The return of Oddballs.

Our friend Chris is, well, a bit odd.

He has odd surfboards.

He has an odd van.

He has an odd haircut.

He wears odd jeans.

He has a business called Odd Socks, run alongside his (not odd) wife Katie.

His dog has canine tourettes, which is a bit odd.

His odd van (pictured) passed its MOT first time which, I think you'll agree, has a distinct ring of odd about it.

Odd stalks Chris like a shadowy turd fly.

But, odd as he may be, we can't wait to see Chris and this odd jalopy brightening up the streets and beach car parks of Bude, like a welcome and wonky ray of sunshine.

Keep it real, oddballs.

Oddballs.

Do you remember Chris Hartop?

Sure you do.... several blogs back, he was the winner of our Gul photo competition. Yes that's right, the one in the top hat drinking a brandy in the middle of the day like some rampant aristocratic guttersnipe.

Well, it just so happens that Chris and his lovely wife Katie have their own little cottage industy here in Bude town, making gorgeous retro, hand-sewn boardsocks for the discerning surfer. Huck magazine took notice of them and devoted a whole feature on the Hartops and their wares in the latest issue. Here's a shot below:

Our Tom, who owns a few of these quality socks, needed to point out that not every one comes with a dog attached.

Good to know.