NORTHERN PLANNER

I love the sea. I love being next to it. I love being in it.

There's nothing more calming than listening to it. Or waching the sun go down behind it.

There is little more cleansing or invigorating than swimming, surfing or whatever in the ocean, especially when it's decided to be get a little angry. You get to feel very small and insignificant tossed around by waves that don't care you're there, they just keep on rolling. Everyone could do with a dose of feeling puny from time to time.

The air is just different when you're near it. It smells different, it tastes different. It knocks you out when you first come into contact with it. There's no sleep as peaceful as the first one by the ocean.

That's why I love my daily photo from Aquabumps. It cheers me up when work is, well, work, and reminds me what's important when forget that brands and stuff are a pleasant illusion that make the 21st century a little more colourful. No more, no less.

Surfing type brands, once you scratch beneath the surface of all the coolness tend to be quite thoughtful and spiritual, the good ones anyway. It's not manufactured, it's just that people who live near the sea. or live for the times they are there. just tend to be that way a little more. The hippie thing is genuine.

However, I quite like the Miss Bondi shoot too, I'm not going to lie to you..