07/03/2018 – The Bald and the Beautiful :-)

Here are some of the Babewatch crew. They really are a great group of young people. If you know of anyone who could benefit by coming along and swimming with them (and us), let them know they will be welcomed. Murray suffered from social anxiety so crippling he felt lonely and isolated and sometimes barely left his room… On Sunday these guys are raising money for Batyr and swimming for 12 hours from 6-6. Here’s the link to donate to this great cause https://swim.gofundraise.com.au/page/MurrayColderick 

They will also be selling raffle tickets and baked treats for their cause. Please bring along a bit of dosh or even a baked treat they can sell.

Murray Colderick and Nat Sengchan are my favourite, inspiring, genuine absolutely incCREDible peope at the moment. They also happen to be swimmers and our swim has helped them in some way. It’s Nat’s birthday today. Here she is…

BALD and BEAUTIFUL!!

She came down for a birthday swim today as with one round of chemo to go tomorrow, she knows it’s so good for her mentally and physically. She got a surprise birthday cake delivered yesterday by a friend with those 3 words on it. She’s such an inspiration and ray of sunshine, hope and positivity. Here’s her post from yesterday with the cake!

 

This is Nat at sunrise this morning around 6.50am. There were around 200 swimmers enjoying warm 22 degree water and a bumpy swim with a few waves.

Swimmers at Shelly all looking happy except ‘Ghost’ who is looking a bit spooky 😉

Georgina and Fiona showing us their tonsils 😉

We sing Happy Birthday to Nat and Kate!

Kate gives the ‘Let’s Go’

Nat and I see 2 Moorish Idol swimming back but it’s not as clear as earlier in the week.

Just a note about businesses that support the B&B

I’m not sure if everyone has noticed but if you look down the left hand side of the blog there are a number of businesses that advertise and help with the running costs of the B&B. Blue Dot Travel is a new company that a couple of our swimmers jointly own. They organise guided tours where you are immersed in local culture. There is one coming up in September for a smallish group of B&B swimmers in Sri Lanka and it looks amazing! Ask me about it if interested or call them on 9906 5770! 

Below some photos from Saturday – Tuesday when clearer.

I love diving down and taking a photo of the eye of a creature. Lucky enough to get close to this Spotted Wobbegong on Monday…

Giant Cuttlefish!

It’s a bit easier to catch the eye of a big Blue Groper

The Stingarees we see on the ocean floor look so much more interesting when they are swimming. This guy ‘eyeballed’ me too!

These cuties are actually called ‘Bullseyes’!

If you’ve never seen ‘Old Wives’ I can show you where they hang out!

If you’ve ever seen the strange sight of a bird suddenly appearing before you, chasing fish, it would be a Cormorant.

Funny looking Pufferfish seen a few days ago

Numbfish or ‘Coffin Ray’

Below is the link for a short video of a very cute Giant Cuttlefish. They are back yay!

https://www.facebook.com/elaine.dejager/videos/pcb.10209455942109423/10209455928389080/?type=3&theater

 

And in other announcements, 

Libby said come and meet the movie star artists:

Support your local community – Manly Art Gallery Society presents BRILLIANT ARTISTS Film Series 2018 – 4 brilliant films in 4 months…including WHITELEY, ARCHIBALD PRIZE…Bookings through Eventbrite search for tickets at Brilliant Artists

Wine and cheese.

2018 Summer Badge Ceremony – Sunday 18^th March

You’ve done the hard yards and got your Summer Badge(s), now come and collect your badges with all the pomp and ceremony the B&B can muster.  Bring along $10 for each badge you have earned (correct money appreciated). The venue is the Royal Far West Children’s Home (opposite the beach) on Sunday 18^th March, straight after the regular swim! Everyone is welcome, family, friends and swimmers alike.

A $5 donation will be payable to the RFW at the gate for hosting this event, and …. RFW will provide a FREE breakfast (bacon and egg sandwich and a coffee/tea). Bookings are essential to ensure there is enough food.  Book here for Badge Breakfast

All 2018 summer badge qualifiers will be presented with their well earned badge(s), so whether you are getting one personally or you want to enjoy the celebrations of your fellow swimmers, a great morning is guaranteed so come along, soak up the atmosphere and get inspired for the upcoming winter badges…

Monthly Dinner – 13^th March 2018 – Guest Speaker

The next B&B monthly dinner for the year will be held on Tuesday 13th March at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. The guest speaker on the night will be one of our swimmers, Sharnie Connell who is a marine science specialist. Sharni will present the case for establishing a Sydney Marine Park.

The Sydney region’s incredible coasts and ocean are at the heart of our enviable lifestyle. Our beaches, bays and waterways are truly iconic, and are renowned for their beauty both above and below the water, yet less than 1% of our waters are protected. A science based multi-use Marine Park for the Sydney region will secure a healthy blue backyard for our boating, swimming, surfing, and fishing lifestyle, and protect it from the pressure of coastal development and many other impacts. Sharnie, and many other environmental professionals, maintain that we need a Sydney Marine Park to protect our coastal lifestyle for generations to come. “We’ve got stunning terrestrial national parks around our harbour and coastline, but we have none in the sea. We have thriving marine parks to our north and south, but none around Sydney, where we need it most.”

The cost of the dinner is great value at only $25 a head, which includes shared entrees, and a selection of mains to choose from (including a vegetarian option). Glasses of beer or wine and desserts are also available at the special price of only $5 each. Numbers are limited, so bookings are essential:  To avoid disappointment and secure your spot please book HERE. 

RANDOM MONTHLY SWIMMER PRIZES STARTED !! 

First winner – Nicole Piha

Thanks to an amazing new partnership, B&B will be awarding random monthly prizes just for swimming !!!!

What’s the catch… you MUST LOG YOUR SWIMS TO BE IN THE DRAW !!!  To learn more about how to log your swims if you aren’t already, please find details further down in this newsletter

As of 1st February, every time you swim with B&B and log your swim as such, on our daily attendance software, you will automatically be entered into the monthly lucky swim prize !!!

Yep, each time you swim with B&B and log your swim that equals an entry into the random prize draw !!!

Prize draw will be completed at the end of each calendar month and completed by the computer software.

And there’s more… THERE WILL BE AN EVEN BIGGER PRIZE FOR RANDOM SWIMMER OF THE YEAR !

 

Have a great day folks!

Lainey and Babewatch