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!"

Moor Stories

Hey Dudes, thanks so much for your responses to my e-news last week. There was some pretty heavy stuff coming right back at me following my personal out crying! I'm lovin' hearing your surfing tales, so keep 'em coming!

You see what I'm doing here... second e-news in a week, well nearly a week! Keeps Janey off my back and I can go cycling and meet mates. As I approached her yesterday she bantered, "What's that face for? You look like you've done a poo in your pants and haven't yet decided whether that's a good thing or a bad thing!" As I say to Cone Zone owner 'The Burnley Stewpot' when supping my first double espresso of a morn, "There's plenty of other places I can go and get this level of abuse!" I'm not sure where Janey got the line from, but I'm going to claim it from this point onwards! Good work Hair Bear!

Hm, last night.... yes, last night, well last night I found myself up on Dartmoor in the dark. And you know how they always advise that you take warm clothing, a torch, a phone, a compass etc... when out on the moor. They say that don't they, I've seen them bearded people on the telly "you must be prepared for the worst. The conditions can change very quickly." "Mate, you sort out those Kendal Mint Cake crumbs in your chinny hair before coming on telly spouting your top tips." Well let's just say I was light on essentials. Guilty as charged me lord. Janey dropped me at Burrator Reservoir following footie at Tavi ... "Shouldn't take me long to tickle over to Ivybridge." I stated confidently. I held my iphone aloft to both impress my boys and to seek the South-West compass bearing that I'd be striding out. The iphone read - '10% battery!' Of all my errors, that was the biggest. However, with running water, wild berries and baby badgers in abundance, any thirst would be quenched and hunger, abated, if the need should arise. If the phone died, the bent of marsh grass and leaning of stacked sheep poo would surely indicate my path back to civilisation. Or more likely, I'd just head straight for the lights coming from the buildings over yonder, that a'way!

My path was set... A to B, over the hill and far away. Hm, turns out A to B, was not A to B at all. Simply not possible. I traversed the moor via every letter of the alphabet... and threw in a few combos too, especially sh's, and even more especially when it came to the icy rivers.... I stood there wondering whether I had the balls to strip off and wade in or indeed wondering whether post wade I'd have any balls left to strip. It was a tough call but in the end the head said forge upstream. Go as far as was necessary to locate a good crossing place, like big green stepping stones that I could leap onto. Then slip off, windmilling arms and legs, before coming to rest in the chilly clear flow, at about waist deep. It was a good plan that met with considerable success on more than one occasion.

It was quite an adventure. We (me and Libby, my six yr old black lab) crossed many rivers, streams, traversed valleys and hills, and forged our way through deep bracken and prickly bushes. At one point we marched through a full military exercise, Marines .... thirty helmets sat atop dirty faces peering above the grassy knolls, their rifle spots focused on the gap between my eyes. I'd seen the helicopter drop them a few moments earlier, their black bodies scattered. "Not the face!" I pleaded. I stopped to chat to one young marine (I'm sure he goes to school with my youngest, Findog) - he wasn't a very good one, I could see him easy peasy lying there with his machine gun. I could have taken him, save for the fact we're on the same side. I recalled my previous combat experience and advised that if I were him I'd get to the fort as quickly as possible. "Have you ever been hit on the top of the head by a paintball, marine?" I asked. He remained still and silent. That's good marine, good. "You know when someone hits you really hard on the head with a miniature modeller's hammer? It feels exactly like that!" He didn't answer. "Are you attacking or defending?" I'd been out here for ages and craved human interaction. "Haven't been told yet. It's a night time exercise." It wasn't. I was only twenty minutes further up the Moorland footpath when I heard the gun fire... it was game on, big time as more choppers joined the action and thumped their urgent tune across the open moorland. We took shelter in amongst some farm buildings that I suspected were the inspiration for the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.... any mechanical grumblings or pull cord pullings, and we were out of there. I say, we. I'd chained Libby to the railings. I'm not stupid. I reckoned on her distraction earning me a good five minute head start. If need be, I'd make my way towards the caravan with the friendly couple peering out of the window.... 

