Climb Every Mountain

Just call me Pete 'Pantani' (not the Italian Bread) - I was like a mountain goat up those steep climbs on Sunday. Shall we summarise - 900 riders in the 65 miler and I came in ......... 19th!! Oh ye of little faith. Janey was in tears at the end - (part hayfever, part supporting on a stretch of road for three hours that I didn't pass!!). Three hours and 43 mins - yep, pretty stoked with that! The call from Team Sky is now well overdue, the Polka Dot vest mine if they choose to slide me into the team for the weekend - I'm happy to support Braders in his quest for Yellow if needs be. Here's a little snap below of your main man in action, note the focus and determined look of a performance athlete! Those cyclists in the distance are eating my dust. I was in the zone man! Note to self - fix rear brakes, you don't have any!

Okay so you're not the slightest bit interested in my cycling endeavours? We'll move on. Today we have some surf. Chest high, light breeze - and no rain. Well not right now, we did earlier. If we believe in the law of averages, which I do, the summer holidays are going to be stonking - ninety degrees, head high, light offshore... you can quote me on that! Still quiet on the beach with general traffic - school groups are keeping our heads above the pulpit. Speaking of the Olympics (we weren't) can I remind anyone aged 17 or below that you can enrol on our Junior Scheme when you come along for lessons - Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates awarded for achieving the appropriate levels. Do three or more lessons and it's a freebie, from us to you (07760 126225).

That's it - another slow news day! I'm off to find out if Janine's baby really is the half brother of the Crazy Frog. Ring ding a ding, ding, ding.

Brave David

Here's a link to an article about one of our clients, a young man called David. A very inspirational young man and family.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2162578/You-win-Schoolboy-terminal-brain-tumour-amazes-friends-family-brave-attitude-illness.html

You Light Up My Life

The South-West tourist board have specifically asked me NOT to send through a photo of the beach today - stressing that it would not necessarily be great for business! Hey, it's not that bad - not quite what the doctor ordered (if you could find one today (see what I did there)), but there's a wave, and you know the saying, where there's a wave there's a will... something like that!

 

Today is Thursday, and that means it's 'forget to take guitar to school day'! Yep that's right every Thursday I pull up in the St. Minver School car park to discover better parents carrying their childs guitar into class. Silently cursing to myself, I reassure Fin that I'll go back and get his! This I did this morning, whereupon on my return I was treated to wake and shake and a bit of One Direction! "Baby you light up my world like nobody else, the way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed" - well it lifted my spirits. What a great way to start the day, a bit of a dance and a sing along with Harry....and the other three, whatever they're called! St. Minver School has been the foundation and cornerstone of both our boys early years and it will be with great sadness when we drive out the gates for the last time in a couple of weeks time (guitar in hand).

 

What's to report? You'll be pleased to learn that we've taken away the wooden skate ramp from our back garden. On the face of it, Mission Impossible, but it proved to be not so bad. Just one of those jobs you put off. Pounds, fun and use per square inch without doubt the best investment we ever made some five years ago. It's fallen into holey, rotten, disrepair and had to go. Once broken into pieces, carried up 100 steps and loaded into the box trailer, I shuffled soil backwards and forwards over the now bare patch with a rake whilst Janey had a crack at cleaning the interior of the Chicken Coop. (one of those jobs you put off). Unoccupied for several months since Jalfrezi, Drummer, Nugget and Nora relocated to the neighbours small holding, this was indeed a nasty business. I can look very busy when I need to! After listening to lots of tutting, huffing and blowing the wooden house down I decided I'd better wade in and offer assistance. "I'd stick some gloves on if I was you." I was only trying to help! Anyway once I'd removed the glove from my personage it didn't take long to have the coup looking spic and span. Off to the tip to unload, we encounter Mr. Grumpster and his team of grumpees who seem to be on permanent tea break (unless you're blonde and female). Which is fine with me as the General Waste Skip is so much quicker to fill when they're not watching! (Environmentalists please note - that's just my little joke! well... kinda..)

