a tender bid, how could we value the pitch without knowing what the second site would be? On many occassions the council gave the strongest indications, particularly following your considered letters, that it probably wouldn't be a surf school. If it was it would devalue our pitch. If it was a Costa Coffee cabin, then we might take the view that foot fall would be increased. We asked, and we asked, and we stopped short of blowing the house down. But no little piggies came to the door to answer our questions. The difference in the valuation could have been as much as £15k - so as the deadline approached what were we to do? We did the obvious - we submitted a tender with a sum that reflected our position. We offered to continue to pay at the rate we had done over the past 6 years - £20k a year.... but that if the new trading site was to be offered to a new surf school we reserved the right to negotiate the tender sum. With complete silence from the council on the issue, this made complete sense. We know that we couldn't run a sustainable business paying £20k a year with a surf school a few large strides in the sand away. And the reality is also that you wouldn't want us to. Three large surf schools, going as hard as they can, head to head to teach as many people as we can to pay the licence fee. That's not what anyone would want. 

 

Are you with me so far? Good. Now hang in there because this next bit will knock you out. The phone call I received yesterday from Phil Jones also said that they could only accept our £20k bid; that it was not legal to negotiate once the tender sum was submitted. The council put a gun to our head - go with the £20k with the surf school next to us, or withdraw our tender! please just take a few moments to reread that last bit. This is the council who gave us no notice of a retender process until 14 days prior to the tender date submission (when the season had already started and after 18 years good service); got the dates wrong in the adverts in the paper; refused to return my calls and answer questions that were fundamental to our bid (specifically Jolyon Sharpe); failed to place the tender on their own tendering website; and put the closing date of the tender on a bank holiday. Where's this document that says it's okay to do this but suddenly we get all correct and proper when it comes to the actual tender application. It's my conclusion that a deal was struck with the new school a while ago. I believe that now. Why has this been rushed through in 14 days? Why no consultation? Knowing the opposition why not put the process on hold and have a rethink? And if it's about money, why is this the only beach where this happens? Why are there no trading spots in Newquay, in Bude, all around Cornwall. Why just Polzeath? And maybe if they managed the car parks better and lined up the cars like they used to rather than putting fines on them, they'd raise a bit more cash too. There is no support for a third surf school, a second in the car park, none. I don't know a single person in the village who isn't up in arms about it. And your letters, of which there were hundreds have stated very eloquently what you think in your opposition. Your opinion is worthless.

 

So where are we? I don't know to be honest. We feel that things are going on behind closed doors that we have no control over. None of it makes any sense. What we do know, is that we can't afford to pay £20k a year. We know that. It's been hard enough the past couple of years without the impact on our business of another surf school. And I'm not sure that we have any option but to withdraw our tender. Of course, we don't want to. Yes we could park 20 yards away and pay £19,700 less by buying a parking ticket like every other surf school in the country. We could trade from our shop and office, but still operate. That fails to address the safety issues of beach and car park though. Maybe we don't want to operate on a beach so out of control and lacking in management.

 

We actually don't know what to do. I'm a half glass full man, always have been.... but hearts are heavy in the Craskie camp right now. Feels like we've been stitched up by an incompetent council department. If they need to raise money, why not let a few of the officers go - that's my view. The tender process was an absolute shambles that would not have been tolerated in the private sector. But the officers shelter behind each other and take refuge in the fact that if they don't pick up the phone and answer difficult questions, everything will be okay and it'll all go away. We realise now that the meeting was a complete waste of time, the decision had been made before we even entered the room. What a complete waste of time. Shambles, complete shambles.

 

We've been asked by the council to let them know today what our decision is. So I guess if you want to express your views on any of the issues, you have today to do it, and we'd be grateful if you would to be honest. If you've written before, rather than the generic reply, you might like to go back to ask them to respond to your issues, directly. Probably won't do any good, but probably wouldn't do any harm either. Sorry to be a bit down beat... can't see the funny side right now. Can't quite believe any of it.

 

From myself, Janey and the Surf's Up! team - thanks so much for your support.

