Play.Eat.Laugh.Sleep..Pickwell: Surf Mamas

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Surf Mamas

So I have joined a group of us mums from Georgeham school, who have been going out surfing every Thursday after school drop off. I have never surfed before and this is now my 5th week. Sadly I have only progressed to being on my feet for 3 seconds, but I'm getting there....slowly. There is nothing like the thrill of catching a wave and speeding down the front of it, even if it is mostly with me gripping the side of the board with slightly white knuckles. However my fellow 'surfing mamas' are doing amazingly and 'popping up' with great sprightliness. Well done girls!!

With our surf leader Rachel (who has wonderfully taken it upon herself to count us regularly to make sure that none of us novices have drowned, thanx rach!), we have been in the water wet suited up come rain or shine. Only 3 of us were out today, but here we are...... what vacuum packed beauties!

Today was the most amazing day, the sun was shining making the most gorgeous haze over the sea at Saunton. It was completely magical going out. I could not believe how warm it was in the water (after the initial shock of it nipping into my wetsuit of course), I never would have thought I would be in the water in NOVEMBER!!!! I think I have got the bug and I completely love it despite not being very good. I think it is testament that you are never too old to play in the sea!

To quote Mrs Percival 'to be out here really makes you feel alive'.

2 comments:

PercyP10 November 2011 at 11:06
Action shots next time time please surfing Mama's
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Susannah11 November 2011 at 04:00
Percy P i couldn't agree more..this non-surfing Mama will follow them out next time and get some! x
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Our Story

Many people have asked what the story is, how did the Bakers and Elliotts come to be at Pickwell?

Are you sitting comfortably?

Tracey and Susannah became friends at 6th form college. Steve and Tracey lived in the same village in Sussex. Steve's dad was the vicar and Tracey's dad was Steve's scout leader. Even more wierd, Susannah's dad (also a church minister) and Steve's dad were friends, but Steve and Sus never met.

One summer Tracey took Susannah along to a youth summer camp. Steve was one of the leaders (read : heightened attraction) and a little later Steve and Sus got together. During their 6 on/off years they met Richard, a blue eyed boy from Guildford.

At a club night run by Steve, somehow through the dark and crowded room, Tracey and Richard bumped into eachother (if you have seen the shapes they pull on the dancefloor you would know how easily this happened)..

In the year 2000 they all got married. Tracey and Susannah were eachother's bridesmaids. They have remained firm friends ever since.

When Steve and Susannah came across Pickwell Manor, they knew they couldn't manage such a project on their own. They asked the Elliotts if they would give up their house, their jobs and their community to come and live and work with them and own the project together. They knew there weren't many people they could ask to do such a thing knowing they would still love each other by the end. So they all left everything in Sussex and came to Devon.

They moved on the same day in August 2008. It has been a crazy, wonderful, scary, emotional and beautiful experience so far. All of them would say they feel very ALIVE!

Since they moved they have run 51 successful and wonderful weddings (with more to come), many, many holidays, built or totally refurbished 6 apartments from scratch, updated carpets, painted white throughout, put in quite a few kitchens and bathrooms (including 2 baths on concrete plinths), changed much of the furniture, converted a laundry and have started to convert the chapel. Every year they also have a bonfire gathering in October, an Easter Eggstravaganza fundraising event, and anything else that is not-for-profit that they can fit in. Tracey has completed a dissertation and gone back to nursing for 2 days a week, Steve has started up a new company in London, Richard has mastered a lot of the running of the house as well as training as a coach, specialising in stress management, Sus has taken on the interiors and Tracey and Susannah have learnt weddings in at the deep end! All with 4 young Pickwellians by their sides.

"Our passion is for making life count. Our values lie in
friendship, celebration, valuing others, and social justice. We see Pickwell as a reflection of these things but also a place for rest, recouperation, laughter and conversation. We want to support charities and social enterprises to fufil their dreams and make a difference."

"We love Devon, we love the community here, we love seeing our children grow with nature and discovering the great outdoors. We have to pinch ourselves sometimes when we think about our life here, it is amazing".