On our adventure we saw sheep, cows, ponies, deer, stags, brown bears, mongeese (three mongoose) and a baby Sloath, didn't spot any big ones, tucked high up in behind those banana leaves, I surmised. We circumnavigated the massive china clay quarry near Cornwood...  did you know that from the quarry you can see the moon? It's huge. But, I have to admit that after all the forging ahead on our monster ramble, I fell short. It was the challenge of Dendles Wood and the expiring light that caused the retreat to lower ground and a sortie back off the Moor. As the light fell beyond the horizon, and the phone expired one last heady breathe, I made the call of shame to Janey. "Hello gorgeous!" "Where are you?" she sighed. My exact position was inside the Cornwood Inn, but that seemed like too much information. "Cornwood, near the memorial. Libby can't make it any further, she's done!" Praise be to the dog. I'll raise a glass to that... doh!  

 Libby was still comatose this morning. She's been lying on her back all day with her paws in the air, muttering something about "sausages". She hasn't even let me take her down the road for her first motion yet, and she's normally as clockwork as Big Ben. You know you're beaten when you're too tired to poo! That's not my motto, but I can see it would work for some.

Now, where were we, oh yes surf school, surf lessons that's right!! We do them. We've been doing them for ages, since 1995 and I reckon we're pretty good at them. We run lessons everyday at 10am and 2pm. £26 for a two hour session including all the gear ie boards and wetsuits. Booking recommended 07760 126225.

Oh and the Beach House, is still available for the October half term. Sleeps ten right on the beach. Walk the sand right on in, why not, everyone else does!

Okay, my work here is done. Even I can't be sure why I've written to you about my walk across the moor. It is what it is!

Pete 'Ramble on' Craskie 

Totally Amazeballs

"So what exactly is it that you do? Not roughly, not generally... on a day to day basis how, exactly do you fill your day?" Hm, I observe that Janey's eyebrows are nearly on her knees, anywhere past her belly and I know this is serious. Come on Craskie, thinking your way out of a situation like this is like taking jelly from a nipper, time to grind the big gears of the frontal lobe.

"Well, let me start by saying you're looking particularly beautiful today... and you smell lovely, is that a new fragrance?" I stop short of saying, Lavender, that might be ageist! I comfort myself that that is indeed a strong start and should oil a few creaky wheels..

There's a silence. Followed by a second silence. Followed by a rather shocking third silence. It was that last one that jabbed me in the ribs! If the eyebrows were a cause for concern, I could seek no solace from the corners of her mouth. There's a long sigh... "I haven't worn perfume since...." "The Pilgrim Fathers boarded the Mayflower, 1620?" Turns out any form of interjection, including Craskie banter, is ill conceived and badly timed.

But I persisted, "You know that if the wind changes, you'll stay looking like that!" was accompanied with a cheeky grin and flashing of eyelashes. The moment those words vacated my mouth I felt a deep sense of.... regret. My game plan of bombarding Janey with charm and one liners, had failed to recognise the absolute seriousness of the situation. On this occasion there was to be no leaving until she had answers.

"I delegate. And I er.... I'm the visionary. Yes, that's it, every good business needs a visionary. And visionaries need time and space for their minds to explore the blue skies that surround us and our empire, to bring forth harmonious change in a world filled with expectation and yet uncertainty. Oh, mind, you nearly knocked that candle over. In fact only this morning I was doing a spot of visionarying, and I've come to the conclusion...don't you just love the sound of those pan pipes, I've come to the conclusion....."

".. that you need to do more!" Janey was about to speak, I was about to listen. "How about starting with, something, anything. Vision this if you will, the wages need to be paid; the vat quarter needs to be signed off; the e-mails need to be answered; Wailo, Sarah, Avian and Sam need to be updated; the answerphone needs answering; the kids need picking up, feeding and taking to football; the dog needs walking; the hoover needs putting round; the chicken needs to be marinaded and basted (made that last bit up)..."

I'd switched off at 'the vat quarter', it was a very long list of stuff, and all I really noticed was her mouth moving and noise falling out. I was back in Visionaryland and all it's wonderfulness. A place that is totally amazeballs. (Pete you're 46, amazeballs!? That's as ridiculous as someone wearing super skinny jeans at your age.... what's that, you'll be back in a minute! I should add that I've lost 40 pounds since Christmas, to be fair it was a large turkey, and a new wardrobe was required. I've bought so many new clothes recently that even I'm worried that I'm about to open the batting for the other side! Padding up as we speak. And I've started listening to Michael Buble, hm... nurse!)

On reflection I suppose Janey's right, it's about time that Craskie got back on the horse, got back into gear. So I've taken the hint and I'm on it. Take this morning, changed a light bulb and put some Triple Velvet 3-ply in the Beach House. Don't stop me now, having such a good time... Craskie is back. Here we go.....