 

The details of the three muskateers are as follows: 

David Attwell -  01208 262868 / 0778 559 1200 david.attwell@cornwall.gov.uk

Phil Jones - 01579 324106 / 07771 980166 philip.jones@cornwall.gov.uk

Jolyon Sharpe - 01208 262 836 / 07974 916505 jolyon.sharpe@cornwall.gov.uk

Tender - no new, is... no news!

You'd think after the 200 + letters that I've had cc'd to me, copies of the letters e-mailed to the council clearly expressing concerns about the new tender proposal, that we might have heard something? (200+ that I know about, there would be many many more that I don't know about). But, no! It's time for another...hm. Perhaps a longer one this time... hmmmmmm. Disappointing to be honest. I've been looking at the council contract procedure rules and I have to say that my eyebrows are in the fully arched position. See what you think.... let's start from the very beginning, a very good place to start: I was informed of the tender by our competition; the tender allows for 14 working days (that's council working days, 19 if you run your own business - I think it should be 36 days under the procedure rules absolute minimum) to assemble a document for the next 7 years; the dates in the adverts in the paper differ from that on the tender document; I've not received answers to my questions or calls returned which has made it really difficult to make a valuation of the site or complete by tender document; the main man is on holiday: and the document has to be submitted by Friday latest which is a bank holiday - I quote 'the deadline for the receipt of tenders cannot end on a public holiday, Saturday or Sunday.' Are your eyebrows in the full arched position too? Hmmmmmmm.

Your response has been quite phenomenal. It's been a watershed moment. You've made your views known to the council. And here's the thing - the letters are not copied and pasted from mine. They're long, considered and well argued from people who have a long association and love of Polzeath. I think it's been incredibly positive. Without any intention in doing so, what we've created for free for the council is a market research document that gives a clear vision for the future. 

You still have today and tomorrow left to make your views known, please take the time to write to david.attwell@cornwall.gov.uk and jolyon.sharpe@cornwall.gov.uk if you haven't already and please don't forget to copy us in. Don't worry if you get a message saying they're on hols.

As for us, we're burning the midnight oil, eating lots of cadbury mini eggs and drinking lots of mugs (cups aren't big enough) of espresso because even if we believe the actually tender process is flawed, unless we hear otherwise, we have no choice but to press on with the tender application. It's important. It's our life.

In the meantime, it's business as usual. Easter is upon and we can't wait to see you. We just want to get on with doing what we do best - and that's teaching willing students to take to the surf and ride a few waves. Simple really. Give us a call on 07760 126225 to book your lessons.

Thanks once again for your continued support.

Tender Proposal - update

Following my newsletter yesterday, a vein was struck and an outpouring of emotion was heaped upon the council via many emails. And I have to say that some of you are terrifically eloquent. I muddle through with a limited skill set, but you guys?! Passion flowed through your finger tips as you too felt compelled to challenge a council proposal that threatens the place that you so obviously feel ownership of. For sure, what's very clear, is that your vision of Polzeath, is a long way from that of the council. 

Anyway, following your efforts, it seems only appropriate that I give you an update, keep you in the loop as it were. Well I can report that the very latest news is that, erm, there is none! Nope, no word from Council Villas. In fact, returned e-mails even suggest that the decision makers are on holiday until the 2nd April, a date that conveniently falls after the bids are to be submitted! That's a bit disappointing - I had some more questions. I did manage to contact one of main men by phone earlier today, but it was his day off and he wouldn't discuss it. If I had hair, I'd pull it out, so I'm grinding my teeth. Grrrrrrr. 

Alongside the letters cc'd to me were offers of free assistance from procurement experts and lawyers; other councils; and plentiful coverage in national and local media. To all of whom we say thank you very much (I will respond to every e-mail I've received with a personal reply - if you've written but haven't sent me a copy, I'd be grateful if you would). But the thing is this. We don't want a legal battle; nor be on the front page of the papers; nor headline a radio news bulletin. Our business has been built on reputation alone, we like to do things word of mouth. We run a surf school and live a beach lifestyle. And all we want to do is to able to continue our business established 18 years ago, under the guidance of a competent council who's opinion and actions we trust. In a council that embarks in dialogue and consultation with those with experience.

