The surf's been tiny and non existent for a good while now - perhaps the El Nina weather pattern in it's second year. Rather than waiting for waves to get in the ocean I've vowed to get in the water anyway, doing some flat water paddling to build my upper body and core strength. Last time there was waves I ached for days, because my fitness had dropped some. Lockdowns, depression, work - none of these things does a good exercise regime make. But this promise I've made to myself is making me feel better already. Salt water does that to you. Negative ions, I guess. I can feel the muscles in my arms already.

I've been ringing Dad to join me. He's struggling a bit with his fitness at 74, after three years of illness. Paddling out to see and from one headland to another, he was telling me he used to swim to the buoy in the middle of this bay all the time, no problem. That was only six years ago. He also used to take a kayak out, if he wasn't kiteboarding or surfing. And he was doing hardcore vinyasa and hot Bikram yoga with me. What a difference six years can make. Six years.

His balance is off - he keeps falling off. He gets a bit down about it I think - I try to encourage him and remind him of the good things about it. Getting wet, being out at sea. The birds flying low over the water. A stingray. He goes in earlier than me and watches me get a few little waves that are dribbling over the reef. I wish I could balance for him.

We sit in the sun for an hour chatting afterwards. It's nice - a beautiful day, and peaceful. We talk about next year and me not working, and he suggests that I make sure I find things to do. I laugh - I have so much to do.

I think about those six years. I think about the things I will do over the next six years, and whether I'll look back and feel good about how I've spent my time. Whether I'll be as fit as Dad was. Whether I'll be still paddling and catching waves, or whether I would have lost my balance.

One of those the ways I plan to spend my time, of course, is dragging Dad out into the ocean for a paddle, and sitting round chatting in the sunshine afterwards.

Because I don't know if we've got another six years. Not like this, anyway.