Windsurfing in Vass

Which in itself is a bit of a miracle as on 11am Friday morning I didn't have a flight or a passport yet here I am on Monday morning sitting in the office in Swindon. As you an imagine I am both appy and relieved I didn't have to spend another week in the sunshine of Greece!

The full story went as follows.

Neilson knew for 10 months that I had to be back on the 18th to go back to work. They ignored the fact for 95% of the 10 onths and then decided they would find me a flight. Having assured me for days there would be no problem flying London to Preveza on Thursday morning they sent an e mail saying they had a flight - for Zakinthos to Glasgow. This would mean the time taken to get to the airport this end would be longer than the flight to Glasgow ( and I didn't think Paula would be too happy eing asked to pop up to Glasgow to get me!) So we looked locally and there were a few flights via Corfu (not ideal but do - able). The problem was every time we went to book one they had gone.

In the end the only reason I got a ticket was that some bloke had a heart atack and couldn't travel - lucky eh (well not for him).

I then had to pack, however I couldn't find my passport. I hadn't seen it or thought about it for 4.5 months but thought it would probably be in my computer case. I searched it 3 times and no. I looked everywhere else too. No good. So by unday morning I was panicing a bit! Thought I'd look just once more and there it was - in my computer case! How did I do that.

After all that the journey home was uneventful. Got home at 12.30am and at 8.30 am was in the office! Not only that but due to sickness I am assessing this afternoon. So Sunday pm on the water in Greece in a pair of boardies - 24 hours later assessing in the training centre in Swindon. Happy days.

Well here I am only a few days away from flying home - well probably as Neilson are doing their usual thing and seemingly being unable to sort out a flight until the last minute. They say their staff are their most important asset (well who doesn't!) but if they can find a way to save a few quid by sending them via outer Mongolia on the way home they will! We'll see.

I have 3 out of the last 4 days off to use up the rest of my holiday. Looking forward to a relaxed finish! Wind has been a bit mincy for a couple of weeks but I've been doing more biking. This week had a couple of good days so far and a pretty good forecast for the rest.

Not sure if I will work for Neilson again. If I had to put odds on it at the moment I would say if was 75/25 against. Just have to sort out an alternative!

Quite looking forward to going home and catching up with family and friends. That normally lasts until I have then I want to go again! Still the first weekend I'm back I have a school reunion to attend which will involve seeing people for the first time in over 20 years. Lucily I will be slim and tanned!!

Well it just got worse as this week for my sins I'm managing the centre. It came about as the manager for the season has left, to go and become a dentist! Someone else is taking over ( not me thank God) but as luck would have it he has his week off this week so they needed someone else. And looking round at the rest of the staff it was me!

Actually running the centre isn't that much of a problem, by this stage of the season most people know what to do and it's just a case of a nudge here and there and a gentle slap if they step out of line.

However there are whole departments in Brighton who seem to think we have nothing better to do than put together statistics and questionaires for them to ignore when they make decisions. Strange as I'm normally on the other side of the fence in the UK!! Then there's the film crew coming out next week so rooms have to be arranged , oh and then they'd like a tower built.With what and by who were my first two questions.

On top of all that the wind has been shit this week so I don't expect great feedback! Still I didn't want to be a manager in the first place!

Home in two weeks - deep joy!

Day off today having finished a week doing kids. Worse than that it wasn't even the junior rippers, who are the kids learning to windsurf who are usually a bit older and more interesting. No it was the surfbusters, the 5 to 13 year olds (bit of a gap there) who need looking after from 10.15 to 6.15. Bollocks when the wind blows.

It would be fair to say that when Paul told me I was doing them on the Sunday evening (we'd been stiched up by another centre who had one of our nannies) I wasn't too happy. In fact I went off and sulked for the rest of the evening! The next morning I met them. A 5 year old, a 6 year old, an 8 year old, a 9 year old, a 10 year old and two 11 year olds. Great. It got a bit better when one of the 11 year olds decided to join the junior rippers and the 5 year old stayed with the smaller kids so I ended up with 5. And in truth it wasn't as bad as all that. There was only one day when it was windy all afternoon till I managed to get rid of them and then it dropped! The parents were pretty good. I think they could sense my desperation about 5.30 ish when it was windy!