What's absolutely clear from your comments is that what you want is a safe beach to enjoy - and it's up to us as the activity providor to work with the land owners to ensure that happens. Wouldn't it be great if the council put the tender process on hold for a moment and took some time out to consider all the points you've made. If you've written, thank you for taking the time. If you haven't, but you'd still like your view to be considered, please write to david.attwell@cornwall.gov.uk - and copy to jolyon.sharpe@cornwall.gov.uk.

Council policy threatens Polzeath safety

Hm, where do I start? Normally, as you well know, my heart is full to the brim of goodwill and my soul energised by the constant swish swash of a restless ocean in my lug holes and the fragrant waft of a salty sea breeze up me nostrils. Over the past week however, both myself and Janey have been a touch despondent. "Oh why, Petey? Wherefore art thy sadness cometh hence?" (yep still reading those Bronte sisters!). It's good of you to ask. Thanks.

To cut a long story short, an e-mail arrived from the Cornwall County Council, informing us that our spot in the beach car park is to go to tender and that by the 29th March our bid should be in! So that's three short weeks notice - to prepare a business plan for a seven year tenure! Why so last minute? The last time our patch went to tender was six years ago, but that followed lots of consultation and heads up. It grates a little bit that before we arrived in 1995, it was just a patch of sand with zero value. We got our heads down worked hard and made something of that patch of sand and now not only do we have the pleasure of parting with £20,000 each year to park there, but every now and then we have the privilege of bidding for our own business. It is what it is and we get on with it. The timing and timescale is, how shall I put this nicely..... mildly inconsiderate on the basis that this will be our 19th year, our contribution to the local community is legendary and there's much to do at this time, but as I say, hey ho.

But it's not this part of the e-mail that has affected our general joie de vivre (oui je parle francais, et mon petit lapin s'est cache dans le jardin ... repetez. Mum and Dad please note that school wasn't a complete waste of time!). No, there was a little surprise. Actually a big surprise. Not like a jack in the box surprise, more of a fundamental.... oh my god (sorry, omg if you're under 16). The tender isn't for one surf school, but for two. The second to be sited only a few yards from us, slap bang in between the exit and the entrance of the beach car park! I had to read it again. And again. I've read it more agains.... sometimes scratching my forehead, othertimes whilst banging it against hard objects like my man shed, the bedroom wall or fridge door. I say fundamental, because this is completely and utterly butterly in contradiction to what we, the council, and the RNLI have worked towards for the past 10 years.

"So what's the problem big Pete?" Simples. Two main areas. Firstly, for the past six years, because of the over crowding in the surf, we've been restricted by the council. As in, the number of participants that we could teach was restricted at certain times of day and certain tide heights, sometimes up to 75% on previous years. For any business that's a massive hit, but we've always viewed our business as long term, so we worked with it and around it, encouraging our clients to have lessons at alternative times. Times that to be honest suited both parties as it was quieter. Our maximum participant numbers were also restricted to conform with a mathematical formula devised after some considerable head scratching by Prof Green at Edinburgh University and not insignificant handing over of green backs by the council. (Don't ask if he's the same one who was found in the Ballroom with a candlestick, because that would make you look silly,you're thinking of Rev. Green. And in anycase, we all know it was Mrs. Peacock in the kitchen with some lead piping. Someone bit one of her sponge fingers apparently!). Years and years of consultation between us, the council, the RNLI and other surf schools to ensure that there was a happy balance between commercial beach activity and safety took place. It was a huge, massive issue. Ensuring the beach was firstly, safe, and secondly had a reputation of being safe was of paramount importance to all stake holders - beach users, shop owners, local residents, caravan parks owners, cafes etc. And last year, after all those years and years, for the first time I think we can all stand proud and tall and say that it was the best year ever. Peace and harmony abounded. They was joy from all four corners of Polzeath, or Hayle Bay as it's historically known and locals like to refer to it.

