On a Shortlist: Not Sad and Super-Stoked

Now then, anyone who doesn't like hearing of other people's little bits of good luck, brace yourselves. If you don't like hearing of slices of good luck pertaining to yours truly, stop reading at once. For I am about to disclose that I am seriously stoked.

The most obvious reason for this is that I've been shortlisted for Sports Feature Writer of the Year in the Sports Journalists' Association's forthcoming awards. But the day I've just had, as a whole, is the real story.

Morning: Working on a feature for Coast magazine. Coast is a good mag and I'm always pleased to turn a few sentences for them. Sometime during the morning, I was called by a journalist from Legal Week. He wanted my views on whether the recession might propel people not into money but making a living from their passions. I explained that my own trajectory was somewhat off the wall but said that yes, I agreed with the basic thrust of his argument: if you want to be happy, don't sell out. Try and do what you're passionate about. In my case, first and foremost that's always been writing.

Lunchtime: I got a text from Tup 'Maui Surf Report' Newman confirming what I suspected - there was a wave at Spot G. I downed tools and within 15 minutes was in the water. It was clean as a whistle, the usual suspects were out, and I got a few good waves, with one that was just lovely. Post-surf, Tup and I plotted a trip to Newcastle next week, before agreeing that we'd better get back to our desks.

Afternoon: I'd just settled down to write more of the Coast piece when Rob Maul, an old mucker from Fleet Street, rang. "Congratulations," he said. "What for?" said I. Rob then directed me to this link, which revealed that I'm in the frame for an award that I didn't, in a million years, think I'd even be considered for. I fell off my chair, climbed back on, fell off again, and then steeled myself for the evening's delights.

Evening: I live in Porthcurno. I've never actually said this on this blog but everyone seems to know, so there you go. It's a quiet and beautiful place and I love it. The wave is rubbish, so don't come here, but it's a fine spot to bring up the kids. I feel very lucky to be here. However, there's tension in the valley, as the good folk at the Museum wonder what to do with it and all their assets - land and buildings owned by Cable & Wireless and now under the stewardship of the PK TRust. Should they try and regenerate the valley, as some suggest, or leave everything as it is, so that Porthcurno can survive as an outstanding retirement home for future generations? People here appear to be discomforted in various ways at all kinds of possibilities, none of which has actually been aired in anything resembling concrete fashion, which just goes to show that the unknown is always a lot scarier than the known. But leaving that aside, I'm with Wordsworth. The child is the father of the man, and if you can't see this, you're not only lacking a basic poetic sensibility but you're rather sad. Sadly, although Wordsworth is deservedly among the most revered of British poets, myopia has yet to have been cured, and so, as I left a meeting convened by the museum to discuss the future of Porthcurno, I felt rather sad.

I wended my way home, and thought of what someone at the meeting said in response to the idea that Porthcurno should be regenerated for kids and the 'younger generation': "When we drop off our perches, other retirees will move here". This attitude, one increasingly rife in so many small communities in the south west, made me feel sadder still, but then I walked through the door, saw my wife, heard the noise of the kids, thought of today's surf at Spot G, and remembered that I'd somehow, miraculously, been short-listed for the SJA awards. And I remembered what Al Mackinnon said, a few years back, when we were God knows where: "Too many people forget what surfing's all about. It's about being stoked."

For surfing, read life. Here's to surfing, here's to being stoked, and, most of all, here's to kids. Aloha.

Pictures: PK at its best courtesy of sOulsurfing. Stef Harkon entertaining the tourists by steve_cx.

Comments

[Niegà]

Congratulations. I read a couple of issues of Coast in the past but it was too real-state orientated for my taste. I hope you will contribute to make it more of a lifestyle mag. And ad for the SJA shortlisting... stoked!!!

Niegà

[Rio]

Congratulations Alex! Hope you win the award - I always enjoy reading this blog, and the various articles of yours that you link to. Best of luck!
Rio

[Izzy]

Congratulations! You deserve it!
Izzy

[Phil]

top work that man - good luck on the night

[Tim Kevan]

Very many congratulations Alex. Much deserved.

[jen]

Huge congratulations! You're amazing.

[Greg]

Nice one Alex, very well deserved. Obviously I have to say that my favourite work that you do is for Pitpilot, and the upcoming feature you've done for us on Jesse Davies is particularly enjoyable, but I suppose there are other, lesser known publications who have benefitted from your literary talents i.e. Coast, Huck, The Sunday Times etc etc etc! Keep it up and fingers crossed for the award. Greg

[Greg]

P.S. If you're not going to Jacob Cockle photo exhib opening night tonight...you should be! Call me for details if you haven't got them

[ADELINETerrell]

People deserve good life and mortgage loans or sba loan can make it better. Just because freedom is based on money state.