Imagine the scene. I am paddling out to sea, just about balancing on my blue board and the sky is overcast. It is a bit chilly because I find myself a lot more flexible in my rash vest and shorts than my wetsuit and consequently, today my legs and body have goosebumps running up and down them. As I swim towards the ocean, waves try to push me backwards, causing me to either 'push up' (place both hands on the side of the board and do the yoga Cobra position), or perform the turtle tumble (where you flip over onto your back, under the board and then roll back up once the big wave has passed).

I see a rather large wave coming towards me so I am about to turtle tumble when....when...a dark shape also appears in the wave.

Now I don't know how to describe how much fear literally gripped my heart when I saw that grey shape. I was already turning despite the fact all of my body was now screaming at me not to but I turtle tumbled and then desperately scrambled back onto my board, panting, and whipping my head around like crazy to see where the dark shape had gone. Another one shot under my board. I glanced upwards to see one of my friends surfing and the same kind of shape was outlined in the wave beside her. My whole body froze, I literally couldn't help thinking "I knew a Shark would always get me. If I was doomed to go, it was going to be in water because karma has a real ironic sense of humour."

And that's when the Seal popped his head up curiously, just a few feet away from my board.

I guess I had been a bit of a drama queen.

Immediately my whole body relaxed and I was on top of the world. I have not yet seen a single wild seal since being in San Diego and my friends have all said that is one of the most famous attractions. This small family of seals kept poking their heads up above the water and looking at us as if to say "What are you doing?" Not quite sure what I was doing to be honest, kneeling on the board once again, or occasionally squatting before being thrown to the ground by the wave. But I loved swimming out and sitting on my board. I could do that quite easily. And I love to turtle tumble the waves, it is so much fun (until you think about what could be underneath you).

A whole flight of Pelicans came to join us too. They swooped so low to the water that one of my friends jumped off her board to avoid them when she managed to catch a wave! They are not exactly scared!

It was a good Halloween :) Surfing was great despite the slightly overcast weather and later on, Yoga was fun too! I'm getting less and less sore as the weeks continue!

Glad I didn't think like Laura when I saw the seals! "Hey, aren't seals like the sharks' greatest food source."