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Coastal property replacing hotels in Newquay and Mumbles, is it a problem?

Fistral Bay Hotel overlooking south Fistral, the Gill tells me he use to work here during the summer of 1975. For most of the hotels knocked down in Newquay and  Mumbles it could be argued needed to be due to the state of repair. However, it does mean that many bed spaces have been lost and in Nwqys case many thousands have been replaced with empty 'surf pods'.   

The impact on the local economy is obvious shops close down, pubs become empty and put up for sale, retail outlets struggle in fact the whole fabric of the coastal village/town breaks down.  Is coastal Britain becoming a play ground for those that can afford it?   Or has it always been and under the current Government just become more evident.....  Anyway, my local pub is dead and most are trying to sell up, what is the answer as you can not mess around with market forces.

Fistral Bay Hotel overlooking south Fistral, the Gill tells me he use to work here during the summer of 1975. For most of the hotels knocked down in Newquay and  Mumbles it could be argued needed to be due to the state of repair. However, it does mean that many bed spaces have been lost and in Nwqys case many thousands have been replaced with empty 'surf pods'.   

The impact on the local economy is obvious shops close down, pubs become empty and put up for sale, retail outlets struggle in fact the whole fabric of the coastal village/town breaks down.  Is coastal Britain becoming a play ground for those that can afford it?   Or has it always been and under the current Government just become more evident.....  Anyway, my local pub is dead and most are trying to sell up, what is the answer as you can not mess around with market forces.

Let BA know what bad policy and discrimination cost them

After a recent blog regarding this stupid airline and it's rash decision to discriminate against us a fellow surfer contacted me and stated that him and 8 friends heading to Maroc in December had changed from BA to another airline due to the policy change. This got me thinking, as I was due to fly to OZ on Christmas day with BA with the Kentos this was going to cost £1,200 each. Well guess what even though I am not taking boards and my sister works for these idiots I am not going to give them my money and will now fly with a surfer friendly airline such as Qantas or Virgin. Let us add this up so far 8 guys rtn Maroc @ £150 p.p = £1200 plus me and the Kentos makes a nice sum of £3600 that BA have lost!!!

So guys here is your chance let the idiots know how much it is costing them....   power to the  world surfers alliance  get on your facebook account and join the group click here 'let the idiots know how much bad policy costs them'

Other articles relating to this are as follows:

http://www.bloggsd.com/live_surf_travel_blog/2007/10/an-action-call-.html

http://timesonline.typepad.com/surf_nation/2007/10/more-on-the-ba-.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7058337.stm

http://timesonline.typepad.com/surf_nation/2007/10/the-surf-the-gr.html

Surfer friendly airlines Qantas and Virgin

surfing, sailing and then rugby what a great October here in South West Wales

 

What a fantastic week of october, lovely weather and small surf for the stag group and swansea students returning to gower/swansea. Add to that, grandad took me out for a sailing lesson as this is something that we will be offering in the future corporate sail and surf trips around the Welsh coastline, Cornwall and Portugal.   Then home quick wash behind the ears and off to support the French.  What a night of rugby, well done to England and France for sending the big mouths home. 

   

Yes it is Monday...

Sorry just realised that actually it is Tuesday and another sorry for not posting anything for the last week or so, it is that the sun came out and people wanted to have surf lessons again.  I was in Newquay working at Fistral beach over the weekend which was awesome as the sun was out and the visiting hen group had a fun time before heading off to thel ocal for a well earned pint from on eof the numerous Cornish brews such as doom bar, skinners etc etc  I also went to the Lotus Thai in Newquay again and have to say that the food was awesome, in fact a German couple sat next to us told the chef that she had just spent 3 months in Thailland and the meal he had just cooked was the best by a mile.. so there you go guys I have been pushing this place for  a while and tell all our fistral surf school customers about it this is the best thai in the Uk by far....

I am currently in London pushing GSD surfing development on the city slickers and in the process of launching a new direction for GSD which I will blog about in the next few days.. sorry about the txt and no pictures, 2morrow when I back on Gower I will post some  surf and lifestyle shots taken over the last few weeks.

p.s  The flights from cardiff have now stopped to nwqy but you can fly from bristol which saves 3 hours driving.

