I just arrived in Newcastle for a quick bit of work... I'm only a stones throw from MR's surf shop. I still haven't been in there yet, after all these years, and all these trips....

My brother berates me every time for not dropping in! But I probably won't have time again....

But that's where I differ from my brother I guess.... He's goofy, I'm natural, he's MR, I'm McT.... (But in personality, he's "natural - toes the corporate line, does it the corporate way", and I'm "goofy - always wanting to goof off for a surf, do my own thing, do it my way")

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Earlier today, I was in Speaky's in Geelong... There was a lovely selection of wall hanging Takayama's. A lovely 9'0 / 9'1 slightly pointy nosed malibu too. It looks lovely.... If I was dripping with money, I would have bought it on the spot....

My dream house would have conventional square rooms, and there would be 1-4 surfboards in each room. Even in the toilet, I would probably find room to place a lovely Neil Purchase 5'10 Fish, Yellow Orange Marble Glass work, epoxy, stringerless. Small room, small board....

www.speakys.com.au/stores/

At first glance, Speaky's looks like just another surf shop... But he's got some interesting boards floating in there in amongst the mass production stuff. He even has a few old Golden Dawn's (the one I'm riding in the Avatar is a Golden Dawn).

Doug who shapes Golden Dawn's, used to have a shop with Terry / Speaky, down in Torquay. Very early 70's.

There was even a Speaky's Snow store on the Mountain at Buller for the 2010 season. Speaky & his son are excellent off-piste skiiers, and have both spent some serious time on MtBuller Ski Patrol....

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Maybe sometime soon I will have to get a Takayama....

hawaiianprodesigns.tumblr.com/#_=_
^ some lovely ones...

love the house idea mate. just buy it,surely your girl would not notice a new one amongst all the loveliness you got alreadylate edit

I just told my brother to never sell that lovely Neal Purchase Fish of his.

nealpurchasedesigns.blogspot.com/

I'll dig up some photos of it. Not today though...

Nice ramble. Make sure you surf The lovely right hand point just south of Merewether if u get the chance. That place goes off n is well worth the walk. If I was not on holiday I wd drive up n take u there myself! Enjoy.

Yes, Newcastle has lots of interesting beaches, Stockton was one of my favorite playgrounds for about 10 years when I had the buggy.

The board in every room is an excellent idea, but can I suggest you try to put an SUP in the toilet

It would be a big help if you were constipated

Ahh, you're in my hometown Simondo. Listen to your brother and do pop in and see Mark and Mick in the shop and check out some finely crafted boards (both past and present).
With a raging southerly your surfing options close to town are kinda limited to Nobby's or maybe just south of Merewether as Ted pointed out. Enjoy - Mark

i worked on the dredges in Newcastle in the early 80's one month on and one month off. Had a few MR's out of the shop there. Good store and well worth a look.
Some good waves around town too but I found Stockton a bit creepy shark wise.

Select to expand quote

obct said...


The board in every room is an excellent idea, but can I suggest you try to put an SUP in the toilet

It would be a big help if you were constipated

Pure gold mate

Select to expand quote

doggie said...

obct said...


The board in every room is an excellent idea, but can I suggest you try to put an SUP in the toilet

It would be a big help if you were constipated

Pure gold mate

i like my sup.....in flat water

markrichardssurfboards.com

At the very least, I'll probably walk away with the Off The Wall Tee.

If MR is in, what should I say?
"what's the go with all these MR boards, where's the rest of the selection..."
Or
"holy crap, aren't you MR?!"

Heading in there tomorrow morning.

nah. i would tell him..im simgromdo,then teach him about board design

LOL !

What model was the Takayama? My girlfriend saw a 9'1" Noah, damn near came out of the shop and home with us. It was "pretty green" and "pretty blue" (or so I was told) with a white nose.

Tell him Gold Coast United smashed Newcastle Jets 3 - 1 yesterday



and he is the only wounded seagull anyone remembers

You can thank him for the great deal he did me on an oneil pshyco 4 winters ago. It was only retired 2 months ago.

I met MR in his shop back in the 80's . He's a really decent humble bloke and easy to talk to. His boards are a bit pricey though but very well made.

Shop is closed Tuesday & Sunday! Heading off soon. So another trip to Newcastle without visiting the shop! But at least I tried this time.

Next trip, I'll be heading in there....