But show me a food market or an outdoor shop and it's a different story. I can spend (or do I mean waste?) hours prodding, poking and generally fooling around. And occasionally I might actually buy something. This week I saw a link on pinterest to a wood burning camping stove called a Firebox Stove. It looks pretty good with a lot of useful stuff on their site to help you get the most out of it. I've ordered one; and I'll review it later on the blog.
This weekend I'm in worms head, with the surfing dads - 5 of us in our 40s - trying to look cool on a plank of fibreglass. We're no Kelly Slaters or Laird Hamiltons, but we try. And today, despite the driving rain, has been fantastic. Even I, with the broadest yellow streak imaginable, found myself out back hammering down a steep slope of steel grey. Its what the word stoked is designed for.
But after over 2 hours, even encased from neck to feet in 5mm neoprene, you get pretty cold. And while llangennith beach is probably one of the most beautiful in the world, let's be honest, the walk back up the hill in driving rain and a howling wind is a little soul destroying.
My wonder stove hasn't turned up yet, but even if it had, I don't think that my chances of getting a roaring fire would have been high. Instead, like the middle-aged man I am, I'd packed that most uncool of outdoor gadgets, a thermos flask. The very phrase makes me think of family trips to the beach in the past, with my grandparents wrapped up in blankets behind a striped windbreak, pouring tea from said device. Hardly rock and roll and not really right for the cool camper I like to think I am.
But let me tell you, when you're cold and wet, nothing, and I mean nothing, is more welcome than a cup of hot coffee being put in your hand. And I don't mean a flat white or latte, but instant coffee ready mixed with dried milk (Kenco 2 in 1 if you're interested).
On days like this I'll take instant warmth over instant cool every time.
