Surfing Dudes!

Finally we got some good news from the Gwithian Surf Academy – there are enough waves for a surf lesson!  Loaded up in two cars we arrived and parked up, checked in and the kids and Simon began the business of being kitted out with wetsuits and boards … 

Once on the beach they had a warm-up and then began the instruction for catching the wave and just pushing up …

Then it was time to attach their boards and head for the waves …

Back to the beach to learn how to stand up …

and then back to the water to try it out with Mr Clever standing on his very first wave!

They all tried really hard and eventually made it!

At the end of their lesson they were all brought in and told they could stay in the water if they wanted to – of course they did!  They posed for photos and then went back in …

It was soon time to head back …

and then we found that both cars had been served with parking tickets!  The last time we’d parked here it was free and none of us had spotted any signs by the cars to indicate anything different.  Phill was immediately on the phone to the private company and complaining about it.  We took several photos to back up our case but it had left a sour taste in our mouths after such a fantastic afternoon.  Jamie was already planning the email he would be writing to them and they’d be fighting it all the way!

Pilates 2:1

Whilst away on our hols I had a text from Jo asking if I'd be interested in having a 2:1 session of Pilates at her place. Naturally I said yes and so this afternoon I left Portreath with Mel and headed for Jo's home. Mel had some strange torture-looking equipment with her but more of that later!

We began with a warm up and after trying to walk along a rubber band which was about three inches wide - yes we were trying to look like those gymnasts on TV who do amazing things on a beam - it was down on the floor with a long roll underneath us ...

Not the easiest of things to balance on especially when Mel is say "Lift your leg" and then"Lift both legs". I managed to get a photo of Jo doing exactly what had happened to me ...


Yes, we both fell off it!

It was really good having Mel to ourselves as she could explain everything slowly and make sure that we were doing it all correctly. We used squidgy balls for another exercise but no photos I'm afraid! Then came the rings ...

Apart from using them between our legs Mel found other ways of using them to torture us!

All the time we were working Fred was feeling very left out and decided he wanted to get in on the act ...

No Fred - that's not how it's supposed to be done!!

Almost finished now ...

After all our hard work it was time for a very welcome cuppa and a very naughty cake! Many thanks to Mel for teaching me and to Jo for the use of her home.