"Erase all the bad habits you've learnt before" he said. "Now you will learn Brazilian-style". And so my lesson at surf camp began.

Surfing always seems easy when demonstrated and instructed by a Brazilian ex-Pro surfer and in my head, I totally had this under control. 1. Paddle and catch wave 2. Move back foot into position 3. Move front foot forward into position 4. Start carving up the waves.

Ah, perception vs. reality meant It actually went more like this for me.

3. Take so long struggling to move front foot forward into position that I'm now on the sand 4. Fall off in whitewash 5. Repeat

Seven days at Bahia Surf Camp has been the perfect place to soak up the laid-back beach culture of this north-eastern Brazilian state and to reinvigorate the body and mind in the Busca Vida waves. It is impossible not to be happy and relaxed in a place where everything is "no problem".

With the water temperature a perfect 24 degrees, it is easy to see why tourists from all over Brazil love this area. It's also home to Project Tamar, which protects 214km of turtle nesting beaches along the north coast of Bahia.

It's hard to find time to surf between eating, snoozing and doing nothing but slowly the movements are becoming more natural on the board and I am feeling smugly satisfied that this old dog can still learn new tricks.

Once again I am moving forward.

Bahia Surf Camp at Busca Vida near Salvador