So what this new tender for a second surf school (the third at Polzeath) represents... is a complete reversal of policy. A complete disregard of all the really good, conscientious and well meaning work that was done. The tender document is very interesting. Gone is the emphasis on safety. The previous tender document listed two pages of safety criteria that our operation would need to fulfill. It set the tone right from the off. The new one stresses that the height and weight of the new stack of cash will be the main priority. I quote, 'the tender sum will be the key criteria.' Wow, what a statement!! Makes you want to weep. And we surely will, when the reputation of Polzeath as a safe beach will flow away like an ebbing tide. And it's not for a trial period, give it a year and see how it goes. It's for the next seven years.

As for the second area, well I'd question the reason for siting a second operation right slap bang in the middle of the entrance and exit and the chaos and HSE risks that the council are encouraging by doing so. On many occasions we've enjoyed visits from excited councillors on a day out, swarming around our trailer like japanese tourists armed with cameras and clip boards, noting our NOP in helping our clients negotiate the car park exit safely. The proposed new site is on a completely different level. If our location represents a feet first leap off the 1m springy board, the new one represents diving off the 10m fixed board in the handstand position ie. there's a good chance someone's going to get hurt and I wouldn't want to be the first to give it a go. But to be honest, the first problem area I mentioned before, is so much bigger, that I can't really get excited about this second one. It's such a non starter.  But as a bankrupt once told me, "If you're going to go down at all, you might as well go down big!"Seems this path is destined for our beach under the guidance of the current leadership of this council department.

The tender document states that the 'Cornwall Council holds a Duty of Care to those who use the beach that they own / lease.' I understand that the council needs to raise money, I get that. But what we're not talking about here is a burger van. This is something far more sensitive, far more relevant, far more fundamental. It's about you, your children and family members enjoying a safe surfing environment and having confidence that the beach is being managed by a department focused purely on the basis of ensuring best practice regarding beach safety, rather than one of pursuing revenue collection. I've run Surf's Up! for 18 years and have been at the forefront of improving and promoting beach safety throughout this time and it pains me to say that I have no confidence in a council that chooses and is happy to acknowledge putting profit before safety, and neither should you. The new change in council policy scares me. It takes me back to 1995 when we first drove on to the beach car park with our Honda Civic pulling a small trailer. Haven't we learnt anything? Weren't the restrictions put in place for good reason? The 180 degree shift in policy sets a precedent, not just at Polzeath but throughout the county. It's a watershed moment for our beaches. And that should scare you too. For the council to advertise for a new surf school to open and operate on a beach where the current surf schools presently restrict trade is beyond reason and dangerous. 

So what's the reality? Polzeath Beach will go from two restricted surf schools that work together, to three surf schools going head to head without restrictions. And it'll get worse each year for the next seven. With high licence fees, the winning bidders will have to trade at good levels just to keep heads above water (no pun intended!). Expect more flags, more trailers, more congestion, more bodies carrying boards through the car park, and touting of lessons to holiday makers. Surf wars will be inevitable. Polzeath will resemble a permanent competition zone and have the feel of a time share resort. And that's just the top of the beach. At the water's edge and in the surf, a rainbow of 200 - 300 lycra vested eager participants fighting for a wave or a piece of sand to receive instruction. Casual surfers should head elsewhere, I know I would. And I'd take my two boys with me. There's absolutely no way that the RNLI who lifeguard the beach would support this.

Okay deep breath. I know, it's been a while since I've lead the troops into battle. But this cause is a valid one if you love Polzeath beach as we do. We're not bothered about competition. Competition was the best thing that happened to us, we were forced to raise our game a few years ago and off the back of it, good things happened. Competition gets you up in the morning, helps the focus. No, this is about safeguarding the beach and establishing a fundamental understanding between you, the tax payer and those who are employed on your behalf, the decision makers at the council, that financial gain should never be put above safety.

So what can you do? Write today to david.attwell@cornwall.gov.uk - I'd copy it to jolyon.sharpe@cornwall.gov.uk. Let them know your views. This is your opportunity and potentially the last one you'll get until 2020. I'd encourage them to put the current tender process on hold, to take stock, to consult. I'd question why beach safety is no longer the priority and that 'the tender sum will be the key criteria.' For something so big, this feels like it's being rushed through and not enough thought has gone into it. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope this is important enough for you to take a bit more time out to make your view known. Perhaps forward this letter to friends, if they love Polzeath, they too may wish to make comment. Polzeath's reputation is that of a safe surfing beach suitable for families. It's the flagship of Cornwall. Let's keep it that way. 