Yes, that's right, it's MC PC coming right at yer from good old sunny Polzeath. Hm, there are some inaccuracies in that statement... need fluid! Anyway, er, hello, hope you're well and have had a great summer hols. It's been a while since we last spoke (I wrote, written, writ, whatever), seems like pre-summer and we have soooo much to catch up on. Sadly in this format, it'll be a bit one sided... but hey ho, you can come back to me in your own good time. (The inaccuracies? - I'm not an MC, I'm not in Polzeath, not right now anyway, and it's raining outside, there that wasn't too misleading). 

(photo courtesy of Surf's Up! Surfer dude Rick Benson)

But that does bring me to my first point of proceedings. You guys, hey yes, you guys... coming up on the beach and saying hello. That's awesome, seems like some people do actually read my nonsense, and then come and say they likey. In truth it's been a while since I've roamed around the beach with any freedom (more on that later) but this year I've been able to and I have to say that I've never known a year like it when so many old faces have come up for a chat. And I've really enjoyed catching up. There are many of you who will remember the old days and have followed the Surf's Up! journey. It does seem a long time ago, well 18 years ago, since myself and Janey were at the coal face (Janey would say she's still at the coal face and that I'm AWOL (definitely 'without' please see above)). It was a much simpler existence, just teaching enough people to put a tin roof over our head and some beans in the pan. If we had a five year plan, it was to keep the tin roof over our head and maybe add a few pork sausages in with the beans in the pan along the way, never anything more ambitious than that. Right place and right time put paid to that, oh, and a good deal of elbow grease.

Now we have responsibilities - our own kids, mortgages, staff, not to mention the well being of our clients. I can't place it exactly but I think it would have been about five years ago that we both started struggling to mix business and pleasure. The beach had become our office, not the playground it had once been. I don't expect any sympathy by the way, just telling it as it is. Taking our own boys down to the beach at Polzeath, was like going to the office on the weekend for most normal people. At that time the surf school was flat out, we were teaching up to 400 people a day - the largest throughput of any surf school in the world, by a fair margin. The challenge of keeping standards up, both from a coaching and a safety stand point and maintain a personal touch - we did our best, but it was a long way removed from our initial motivations back in '95. The surf school was all consuming and if I'm honest, not much fun.

With so much going on, the beach became the last place we wanted to go to when we had the opportunity to take time out. And with that feeling we worried that our love of the sea, of surfing, of beach life wouldn't be passed down to our own - Billy (13) and Fin (9). And what a shame that would be. I feel this huge sense of responsibility towards anyone who surfs with us because it can be a real life enhancer, it can somehow make living a bit better, a bit easier, puts the strains and stresses of everyday life into perspective. For me to fail my own boys in that respect, would be a great failing of epic proportions.

But this year was a watershed, no question and I don't feel that claustrophobia anymore. My love of the beach has been restored. Why? A lot of reasons, but two that stand out - in no particular order, the first would be that the beach was quieter, the surf school was quieter. The likes of Wailin, Sam, Sam and Sarah, could cope with just a nudge of support here and there. We had a great team. And general beach life... no queues for food, no queues for parking etc a better holiday experience for everyone. We thought the Olympics was initially the cause, but the season in truth never really got up any head of steam. It was like an old car trying to start on a cold day, nearly, so nearly catching, but never quite properly running.

And secondly, our boys began their own love affair with the surf. I've observed it in other kids of many years, when one day it clicks, they just get it. Perhaps the first big unbroken wave or something as simple as a surf with great mates. The blood thickens with it and the body craves it. From that moment onwards the love affair with the ocean and riding waves can't be broken. It becomes a companion, a bestie for life.

Fin our youngest, is nearly there, but it's Billy who's blood runs thick. In the summer, he'd get up early, we might see him for lunch, but generally he'd return as darkness fell with his sidekick, cousin Charlie - best mates. When he comes home from school, he's straight on Youtube watching Kelly Slater's top ten. It's his, their, enthusiasm that's rejuvenated my own. My own surfing during this aforementioned 'blue period' hit rock bottom. After all these years living the dream, I should in truth be so much better than I am. I should ride shorter boards, charge bigger waves and make tighter turns. I've always hung onto the company dictum that the best surfer is the one having the most fun. I've always surfed with a smile, but that hides my deeper frustration. But what better way to be reunited with a true love than through my own. I'm excited by it and stoked that the boys love has come naturally, without any pressure and in their own time. I'm proud of that.  

