Carving Nostalgia

When it comes to Winter surfing, I have little or no interest, not any more. There, I've said it, it's out there. I have always preferred the Summer for surfing, as well as everything else for that matter, but I know that I am more suited to surfing in warm(er) water.  That said, I always felt duty bound to surf through the cold months, besides, that's when the best swells hit, isn't it?  The first few Winters were fine, I think, for the stoke of surfing and just wanting to be in the sea doing what I love took the pain of the cold away, plus I was a youth and as such I probably didn't feel it. I certainly don't recall complaining too much, OK, that last statement might not be wholly true, I've always complained, about most things cold or otherwise! But gradually, with each Winter I would find it just that little bit more difficult to go in, I would go through the motions, but in my heart I was beginning to resent the cold. Weighing up just how much...

I am starting to wonder whether the version of surfing that I know and love stills exists, in a local context. I began surfing in the mid eighties, the local, West Cornwall scene was fairly strong at this time and I was quickly captivated by the world of surfing.  I loved the beach life and the characters that were found there, as well as the styles and clothes, almost as much as I loved surfing itself.  For me it was all about the complete package.  As soon as I discovered surfing, it was like being given access to a whole new world, I loved the feeling that this gave me, and for many years it played a huge part in my life. I always looked towards California for my inspiration, emulating the styles both in and out of the water as seen in the US magazines at this time.  And I think this is where the shift in British surf culture came about.  British surfing came of age at some point in the mid 90's, people who surfed no longer had to look to the US or ...

Well it seems that today we have been given a brief respite from the relentless storms that we have been enduring for too many weeks now.  Looking at the weather forecasts it is going to be a very short period of calm, before the next round of violence comes our way. Looking at the countless posts on Facebook and alike, pictures and footage of storm waves and the subsequent destruction, it really does seem that I am one of the few people who are well and truly fed up with this pattern of weather.  Since the end of October, the 27th to be precise, there has been a preoccupation with the next storm.  People everywhere have been surmising and speculating about how bad it's going to be, the size of the swell, the strength of the wind.  Many seem to be getting a real kick out of seeing the beaches being destroyed, sand washed out, dunes and cliffs washed out.  The greater the perceived damage, the more excited people seem to get.  The hunger for these images s...

There are certain vehicles that lend themselves to rust really well.  I am not talking rot, let's make that clear, but rather that sun induced surface rust that you get on the upward facing surfaces of vehicles that reside in dry, sunny places such as Southern California, or the Mediterranean.   Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe, aka the American Pickers would undoubtedly refer to this as being 'patina', and covert items that have clearly been used and show the signs of wear associated with a lifetime of service, out in the elements.  Many would argue that this level of deterioration detracts from the aesthetic of the car, van or truck, but I am of the opinion that it demonstrated a level of authenticity that should be preserved, rather than restored.  Don't get me wrong, I love shiny paintwork, but sometimes general wear and tear and that sun scorched look that you know has come about over several years worth of sunshine can tell so many stories about tha...

This post is all about the VW Van.  Few vehicles have had such appeal, for so long, what makes the VW van even more incredible is that it is a commercial vehicle, originating from post war Germany and designed with work in mind.  There are not many everyday cars that have the type of allure that the Transporter has experienced for well over 60 years. For me there are several reasons why the VW van is far more than just a van.  To begin with it has a face and heaps of personality, each generation has maintained the lines and aesthetics that set it aside from other commercial vehicles.  Also, the VW van has always had associations with California, and as being a little more left field.  They are of course mass produced, but despite this they somehow manage to maintain a degree of individuality and style. Volkswagen have in the past always styled their cars in a way that gives them lots of appeal, in an understated way.  This charm, coupled with an...

While the Vans brand has become almost ubiquitous in recent years, I still find the designs very appealing, particularly the Era and Skate Hi ranges.  I know that nostalgia has a huge part to play in this, as these were the shoe of choice when I was a grom, but there is something about these shoes that I really do like, and probably always will. A lot of the attraction is born out of them being from a different period in time, that they are designed with the surf/skate lifestyle in mind, and they say Southern California so subtly and yet so clearly at the same time.  The design has stayed true for several decades, and are one of the few shoes that a forty something can wear, and not look like he is having some sort of mid life crisis! For a while I have to admit that I was troubled about them being worn by everyone and anyone, but now I am just happy that I can still get hold of the shoes that were so coveted when I was growing up.

An early Mark one 'swallow tail'. There are many reasons why I love the Golf, it is beautifully designed, features simple lines and has a pretty face and an overall body shape that is timeless. It is difficult to believe that the design is now 40+ years old.  I also like the fact that it was affordable and not pitched as a premium car, but a car that was intended for anyone and everyone.  The Mark one evolved almost naturally into the Mark 2, which while be a more rounded version, maintained a lot of the charm of it predecessor.  Sadly, from then on the design lost something significant in terms of style.  I really like the Mark 3, it remained distinctly Golf and was a sturdy, fairly spacious car, but the subsequent designs lacked that special something there after.  The 4 and 5 have not aged well, for both generations now look dated, have not aged well and lack the classic appeal that previous models had.  ...