Pete (Surf's Up founder - 20 years standing waist deep teaching in moving water)

Happy New Year!! You may say that it's a bit late for all of that but if you were a Chinaman, you'd say I was a very premature.... or wewy pwemature (with free pwawn cwacker). You see, for the aforementioned Chinaman, 2013 begins on February 10th. It's the year of the Black Snake, a year of steady progress and attention to detail. Apparently focus and discipline will be necessary if you want to achieve what you set out to create (hm, focus and discipline? to be fair not my two greatest strengths!). Of all the signs, the Snake is the most enigmatic, intuitive, introspective, refined and collected, but you already knew that. 

 

I always thought 2012 had a great ring to it... and it proved to be one of the most memorable on many levels. I loved it. 2013? I don't know, just has that feeling of being a bit more challenging. And therefore maybe, focus and discipline, are indeed two good buzz words to move forward with. So what does that mean for us back here at Surf's Up! High Command? Well I think that actually the characteristics of the snake make for a good starting point.... looking at three in particular - intuitive, introspective and refined.

 

Intuition is an irrational function, it can be opposed to rational thinking, and that's been a strength of ours, at least I think, over the course of our history. We haven't been tied to what the head has told us, we're about heart and soul. Our company motto, "let the mind unshackle; set it free" - we're true to that. Intuition is as much about vision and placing your trust in that vision. And I think going forward, small businesses like ours have to stay true to their core values and yes be flexible, but not lose sight of what our company represents to our clients. Oh, this is deep! Deeeep!

 

Introspective, this is an interesting one because it can refer to oneself or that of the business. We're going into our 19th year here at Surf's Up!... and I know over that time, I've changed, as has the business. If we're to nail our two buzz words, focused and disciplined, then we need to take a good look at what we're currently doing, be introspective... recognise what we do well and what we could do better, and move forward with a determination to improve. That process is ongoing and needs to marry up and balance with intuition. Seems obvious, but when it gets a bit tougher, I think more consideration and time need to given over to these areas.

 

And then refined. Used as an adjective this word means, 'freed from impurities by processing'. Since 1995, we've gained enough experience, I think, to undertake that task of being introspective and to be self critical, to a point where we can produce a service that is better than before. Numbers of students through the surf school peaked about five years ago, leaving us now I believe with a great opportunity to deliver a better and more personal service than ever before. We've never been driven by numbers of clients or turnover, but by quality of service. When we began, I remember a  top dog businessman (we called him Parsnips, because his name was Parsons!) giving us the following advice, "Chase the quality of your service or product, don't chase the money." We can get better, for sure. That's what we're looking at now.. the how's and where's.

 

So yep, an intuitive, introspective, refined combo..... that's what we're gunning for in 2013! (hey Pete, lighten up dude and pass me a cwacker!). And relax, as you were, back on your balls! In summary, this is not a dress rehearsal.. I'd normally say at this point that we'll wait until we see the white's of your eyes, but that ain't gonna be the case this year. We're going to be so dialled in that you'll notice, well you'll notice that we're just going about our business, better.

 

Okay, some house notes!! Beach House (sleeps ten) availability as follows. Oh hang on, just got some hideous cramp at my desk... be right back....man, that hurt! Did the old pointy the toes to the sky routineand I'm back in the game.. oh yes.. 

 

Feb Half term: 7 nights arrival 8th Feb, 15th Feb, 22nd Feb - £650 including hire of surf equipment.

 

Easter Break: 7 nights arrival 29th March, 5th April - £850 including hire of equipment.

 

And then on the 29th March we have a few places left on our Duke of Edinburgh residential - 5 nights, £250 inclusive of 5 lessons and hire... staying at our Trenant Flat. 

