We had a fantastic sail at Frinton-on-sea on Monday, full power on a 5.8 under blue sky’s, it really felt like summer was on its way. Though perfect for pictures, we just didn’t want to come off the water to sit behind the lens. But when a friend asked me to join him and his camera a few days later, the sun decided to go into hiding.

I’ve been helping Dorian Mason with his photography, but each time we get the camera out something goes wrong. Though he’s into birds, I couldn’t see myself sitting in a hide all day, so the first outing last year was to take pix of his brother Garry on the track.

We arrived moments after he crashed; the only shot we got was of the ambulance coming up the lane. He hasn’t been able to work for a year, so when they said they were coming up to see me, I took the safe option, and hid in the hide. Though we did send Garry off the see my mister fix it in Ipswich.

I’m struggling to admit to being in the hide, but that was about the only pix we got as it clouded over and the havens opened. Seeing how unsuccessful we’ve been, I’m not sure why Dorian listens to me, he been getting more than enough pix in the bird press anyway. At least Garry’s trip turned out better than ours, or was it; he’s back at work again.

Lack of wind and desperation put me behind Nikyboy’s boat. Not sure if it was an excuse to take his new girlfriend for a spin, or to humiliate me. Theoretically wake kiting and kitesurfing should be the same, but they fly so differently. Having the pull from the boat rather than the kite it all seemed wrong, but by the end it started to make sense, but by then Nik’s job was done.

Took the kids up to chose which of the puppies we’re going to have. They wanted to bring them all home, but its another month before our one can come home, but at least he’s got a name Ruffles.