Billyman doing some lip bashing at Harlyn.

Latest update then.. we're part living in Ivybridge part in Polzeath. Myself and Janey take it in turns to be on the beach in amongst the Surf's Up! crew. We have some amazing staff - Wailin and little Sam deserve special mention. We could not do what we're doing without their support and without having the confidence in their abilities and dedication. They are phenomenal. The Ivybridge Football Academy gives the boys a chance to have a good crack at their dreams, we followed ours, so it seems right. That doesn't mean it's easy, but we're together under one roof now, rather than the fragmented existence of the last year. Fin's happy in his new school. And we've made some really good new friends. We have great friends in Polzeath, but perhaps because most are tied in with the surf school in some way, we'd become quite withdrawn from the Polzeath social scene. Almost reclusive. But up here, I feel a sense of openness that I haven't experienced before - refreshing and healthy... we've even had mates to stay at Polzeath and we meet up on the weekends to do stuff together. Totally unheard of in the Craskie life cycle, up to now. It's a part of life that I've learned to embrace and really enjoy. Janey remains private, but I think she too, is opening up to a new way of living.

Wow, taken you on a bit of a personal journey. Now then, it's important that I give you a quick update on the surf school itself..... Surf's Up! is what allows us to breathe. Although the beach was quieter we had an amazing year. We ran a better business, Janey worked her pop socks off to keep it tight and overheads down... and although you'll be the ultimate judge, I think this was one of our best years in terms of delivering a really quality fun service. That's the feedback I had. The Beach House was full right through and Sarah in the shop did a stirling job, bringing in new exciting products such as the new towel, that kept her busy in her domain when others in the retail sector locally quite possibly suffered. To give you an idea, some camp sites (not all) were reporting a 40% drop in occupancy!! That's a huge drop in sandy foot prints on the beach... we're protected to a certain extent as a lot of our business is prebooked. Most local business do not enjoy that luxury.... a tough, tough year for many.

Lessons are still trucking along on on the beach, September was really busy, not sure why that was? We're still running lessons everyday until after the October half term, it's a good time to get wet... water's still warm, the sea's pretty empty and the surf is normally pumping..... good combo.

Official business: Avian, our new boy in the office (a great addition to the team) has asked me to let you know some free dates for the Beach House - which are as follows... Sun 21st October 5 nights £550 sleeps up to 10. 26 October 7 nights £750 up to 10. If you're on your own and fancy a residential break our flat is available 5 nights 28 October £250 inc 5 lessons and use of equipment outside of lesson times...

Right, this has been emotional. I felt that we needed a good catch up... hope it hasn't been too long and too deep! There's always the delete option or unsubscribe! Started with good humour and went a bit heavy.... need to keep it light in future I think. But as you'll know, I write in the moment and from the heart, for me there's no other way. I hope you're good and life's treating you well - hope to catch up and make sand foot prints together very soon.

Love you, bye

Slip, slap, slop

This is how we like it - early morning and it already feels hot, hot, hot! Surf today - like my missus, small but fun!

Quick Catch Up

No need to put in the long hours to enjoy the adoration of thousands on the road side, cheering and urging me on my way. I've had my Olympic moment. It was Saturday evening. I'd cycled up to Bude and was returning on the coast road, always a good challenge up the steep slopes of Millook, Crackington, Boscastle and onto Tintagel. As I approached Tintagel, a fire engine blocked my passage. Two Spanish firemen manning the pump, Hose A and Hose B, laughed "If you want to go through you'll have to pretend to be Bradley Wiggins!" Yes, yes, yes, very funny. It was the Tintagel Carnival and I'd caught up with the back end - floats, junior brass band, Salsa dancers, and men dressed as women. I was on a mission and in no mood to wait. To turn back and seek an alternative route was not an option... so playing the part of Bradley Wiggins sans lamb chop burns, I decided, was my best option for onward progress. I took my place in the line-up. What I hadn't anticipated as I turned the corner and down the main stretch was neither the popularity of this carnival nor the loud speaker system that announced my imminent arrival. To chants and cheers from the exciteable crowd of "Wiggo, Wiggo" I waved and played my part. Hilarious... I chuckled all the way home. I later found out that the judges had awarded me second prize in the french horn section of the junior brass band category - that's tight lycra and a cold front for you! I've been doing so much cycling recently that Janey 'the broomwagon' reckons I'm turning into a cyclepath! (You can have that one).

