All Good things................



I like the songs of Carly Simon and in particular the haunting lines "I know nothing stays the same" have always made me reflect. The Harbour Sports shop on Paignton's quaint little harbour has become over the past thirty-five years part of the community fabric. But all that is about to slip into history as a new tenant prepares to take on the lease. Indeed nothing does the same!

It's been quite a journey with so many twists and turns. Hundreds of people have worked with us over those years and most remain friends. Add to that the tens of thousands that have been part of our offering then you really do get a feeling of a vibrant community. We've travelled a landscape that has included teaching sailing and windsurfing. We were the first windsurfing school in the West Country! Speed boat rides, Aqua sausage, yacht charter, snow ski road shows, retail sales, mail order and so much more. Our little strap line 'live the life' seemed to say it all.

As I say in a few weeks all that slips into history. BUT we still have a chunk of lovely kit including stunning leisure clothing, wetsuits, skateboards and so much more. ALL REDUCED TO HALF PRICE. Cash sales at the shop only of course.

Christmas shopping starts here.

Keep the faith and the smile!

frank

No Diving or Jumping!

For over thirty years we've been messing around on Paignton's quaint little harbour. It's much changed over that time and I guess that it is a little like a John Steinbeck story where the fabric stays much the same but the folk get older!

One thing that I've noticed over the past four or five years has been the proliferation of warning and prohibition signs, the numerous metal rails and wires that serve a questionable purpose and a reduction in footfall.

Perhaps this is all part of our claim culture where frivolous litigation seems to have thrust fear into the soul of Torbay Council. I don't know. What I do know is that the end of the harbour wall that used to provide an excellent launching pad into the sea on a warm summer day now has a warning sign and a notice that says 'no diving or jumping from this quay'. We used to wait for a big sea and then run to the end of the wall before jumping high in the air and splashing into the churning sea. Years ago there was a ladder at the end of the quay and we would time to waves to grab a rung near the top! This was living the life and sent a tingle through your whole body. Loved it.

If you take a look at the photograph you will notice a pole with steel wires. This device is to stop folk fishing from the harbour wall! What? Yes it is true, there is no fishing from the harbour wall out to sea. To quote Mike Cornish (a harbour resident) "My grandfather taught me to fish off the harbour, my father fished there also and I taught my kids to fish there too!" Note also the lifebuoy to the right. Quite how you throw that through the wire is a mystery!

We have, as you can see, found another use for the wire!



Perhaps in the hope of encouraging footfall we can have a harbour wall jumping festival where folk head into the salty sea dressed as cartoon characters. Hmm.