About

Well, I’m Tom…

This blog is where I record stuff that interests me.

The Sugar Palm name and logo is a reference to my favourite tree, the Lontar Palm. It’s a truly amazing plant that supports hundreds of thousands of people throughout asia. The sugary nectar of the flowers themselves contain enough nutrients for humans to survive. Many do. The wood is incredibly tough and resistant to termites – an ideal house building material – and the leaves make great thatching.

At one time I planned to build a surfboard from lontar wood until I realised that it sinks in water! It’s also horrible to work with all but the crudest of hand tools.

You can see that much of this blog is dedicated to surfing and surfboard making. I also love wood and working with wood and my surfboards over the last eight or so years reflect this. At present I’m attempting to make lighter, flexier, stronger boards using composite constructions methods, light woods and materials more at place in aeroplanes than surfboards. I build all these boards in my garage and a spare room at home in the East of Java.

If you have similar enjoyments out of life, please post or share your own blog.