Surf Renegade.

Last weekend I went to Brighton with my boyfriend, although this land locked surfer didn't catch any waves I swam, laughed and fell in love.

I may be 25 but I am still infinitely curious about the ocean and all its beautiful creatures.

Its only been 8 months but he makes me heart glad every single day, forever my Mr Sunshine. 

 
 

He's cute isn't he ;) 

 
 
 



Brighton is big, snazzy, full of renegades and is quite possibly the coolest place on earth. 
Mr Sunny and I became weekend warrior's trekking down to Blighty on Friday eve straight after work. It was reckless, last minute and rash but was one of the best weekends of my life (and that's saying something because I didn't even surf)?! 

Brighton feels like a kingdom all to itself, its credentials include, being one of the greenest cities with the Green party having a strong hold there, its the most liberal, incredibly artistic and it also happens to be incredibly gay friendly as its the original place of Pride festival. Its a wonderful cosmos of music, art and different cultures and it WORKS. Be who you want to be. That seems to be the Brighton motto. 

Controversially Brighton even has it's own surf... 

...not known for its epic waves Brighton does have some swell and because of this occasional appearance of waves a mini surf culture has arisen. Check out these beautiful videos, The Endless Winter series took a trip down to Blighty and called the episode 'London by the sea' which I think gives you a very accurate vibe about the atmosphere there. The second film is an 'espresso coffee cup' style film (short and has a kick to it) shot at West Pier, Brighton, the word is AWESOME. 

 

Until next time 
Stay strong, surf well 
Love

Winter Surfing.

I LOVE the snow, I love the way it falls, the way it settles on seemingly ordinary things, to make them look beautiful and above all I love playing in it. What I don't love is having booked train tickets to take me half way across Britain having to nervously wait for travel forecasts telling me my travel fate. 
I'm winter surfing this Saturday, the first time I ever have and I'm all nervous and excited like a father waiting to meet his newborn. 

I really, really want to go surfing. I don't care if I turn blue from cold, if I can catch a wave then it'll be worth it 
(I also won't lose a silly amount of money on train fare). 

Please let me be able to go surfing (and come home again safely)! 

So anyway, my surfer friend introduced me to the photographer Chris Burkard who simply takes the most breath taking surf shots. 
He's keeping me stoked for winter surfing with images like these... 
      

Endless Winter.

I came across the 'Endless Winter' series a while back and stored it away in my mind. Its a really great little documentary all about the pioneers in British surfing and knowing I'm soon to be going to the East Coast (hopefully) episode 5 'Britain's coldest waters' really summarized what its going to be like. The old time guys are seriously hardcore, lets hope I absorb some of their courage! 

 

Catch you later water babies and land lovers 

x 

To be a weathered woman

Rosita Forbes (1920)

To be a weathered woman 
To have raised my eyes to a thousand skies, 
to have met both storms and horizons 
but discovered the sunrise was within me. 

To be a weathered woman
nostrils flared to scrub, pine and ocean air.
Sea salt crystals on eyelashes 
Limbs chiseled by ocean exertion 
Waves. Always waves. 

To be a weathered woman 
slack jawed from humor, laughter lines, chin jutted out in defiance
and hinged in humility. 
Undulating contours all shades of woman.

To be a weathered woman 
womb stretched taunt by babes of love
Two cultures entwined, us architects of hope. 
Ducks to be fed on days of insignificance 
Dogs and music, parties and mud. 

To be a weathered woman 
Arms out stretched to the world 
Handshakes with shamans, chiefs, wives 
all genres of person. 
Friends in unfamiliar places.  

To be a weathered woman 
To be all that I am.
And to conclude being all that I could be. 

A poem by Sophia Hobbs 

*Shout out to Sam Bleakley

I need to say a humongous thank you to Sam for his amazing career/life advice and for the two wonderful books 'Surfing Brilliant Corners' and 'Surfing Tropical Beats' he recently sent me. Both have been devoured during my commute and have filled my head with dreams and possibilities. He's a European Long-board champ, travel writer, family man AND an all round nice guy. Thank you Sam! 

And Finally...

 

...Why British surfers are more hardcore than you think. 

Some winter inspiration!