One thousand bounces a day, that's what I've been up to! This is it - the big push to once and for all cure the achilles, calf and hamstring issues that have plagued me since senior school. The kids trampoline is where I'm at (best £199 at Asda we ever spent) - it's all lift and separate. 1,000 lifts followed by 1,000 mid air separates as it goes! Janey wasn't impressed with my attempt at a Pike Jump - apparently the legs are supposed to come up, rather than the head go down. It's all going rather well although I have to confess I might have developed a bit of a mince with the improved tightness. I noticed my arm even swinging gayly when out walking the dog last night. The target is 50,000 bounces, then I should be ready to attack the coast path like a Mongolian goat handler. Training notes - buttocks rising, moobs falling!

This is the picture today - all a bit Larry Grayson. Do not adjust your screen, it really is that dull. But the surf's okay, couple of feet on the sets, light offshore. No complaints. The weekend forecast looks much the same.

To the business end - the Beach House is available from today for a 2 - 7 night stay 14th - 21st October and also from the 28th October. Sleeps ten right on the beach - from £550. If you're thinking of staying next Summer, chop, chop, only two dates left - 29th June - 6th July and 8th - 13th July; Our new surf school on-line booking system will go live in November - will make everything nice, easy and more importantly, check-in quicker when you arrive on the beach. You'll even be able to buy Cornish Dollars! We think of everything.

This is a just a fly-by. Enjoy the weekend - I'm off to buy a handbag!

Putting in the miles

Janey toddled off to Bournemouth on the weekend with Fin for his footie. We're making the most of the boys away games - just a shame one is always away whilst the other is at home. I was at the home game for Billy. Bristol this coming weekend.

Quiet on the beach now - but lots going on back at base. It's accounts time and Janey for the first time in Surf's Up! history has got me stuck in to them. Quite enjoying it as it goes, but don't tell her that! Anyway, definitely cranking up the brownie points as we speak. And working on quite a few things for next year, including a new booking and check-in system, which will go online in November.

Any other news? Not really. Did 1000 bounces on the trampoline and 100 lengths in the pool yesterday. Might tickle a bike ride in a minute. Trying to build up the calves and achilles for a spot of winter running and maybe a crack at the Ironman. If I get some injury free running miles in over the winter then I'll have a bit more confidence in making the final leg. Off to La Santa in Lanzarote for Christmas, can't wait.

Jobs a Goodun'

Four iMacs, one Mac Pro, three Mac books, one Mac Mini, one iPad and one iPhone - yep we're a Mac family. We've even set up a business called iSurf (winter project for Easter launch). Steve Jobs - genius.

Hello

So there I am paddling out this morning, it's 3ft with the odd 4ft set rolling in - bit onshore but very surfable - and I can see that's there's only one other person out there already. And then as I scratch over the last set, I clock who it is! It's my missus - Janey! Which is a surprise - because when she got up this morning she said she felt like she'd been run over by a steam roller! (She went in yesterday). So it was just the two of us surfing out there together, no-one else to be seen - now that hasn't happened in many years. It was pretty fun as it goes - the sort of session where the waves are all over the place and it's hard to second guess what it's going to do once you're on it. But you can luck into some really good solid ones.

Libby, our black lab was stoked to be back on the beach too (no more dog ban) - all in all quite a family affair.

Long may it continue

As long as it's here, we're going to enjoy it. Janey's out there in the mix - "we've got the boards, let's go ride a few!"

Late afternoon - oh dear, what's happened? It's all gone onshore and drizzly. Best change out of the speedos and wash off all this coconut oil.

Black and White

Thought I'd go for the black and white shot, as I'm sure there's plenty of colour ones around! What a quite remarkable few days - makes you appreciate it more when you don't expect it. Let me just check... yep, that might be the best of it, but who's complaining - all a bit of a brucie bonus.

Last night's gig - hosts Pam and Alan...what an amazing couple. I'd like to think we gave a performance from the top drawer (so much easier with a home crowd) - what I do know for sure is that it was right up there in the 'most fun gig' category, perhaps a top three placing and taking into account we've played together for 12 years (? might need to work that out), that's a big call. Great night.

And in the actual surf comp - Beach Manager Big Sam won the Open Category and Liam from the Elite Surf's Up! Boardriders won pretty well all the other main categories! I'll see if I can get some photos of the comp from Nick (360photography) to stick on here.

I think this is one of my all time favourite photos of the boys - took it tonight as they came out. Happy days.

Esme is back!

A quite incredible story - but we've just been to pick up Esme from Penkridge after a local family spotted her in their fields and recognised her picture in the local paper (massive thanks to them). Five weeks she's been living rough. Tired, hungry, smelly and dishevelled , it's been quite an ordeal, but I'll be fine! Oh and the cats okay too! A massive thanks to Helen and her two girls Katie and Anna who became our eyes and ears some 250 miles away - what they did to help was quite extraordinary.

I'll sit down next week and somehow summarise the main events! - there have been some incredible incidents along the way. Even today, having never met Helen and her family before (just thousand of texts and phone calls) we literally bumped into them coming out of the supermarket in Penkridge. And apparently yesterday at the vets, when they called Janey to check that the microchip number matched and she confirmed it, the packed room burst into cheering, clapping and tears all round! She's become quite a celebrity - a reclusive and elusive celebrity mind!

She's back on the sofa fast asleep now. Libby our black lab has climbed up next to her and Frankie (cat number two) has jumped into the cat basket by the door - perhaps she thinks it's her turn for some R and R. The family is once again complete and it feels great. Janey never gave up on her.

Hottest day of the year and we've been stuck on the motorway all day - that's ironic!

Off to play with our band Mahoustic up at the Waterfront for the Jess Memorial in aid of Chicks in a minute. Haven't played a guitar in three months, haven't sung for three months, haven't played as a band for three months - the original band booked, cancelled at the last minute so we're standing in, as always we'll give it our best shot. I have a strategy for nights like tonight - Jack Daniels! I'm not a big drinker, but I find that if I partake of a few shots, at least I enjoy myself and more importantly it looks like everyone else is as well, even if they're not! Works ever time - jobs a goodun'.

The surf's dropped off quite a bit this morning - not the meat that we had yesterday. But still a couple of foot on the sets, should improve as the tide drops again. Yesterday's session was one of my favourites of the year - overhead, sweet drops and the banks were pretty good. In the line-up was Big Sam, Claude and Ryan - they looked like they were enjoying it too!

Thursday morning wave

3ft, maybe more on the sets, huge tide. High at the moment and lots of moving water. Should get pretty special as the tide ebbs.

Midday - and I have jelly arms. I had nothing more to give out there. What was it? 4ft on the sets - some nice drops. Moved over to the left away from the crowd when the tide pushed back, sneaked in a few real good ones. A very happy boy.

Can't complain

Jumping on my bike this morning to cycle down to work I said to my neighbour (we have brilliant neighbours), "Off to the Coal face!" She laughed. "Off to the beach more like!" she replied. Fair point.

What a stunning day. Surf 1 - 2ft, wind fresh S-E.

As lovely as it is today - we're all frothing on tomorrow's surf forecast with 3-4ft expected. Might just save the old shoulders for then!