So what did we do? Well although Neilson talks about variety the kids didn't want any of that. Hours playing in the pool, hours on the dart sailing, windsurfing and play station. That was about it.

The best thing about being a nanny is that it's been my springboard to the top as next week I manage the centre! About as different as it gets! Paul the manager is off home today, Matt is taking over and he's got his week off this week, so here I am. Did it last year so not expecting it to be too bad, although we are a bit busy and a bit tight with staff. The week after it eases as we have no kids, and the week after that I should have a few days off (using up my holiday before I come home).

Three weeks today I'll be on a flight home (where from knowing Neilson I'm not sure!). Can't wait?!

I needed a day off today! It's been 10 days since my last one and although no one believes this is anything other than the easiest life in the world it does involve early starts late finishes and l;ong days. Friday for example I started at 8am to guide a bike ride. Lots of problems too. The bikes and especially the inner tubes are getting a bit tired and I had to ride 3 different bikes during the course of the ride to keep everything going. Had to change two tubes and pump up 3 tyres. After that had a full day of windsurfing instruction which involved being on the water coaching for 2 hours. Then after work it was windy so had to go out for an hour! Finished over 12 hours after I started!

Having said that I only have 4 weeks to go till the end of the season. That must mean I've done 16 so far. It's gone as quickly as usual! Hard to believe in less than a month I will be sitting in Swindon typing the last entry in the blog!

... and as usual I feel like I need it. It's easy to underestimate how physically tiring it can be doing this job. Not only the time on the water, the time doing general maintenence and the time socialising, but doing it all in the heat also takes it out of you. Then there are the days when you can't sail to save your life and hurt yourself. Yesterday was one. Catapulted twice (that's something you associate with intermediates learing straps and harness not level 5 instructors and on one of them landed on the boom. Took some skin off my arm and it's a bit stiff today.

The wind has been on off for a few days, that's one day on and one day off. The forecast is pretty good for the next few days though so it should settle down. One good thing is that the tempreture has dropped. A week ago it was stifling. Probably high 30's. Almost overnight with a front coming through it dropped 5/6 degrees and is now very pleasant. Having said that I had to come off the water yesterday evening as I was a bit chilly. Better go back to wearing the wetsuit for late sailing.

Having a bit of fun this week as we have a visitor from another centre, a tall attractive blonde. You can watch all the guys jocky for position like rutting stags! Mind you I guess that's not a lot different to usual except it normally happens late at night after I'm in bed.

Off for lunch. This time in 6 weeks I will be writing the last post from a desk in Swindon. I can't wait! One of those is true!

Can't believe it's gone already.

Basis stats

I saied 23 days in the month. I missed one day injured and on another the wind cam in late and I missed it as I was too full of pasta to move!

I had a week off and spent most of it in bed or on the water.

I feel like I need a holiday to recover as my body is falling apart.

August is looking good so far. Nucleur wind forcast for the weekend so discretion may be the better part of valour!

How are you all?

Sorry this is so boring! Every day is pretty much the same here. Sunny and windy. I get up go to work, windsurf, have a beer, eat, do stuff or go out then go to bed. Anyway you dress it up after the first few weeks it's boring.

Hopefully they'll be a few disasters in the next few weeks to write about!

Well back to being a windsurfing instructor so I know most of you wouldn't count that as work.

Week off was great. Spent a lot of the mornings in bed and working on a couple of projects on the laptop. Then most afternoons went windsurfing, cancel that, every afternoon I went windsurfing. It was really only Sunday/Monday when I was back at work that the wind went a bit iffy.

Another day off today. Would have preferred to do a few more days before it but never mind.

Did a boat trip last week. The punch is normally pretty strong but this time you could tell how strong it was as it didn't even taste nice! One young lad was sick over the side when we got back to harbour. Right onto a Neilson yacht parked next door! They weren't too happy!