My work here is done. First e-news of the year.... getting back into the swing. It's good to be back! I'm off to dip my crackers in some sweet chilli sauce!! You know I love you... 

 

P of the Deep Blue C x

 

ps please note I've justified the text, first time for everything!

Appletise!

Apple, Orange and UKMail have conspired to waste my life this morning!! Grrr... How many Apple Reps are going to ask me today where I was first kissed. (Yes, somewhere between the Balkans was funny a couple of days ago, but I'm feeling ever so slightly testy right now.) Apple decided that I couldn't remember my password, and I therefore had two options. Receive an e-mail or answer the security questions. Well, we've already established that I can't remember where I was first kissed. I was young, drunk, it obviously didn't mean anything..if I was pushed I'd say it was in an icy Strasbourg fountain back in the 80's but my recollection is hazy at best. I went for option one, but failed to receive the promised e-mail. So I rang them... and spoke to Iro in Athens who, rather than let the question go, I kid you not, has been trying to help jog my memory. Now unless it was her and she's bitter that I can't recall the encounter, that seems to me to be a completely fruitless exercise. Look just send me the e-mail, let me reset my password so that then I can buy stuff!! As I say, ever so slightly testy now!! This whole episode (which took two hours!) is compounded by the fact that I received a phone call before this to say that my £200 'free' upgrade Iphone 5 (Oh the irony) will not be dropped off today because there's no-where on the planet that goes by the first two lines of my billing address and the last two lines of my delivery address!! Excuse me while I slap my forehead really hard several times! Grrrrrr!

Anyway, how are you? It's a fine day, the sun's out, the birds are singing, the badgers are badgering. I'm here actually on business. (Following the Monday morning meeting with the curly cheese ball!).. response has been awesome to the Surf's Up! Hoody Bundles following my last e-news, they're flying out the door as we speak. Still some left, but please don't leave it too late... we don't want no tears, me dears. The desk top calendars have arrived hot of the press and orders are being processed as we speak. £8 each, £16 for two (!) can't say fairer than that! Nice little gift this one, have it on the desk at work or on the side in the kitchen. Whenever you check the date or it catches your eye, you'll be transported immediately to a land of happy days! Best ring us on 07760 126225 or drop us an email. Avian, our chief administrator and bear killer, is on stand by with sticky backed plastic and brown paper to action the orders as and when they come in...here's a sneaky peak at April.

The other thing that I must draw your attention to.. is that the Beach House remains available for Christmas. This would be a first. Can't believe it. If you've never been down to Polzeath for Christmas, then treat yourself. It's very special. A fresh walk on the beach on Christmas day, maybe a pop over to St. Enodoc Church on Boxing day for a sing song (I'm not a religious kind of guy but I enjoy a good old sing song), a bit of a dip, ride a few waves. I could go on, but let's cut to the chase... £600 for the Christmas period, 23rd to the 30th December! Sleeps ten normal people or 18 midgets. (Is that Midgetist? Not meant to be). The Christmas tree is already up and we're baking the mince pies as I write. Please either call us on 07760 1256225 or drop us an e-mail if it tickles your buds.

Heffer gone head to head with a cow

Ever had a moo cow go all Michael Flately on you! I have. Last week. A nasty business indeed. Nose to nose we were as it's front and back legs did a merry dance! I thought they were all big eyes and full of the white drinky stuff. Turns out they can be a bit spikey when pushed. I was on my bike, giving my black Lab, Libby a work out ... Libby likes cows (although she could never eat a whole one), happy as Larry to walk right on by or in this case through a pack of Moos, and Moos like her too. Often it'll end up in a bit of reciprocal nose sniffing. No trouble. Sheep? That's different altogether, that's a lead job right there. But then sheep are stupid. Anyway, on this occasion the assembled pack of twenty grass eaters, parted like the Red Sea as we retraced the last couple of miles of the Two Moors Way. It was all going swimmingly until we encountered the last big heffer. A right biggun. It wasn't a horny beast but I had to make a quick visual of it's undercarriage for fear it was actually a bull sans horns! Calf in tow it took exception to our presence. Got right frisky it did. Libby was alright, she sensed the danger and ran away, but the big heffer looked me in the eye, dug it's hoofs into the muddy walkway, snorted (ever been spat at by a Llama? I have! That too is a nasty business but provides much hilarity both during afterwards for young kids) and charged straight at me. Rabbit in headlights I closed my eyes and braced for the impact. But there was none. I opened one eye! There it was, one big mad cow, front legs bent, back legs braced, about an inch from my front wheel. It's moist black nose all a huff and a puff! I've never dismounted a bike so fast, or run down a hill like a big girl, as realistically, before! If the moo had set the scene of Riverdance, I was providing the big finale. Shaken but not stirred (ps I love Skyfall). 

