Becoming A Surf Chick!

Item 56: To be able to stand up on a surfboard

Two weekends ago I headed to Newquay with a friend and a company called Big Friday who whisk you from London to Cornwall for a weekend of surfing. Its the second time I've done it, I wasn't very good the first time, but I did really enjoy it.

My aim for the weekend was to be able to stand up, and I made sure the instructors were aware of this!! During the first lesson on the Saturday, I didn't really manage it. You are taught a 4 step movement which is supposed to make it dead easy to stand up.

Step One - Lying the board facing straight ahead (not as easy it sounds that one!) see the waves coming and paddle paddle paddle like crazy!
Step Two - From legs out straight bring your knees in, with your hands on the rails (side) of the board. I managed this most of the time if I'd caught the wave properly.
Step Three - Keping your hands where they are, bring the lead foot forward so you are kneeling on only one knee.
Step Four - Put your kneeling foot on the board, and then raise up into a crouch, twisting so your body is facing along the beach, but your head looks forward to the beach and thats where are you arms go too.

At least, that was my understanding of it :)

I did manage to stand several times, in fact thinking about it, Saturdays instructor saw me do it as he thought it hilarious that I got up into a crouch/standing position and yelled "that counts! I've done it!" and promptly fell off!

I also stood up several times on the Sunday (always immediately coming off) and I was spotted by others in the group. Unfortunately there is no photo. Although if you were in the water and moving it wasn't that cold. We soon discovered if you stopped to take photos it becomes cold pretty damn quick!

I think I will be back again for another try, but I am pleased with achievement. I am relieved I didn't get bitten by the surf bug, as I have neither the time or cash to get involved in another hobby. There were some on the trip who had spent most weekends of the summer in Newquay and had all their own equipment. I don't think I'll be doing that, but I would like to take Dan along. Its all part of my love of Cornwall, being there and playing in the sea that I usually stand and look at gives another perspective to my favourite place.

Compassion

Item 30: Find someone who inspires me and follow them on facebook

I didn't really know what I was aiming for when I thought up this challenge. It was based on several thoughts along the lines of thinking that I check facebook (several) times daily. I pick up on friends good and bad moods. Sometimes I learn interesting things from news items people to their walls. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the pain and suffering my friends are going through. I was looking for someone who cold provide me with a "Thought For The Day" type thing, to provide perhaps some spiritual input into what can otherwise be a varied media.

I found what I was looking for accidentally.

I sponsor a child in El Salvador (I put on facebook recently he's from Guatemala but I was wrong - oops!) called Kevin. I find it hilarious that he has the least southern american name you could think of! The company I do this through is called Compassion. I recently found them on facebook, "liked" them and moved on without really noticing what I'd done.

Compassion are the single most inspiring thing I have come across on facebook. They are very active and post at least daily on topics like "funny things sponsor children write in their letters" or counting down to the trip some sponsors did recently to meet their children, and then links to the amazing blogs written of the visits.

I am reminded daily of Kevin, and I have started writing to him again (Item 23) and praying for him more often. I am also reminded constantly of the fact that I have so much in this world, and there are children out there who have so little. I have no idea how to change the imbalance. I know I can't change the world. But maybe I can have some impact on one little boys life.

In fact, I've been so inspired, I'm going to sponsor a second child. It costs very little (only £21 a month) but it gives them education both in terms of schooling and health and nutritional supplement if they need it as well as a centre for activities.

I didn't even realise I'd found my small daily dose of spirituality, as these things often do it came along as a surprise.

Cheesecake Success

I am not very good at desserts. I usually only see the final item sitting on my plate so I don't know what it should like while I'm making it, or before it goes in the oven/sets so I don't have much confidence.

So one thing on my list was to make a cheesecake. I love cheesecake :) And I would like to have a dessert I can make and be sure that I can take it to peoples houses and it tastes ok.

This Friday was my turn to host the Girls Night so in a fit of organisation I kept Thursday night free for cheesecake making, safe in the knowledge that should disaster strike I could purchase a dessert on Friday after work.

My first problem was not reading the recipe correctly. For some reason I had it in my head you use cottage cheese in cheesecake. The one ingredient I couldn't find in Tesco was cottage cheese. So laden with bags I headed for M&S which did have it.

I made my biscuit base and went to make the mix. Which of course began "mix the ingredients with the cream cheese....." A quick google convinced me cottage cheese was not an alternative substitute so I headed back for Tesco which did of have cream cheese after all!

If I continue on my dessert making quest, I shall need to invest in some gadgets as my arm nearly fell off hand whisking the mix.

It all looked good coming out the oven and I was desperate to try some but managed to leave it intact before serving it to the girls. It could be that they were just being polite but everyone seemed to like it. I was pleasantly surprised. It tasted like actual cheesecake!

I asked the girls if they thought this counted as "having learnt to make cheesecake" and they said it did. I may well make it again soon to "defluke" it. And I think my dad and brother might like to eat it!

Right, now I'm off to google to see what I can do with my two pots of cottage cheese...

Nick And Norahs Infinite Playlist

My brother who is partner in crime as far as this list is concerned leant me the first book for item 45, to read 20 books recommended by 20 friends.

I read it two weeks ago now, on the train from Kings Cross to Hull. Its only a short book so I read the whole lot in one go.

It was a fantastic book. Made even more brilliant by the fact it was apparently written by two authors who were taking it in turns to write a chapter so they never really knew where the story was going.

Its tells the story of a first date, with many twists and turns and exes along the way. It captures the excitement of that feeling of potential when you meet someone new, the way you sound someone out, how important it is that they have at least heard of your favourite band.

All through the book I was thinking of a song my brother wrote with the line "I want a love like in the movies" and he said afterwards he wrote that thinking about this book (also made into a film).

I've got my fingers crossed for him he finds it.