 

 

Photo courtesy of Matt Harbour - keep your best snaps coming... to info@surfsupsurfschool.com

 

Back to the beach, what's up? Well..... in summary, it's been a nice, busy. About five years ago, Polzeath was over crowded - difficult to park; to get accommodation; to find space for a base on the beach or in the surf; to get a bite to eat - all a stress for visitors. What we have now, as a result probably of that period putting visitors off, the struggling economy, the weather and the OIympics, is a fluid busy that everyone can enjoy. There's space and it's a good thing. Those that are here are getting the best of it, no question. There's a really nice relaxed feel about the village, less manic than it used to be. As a business you might expect us to say that this is a bad thing. But this is our home and we too want to enjoy the beach, particularly as our boys get older and more independent. Take yesterday, I went surfing with my boys (and their cousins) at midday - 2ft super clean, low tide - plenty of space, none of that jostling for a set wave. A real joy. Makes a difference at the surf school too - both clients and instructors buzzing, well done Wailo and team. Lots of good feedback, everyone's a winner. Lots of good feedback too about the shop stock - well done Sarah.

 

Local ripper Danny Runnalls bashing solid swell last Friday night, Polzeath high tide.  

While I'm on the subject of holidays, Janey has asked me to let you know that we have two dates available for our flat in Trenant Close (a five min walk to the beach) - Sunday 12th August for 5 nights and Friday 24th for 7 nights. If you're keen for a last minute break then give us a shout on 07760 126225 - sleeps up to ten (we'd rather less), bunk beds, views to Stepper.

 

 

Trenant flat - you can see the sea, tickle the ivories and everyfink!

 

We're making a short London fly-by to catch the triathlon and football semis tomorrow (my mate went to watch GB v Korea and sent me a text after we went out on penalties .... "it's just dawned on 71,000 people leaving the Millenium stadium that they'd have been better staying at home and watching the athletics on the telly!" - that was Super Saturday, what a night, what a night!). Anyway I can't wait. Have loved every second of this Olympics. Awesome.

 

Surf today - 2ft, light onshore - great for beginners and improvers!

Blue Sky

Here it is - on the right hand side you can see blue sky clearly breaking through. And by all accounts it's here to stay. Come on!

Tranny

Drop Fin off at school...tick; drive to beach....tick; Double Espresso from Cone Zone..... tick; catch up with Wailin at trailer... tick; Double Espresso from The Galleon Cafe.. tick...... the morning ritual is complete and with four espresso's inside my temple, I'm good to meet the challenges of the day!

Last night I had a chat with the 'Big Man'.... not the coach driver who drove us for 24 hours to our Italian ski resort all those years ago. He was a very big man indeed. "Passengers, if you look left. And now right," he directed us over the intercom as we crossed the river. Something of interest to see?.. turns out it was the start and end of his daily fitness regime. It was obviously working, as he had a fat neck. He also bizarrely had shaven arms and legs? Pretty sure he wasn't a professional cyclist or ever had been. Some said he was a tranny... I couldn't make the connection with the radio at all, but I was young and not worldy wise back then.

No, the 'Big Man' I refer to is the weather one up in the sky. To summarise, what I said was, that I realise that he'd been through a Gobi (a dry patch) in the winter and that he's making up for it, but we think that enough is enough. The grass is green, the reservoirs full to the brim. The good news is that we've come up with a compromise, he might send in a few dark clouds with the wet stuff over the next couple of days, but after that he's happy to release the big yellow ball to coincide with the local school holidays. So there you have it... it's official, we are going to get a summer after all. A summer of sun, surf, Olympics, and this will kick off with the TDF yellow jersey. Sweet as!

Talking of fat necks. Janey has been in Shrewsbury for a footie tournament this week (that sounds all wrong - not Janey fat neck.....  bear with me). She's not playing, Billy is. Or isn't as the case may be. For he has his first injury, a hip strain that's kept him touchline bound for the past two weeks (latest news is that he's back in the game on day three of said tournament - ah, the planets have realigned again, and relax). Anyway, Janey rang me from deepest Wales to inform me that 1) she was lost and 2) she'd taken my sunglasses by mistake. They look similar. After years of abuse from the reflection of the sun stood in waist depth water, I never leave home without them. "You'll have to wear mine but don't stretch the arms, you've got a fat head!" I take no offence at this. It is a running joke - she has an 'innie' forehead and I have an 'outtie'. It's the little things like this that keep the fire burning after 18 years of marriage! Not quite fifty shades, just rose tinted sunglasses I'm afraid. Oh the fun we have! She's on her way back (currently ordering an Americano from Costa) and I'm going to meet her in Wadebridge at midday to arrange the transfer of a big fat wad to complete the purchase of the cottage in Ivybridge. (Lloyds 'whatever' TSB and C & 'computer says no' G, please take note!). So that's quite exciting.