Apart from that one ocassion, you'll be pleased to learn that my bottom is nice and firm. I put it all down to Pilates. At 6ft 2 and with a poor hearing (!) I find I've taken to stooping. I don't want to get any lower so I've embarked on some sessions, which I find really beneficial. It's not just the bottom that feels the benefit, it's an all over tightness that's pleasing. The instructor's really good, pushes us hard. I can't help but observe that she's got great big lips. I thought I was going to have to slide her off sideways last week when she got stuck in the Down Dog! 

The weather has been playing havoc on the beach. The hurricanes in the USA have been sending through substantial surf, as big as I can remember. Tales of snapped boards and big wipe-outs are the go. And the rain last week, flooded the Valley Caravan Park and the stream cut a 3ft deep meander through the car park. Quite a mess. Oh and we had a big tide that came right over the road a couple of weeks ago.... it's all been going on.

 

The Surf's Up! 2013 Calendar is on the press as we speak (limited edition of only 200 this year)... you can pre-order on 07760 126225. Some of our favourite photos (like the one above) of Polzeath taken throughout the year assembled in a desk top format. Looks really great, we're pleased with it. Would make a nice Chrissie pressie. I always think the surf lesson vouchers are the go for Chrissie pressies, something a bit different - three to choose from depending on budget. They're available from our on line shop on the gift page along with our hoodies and lots of other great pressie ideas.

And the Beach House is still available over Christmas. If you fancy turkey with all the trimmings and then a walk on the sand, there's no better place....Christmas tree with baubles included! If asked nicely, Wailin plays a mean Santa. 07760 126225 or email us to discuss further. Sleeps ten.

Right, just a quick fly-by. It's 5am, couldn't sleep. Tried not to wake Janey but tripped over my shoes! I'm sure I'll be hearing about that shortly! I'll take her up a nice mug of tea in a minute!

ps shall we have a competition? Shall we? Why not? Okay, we're looking for a surfy Christmas card design.... with some reference to Surf's Up!. I know it's quite late but I reckon we can nail this. Send in your best effort (via email) by the 7th December and if we choose your design you'll win a Developer Course ie a weeks worth of surf lessons. Got your pen and paper ready.... on your marks....  

Big Innit

Our Monday morning meetings have hit an early set back. There were no attendees! Both myself and Janey forgot! Good job I didn't go to the trouble of baking any fairy cakes, that would have been a waste....they need to spring back up when you press your finger lightly into the sponge (my Grandmother taught me that, she didn't)... Talking of fairy cakes, you may remember that I recounted last time that I might be, how shall we say erm, "on the turn" mainly due to my lost weight, pink super skinny chino's and people's observations that I've taken to walking funny (er hello, chino's? chaffage?). Well, the plot thickens because I was having a chat with one of my new mates from Plymouth, one of my many new mates because obviously I'm really popular (Pete you only have one mate, at best, two).... about good books to read. To cut a long story short (please don't go, not yet, this newsletter gets better)... they recommended that I read Wuthering Heights. Keen to impress (keep) my new friend, I said I would go and buy a copy without ever having any intention of actually buying or reading it. They were bound to forget. Anyway, when we met up a few days later, down here at Polzy as it goes, my new buddy presented me with a limited edition hard backed copy (they hadn't forgotten), along with one of those coffee maker's from Costa (yeah Starbucks pay some tax dudes, and grind your beans where I can see them!).. we'd invited them down to stay at the Beach House (sleeps ten available Oct half term, 7 nights £600 including unlimited board hire for 4 people. First to call on 07760 126225 seals the deal) so that they could come and watch our band Mahoustic play at the Waterfront for the Jess Soley Memorial Classic.... and breathe! Was a load of fun as it goes, rock and roll. And I had a drink, I never drink!

