Well the first 48 hours in Durban have been a real constrast to that of the Cape. It rained pretty much all of yesterday and cast a kind of gloom over the city. We are a few thousand feet above sea level here and the mist kind of clings to the hillside, so you feel you are really in the jungle.

Yesterday, Susan and I drove into town in search of some factory outlet surf shops. Managed to score two pairs of new boardies and a nice keychain for 300 Rand, all good! Took a bit of a tour through the city and saw some of the shanty town settlements, quite sad to see so many people living on the poverty line, when 2 minutes up the road you have a rich mansion.

Anyway lets not get too down…

We also checked out the beach front, which again is a real contrast to that of CT. It is kind of more in line with Brighton than anything else, but maybe it was the rain that made it look not so special.

Went out for dinner last night with Pete and Sue and had a nice feed and a little wine etc.

Today woke up to a beautiful day, spent the morning around the pool and toured the grounds (5 acres) with video and digital camera, got a few nice shots. Had brunch by the pool, and then Sue and I went for a bit of a tour.

This afternoon we have been up to Shongweni Dam which incorporates a small game reserve. We drove around the reserve and saw a group of Impala, and a 1.5 metre long monitor lizard. To get to the park you have to drive through an African hill settlement, which was really interesting, as we were the only white people crusing through.

We then stopped for some afternoon tea at the Rob Roy Hotel which overlooks the Valley of 1000 hills, the view is magnificent and you can see hills that stretch for miles and miles. We also saw Egyptian Ibis birds on the railing as we were tucking into our scones and jam.

We then headed back home via Alveston and saw Zebra and Blesbok by the roadside, just amazing to see all these animals just hanging out and doing their thing.

This evening Sue and I popped to the gym, she has a new training programme, and I got in the pool and mixed it up and showed the locals what a real swim is all about!

Now I am just tucking into a beer and settling down for the evening back at the ranch, Sue has cooked up a storm in the kitchen, and Pete, Sue and I will be getting ready for tucker time any minute now!

All that remains is to say I’m getting psyched for my first day’s surfing down at North beach tomorrow morning, hope everyone back home is well, catch you all soon!

I arrived in Durban last night after spending a wonderful week in Cape Town with Jens and Mike. They were so good to me I couldn’t have asked for a nicer time, so thanks guys, you are just fantastic!

Yesterday lunch we travelled up to Melkbos for lunch at Ocra, a wonderful seafood restaurant. Mike and I shared a seafood platter for 3: prawns, calamari, tuna etc. I then took the general and did some surfing for an hour or so down at the beach in front of the restaurant.

The weather in CT has been magnificent, sunshine and blue skies every day.

Last night I flew to Durban and arrived around 7.30pm. The first thing I noticed as I got off the plane was the humidity, it is just like jumping into a steam room.

Susan picked me up from the airport and we drove up to the Durban hills. I am staying at their place which is like something out of Beverly Hills. 5 acres of grounds, beautiful gardens, pool, huge house, maid etc…

Woke up this morning to a rather grey day and it is now raining, which is a bit of a shame, as it has been so nice in CT, but hopefully the weather will clear up a bit as I was hoping to leave the rain behind in London.

Going to take it easy today as have a bit of a cold/cough, but hopefully will get some surfing in by the end of the week.

Hope everyone is fine back home and will update you all soon!

Well the past few days have been amazing. The weather has continued in amazing style, with full-on sunshine, blue skies and soaring temperatures up into the mid 30s.

I have been surfing again at Big Bay and am getting a good feel for the board now, managing to link some nice turns and pump the board to the max. Met a few more locals and an old boy (65-ish) who was styling out on the board.

Last night we were out at a place called The Blue Peter hotel. We rocked on down for late afternoon and watched the sun set with the rest of the crowd. The only difference is we turned up in the Chevie turning every head in the joint.

A few beers, jacks and a pizza later, I decided to go for a swim at sunset just down on the beach in front of the hotel. The water here in CT is about 11 degrees so it’s pretty chilly in just board shorts at 7.30pm.

Today we headed into Cape Town city centre and checked out the shops and restaurants. Again the only difference this time is that we road in on the Harley’s. It is pretty amazing cruising on the back of these hogs at 130 kph, awesome, even had the video camera out to film some of it.

So tomorrow is my last day in CT before I head off to Durban, we are heading up to Melkbos to Orca, a seasfood restaurant, where I will also be doing some surfing, before I jump on the plane to go and see the Avellini family tomorrow night.