Note for anyone teaching all the self rescue methods to people. They don't work. Wind died away yeaterday evening and to amuse myself while waiting for the rescue boat I tried them out. Total bollocks! I didn't try a full self rescue but I couldn't have got the battens out of the sail anyway. Top tip for safety, always have a power boat on hand!

Can't believe It's less than two months till I'm back at work. Better get off and make the most of the time!

Yamas!

First real injury of the season last Thursday! Got catapulted half way through a duck gybe (I know - the shame, should have said a clew first flaka or something!) and landed on the boom crushing the top of my right thigh (good job I weas dressing the other way!). For a moment thought I'd broken the bone (drama queen) but managed to carry on sailing till the wind dropped. By the end of the evening the thigh was swollen up to twice it's normal size and I could neither bend my leg or sleep as every way I tried to lie hurt.

Luckily it had eased a little the next morning so at least I could get to work (on the back of a local Greeks moped!) and started taking anti inflametories. The rest of the team started to believe I must have hurt it when I didn't sail on Friday as the wind was great!

However Saturday afternoon it felt OK ( was that just the pain killers ) so I went out again, and also yesterday and so far although it's a bit stiff in the mornings I seem to be surviving.

I'd better though as today is the start of MY WEEK OFF!!!!!!

A few people have asked me what I plan to do, go back to the UK for example. Well given that people are spending money to come here for a holiday from the UK it would seem a bit strange to spend money going the other way. After all I have 8 months of the UK over the winter! So the plan is relax in the mornings, sail all afternoon and evening then have a few beers and a meal. After this week I only have 8 left so that should be enough to keep me fired up to the end.

Hope everyone reding this is OK. Would be good to get some news via hotmail.

Hard to believe I'm now halfway through my time in Vassiliki this year. Ten weeks down and another ten to go. I'll be back in Swindon and Openwork before I know it, deep joy!

All good here. Wind and sun and a bit quieter than June when we were rammed for 6 weeks in a row. Looks like we're going to be good on numbers for the rest of the season. However we are now starting to get a few more kids. My main ambition for the rest of the season is to avoid 'Junior rippers'!!

Wow what a week!

Monday after a hard day on the water we decided to have a Michael Jackson release party. All dressed up as Mike. No problem there as we are all the right colour (you know you're old when you can remember a black MJ!) and danced the night away to Beat it and Billie Jean. Then to finish we all shared our beds with young boys.

Tuesday headed over to Nidri for the evening. Got totally wasted, ended up skinny dipping with two teenage twins then back to their place for a bedtime story.

Wednesday had a tupperware party on the beach. Some of the new boxes are so useful you just wouldn't believe...

Thursday was drugs night. Experemented with a mixture of washing powder and sherbert, mainlined straight up the nose..out of this world. Cleanest my sinases have ever been.

Friday was a quiet day.

Saturday was the last night BBQ. Got smashed and ended up sleeping with a guest, another menber of staff and a gibbon.



For anyone apart from Simon, the above should read .. Went windsurfing, drank tea and made polite conversation!

End of June and Eric is still blowing - bring on July!

Another week over, the windiest of the season. We had six days of wind last week so everone was happy. Good job too as we had an expert group of 30 (the biggest I can remember). Must have done a pretty good job too as last night at the barbeque I got presented with another Frey Bentos pie. Tea tonight sorted.

Day off otday so will avoid transfers. Last weeks turned out to be a bit of a hinge. When we arrived at the airport we found out the plane hadn't actually left Manchester yet. By the time everything was sorted out didn't get back till 2.30am! Still I get a couple of hours off in lieu this week to go windsurfing.

One more busy week them we are a little bit quieter in July (as far as I know). However we are fast approaching the time when we start to get a few kids - joy! On the positive side I have a weeks holiday in a couple of weeks time. Not sure what to do, may explore the island a bit more and maybe do some windsurfing!

Can't belive this is the end of week 8, only 12 more weeks and I'll be back in Swindon - deep joy!

Late start today as I have a late finish. I'm off to the airport this evening to do the Manchester transfer. Rum things, transfers - you never know what you're going to get.

The obvious thing is when they get delayed. The first week of the Manchester flight it was 10 hours late. Should have been here around 3pm, got here middle of the night. Could be worse, last year we had 2 24 hour delays. Nothing better than waiting at the airport.

