I went back home for the holidays and thought it would be good to revisit spots where I learnt some things that would shape some of the choices I made later in life. When I was fairly young the famly used to holiday at our grandparent’s holiday house in Low Head which is at the mouth of the Tamar River in Tasmania. The first photo is East Beach and is probably where I had my first surf. It’s not in the river, rather, to the right, just around the head of the river and as such had larger waves because it is directly on Bass Strait. I remember my first surf board and it was a polystyrene job with a green top and two feet stickers marking where to stand. This was in the days before rashies so it was either a heavy wet t-shirt or just put up with a sore red stomach.

The next shot is where I had my first decent run on a skateboard. Can’t remember how old I was but under ten I guess. It was a plastic yellow one with red wheels. So long ago that it was one of the really narrow ones with wide wheels. I remember putting on the rainbow coloured elbow pads, knee pads and yellow helmet ready for my run. The helmet used to give me a headache and was the most uncomfortable thing I have ever worn. I’d head down the slight incline then make the right turn and down the next incline, hoping like hell that I didn’t get the speed wobbles.

If you continue down the same path you’ll now get to a skatepark at Royal Park. Here’s a quick and nasty put together photo.

I couldn’t visit where I learned to ride a bike as that’s a private house and it was in the back yard. The first BMX track is also gone and now covered with houses and a school. Most of the riding spots have also been built over.

Just picked up the latest women’s t-shirts and hoodies suitable for both men and women and as the sizes are on the small size, they are also suitable for around ages 13 and up. Tough to tell from the photo however the hoodies are in dark blue with a white image and the t-shirt on the right is black. This increases the range of our basic women’s t-shirts to include both light and dark colours with white, pink and now black. Look out for them in the products pages in the next day or so.

I’ve never enjoyed a white Christmas and it’s on the list of things to do one year. Not that I will ever complain about warm sunny Christmas days, as playing outside with all the new toys was fun as a kid. Brian sent through a recent photo of his old school 1896 GT Pro Performer sittin’ in the snow. It’s only taken 20 years for these colours to be making a comeback. Wasn’t too sure about them back then and still a bit undecided. Regardless, it’s cool to see old stuff like this still being ridden regularly.

It’s a real pity Brian lives thousands of kilometres away because I’d love to hang out at one of these events. Not too sure what the plan was, probably just a few quiet drinks and conversation about the good old days. Turned into an all-nighter and he sent me a few photos of what went down in his ‘shop’. There’s a bunch more and it’s good to see how the night progressed. Many self portraits which always seem to happen once the drinks are flowing. Thanks mate and one day I’ll get over there or maybe you’ll get over here.

Brian and Jon enjoying the night and the liquid refreshments.

Don’t spill the beer Brian.