Last Sunday (October 2nd) was the end of a superb run of fine weather and good surf. The last days of September all began with warm damp dawns, the stillness and clear skies a portent of the heat to come. The bushes full of bursting blackberries, the grasses wet with dew, and the light soft with a fine mist. As …
European Fish Fry 2011
Crackington Haven recently hosted this annual event attracting surfboard shapers from across the surfing world. A small village on the North Cornish coast, buffeted by wind and sea attracted visitors from afar as California and Italy who enjoyed the hospitality and culture of an alternative surfing scene among the high cliffs and coves. The Fish design is generally under six …
Grilled Mackerel and Viognier
NOW that the summer is high, and the mackerel close to shore, it is easy enough to go catch your dinner, or cheap enough to buy plenty from the fishmonger. Make sure your fish is really fresh, mackerel tends to suffer after a day or two, becoming a bit mushy and losing it’s firm flakes. Look for dark silvery blue …
In Praise of The Impossible Dream
View PostA Tale of Two Jags | Influx Magazine
A Tale of Two Jags | Influx Magazine.
Lay Down
Just getting ready for Glastonbury and feeling the summertime festival vibe when I came across this classic of Melanie from 1970. There is a dense weave of history going on here. The protest movement was in full swing, Afro’s were both a symbol of that and a fashion accessory. It was a time when many performers were part of the …
Barnstaple to Hong Kong by train
A couple of years ago I was talking to my friend over a pint and discussing the best way to get to the far eas. Ostensibly it was to go surfing, he mentioned that one might be able to take a train from our local station to a regional budget flight hub in the far east for onward travel to …
a very english street party
Anna recently moved into a 1930’s street. Yesterday there was a street party for the royal wedding. To visit her we drove through an empty town, and as we approached the residential streets the quiet was uncanny. No cars. Wide streets. We parked nearby and walked under the flapping bunting up the road. It was early and all the houses …
Neil T Butler
two art blogs in a row- It goes to show that the North Coast of Cornwall is well favoured by creatives as well as surfers. I first met Neil at an exhibition of his work in Bude a couple of years ago, I was struck by his figurative work and the drama in the people he paints. The figures are …