Then you get guests bringing things out. We had a phone call at 11pm last night from a client to tell us they were bringing 2 canoes out and could we arrange for them to be taken to resort!

Then people taking thigs back with them like boards. Couple of weeks ago we couldn't get it on the coach so had to chase it in the truck. The board arrived 10 seconds before the guest had to go through the security machine.

Of course it could all go smoothly, take a few people up to the airport, grab a slice of pizza, pick up a few more and come home. Here's hoping!

Another day off. It's the way the system works, I had Sunday off last week and Wednesday this week. So only done 2 days work but what the hell. It probably means it will be 10 days till the next one.

Weather seeming to settle down a bit now. Looks more like Vass weather too, warm and light on shore wind am then cross shore pm (sometimes!)

This week we have a couple of complete weapons in the centre. It's unusual cos normally 99% of the guests are great and easy to chat too. It makes the ones that aren't really stand out. The real joy is you just know that no matter how much you try and do for them they still won't be happy and will give shit feedback. Not like we really need them, we were turning people away in June cos we're full.

Our Nannys are certainly living up to expectations this year! Two facial scarrings, three losses of memory, one falling off her feet and a number of pullings! Must be something about working with children, it would certainly drive me to drink.

Forget the thanks and handshakes, forget good feedback on the happy sheets. The true test of whether you've done a good job is when at the end of the week the group give you two Frey Bentos steak and ale pies they've brought from England with them! That's what happened to me last night so tonight's meal is sorted, Pie and beans! Ah top nosh.

Extra pleased by the thanks too as the wind has been gash for the last week. Anyone who tells you Vass is a high wind resort at the moment is having a laff. The weather just hasn't settled for more than three or four days. Keeps looking like it might but not yet.

Fingers crossed it happens today as it's my day off and apart from this and a haircut (and pie and beans obviously) most of my plans revolve around going windsurfing!

Mind you I need to be careful! I managed to smack myself in the eye yesterday attempting a switch stance duck gybe and have a bit of a shiner today. Still it will set the tone for the new 'Experts' next week - hard core, you know the score!

And indeed she has. Hard to believe I'm now 5 weeks down and 25% of the way through the summer.

Last week was a bit of a winner. After 24 weeks of doing the Advanced/expert group (last year and this) I got to do something different! I got to do the intermediate group. These are people who have done an initial course and can sail along and turn round (of a fashion) abd are looking to go faster, turn quicker and beach start and get into the harness. It was great, so much less testosterone than the experts! People were actaully honest about their abilities at the start of the week rather than saying 'yeah I quite fancy trying Spocks' when they had more chance of sleeping with Spock!

Basically took the group on the water every morning and afternoon for 6 days and beasted them! By the end of the week they were broken men and women, much better windsurfers, but in need of a holiday!

Now have almost a weekend off. Saturday and Sunday morning off then spending the rest of Sunday on transfer coaches or in the airport. Just hope that for once the Manchester flight is actually on time, but I don't hold out too much hope!

Here we are on the 29th and I haven't even had time to draw breath.

How would I some May up? Bit like May in Vass really! Some great wind, some dodgy weather and a lot of great biking. Probably been out a dozen times in the month blasting along with a fair bit of light wind pottering. I'm a great believer in light wind pottering ( nothing to do with Adrian, don't worry Susie!) Gives you a real understanding of how the board and sail work. It's also a way of doing loads of moves in light winds that if you tried to replicate them in strong winds would leave you battered!

The bikings been good too. Have been working as a part time bike guide as well as a windsurfing instructor so get to go out on rides 3 mornings a week. The thing about Vass is it's in a valley surrounded on 3 sides by hills and one side by the sea (lucky about that really or the winsdsurfing wouldn't be too good!). That means all the rides go up! Admittedly they then come down later but there are no easy morning rides! Some nutters come out here just for the biking and they set off at 9.30 and return later on that afternoon. Crazy. Some of the stuff they do I wouldn't send a very athletic mountain goat down.

