4. A CORNISH ADVENTURE: Enter a World Championship

It's not often that you get the chance to compete in a world championship sporting event, especially one that celebrates all things old fashioned. But you can and I did. Of course I have no idea where I came in the contest, how they judge it or what the judging criteria is but what the heck, never mind. It's the taking part that counts. In this case the taking part was in the National Trust's World Bellyboard Championships at Chapel Porth Beach near St Agnes in Cornwall.

The competition takes place on the first Sunday in September, the time when (in theory) the sea is at its warmest. Surfers must use traditional belly boards and are not allowed to use swim fins, although those fifties swimming hats your Gran used to wear are de rigeur. Extra points (I think) are given for those sporting vintage costumes too.Wetsuits are frowned upon, and in keeping with the event's back-to-roots vibe, any kind of neoprene comfort is banned.  It's something that turns it from being a simple surfing contest into a very English surfing contest. Mega surf corporations take note: this is how Noel Coward would have done it if he was in charge of the World Tour.

Surfers come from all over the world to surf in the contest and be part of the event, with some travelling from Oz, others from California and South Africa. I understand extra points may or may not be awarded for those travelling the furthest to be there. We made the trip from Devon. Again, no prizes for us.

All in all it's spiffing fun, entry is free and anyone, of any age can enter.