New shop stock just in - lovin' it!

Let me big up two people - or peoples. Firstly, our staff. You might think that working on the beach is living the dream. When the sun is shining and the surf is pumping, no question. When it's wet and windy, day after day, even the hardiest of instructors need some inner strength to smash on through. We have them and they have that, in abundance. This is our best team. They want to work, they want to do their best and are a load of fun. I hope that you feel it in the same way when you come down and put yourselves in their hands. Good reports down at mission control and emails of thanks have been flooding in. Never get bored of that.

We promised you a towel, not a rose garden - these are going to fly! Yours from the shop for £20! Multi purpose - use for drying,  for shade, for whipping,  for lying in the sand etc you choose.

And secondly, if you've had any contact with the office over the past eighteen months then you'll have come across our Office Manager, Rach. Rach has had a really bad back for while. We hear the tapperty tap of the crutches first thing, well before we have a visual. A bad back is a nasty, painful business which she has battled with great fortitude for too long. She's off to get it sorted at the end of this month. Let's hope the doctors can work some magic and bring her some much needed pain relief. In the meantime, we want to thank her for her resolve and dedication to the Surf's Up! cause under what must have been incredibly difficult circumstances.

So there we go - summer is upon us and the jet stream is heading north. This is no dress rehearsal - we can see whites of our clients eyes and we are ready to rock it. So come on down, the water's lovely - let's see if we can get some spray off that tail and score some sucky wedges (07760 126225).

The Surf's Up! Towel has arrived!

Let's checky out this little puppy! The all new Surf's Up! Towel - guaranteed to dry all your parts after a hard day's surfing; or a nice hot bath. You choose... multi functional! Comes in a cute little package!

Shadows

I've just looked at the forecast and they've given a 70% chance of rain today! 70% eh? When I rose from my deep slumber at 5.30 this morning, I peered out the window and there was the most amazing rainbow framing the beach as the weather front moved in. It's been pouring ever since and on that basis I raise you to 100%. It would be nice to see a shadow on the beach again soon, please. Anyway I've left the team on the beach to do their thing whilst popping back up to the house to check on Bradders and his assault up the Col de la Madeleine. Since 1995 when we first drove our little Honda Civic on the beach pulling trailer complete with ten boards and a few wetsuits, there hasn't been a year like it.... or even close to it. But spirits remain high and we remain hopeful that the real summer is just around the corner.

 

So what exactly does go on... I hear you cry, down at good ol' Polzy when it's like this. Well actually quite a lot.... we've been flat out. We get loads of school groups, both local and further afield at this time of year.. particularly exciting has been our involvement with the Yr 6 schools transition programme and the Olympic activity weeks. Superb in concept and execution... so a big thumbs up to all the teachers and Heads involved in making that happen.

 

 We do our bit when it comes to Work Experience - over the past two weeks we've put over thirty 'young adults' through their paces. From assisting instructors with lessons, helping in the shop or office, or taking photos.. we've done our best to keep them on their toes. Here's a photo of some of them above, a really good crew... what makes a good crew? Hard working, being intuitive and enthusiastic - it's all about doing the basics well.

 

A while back I got nominated as an Olympic Torch Bearer, on behalf of Surf's Up!, for our work with kids. I didn't get the final nod, and thought nothing of it until I saw Jedwood parading through the streets of Dublin, flame held aloft. It was at that point that I was overcome with much bitterness! I was alright up until then! "Let it go, Pete. Just let it go!" But we do our fair share for 'Charidee' and the kids - yeah man, we're down with da kids - and we're proud of that, innit.

 

 

Another snap of our work experience, taken by our work experience. Modelling some of the new stock, which even though I say it myself, is awesome. Make sure you pop into the shop when you're next down and feast on the abundance of new goodies including the solar powered wobbly flowers - hm, not wobbling that much right now! I went down and stole a blue lightweight zipped hoody only this morning with the new SU EST'95 logo on the front. Nice. Oh, and the all new Surf's Up! towel is arriving next week. Very excited about that.

 

Best go and check on Bradders. And fire up the torch of a million candles, we'll get those petals a flappin'.

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.