Socially been a bit quiet, maybe it's age and the amount of biking I'm doing but I'm always happy to see my bed!

Next week is our first week of being full and will be a big test of weather we've got the kit right. We have 3 instructors arrive the week after so next week will be a bit tight!

So Mays been good, although I'm missing people back home and looking foreward to September. Actually a maximum of one of those statements is true.

Cycled home this evening through the rain! Just as the weather started to settle down it changed. As I sit typing this I've just seen a flash of lightning (actually it could have been the couple in the corner using their flash but you get the idea!)

Off to watch the footy, come on you reds!!

Day off - YES.

Trouble with the system here is that if you have a Wednesday off one week and a Sunday the next you can go 10 days without a day off, which is what I've just done. Still I'm sure no one sitting in an office in the UK reading this will be feeling too sympathetic!

Starting to get towards the part of the season where this Blog will start to get a bit tedious (stop shouting "what do you mean 'start'"). I mean how many ways can you dress up, got up, went to work, went sailing, went out for a drink, went to bed!?

The big news in Greece today is the Eurovision song contest. Appears they won it! All the TV's are playing it non stop - super.

Off to hang up my washing (well I've got to 'sex' up the blog somehow!)

Eric finally arrived today and to make up for his tardy behaviour he arrived first thing, an experience almost unknown here in Vass. Everyone was out on the water in the bright sunshine maxed on 5.7 - 5.0. A great time was had by all, just not sure I will be able to get up to guide another bike ride in the morning!

Guided a ride tonight in the vast expanse of Olive groves at the back of Vassiliki bay. Managed to set two records for the season so far!

Quickest dead end found - 6.5 minutes after the start of the ride.
Most dead ends in one ride - 3.

Perhaps we should stop calling them guided rides!

Eric the Vassiliki wind is still absent believed taking the piss. However I have a cunning plan and have a tin of beans for tea. Those who know me well will see how that could work!

At least I'm still doing lots of biking.

For those who don't know Eric is the name of the wind that blows in the afternoons in Vassiliki, and this week he's been on holiday! Luckily most of our guests in the first week were early intermediates so they got a lot out of the lighter winds. Frustrating as hell for the instructors though. I was reduced to taking a dart 16 out (that's a dinghy!)

The only saving grace was that I was able to do a lot of biking including guiding a few rides. I say that in the loosest sense as I manged to get lost in the olive groves at the back of Vassiliki not once but twice over the week. My cunning strategy of steering by the sun failed when it took us straight into someones back garden and we had to retrace our steps!

Just finished the first night meal for the new group of guests. Good crowd, a lot of whom were here last year. That means I will have to come up with some more bullshit this year!

Yammas!

First week of guests and already I feel rejected. There I was on the first morning sitting like Billy no mates as noone wanted to join my expert group. I thought I sold it quite well.
'Anyone who wants to go fast enough in straight lines to crap themsleves, get into strange contorted positions and hit the water on a regular basis with huge force, come and see me!"

That's how it feel nearing the end of the first week I've been here. The centre is pretty much finished and now we're just waiting for the first group of guests to arrive on Sunday. Mind you I hope the weather has picked up by then, the last 24 hours have been a shocker. Torrential rain last night and gale force winds which would be great if they weren't from the North and so come gusting down the vally and off shore. Went out in winds like that a couple of times last year - went head first through the sail in a gust one time.

The big change is that this year we have dinghys for the first time, mmmm. Those of you who know me well will be aware of my 'enthusiasm' for them. Having dinghys in Vass is a bit like having dresses in Susies wardrobe. Quite decrative but not much use (appologies for thos of you who don't know Susie!). I think there mainly for the kids clubs, which is a seamless link to the second main change this year, clubs for the older kids. Hard to find any staff member too enthusiatic about the idea, but hey - everyone knows I love children (but I couldn't eat a whole one!)

Settled in now, almost unpacked everything. Have turned my hand to such diverse delights as rigging sails, tuning boards, carpet fitting (in the board rack), progripping (the board rack again!), digging and raking and general DIY (and you all know how good I am at that!). Have to say it'll be nice when the guests arrive and we can settle down to a routene.