It feels like a Monday !!

Sorry for the delay of my Monday morning rant, but yesterday I was a bit worse for wear after supporting my team to victory on Sunday arvo. Well done Tevez you are truly a world  class footballer and you made most of the others on the pitch look tired.

I can see why Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal fans get upset about decisions made at Old Trafford by the 13th member of the Man Utd team wearing black, but there you go, what can we do to change it... 

Now someone whom has taken a great leap in my estimations is John Howard and his recent announcement to stop his boyz supporting the regime of some one the West should have dealt with long ago.

Whats that you say? NO OIL !!!  Of course, thats why we are sticking our beaks in other places and not in Africa helping those poor innocent fellow humans being tortured.... by dictators.

Anyway well done Australia and West Ham you are the winners of the week, also any surfers looking at the charts will be rubbing there hands together as it looks like we have another big blast coming later this week.

Well done to Hillend Campsite for featuring in two national papers last weekend that is an awesome achievement you guys must be doing something right. Not to miss out 3 cliffs camp site with a superb shot overlooking the bay enough to get a few more visitors to our beautiful Gower coast this summer.

Well done to the Visit Wales and visit South West teams working hard in the back room so visitors will come and surf in wales or Mawgan Porth, Cornwall.

However, not sure about this type of sign on the fantastic new toilet facilities at Caswell Bay. Simply click on picture to get a larger image. If any other beach users would like me to pass their views about this type of sign on to the Council please email me.

B4 I sign out, if like me you listen to Radio 4 every morning, is it starting to depress you too how many mistakes are reported about our current Gov'ts management of the NHS?

That is my rant over with for this week... The pressure is off West Ham are safe, come on you IRONS !!!!  For those of you wishing to live life on the edge can I suggest as well as surfing you also convert to be a WEST HAM  FAN   Russel Brand is half way there....

Travel update

Arrived back from Algarve surfing last night after a drive from Coventry airport which only took several hours to Mumbles. The trip was both pleasure and business as I had to meet several accommodation providers and carry out some beach risk assessments for the forthcoming Autumn season. 

Once back in Mumbles we dumped the bags off and headed straight to the curry house which was packed but served up a great curry as per normal (La quila on the mumbles road).

Spent all day catching up on work and paying bills and later this arvo drive back up the M4 to Cardiff airport as I am flying to newquay this weekend. We have got some private surf courses running all weekend down there. Looks like the surf is going to be good both here on Gower and Newquay with warm weather to boot.

Saturday night I will hopefully be going to the lotus in newquay a fantastic thai restaurant and will update the blog on them.

Thats all for this weekend as I will be busy, if you have time click over to surf nation and help support Paula's quest for a new car..  Have a good weekend fellow surfers...

Fresh air at last

A great day to be in Wales, not only is the sun shining but also if you fancy a pint after visiting the beach today you can do so without going home stinking of fags.  Wales has followed Scotland and pushed the ban in earlier than England.

I was in a curry house here in Mumbles last week early evening, the place was full and all of sudden one person lit a fag out of about 20 people. He single handedly ruined everyones meal.

Tonight I am going out for a pint and every time someone goes for a fag a cheer will go up.

Being a surfer you need to have a good set of lungs, this act of sending the smokers outside will help all sports people and social surfers achieve greater level of fitness. I found this article this a.m based on the smoking ban.

Sportsmen head Wales smoking ban

2/4/2007

Swansea rugby and football heroes are backing the Welsh ban on smoking in public places, which comes into force today (2nd April).

Wales is ahead of the game compared to England, snuffing out smoking in public places such as pubs, bars, restaurants and theatres, months before the ban in England comes into force.

Swans and Ospreys stars will be out and about on Oxford Street near Marks and Spencer's from 3pm until 4pm Monday, joining forces with Swansea Council's Health Promotion Officers who will be promoting the launch of the ban between 11am and 4pm.

The teams are no strangers to the smoking ban, as their home at the Liberty Stadium was the first major sports venue in Wales to introduce a completely smoke free policy when it opened in 2005.

Swansea Council officers have been offering businesses advice on how they can make sure they and their patrons don't fall foul of the law.  Read more click on 'all smokers outside'