It's no longer fun when you can't feel your feet!

OK, before we start today's Blog I'm going to let you into a little secret; I have absolutely no sense of balance. None! Zip! Zilch! Nada! There are new born foals that are steadier on their feet than me! I can fall over walking across a flat carpet!

But here's the crux of the matter, lots (most) of the things I like to do include a large element of balance - kayaking, cycling, hiking..........and paddleboarding! I think this is why I like my boogieboard so much, I'm already lying down so I have nowhere to fall to!

Honestly, if I invite you on an adventure just make sure to have your camera ready because at some point I will end up on my (bruised) butt!

I will also appreciate a helping hand up.





Because of my distinct lack of balance I am a great supporter of the SDP (not the the Social Democrat Party - youngsters ask your parents), Sit Down Paddleboarding. Today was only the third time I have tried to take my board out. The first time was just after I had bought it and I spent more time IN the water than ON it. The second time I never even made it to the water before I had fallen over and smacked the back of my head

(fabled sense of balance!). And finally, today!

Now I suffer from bouts of depression and it can make me a very grumpy bear with a very sore arse! I don't even like to be around myself when I get like this. Fortunately for me one of the best things I can do when I get like this is to either head in to the forest, or down to the beach. One is only 450 meters from my front door and the other just 2 kilometres.

So off I headed to the beach earlier to take my board out and clear my head. It was a bit windy when I got down there and not as warm as it has been over the past couple of days but I was undeterred and got the board out and inflated; eventually. I have to practise inflating the board as there is a knack to getting it blown up and staying up - practise makes perfect so they say!

There was a bit of a chop on the water this morning and a few white horses as well but that didn't stop me. With the leash attached to me and the board I waded out until it was deep enough to get on. Once I was sat on the board I paddled out until I was just there, in the moment bobbing around on the oggin. One thing I must remember when SDP is to take a kayak paddle with me; the SUP paddle is not practical when you're sat down.

As I mentioned earlier it was cold today. After 25 minutes of mooching around in the Solent I felt like I had a couple of blocks of ice instead of feet so decided that it was time to head in. There were two great results from my time sitting on my board - A) my head was clear and I felt a lot more relaxed  B) I stayed on the board and never capsized.