 

Thanks very much for all the top tips re. my achilles. Sounds like a bit of eccentric exercises will be the go. Just going to get through the Dartmoor Classic this weekend before embarking on any new regime. Oh and you may recount that I said that we'd put in four different offers in as many different houses, and all were rejected. Would you believe that every single one has come back since that time and asked if we'd still be interested at our original offer price. Too late - we're very happy with our find and hoping to wrap it all up very soon. And then we'll go back and have a chat with the Lloyds 'Whatever' TSB bank manager - we'd like to bring him up to date and then take our business elsewhere as loyalty seems to count for zilch.

 

So this is not a photo of today - but one from last week. And there's our (my) dog, Libby enjoying a splishy splash. I think you'll find that is the bridlepath she's walking on (local curtain twitcher - please note).

 

Beach business - er..... oh yes, if you want some surf lessons that's what we do. Please give us a call on 07760 126225! That should cover it.

 

Don't forget now - you light up my world like nobody else....

 

Pete 'Nana nana nana' Craske

Wet Feet

 

 

Here we go - a little snap from yesterday morning! How things can change in a matter of hours. A storm came in and knocked out the power in the village. Kaput! Nothing! No phone, no mobile, no internet, no power - no espresso! Taken out presumably by a fierce strike from the heavens above. And it was all going so well - 3ft, light offshore. Ho hum.

 

Today we have a bit of a repeat. Surf's okay, but once again we have dampness in the air. I can't remember a year quite like it - re. up and down weather. The surf's followed a similar pattern. But here's the rub, if you work on the law of averages, then the summer's going to be a stonker. With only a week to go before the nights start to draw in, let's hope we turn that corner sooner rather than later. 

 

Whitsun was a perfect example of the changeable weather. From the sublime to the ridiculous. From the busiest day in Polzeath I've ever seen (Monday) to desertion a few days later. Never mind, Whitsun showed really positive signs. The spondoolies come out to play when the sun does likewise.

 

I have to confess to being a bit of a wuss when it comes to storms. I love the thought of a biggun. But when it's upon and overhead, I'm deep beneath the blankets. Something unfortunately I couldn't be last Monday when cycling near Newton Abbott. I took refuge from the deluge under a tree.... until the first and loudest clap of thunder, at which point I was a bit stuck. Stand away from the tree and take it like a man, or stay under the tree and take it like a idiot? Remounting the bike was not an option. I am here to tell the tale, but I think that's because I resorted to shouting at the offending cloud, "Come on then you big black cloud, show me what you've you've got!!" It did, and I cried. You can do that sort of thing when there's no-one around. A few miles onwards and the village high streets were a foot deep in rain water. Back inside, I rang Janey to see how she was getting on back in Polzeath and it was all suncream and bikinis! Humph.

 

Our duel existence, part Polzy, part Ivybridge is starting to take on some form of routine. We put an offer two weeks ago on a property that's been accepted - the fourth offer on as many different houses. Some sellers are being very unrealistic (they probably said the same about us!). We toddled off to Lloyds and C&G, to raise the required, who've had our accounts since, well, since they last had any money. "Computer says No!" "Really, on what basis?" Turns out that dividends don't count! No worries Lloyds will meet the shortfall. "Computer says No!" "Really?" Our accounts are healthy - again, dividends, company profits and assets don't count no more. I said to the bank manager over the phone what I had to say clearly and slowly so as to avoid any confusion, to which he replied, I tell no lie, "Whatever!" Grrr. Anyway, to cut the story short, Mr. Mortgage Broker sorts it out, no worries, easy peasy. But it was our first face to face with the reality of this recession. Whitsun spending from holiday makers, did not reflect a downturn, but the banks are mighty squeeky bottomed.