Still, keen to impress I received the hard backed edition with much thanks, until I read the first page, no chapter, sentence, word... and then I had these awful flashbacks of Middlemarch, a book I never read but triumphed with a 'D' at 'A' level English. The nightmares, I can't begin to tell you. Still keen to impress I thought I'd best persevere. And I have to say, that 230 pages in, it is truly the most incredible book I've ever read. It takes a bit of time, you have to concentrate and focus, something that doesn't feature in my top five best attributes, although I'm considering dropping 'big roman nose' in fourth place, so there's a potential opening there! There's loads of words I don't understand, but somehow when you get to the end of a paragraph it all comes together. If truth be told, I'm really keen to get it out now and crack on with the last 100 pages, but I feel this is our time, it can wait until the morrow! Anyway thanks go to my new chum for the recommendation and I recommend it to you if you haven't already read it. I'm sure you'll love it too.

Tide on the push, that wave is double overhead, the sets were bigger!

Back to the meeting, the reason why we didn't have our Directors meeting was that jobs had already been assigned over the back end of the previous week. And my assigned task has been to bring the last quarters accounts up to date on some accounts package on the laptop. Despite the fact that my tutor wrote to my parents stating that I was wasting the school's time, I have a natural leaning towards maths. To be more specific, simple maths. I was doing fine until Mr. Grainger wrote a 'formula' on the up and over rotating blackboard. I didn't understand that at all, I was lost from then on and marks were poor. But I did have the last laugh when he flipped over the aforementioned up and over rotating black board and he got showered with various shades and sizes of chalk sticks. I could have helped with his next question, but decided that he didn't need to know exactly who'd done it! Accounts all done, Petey in good books, all is well in the Craskie household.

You'll be very pleased to hear that I have another Dartmoor adventure to recount!! Just quickly... last Thursday, (please don't go, not yet, this newsletter gets better) I decided to get on the road bike and crank out a 100 miler. A circular route starting at Ivybridge, passing through Newton Abbott, Bovey Tracey, Moretonhampstead, Okehampton, Tavistock, Yelverton, Plymouth, Plymstock and Ermington. Five punctures later and a crash on the A30 near Okehampton (it was raining, I hit oil, my back wheel overtook my front and I hit the tarmac hard. I ended up in the middle of the inside lane, still clipped into my bike looking back down the dual carriageway at the fast approaching chipped chrome front bumper of an old Ford Escort van, he missed. I was shaken and a little stirred so I phoned Janey and left an emotional message on the answer phone saying I'd come off on the A30 but would be back soon. When I got home, bloodied and bruised, she looked a little surprised at my condition. Turns out she'd misunderstood, she just thought I'd come off the A30, like a nice little loving update!!) 96 miles, six and a half hours, I reckon we can take that back to five and a half excluding stops for technicals and tears. Another great adventure.

Hey big surf and big tide tonight. Came right over the road it did! Good job we moved the trailer off the beach. Actually it was seriously pumping.... easily double overhead, more, much more on the set waves. The brisk southerly dropped on the pushing tide, leaving very makeable rides, but the paddle out is a monster, so locals prefer to take on the reef breaks, the secret spots up and down the coast.

Polzeath Beach at 6.30pm this evening, high tide still one hour away!

Okay, I've already taken up too much of your time. Have I mentioned that the top floor of that house there on the left, by the blue and white canopy, yep right there on the beach, just a short stumble to sandy toesville, is still available to rent over the october half term? Sleeps ten, seven nights, £600 including unlimited board hire for 4 people. First to call on 07760 126225 seals the deal.

Please don't go, not yet, this gets better.. actually it doesn't. Let's put this down to a slow news week and just like my school tutor and maths teacher wrote regularly, "if you turned up to classes I'd have a better idea of who knowing who you actually are!"