Make the Most

I chickened out. I didn't try a loop at Climping on Friday. I got a few good jumps in and even winded myself after I had to bail and splashed down from a good height.

The trouble was, I always had a reason for not doing it. First, it was because I was just warming up. Then, the wind had veered so it was dead onshore and then the waves weren't pumping. The fact is, I wimped out. Not good enough and now I've probably lost my last chance this year.

Well, it was a pretty good day, even if the wind didn't deliver as much of a punch as we expected. The only real downer was getting dogshit on my boardbag when we were packing up.

Otherphil and I have taken the day off to go windsurfing. It looks rubbish right now but hopefully it will strengthen as the day progresses.

I made a list of things I wanted to do before the end of the year. Having another go at the loop was one of them. 'Cheese roll' or full forward, I don't care, any would do. Just gotta grab my guts in both hands and go for it!

Gotta go! Bye.

Twenty years ago, I was a supporter of Greenpeace. I made monthly contributions by standing order. I wasn't 100% convinced about the need to rid the world of nuclear power but what I did admire was the stauch belief that the world was at risk from humanity.

Unfortunately, Greenpeace got it wrong. Nuclear power may be dangerous to humans, but nothing like as dangerous as carbon-based power. It's not really their fault. In 1990, no one had woken up to the possibility of global warming so Greenpeace focussed on what appeared to be the greatest threat. Even now, we're still working with incomplete - and in some cases possibly flawed - science, but now only people with their heads buried in the sand or with a vested interest in the staus quo will deny that there is a real probability that the world is at risk from CO2 emissions.

Yes Nuclear power still has risks, but I just can't see how any of the renewables are going to be a big part of the energy equation. The Finacial Times published a fascinating supplement this week which is available online as "The Future of Energy"

According to the managing director of EDF's nuclear business in Britain, we will all have to subsidise his efforts to the tune of 227.UKP per family per year to build the nuclear reactors we need to retain some energy independence over the next 50 years. Now I have to say that I'd rather subsidise a British company to build nuclear reactors in Britain but that's not really an option. We sold out the rights to own our own power generation years ago. That being the case, we just need to bite the bullet and pay. Never mind who builds the reactors as long as we are cleaning up our energy generation and better still that they are on our soil. That way we do have the ultimate sanction should push come to shove.

Finally, let us not imagine that this is the only problem we need to be looking at. Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past. We're still pumping out toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the small, earthly vessel we live in. There WILL be consequences, so we need organisations like Greenpeace raising our awareness and hopefully, they will look at the big picture and use all the best science available! All I need to do now is decide whether to restart contributions...

Today looks like it might be the best windsurfing opportunity I'll get before the winter chill chases me from the sea. The trouble is, I feel so out-of-practice and so unfit, it's making me nervous. Otherphil isn't decided whether he's going to come and give it a go or just take pictures of me crashing!

At the moment, the reports suggests it's gusting from Force 6 to Force 8 with the wind dead onshore which is all a bit much. Smallest sail I have is 4.5m when a 4m would be more appropriate. According to the forecast, things should ease up once the wind veers soon after midday. If that's so, it should be great.

The gnarly conditions set me in mind of "Breath", the book by Tim Winton that I've just finished. If you are a surfer or love the sea or even if you just like good books, this is definately worth a read. The descriptions of the 'Old Smokey', the big wave are deeply evocative.

[Follow up: 07/11/09]

Conditions proved less perfeect than hoped. Otherphil and I arrived at Climping by which time the wind had dropped a lot. Too much in fact. I rigged up my 4.5m sail and wasn't out long before coming in to switch up to the 5.3m. This proved to be a good move because as the sun sank low over the horizon, the wind filled out just enough to keep me powered up for loads of carve gybes. All right, none of them would have won prizes (well perhaps one) but it was fantastic being out there in the surging forces of nature, skittering across the wave tops.

Now I need more! COME ON WIND! I shall attempt the loop this year.

Mine apparently needs a television. I couldn't decide whether to get excited about the prospect of buying a new sleek flat-screen TV for the bedroom or appalled.

"Surely the bedroom should be for lingerie, leather and unending lust?" I asked my beloved.
"It's the TV or nothing!" quoth she. [Paraphrased somewhat... but the gist is there.]