 

Janey's up in Ivy today, I'm back at the coal face.... generally doing..... 'stuff'! I have to admit to being a bit down recently (altogether now) ... I've had this niggling achilles injury that just will not go away. Tough one because what I really need to do is sit with my feet up and do nothing (yes Janey) but with the Empire to run that's not going to happen. I've had these special insoles fitted which are helping, I think. Not very cool though. Me and my special shoes! I wonder if there's such a thing as a leg scan, that would be the go. Anyway, walking down to check out the surf line-up yesterday and not be able to go in and catch a few..... it's a right tease. Doesn't stop me from cycling though and with the Dartmoor Classic only 12 days away I'll be good to go. Having lost the best part of 38 pounds from grinding out some miles over the past few months the climbs have become a good deal easier - I feel energised about that. If you see me limping (not mincing) now you'll know why. But enough about me, let's talk about you! Thanks for all your caption competition entries - still sifting and will announce winners next week. Mine was the funniest, lol!

 

Here's a story before I forget - when returning from Ivy earlier in the week there was a multiple pile up on the Tamar Bridge. Five cars all stacked up like sardines, no one hurt but all the drivers and passengers still sitting enveloped with airbags. Police on the scene. I told this to a friend and he recounted an accident he'd had a few years ago. He hit a car side on, they did a pirouette together. Cars came to a halt. Quick head to toe check for injuries - all clear. Big sigh of relief. Then the air bag goes off and breaks his nose! I laughed a lot at that story. Does that make me sick?

 

The business end - not much to say, except that we have a few places left on the Duke of Edinburgh Residential five day course from the 15th July. Erm..... I'm sure there's other 'stuff' but I'll be damned if I can remember. Good job I don't run an Empire and people are counting on me.... oh I do..... and they are! Best get on then.

Polzeath surf report

Oh yes, 3ft, fresh easterly, sun shining. The perfect wave set up for the start of the Whitsun / Jubilee. I'd put up a photo but photographer Wapshot's store room flooded last week, all his Canon's destroyed - so he's got mine for a few days. Hence no snappage. You'll have to take my word for the conditions. Come on down. Instructors have been having a play pre-work and have come back in with a full beam.

It was the Wadebridge football presentation evening for the kids last night. Ended up with a lads v dads session. Not entirely sure about the Child Protection Policy on that one! I was able to demonstrate to the younger generation how to find space. As a result I neither received nor touched the ball throughout the entire game! Which looking at the some of the tackles from the little un's who showed no mercy (same could be said of the big un's) suited me just fine!

Strong team on the beach with Big Sam and Rob at the helm today. I've got a good feeling about this team of instructors - most of whom are returnees from last year. Janey's birthday today - off for a bite to eat later en famille, ce soir. Just a bit of French for you. 

Diamond Jubilee Special

To mark the very special occassion this weekend, of Janey's birthday (!), we're offering a 10% discount off any red, white or blue Surf's Up! hoodies bought in the Surf's Up! shop from now until Wednesday. That's genius right? You just can't hold me back. Pop in and see Sarah. If you're after a surf lesson, please call to pre-book on 07760 126225 - it's gonna be busy, busy, busy. That's your heads up... you've been warned!

Another little tip off - if you speak nicely to Wailo on the beach, we may have a couple of soft surfboards for sale. Just our little secret okay.

The bunting is up, the flags are flying, 2-3ft forecast for the week, there's a huge buzz of anticipation down here on the beach - we're like coiled springs, good to go. Can't wait! Time to feel that sand between your toes.

Caption Competition

No mug winners I'm afraid, but loads of great guesses. The bar that finally lured me and the bar that had sat in my freezer for some time calling me whenever the family had retired to bed, "Pete, Pete, over here..." was in fact the Dairy Milk Bubbly. It wasn't a whole bar. It was a part eaten old one of Fin's. I found it in a melted state under the passenger seat of my Ford Mondeo and put it into the freezer for safe keeping. (I should add on behalf of my wife that on the whole our fridge freezer is full of recently purchased products and not discarded random stuff). Despite it's dodgy history, it was silky smooth.

 

We still have this mug to give away. Go on then, "run the caption competition"... here's a photo I took of Janey back in 1995, one of our first days on the beach. That Surf's Up! sign on the side of the trailer was hand painted - the logo man was called Lenny aka Lenny Logo, simples. It was just me and Janey back then... here's my attempt... Janey saying, "Pete stop banging on about our empire and get this trailer unpacked!" (which if you know me well, is genius!) I think that wins at least a t-shirt.

