I recall once in 1994, sitting at a school bench on a warm Friday afternoon, wishing the time would go by so I could go to swimming practice at the municipal swimming pool. (Grew up in Newcastle, KZN. Sea was 4 hours away!) A picture drawn in pen on the school bench caught my eye. It was a grave stone. On it there was the following inscription: ¨In memory of those who sat here, waiting for the bell to ring...¨ That stone was definately in my memory, and I am sure lots of others before and after me.

Enter J-Bay surf the last two weeks. I recall my last surf was on a day everybody was watching the Rugby final and I sneaked a couple of quick ones over at Tubes. Supers was so small, it was not even worth trying. It was only me and a guy with a sponge, and there were plenty of little waves between the two of us. I even had a little cover-up moment after one takeoff. Pretty intense to get barreled in ankle deep water.

I made three other attempts at surfing in the last couple of days. Once I tried my luck at Secrets with Warren Dean and family in the zone. I was only in the water for 5 minutes and left after I decided it´s an utter waste. Warren Shared the same sentiments and left as well, though he did manage to hook a left from nowhere and almost ride it to the beach. Just shows what level of surfer he is. The other two attempts were more an all dressed up and nowhere to go scenario. Almost like I came, I saw, I left.

With no surf, I have just been grafting on websites and catching up on some family time. In a way I am glad that we did not have so much surf, because as soon as J-Bay goes off I normally struggle with my regular routine.  I do actually work even if the surf is good, but try to make time for that surgical strike every day. After I surfed, I am so much more relaxed and focused, which always brings positive energy back home. Always justifying my surf sessions. Sound familiar?!

So here we are again, at the brink of a new week, with high hopes of swell. There seems to be a bit of a migration going on towards East London´s side, and if I look at the charts then the dots do connect. I´ll be fine with 3-4ft J-Bay for starters, let´s see.

Technically, I was supposed to be shooting an article for a Euro Surf mag in E-Bay from tomorrow onwards. I just could not manage all my work and still be there at the same time. My mate sent me an sms expressing how nice the crayfish at the Elands Hotel is etc. and that I am still welcome to go there anytime in the next week. I see they are not going to have much swell this week, and J-Bay is actually looking better, so it´s not so bad to be here afterall.

Whatever. Just perpetuating the blog roll. I´ll probably see you in the water if there is surf. Over

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