Hockey

Hannah in action at Plock Court.

Saunton

The Flying Turtinos kindly invited me on their latest surf epic: ticking off Saunton on their list of beach breaks tried and tested. Excitement mounted when the Weekend Wave crew pulled out of their overnight lodgings and joined our convoy. The whole morning session saw no-one make it out-back, instead riding out the white water and doing da tricks init. After a short interlude we went back in. Will and I eventually made it out of the foam and into a world of whoppers off the point. Too scared to come back we hung out a while before each catching a beauty all the way in. Done over and done in we enjoyed a rainy journey back in sharp contrast to the sunny day we had enjoyed in North Devon. Picture: Will happy to be out of the white water. The beach is 500m away - the thin strip of land on the horizon. For the latest Turtino film click here.

Winchcombe

We looped Sudeley Castle (Royalist stronghold during the Civil War) on a circular walk from the thriving Cotswold village of Winchcombe with Dave and Liz. The Gloucester Old Spot pigs and their piglets that we encountered were hilarious and also the (I don't eat grass me) Alpaca guarding 'his' flock. Finishing with speciality tea and teacakes from a Japanese teashop capped off a pleasant autumn day in the country.

Musical Interlude

Kimaya played for us beautifully, while Isaac solved mysteries (clue: It's always the janitor)

Cornish Views

The prospect of fresh clear days at the frontend of half term was all the excuse we needed to book up at Trevella for a dose of fun in the areas of outstanding natural beauty south of Newquay. Simo and Claud kept us company and out of trouble walking the coastline to Holywell Bay on Saturday and then around St Agnes Head on Sunday. We then had a sublime surf through sunset and into near darkness in a pleasant 2' swell at Crantock. Obviously we made a film.

On Monday we enjoyed a near balmy late October day in Falmouth, calling on Lydie and her housemates, to admire the seaviews from her room. It's tough being a student!

ITM Gig @ The Venue

Into The Morning played their first public gig at The Freeze Festival to general acclaim, raising money for the NSPCC and winning a prize of a recording session. Pictures by Hannah - parents were banned.

Family Walk

After a good night's sleep to recover from the night before, plus a refuel via a full Welsh breakfast, we wandered down to admire Blackwood's suspension bridge and then drove up the valley road and West to Pontneddfechan. Our intended easy wander turned into a goat trail up a river. Anyway no-one fell in and the fresh air was so remarkably fresh we had a job staying awake to drive home.

The Wedding

James and Sara were married in beautiful autumnal sunshine at Sacred Heart Church, Pontllanfraith and then treated everyone to a sumptuous reception meal at Maes Manor, Blackwood. The celebrations carried on through the evening disco, feast and live band 'The Venue'. Wedding pictures.

Windy Weekend Westward Ho!

Despite a blustery forecast we weekended at Westward, where an offshore gale blew right through Saturday. Of course, that didn't put us off.... cue some magic mishaps from the motley crew. Abandoning SUPs, everyone adopted the old-fashioned, traditional paddling-with-your-arms technique, to various success. We overnighted in a nice farm CL before a re-run on Sunday, where the wind did drop a bit and the Sun even came out in the afternoon. Chris's HD board-mounted cam provided opportunities to review one's skill (or lack thereof): See Weekend Waves video. Thanks everyone for a fun few days. Short film here.

Nick this is where your lunch went (aaah). Ethan won all the football, everyone else was rubbish.

Back To The Brecons

Making the most of the one dry day of the weekend, we travelled back to The Brecon Beacons NP for a challenging but rewarding walk across the skyline and past waterfalls and the source for the Tallybont Reservoir. Starting with a steep ascent up Craig y Fan Ddu, we followed the ridge North enjoying 360 degree views. We dropped down to a memorial sited where a Canadian Bomber crew crashed in 1942. Then on to a cairn, before a scramble back down the Caerfanell valley past rushing water and pretty waterfalls. We left the National Park southwards and only got lost a bit in Merthyr Tydfil (where they are saving money on road signage) on the way home. Click for film.