 

Let's have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place - a hoody, a mug, a sticker - in corresponding order of best e-mail entries. Make 'em good, make 'em clean.

 

Latest beach news - last week, too cold. This week, too hot! I've been working all day on my white bits, tomorrow I'm going to work on some Aloa Vera on my red bits!; Our band, Mahoustic is playing tomorrow night at the Oystercatcher. We have a new band member, Sam Horan, who is simply awesome on guitar. Sam and Wailin will be going toe to toe in a solo-off for most of the gig, expect big drawn out endings. All we need now is a decent vocalist!! It'll be the first time we've played a set together, could either be the start or the end of something quite beautiful. Be good to see you there in the mosh. And finally, an official press release from important people...

 

Right then, I'm going to tickle out on my bike for few miles. Dartmoor Classic coming up in a month, a nasty business. Surf looks great for the weekend, with accompanying sun. Don't forget to bend those knees now.

Venturing further afield

We're venturing further afield - well not that much further, just a short hop across the beach. Here's the official position...

"Lanhdyrock Estate are pleased to welcome Surf’s Up as the new tenant of the 29 acres of the foreshore of New Polzeath Beach owned by the Estate. The Estate received a number of tender applications. Surf’s Up!'s reputation, professionalism and superior standards along with a clear understanding of what works on the beach, made the Director’s decision an easy one." 

There are more than two owners of the beach at Polzeath. Weird to think that anyone owns the beach, but they do. A quite rare state of affairs. The Lanhydrock Estate have decided to make the most of their share and are quite within their rights to do so. We felt that it was an opportunity that we could take advantage of to compliment and work in conjunction with our existing operation.

Do we have plans? Maybe. We'll keep you posted on further developments.... but until then, "I know nothing!" 


ps and you thought we were sleeping!

Stop spitting on me, Llama

Beach House Special - 24th June - 27th June, sleeps ten, funny dates hence £450!! Call Rach on 07760 126225 if that tickles your buds. Couple of Duke of Edinburgh Residential places left at Surf's Up! flat.

After 10 weeks off the chocolate, last night I decided it was time to at least have a sniff and lick of the sweet stuff. Free Surf's Up! Mug to the first person who can correctly identify (via e-mail please) what bar broke the Camel's back! It was with some trepidation that I jumped on the scales this morning, and what do you know, no change!! Oh yes baby! I'm going to set up the choccy fountain this afternoon and put my head in it.

 

It's been a weird few days to be honest - the cat ate the hamster; I got spat in the eye by a Llama on a bike ride across Dartmoor; and I did an air shot with my Driver off a high tee (with a single figure handicap, the last time I did that was over 30 years ago) - all three events came as a complete surprise and tested my range of emotions from shock to much hilarity. Using the Rule of Three, I'm looking forward to rest of this week.

We have surf, but as yet this morning, no sun. It's a bit overcast. I have it on good authority that it's going to break through any min. The photo below is as is. First bit of decent surf for a while, so that means lots of people signed off 'sick' are recovering with a splash. I hope they feel better soon! Which reminds me, poor old Big Sam has twinged his back - a surfing / Cornish Wrestling injury combo - and is sporting the largest neck brace known to beach goers. We're looking forward to seeing his tan lines when that puppy comes off.

Photo below of returning instructor (and stunt double) Dee heading to water's edge, is what it's going to be like for the rest of the week and hopefully into Whitsun, which is already booking up on the surf lesson and surf hire front. Don't miss out now.

 

That's all for now. My Hayfever's started to kick in, so I'm off to track down that Llama and return the compliment!

Sun puts hat on!

The sun had to put his hat on eventually. Hip, hip hip, hooray... about time toooooo. We were getting ready to pack up and go back home (Pete, you are home!). It was worth the wait, check out the photo below, nice. Couple of foot, gentle summer breeze - as it should be.

 

 

Time to give us a ring and book those surf lessons, strike while the iron is hot. 8th - 13th July is surprisingly still available at the Beach House.