Feliz Cumpleaños Estados Unidos!

So, today it's July 4th. Independence Day in the United States of America. It's basically their birthday. And just like all good birthdays, we're sure there'll be jelly, ice-cream, tantrums and tears. And hopefully cheese and pineapple on sticks everywhere - my favourite.
They're only a spritely 234 years old this year. Mere whippersnappers. And yet in such a short time, we've got a whole lot to thank them for: Amongst much else, they brought us TV dinners, Pitbulls and plastic cheese. Thanks guys!
We here at Gul Bude would like to wish all our cherished friends and family across the big blue pond a very Happy Birthday today...

...and point out that, had we really wanted your country, we'd have kept it.

Hey you guys........!

Here is a little treat for all you puzzle fans out there....

A SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!

This is all about testing your powers of observation. It is a little tricky but see if you can find all the differences....

Good luck and remember to send all answers with a stamped addressed envelope to the usual address.

Toms Daily B..log

Thankfully, we now sell air-fresheners at Gul Bude.

Guitar Zero

Rock and Roll.
I ruddy love it.
I love it to the point that I got the words tattooed on my inner leg by a friend who'd never used a tattoo gun before. I considered that pretty Rock and Roll in itself. And it kind of was, up until it fell off.
You know, I could never play the guitar but many times I've vaguely attempted to start. My Dad and my Brother are really good at it so I felt like I should have a natural ability to pick it up and play. Sadly, life works a little differently. Fear not, Slash.
As keen blog followers or shop visitors will know, we have a peach of a guitar right here in store. It's a little weathered but the strings still seem to work. And as for being in tune, well, I used to be a fan of Scritti Politti - tune matters not. But just the feel of a guitar in my hands... I don't know, it gets those rich Rock and Roll juices flowing. Especially when I strike my best Bryan Adams pose and the sun is low in the sky.
I was having a little fantasy fun with this the other day. The mood had taken me, I think the mighty Crüe had just popped up on our in-store music player. The sun was sinking. My eyes glazed and like a man possessed by a dark Sabbathian Wizard, Rock took me. I grabbed the guitar, and disappeared into nearby dog poo alley, just down the road.

I hadn't been power-strumming for very long before I heard a whinnying, like a distressed pony. It was Tom. "Oh Cai? Cai?" Apparently he needed a lunch break.

Silly boy.

Tom should know better than to mess with the fantasy at such a crucial moment. So it was entirely his fault, what happened next...

Lewis: Killing it.

Who is currently Number 1 in the UK Under-18 Longboarders?
Well, that'd be our boy, Lewis Stritch.

Good work Lewis.

The Wright Diet? We don't think so.

So it appears Emmas Nana isn't the only feeder in Cornwall. It appears our esteemed Gul colleague James also has a feeder in the family, as this picture can only evidently explain.
Dear James - We know you like a Chicken Wrap from the local supermarket from time to time. We know when you visit Bude you enjoy a proper big pasty. But mate, salads... they're not so bad.

James is the manager of the Truro and Falmouth Gul stores. If you're ever passing one of the aforementioned shops, do us a favour and drop him in a carrot or two? Cheers.

Wednesday Guest Blog # 2

www.pachadesignjournal.blogspot.com

Bude's Next Top Model.....

This young hopeful is called David.

He's 5'11" - Dark brown Hair - Muddy Green eye's

Slim physique (says he's a medium!?)

Before being elected Playmate of the Month in the December, 1988 edition of Playboy magazine, he worked as a model in Istanbul, Milan, Paris and Bodmin.
The starting point of his modelling career was when he was only 17 years old in New York City (he played a street urchin in a cheap gangster flick).

He's currently looking for work in the Bude area. He works for very little and posed in our top of the range Vortex wetsuit for just a cup of tea and a flick through some old surf mags.

Slightly temperamental disposition.

Cider from Rogers

I've had a very pleasant few days away, leaving the shop in the very capable hands of Tom and Rachel. Except of course Tom isn't capable - because he's the type who waits until I leave and then goes and throws himself into a surfboard and breaks his head. Never-the-less, I knew the team could take care of things whilst I paid a visit to my favourite cider farm in Mudgley, Somerset.

Roger Wilkins makes around 15,000 gallons of cider each year, and has been producing it since he was boy (and drinking it from the same age.) I've been to visit and do my bit to securing a modest chunk of those 15,000 gallons at least once a year. I even celebrated my 30th birthday on Rogers farm with a bunch of friends, at one of his annual cider hoedowns. I'd like to say it was a birthday I'll never forget, but thanks to the potency of Roger's brew that year, I'd forgotten it within 24 hours. Shame.

I introduced my girlfriend to the delights of Rogers farm yesterday - not just the delicious apple nectar, but also the homemade cheeses, chutneys and a wisened old ferret who wanted her to sit on his lap.

This time I even bought myself a t-shirt which has already been baptised with about a third of a pint of Rogers finest blend (half dry, half sweet - the very best.)

Do yourself a favour - seek it out: Lose yourself somewhere near Wedmore in Somerset and you'll probably stumble upon it. And try not to drive there.

He likes a drink with his clients, does Roger.

Glued in Bude 2 : It's Only a Flesh Wound

It all started with the infamous thought: "Just one more". Fatal! We all know this thought induces inevitable disaster, but Tom just couldn't resist testing it.

Having hopped out of bed at dawn and raced down the beach to get a surf in before another hard day at Gul Bude, Tom thought this most fatal of thoughts.

What followed involved a barrel, a close out, a wipeout, a board, a head and 'gallons' of blood (Tom's words).

Promptly returning home and defying his wife's advice and convincing her that it was merely a flesh wound and he'd be just fine, he headed to work.

An hour later, and after much inspection, I tended to agree with Mrs Tom and advised that maybe he should nip up to A&E and get it checked out.

Needless to say he returned with tales of nurses (male!?), pity, saline and glue.

I do admire his tenacity though; to return to work despite his injury, and being male, is truly commendable, although his head does now resemble that of a scabby mangey dog.

I hate to say it Tom, but listen to your wife in future! And remember always duck and cover!

Rachel.