OK...so it's not the sea and it's not a kayak but I thought that you might be interested to see a picture of one member of the Sea for Cumbria team in training. This week I'm working in Pokhara, Nepal and as a hard-earned rest from the many meetings and tapping at my laptop I went for a paddle, with my equally hard-working colleague, on Saturday morning. Does that sound like I'm trying to stress the work thing a bit too much?

So...thats me then - on the way back from injury and sporting some short-lived facial hair. Actually, there's a concurrence of themes here. On Sunday evening I took a stroll along the streets of Pokhara and was persauded by a very charming Nepali barber that I was in need of a shave. My first encounter with a cut-throat razor, I have to recount, was a very satisfactory one. I have never been shaved so thoroughly and then - the barber no doubt sensing a compliant customer - the shave progressed to head massage, followed by shoulder, back, arm, hand, leg and foot massage. So, after not having padddled for couple of months due to a shoulder problem I know feel prepared to take to the water again, with thanks in no small part to my Nepali barber/osteopath.