Seamouse in Bondi

Tamarama Beach

Keiron Lewis captured this beauty after a bodysurfing sesh - just a 5 minute walk from his home in Bondi.

Hi Keiron, I was wondering what took you to Oz from England and how long you think you and your wife will live there.

After getting married my wife and I wanted to travel and live somewhere different before settling down into the big mortgage and starting our family. The UK is really suffering at the moment so it seemed like the ideal time.

I've just been sponsored by an Australian Company so we can stay here now until August 2014. I've no idea if we'll stay that long but at the moment we couldn't be happier.

Is there anything that amazes/surprises you about Australia that you were not expecting?

We are lucky enough to see whales swim past our apartment from our window. Even though I've seen quite a few now it's still amazing every time.

I bet you get to surf a lot more often?

Yeah, loads more! I get in most mornings before the crowds hit. Back in the UK my local was very fickle with wind and tide and the crew there have to know it well to surf as much as they do. Here it's almost on tap and I found it really hard to adjust to that. I still put my wetsuit on as fast as possible as if the waves could die off at any second.

And what do you miss most from home in England, besides family and friends?

Being an ex colony Australia is still pretty english and you can get hold of Heinz beans, Twinings Earl Grey, etc with ease.

In the winter though I really missed a proper Sunday roast and I know my wife misses UK fashion. It sounds awful but I do get cravings for Marks and Spencer sandwiches!



I wonder if some of your wetsuited character drawings will change at all from living in Oz.

Yeah, I've already found myself doodling them in shorties and board shorts as well as still suited up and lost on a sun drenched beaches. The winter here is longer than you'd think though and although they'd be summer suits back in england the fullsuit is still worn by most Aussies.

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Thank you Keiron! It sure sounds like you are doing great.

Please check out Seamouse's drawings and music loves on his blog, Pinniped. He's also involved in designing T-Shirts for Rake, Almond and keep your eye out for the upcoming T's he'll have with Wellen.

Fans of Cher Pendarvis - Place Your Orders!

Cher

The great news is that the interview I did with Cher Pendarvis last year has been picked up by a very fine Australian publication called Kurungabaa: a journal of literature, history and stories from the sea.

This new issue is full of words, art, and images from emerging artist around the world, and includes a DVD of three Australian short films.

The cutoff date is to place your order is July 10th. It is a not-for-profit publication that only prints as many as are pre-ordered.

last issue of Kurungabaa

A little shout out to Rebecca Olive, whom many of you know from the surf blogging community. She is a writer for Kurungabaa and a dynamo of a woman who wants more women represented in Australian surf culture - and thus chose the Cher Pendarvis piece for the magazine. Thank you, Bec.

To order, go here now. I'd better place my order, too! Gosh it would be great if some U.S. surf shops stocked up on a few...

The Alley in Oz

I check out Grant Newby's blogs, The Alley Fish Fry and Wooden Surfboards and when I commented on a particular incredible photo (the top one), Grant was kind enough to email it to me. Upon my prompting, he told me more about The Alley and sent more beautiful photos. And then he was off for a surfing/camping trip. Lucky guy - and thanks, Grant!

I've wanted to visit Australia ever since my parents made me go to John Newcombe's Tennis Academy in Texas when I was 13 years old (I was totally scared to go away to camp for a week, after an unfavorable experience at Girl Scout Camp two years earlier). All of the instructors were from Australia and they made such an impression on me with their humor, sense of fun and kindness. My backhand really improved too, thanks mates!

In Grant's words...

The Photographer is Lincoln Williams, a local guy we use to shoot video. The Alley Is the Currumbin Alley where the Currumbin Creek runs down from the hills behind the Gold Coast.

This time of year especially in winter when we get morning off shore winds from the West, they come down the valley and out to sea. Even if there is the slightest west in the wind it will be offshore. And on the other side of Currumbin rock it could be more south and not half as clean.

Point break that can be very hollow when the sand is built up at low tide. Then long walls across the river mouth to Lacey's the beach on the other side. The sand bank the trails off to the North from the river can hold a great high tide wave when it is big as well. Nothing to get 3 - 400m long nose rides in winter when the banks are stable and the offshores calm it all down.

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Other blogs from Oz that I like to check out:

Critical Slide Society - The creative blog for Shortstraw.

Kurungabaa - a journal of literature, history and ideas for surfers. Some good dialogue going on here.

Look and Sea - Nathan Oldfield is a photographer and director of two lovely surf films, Lines from a Poem and Seaworthy. In his blog he shares lots of beauty and nuggets of wisdom.

Making Friends With The Neighbors - Rebecca Jane lives in Sydney and is doing her PhD about women and surfing, and looking at surfing as a culture. She shares some of her experiences on her thought-provoking blog. She also likes marshmallows. Hi Bec!

Oceans Other Offerings - Luke Taaffe is simply one of my favorite artists.

Safe to Sea - Mick Sowry of St. Kilda, is the director of the beautiful film, Musica Surfica. He shares his very fine storytelling on his blog, along with beautiful photos of his surfing adventures.

Smart Casual - Creative blog from surfer/photographer/designer Ryan Heywood. You've probably seen this.

Sully Mc Ched - of Bondi Beach (or Bondage Beach as he writes in his profile). I get the feeling this guy knows how to have a big time.

The Other Wave - Artist Ben Waters lives in Avalon Beach. He's got a great style. Check out the cool boardshorts he did for Shortstraw.

How cool does this book look by Switch-foot? Scroll to the bottom and click on Spreads.

Anyone else I should know about, please set me straight!