Deflux Day Twenty-Oh-Nine

Deflux Day is a long standing tradition and when it's over it means that the year is coming to a close. Well D-Day-Twenty-Oh-Nine is over and the year is pretty much too... before we know it we'll be in the future, a whole new decade to get excited about on our doorsteps.

But before then I have to salute what was an EPIC Deflux Day. Starting with an always reliable breakfast at Drexels, we shot down to Iversen Terrace to get our drift on. Let me tell you there's no better way to star your day than 5 cups of filter coffee, a plate of bacon and free range eggs and then jumping in what amounts to a slippery ride on lawnmower and getting out on the track.

After been instructed not to deliberately spin out or crash we spent 20 mins doing just that, albeit half the time by accident. Someone must have greased Simon's tires as he was spinning like the Tasmanian Devil and there was no clear winner on the day - although Craig probably took out the coveted "Most Considerate Driver" award.

With a few moments to kill we crossed the road and threw down a mean set of 10 pin, Craig again pulled out the win on the last throw. Highlights were being approached by some dude (remember this is 10am on a Friday) who wanted to play us for cash and sell us a clear bowling ball with a flower in it that he imported from America. We all have to have hobbies... that and reciting the usual Big Lebowski references that are mandatory anytime you hit the lanes...

A small break and some "refreshments" got us in the zone for the day's main event. We hit South B and spent the afternoon coming to grips with Kiteboarding thanks to Tim from Kite Sports in Ferrymead. A great time on the beach harnessing the wind was had by all - the conditions were perfect and the kites had us roaring around the place. The only negative was that we probably should have paid more attention to sunscreen (Slip!Slop!Slap! kids) and in a few hours would find ourselves redder than the Deflux logo.

Craig again did pretty well on the beach - he had a homeground advantage to be fair - but Si and myslef lived up to our self-appointed nicknames - The Kite Kommander and The Wind Warrior respectively - and Jono was tearing up the beach on his big-wheeled all terrain kiteboard by the lesson's end.

We had to settle our wind ravaged nerves so we ducked through Caddyshack City where my poor maths had Craig and I going head to head on the final hole for the win. After a more thorough check of the card Craig won, which is probably why you'd rather have me writing your Company Profile than doing your taxes - but it did add a nice note of drama to the proceedings before heading back to Casa Del Flux (aka Deflux Plaza) where the extent of our exposure to the sun even on the grayest of days set in.

We proceeded to "rehydrate" which was the only responsible way to deal with such a situation before heading to the Twisted Hop for a rendezvous with secret fifth member of Team DFLX - Spanners Watson - for a few pints and then off to Mu for one of the best T-Bone steaks I've had in a long time. It was a pleasant surprise - cooked to perfection - and much better than their branding would lead you to believe!

At this point the details are not worth getting into to protect the innocent and guilty - if we did see you out, I apologise. Safe to say we found our way to Antonio's to be greeted by the man himself in a Gold Lame Samurai suit (complete with bald head wig), before strutting our way to Goodbye Blue Monday where Surfin' USSR dropped an amazing set of righteous surf toons....

As the edges softened we danced our way into the night, red as Christmas lights, Lords of the wind, masters of the track, dominators of the lane and astro-turf, full of prime Canterbury beef and fine Canterbury pints....

And then Saturday arrived a little too soon.