December 20th: Didn't go back to Skeg yesterday as I needed to allow my aches and pains to recover in time for another session today. There was a couple of guys there who had been, and it was apparently as big as Saturday, but not as consistent, and interrupted by heavy snow showers ! Anyway, I got there just after 1pm, which was about three hours before high tide. Still mainly offshore, but down to about 2-3 foot average. There wasn't as strong cross rip as Saturday, so getting out was relatively easier. Picked up more rides today which was very satisfying. Two notable ones involved making my best ever takeoff on one larger set wave than average-making a clean bottom turn-and not looking back (This is good news for me !); and, catching one wave later in the session when it was becoming more shore-dumpy, that ended when board 'snagged' beach ! That was a weird feeling. I suspect this swell is now on it's way out. I do hope there's more of this to come this winter. I feel my surfing starting to take some shape at long last.

December 18th: The comp got the green light this time and I moved into unfamiliar, but welcome territory by surfing for the third weekend on the trot ! Arrived to sign on at around 10am to find really good, 3-4 foot average sets thumping in, in nice clean offshore lines; the spray being whipped off the top of the waves in spectacular fashion! I wondered if this was going to be too much for me, but I wasn't going to bottle it for anything. My heat was kicked off at 11, with 35 minutes to do the business. The cross rip at this point was difficult to master, and caused all problems. Personally, I took over 20 minutes to get my first ride, but it was enough to mean I didn't finish last.

After the heat I took a break and warmed up ready to go back in shortly when Brockers was suited up, ready for his first Skegness action. As the tide progressed, the cross rip became less of an issue, but the shore dump needed to be given respect! Nonetheless, it was enjoyable stuff with a few notable stand-ups, and the satisfaction of surfing in such a fine east coast swell. A swell in fact, that looks set to get bigger over the next couple of days. I wonder....?

December 11th: The open competition at Skegness was postponed because conditions gradually died. Got in for an hour though to get my first taste of surfing at my nearest break. For nearly four years I have shunned this place and will now willingly eat 'humble pie' over my discrimination. OK, it may never be a classic spot as it's location dictates, but at least here is a venue I can keep match fit and get some practice in on a regular basis.

As opposed to last week, I didn't suffer that rusty feeling, and actually caught what waves there were, on a regular basis. Clean but small conditions (2' max) gradually deteriorated to nothing as both the swell receded, and the wind switched more southerly to totally wreck it.

December 5th: Sod's law when you think about it, but having been on standby for most of the week with the threat of a wave at Cromer; guess what ? There was a wave at Cromer, and quite a nice one too! Should have held the comp' today ! Anyways, for the first time in two months I pulled on my wettie in 'anger'. Met up with Andy off OTL and enjoyed an hour or so near to the pier in pleasant 3' offshore-ish conditions. I didn't do much if anything personally, as the layoff left me in the usual 'rusty' state. As a result, I found myself caught too often on the inside, or forever paddling against the cross-shore rip that afflicts these parts. It is blatantly clear if it wasn't already, that I am in dire need of a longboard to help me paddle out quicker to avoid a lot of unnecessary 'faffing' about. That said, my enthusiasm never seems to wain.

Next weekend hopefully there'll be a wave at Skegness for their first ever competition. Hopefully too, today will have washed out the cobwebs in time!

Oct. 16/17th & 30/31st & Nov. 27/28th: Supposed to be the Headworx Open at Cromer; supposed to be ! This time the plug is pulled for good.

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