Anna has started her new job today so I’m at home with Morgan and we’ve just got back from a wander across to the beach for some Dune Jumping.

Afterall, when the existing groynes were installed it must have completely changed the look of the beach but now we couldn’t imagine Borth and Ynyslas without them.

I’ve just been for a little swim along the seafront. It’s going to take a little getting used to but it felt OK, it did really rub my neck though, so much so that I was bleeding as I left the water where it has rubbed the skin away and left me with a sore, raw patch on my neck. It was uncomfortable while I was out there especially when breathing to the left. I’ll wear a rash vest next time and hope that helps.

I took my Forerunner 305 with me but I don’t think wearing it on my wrist is the best option as I guess it tracks every movement of my arm making me seem to have traveled much further than I actually did. Either that or I’m quicker at swimming than I though as I managed 1.21 miles in 19 minutes. I think next time I’ll wear the watch on my ankle.

My triceps are a little sore though so it must have done some good for my swim fitness! Off to Circuit Training and a Swimfit class now.

My parents were still here along with my sister and her children Kia and Shaun so we had breakfast and headed across with surf boards and such like. It’s rare for us to sit on the beach in holiday-maker style as we tend to just walk across, do what we were going to do and come home again, but as there were lots of us we set up camp on the edge of the dunes and Morgan and I went for a surf.

Morgan had fun and managed to stand up well, but the sea was a little cold so he didn’t stay out long. I then went out, and had a good surf with some decent 2-3 foot sets coming in. I don’t surf that much these days as I tend to windsurf so its good to get back to my roots now and then and make sure I can still do it.

Time to hit the waves

Surf's Up

We headed off across the fields, past the boat yard and along the estuary. Had a browse in the visitor centre then went for ice-creams at the caravan park before heading across the boardwalk to the beach and back home along the beach. I think it made everyone suitably tired and ready for dinner. The weather was gorgeous, the wind invigorating and we all had fun along the way.

As my family were still here and the wind was blowing I decided to have windsurf instead of making the long drive south the Afan. It was pretty hectic out there with a 4.5m and my little JP Wave board. I was the first out on the water with the tide a little too high. The others were pretty hesitant about going out because of the conditions but once they saw me blasting around out there started rigging up.
My Dad came over to watch with the video camera so hopefully I’ll have some good footage soon. It wasn’t easy out there early on with some pretty big waves and bumpy conditions but I was having a whale of a time. Well powered up and having fun. Simon and Andy joined me after a while but struggled to get out and ended up downwind after a few rinsings each time.

Simon - Off to Casualty

Then Simon managed to smash his head somehow and came wandering up the beach a little dazed and disorientated covered in blood. A quick look and it was obvious he was going to need stitches so I sent him off to our house with my Dad whilst I secured his kit and then headed across to the house as well.

After a little first aid, some photos and the odd bit of poking and prodding by the whole family Anna took him to casualty at Bronglais whilst I went back out for a a bit more of sail and the rest of the family came over to watch.

Once back at home Anna and Simon returned from casualty where Simon had had 3 stitches and a couple of steri-strips to keep his head together. He looked a little better by now as well.

A great day on the sea and a bit of excitement too.

Blackberries

We’ve got visitors here this weekend so didn’t do much yesterday. We waited in during the morning for them to arrive. They arrived early afternoon, my Mum, Dad, sister Trudi and her children Kia and Shaun.

Morgan attached himself to Shaun straight away and we barely saw the two of them as they played in the garden or in Morgan’s room all the time. I did persuade everyone to come out blackberry picking in the afternoon though. Anna stayed at home and cooked dinner whilst we all had a little walk along the banks of the Leri picking Blackberries.

There were plenty of nice ripe blackberries on the brambles, and plenty more to come. We weren’t out long but managed to get almost 1.5 kgs of them – So look out for some nice recipes from Anna with ideas on how to use up the blackberries soon.

There were also lots of people out picking the sloes from the very productive stand of sloe trees there. Trouble is they are nowhere near ripe yet most of them are still fairly green and rock solid. I know they are going to go into Gin but it’s no wonder no-one else seems to be able to make nice tasting sloe gin – It’s so much of a rush to get the sloes before someone else does that everyone is picking them far too early. They won’t have any taste, and what a waste of gin!