Hope all is well with everyone back home and will keep you updated with everything that’s going on…

Yesterday was amazing, took out the new surf board, who has been named The General, and went about 10 mins drive around the corner and got down to work. Big Bay is a nice little beach with rocks on either side and a magnificent view of table mountain.

Everyone says the water on the Western Cape is cold, and they are not wrong, it was similar to surfing the Gower back at the end of October, only that I was treated to blue skies and an air temperature of between 34-40 degrees.

I caught a few waves on the new board and am getting used to the shape and feel, the design is absolutely fantastic and is a real head-turner down at the beach. Caught up with a few of the surf locals out back in the green room, and all is sweet!

After the morning session, Jen and I cruised up the coastal road and drove up to Melkbos, stopping along the way to check out various surf spots, some nice breaks and no sightings of sharks as yet :)

We went out for sun-downers at Doodles last night and I managed to not only feature some chicken wings, but a whole seafood platter, making yesterday’s food intake consist of beef, chicken, fish, calamari and prawns, not so bad I think. Saw the most amazing sunset, have pictures, just need to upload when I get the time.

Anyway today is my 3rd day in CT and am off to the beach in a minute to get some more surfing in. The skies are blue and the sun is shinning, all is good!

Well made it to Cape Town in once piece, the flight was fine, a few wife-beaters, some vino and a few sleeping pills, and I was chilling the beans. Woke up to sunrise over Namibia, pretty cool!

Touched down yesterday morning and greeted by Jen’s and Mike. The weather here is gorgeous, 34 is the high for today.

Got down to business yesterday and have bought a brand new Geoff McCoy 6′8″ tuf-lite surfboard, it was kinda love at first sight, saw it in the shop and it spoke to me, had to have it, so all good! Just need a name for it now.

Had my first Braai (BBQ) last night and generally hung out and had a good time with everyone.

Jen and Mike have this amazing parrot which just chats and chats, hilarious, impersonates mobile phones too, so you are never sure if it is the phone or the parrot, even does the ring tones.

Well today we are off to the coast to check out some possible surf spots and hopefully christen the new board. So until next time, hope you all are enjoying your 6 degrees back home, I’ll catch some sun and waves for you all!

All the best!

It’s just under 2 hours until my cab picks me up to take me off to the airport, where I will embark on what is likely to be the biggest adventure so far in my life.

I fly to Cape Town this evening, the journey taking approximately 12 or so hours, hopefully I’ll score an emergency exit seat to get a little extra leg room!

It’s about 5 degrees here today, tomorrow I will be in CT where the forecast is for sunshine and a temperature in the region of 30-34, gonna be quite a contrast!

Anyway I will bid you all adieu for now, and the next time I post to the blog will be on South African soil!

So it is one day to go until I head off on the plane to Cape Town. I had my leaving drinks on Friday, down at a place called Bunker Bar in Covent Garden. Had a great time and was really nice to get all my mates together for a few drinks and a catch up.

It’s gonna be funny being away from everyone I care about for the next 3 or 4 months, but I am sure there will be new opporunities and experiences to be had, and of course, it is only 2 days until I buy my new surf board, so that is gonna be a new experience in itself. Mitch will soon have a little brother, haha!

Cheers all!

One week today and I will be stepping on a plane to start my 3.5 month round-the-world surf trip. First stop Cape Town, pick up a new board and then rip it up on the Atlantic coast.

3 more trips to the gym and should be all ready to go!

Out on Friday night to say goodbye to all my mates in London, a few beers to be had me thinks!

Found out today that the ASP Pro Tour is heading to Bells Beach, Australia the same time as I am going to be there. No it doens’t mean I will be entering (on this occasion) haha, but it does mean I will be able to hopefully catch some of the world’s top surfers doing their stuff.

Would be great to get some of the guys to sign my board(s), we’ll see! Only 9 days now, now that is hardcore, not long till I am back where I belong, sitting on my board, out back, contemplating life in the green room (my office away from home).

It was my best bud’s bday yesterday, we all went out for a bit of a meal at Pizza Express and then on to that shit hole JR’s. I managed about 45 minutes there, then had to get out, on the basis that the music is like pollution to my ears.

Then embarked on the 4 mile walk back home. Was kinda interesting, I had my iPod to keep me company, and it was a clear night, so the stars and moon cast blue light on the fields. It was a bit spooky and also beautiul at the same time.

Anyway best crack on with some work…

3 weeks today and I will be getting ready to step on a plane to begin my World Surf Tour, I am getting very excited about it, although trying to stay focused as I have 3 more web sites to complete in little over 2 weeks.

Training is going well and I have managed 7 days in a row down the gym, the idea is to get as fit as possible for surfing, you can never do too much prep!