GOLD

Couple shots of yours truly enjoying the sunset recently - snapped by Andy Garner.

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click to embiggen

THE GOOD OLD BADLANDS

Had a quick surf in the Badlands last night.

Got a few rights into this corner...

... but you certainly don't see ships moored up here these days.

LESSON FROM THE TAO

The Second Noble Truth.

"The second truth is that suffering is caused by craving and desire. We will suffer for example; if we do not get something we want, if we expect other people to conform to our expectations, etc, etc. In other words, getting what we want does not guarantee lasting happiness. Wanting can ultimately deprive us of contentment and happiness."

Last night I watched clouds scudding across the sky, pushed along by strong westerly winds. I felt frustrated that I hadn't been in for a surf that day and was unlikely to either as the wind was still blowing hard whilst the sun began to sink - no evening glass off for me then...

I try to take a philosophically relaxed attitude to surfing these days - the aim being to simply enjoy my moments in the sea wherever and whenever I can. I could quite easily become obsessed with wave-hunting etc, but would rather make the most of the life that surrounds me and not potentially let my desires turn to sorrows.

AIRSTREAMERS

If you like Airstreams and that kind of stuff, there's a few quirky ones here..

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BDAY BUSH

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Every May over a couple of weeks, this bush in our front garden bursts into flower despite me totally neglecting it all year - what a top plant! The bloom coincides with the twins birthday so I always call it the Birthday Bush (not sure of its proper name - some kind of Azalea maybe..?)

VEEDUB

Yep, we've finally done gone and bought a new van…

OH GWITH!

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STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO

Another awesome pic snapped from CBI

CASUAL MOFO

... stylin!

Grabbed this from LSoRo - lovely colour, great style, really liking the coolness, and definitely no window-winding necessary.

EVER FALLEN IN LOVE

... with something again and again?

For various reasons I've missed a lot of the good run of swell we had recently - but I managed to get in for a late one last night. It was fairly slack and only 2ft on the sets, but I paddled down the beach and found a little bank that was peeling and surfed until the sun went down.

Fell in love with surfing yet again...

supPORT[RAIT] your local shaper

Flicking through the latest issue of designweek... Lo and behold, there's Mr Fluid Juice himself - top shaper and all round good guy, Adrian Philips - moodily photographed by Peter Beavis.

SECRETS OF THE MASTER SHAPERS

In the latest Surfer's Journal there is an excellent feature on Jim Phillips, master shaper/craftsman.

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Could the double goggles be one of the secrets of the super shapers?

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE BEACH TODAY…

Watch your step!

2004

Went on a little expedition to Northern Spain in 2004, found some beautiful setups. This was one of the more popular spots...

SO TRUE...

SKATEBOARD KINGS 1978

So good.

PIXELLATION

Some digitals from the archivals...

home of morgawr.

tv remote for the short-sighted (or giant-fingered...)

the passmore edwards gothic repository of books.

i'm feeling horny.

the big-legged, small-headed footplant.

the skinny - goes fast.

man i'm tired.

IN 7EVEN YEARS...

Just realised that The Beatles made all their albums (as a band) in just seven years. When you consider the impact, seven years is not a great deal of time.

// Please Please Me (1963)
// With The Beatles (1963)
// A Hard Day's Night (1964)
// Beatles for Sale (1964)
// Help! (1965)
// Rubber Soul (1965)
// Revolver (1966)
// Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
// The Beatles (aka the White Album) (1968)
// Yellow Submarine (1969)
// Abbey Road (1969)
// Let It Be (1970)

Please please me.

With the Beatles.

A hard day's night.

Beatles for sale.

Help!

Rubber Soul.

Revolver.

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

White album.

Yellow submarine.

Abbey Road.

Let it be.

On the other hand I started decorating the front room in 2003 and still haven't managed to finish it!

BOOKWORM

Wow!

Insane digital image of a library in Prague that allows you to zoom in for incredible detail.

Found at GEF

SK8HAUS

Indoor pool.

Tree ramp.

Keith Haring ramp.

Found here.

RHYTHM OF THE RAMP

Ker-thunk... ker-thunk.

I was reminded of this quarter-pipe today by Milo.

Now, just seeing a picture of it again, I can clearly hear the sound it made as we bashed our way up and down it endlessly. Metal, just over 6ft high with a bit of vert, only about 6ft wide, topped by worn wooden coping and a 6 inch platform. At the foot of a slope, bolted to a railing opposite a flat paved bank. It was sketchy at best - and we loved it!

Spent so many hours here. Lots of good times, lots of good memories, met a lot of good friends here too. And made enough scar tissue to last a lifetime.