Off for a quick bike ride this morning. With the winds the way they are I'll be very quick in at least one direction!

Well I finally got to Vass last night, interesting journey!

First incling of a problem was when I arrived at Gatwick yesterday at 5.45am. Realised my flight wasn't to Preveza (a nice airport only 1.5 hours from Vass) but Corfu (big Island no where near!)

Then found there was no ticket for me, a trawl of the 'help desk' wasn't but luckily someone turnrd up with it.

Flight OK and on arriveal at Corfu had a coach waiting to take us to the port. Onto a ferry (carrying our luggage for 5 months) and a sunny crossing. Then met by the managers of our Beach Plus centre in Sivota and to there.

Most of the staff were staying there but the Vass contingent had a further two hours in a truck. I had to drive, quite strange in a car with the gears patently on the wrong side. Made it one piece just and crashed (for the night in a bed rather than on a hairpin bend!). Realised this morning we'd arrived for Orthadox Easter and nothing was open, stale bread and cheese all round.

Al least I got on the water in the sun which made it all worthwhile.

Knackered now so an early night. Next few days are all about getting the centre ready for next week so not a lot of news.

Will let you know if it's windy though!

......until the 19th September! Well last day at Zurich, I will obviously be working hard all summer for Neilson, although I do find it hard to convince people of that. It's true though. Think of all the beginners wearing speedos! Trying not to look when they're also wearing a seat harness and they're bulging everywhere! It's not an easy life.

Flying out on Sunday, 8am flight so need to be at the airport for 6am. Luckily Polly's a good friend! The cars going back after that so have to actually clean it for the first time in 3 years.

Still need to pack, have got my harness and shorts ready, the rest will follow.

Have told everyone at work how much I'll miss them, have told them I'll be back in September. One of those statements is true.

This Blog thing is more complicated than I though. E mailed a few people yesterday to let them have the address. In fact managed to mail them the same thing four times to let them know about the Blog. Only problem was that I forgot to include the Blog address. I'm concerned I'll be on the water one afternoon and realise I've forgotten the board, or my shorts!
Still not done any packing but have a plan. Pack later.

Just over a week to go now, probably time to start doing something about it. Maybe some form of packing would be good...........

How did it happen? How did I go from a normal 32 year old with a good job, pension, house and mortgage and girlfriend to an obsessed 41 year old who at the drop of a hat leaves the country hoping to find the ultimate windsurfing spot. Along the way I lost the job (well took a part time contract), headed off into the unknown (well a job with Neilson) lost the girl friend (no real loss there I’m afraid – well for her!) and seemingly lost the ability to have a rational conversation that didn’t involve wind, waves or kit.

The only thing that keeps me going is that in the scheme of things it’s not that much of an obsession. I’ve just finished a book about someone who spent six months travelling the world to meet people with the same name. He flew all the way to New York then found out the person he’d come to meet had the wrong name, and walked away. He flew to Israel to meet 5 people (who turned out to be one person with 5 phones!). He even persuaded 5 people to change their names by deed poll to his.

People often ask me why I do it. I normally reply ‘because I love it’. That’s not strictly true, I love it and hate it in equal measure sometimes on the same day (sometimes even on the same run!) At it’s best nothing comes close to touching it. Think sunny, sandy beach, warm water and consistent winds then add you skimming over the water in a pair of shorts with a big grin on your face. See what I mean. At it’s worst nothing comes close. Think a cold rainy day on the South coast with a North Easterly and a shore dump that mullers you, then just after you change, rig and launch the wind dies never to reappear that day. That’s quite a wide spread of experience.

Like Forest Gump ‘you never know what you’re going to get’.

I guess like so many things in life, unless you experience the downs then you can’t really appreciate the ups! Mmm, well if you can guarantee me good wind, waves and sunshine for the rest of my life I’ll give it a go…….

Less than 4 weeks to go so I hit on the idea of creating a Blog to save multiple emailing to friends and family. Not sure if it will help too much with my Mum though. Haven't taught her to reply to a text yet let alone read and respond to a blog.

Quite strange writing something that noone will read as noone yet knows it exists! More when the departure date draws near.