14/06/13 – Showing up

This is winter in Australia. Many of our swimmers, including myself, hail
from other corners of the world, and let me just tell ya’ll, today is like a
rather lovely Swedish summer’s day.

177 of us turned up to take part in our daily ritual, which was executed in
water holding 18.8 degrees. We had two newcomers – a warm welcome to you both,
whoever you are. Just know that in this group there’s no need to hold back or
worry about how others will perceive you. We are an eclectic and inclusive lot
consisting of people who are interested in a) other people b) coffee c) a bit
of swimming. Just get in amongst it and don’t be shy.

Here’s the silhouette of one of our friendly swimmers, Chris Kiely, overseeing
the 7am start.

We are also interested in d) posing for the blog camera.

 

Combined with e) cuddling up to each other.

 

 

Thank you John H, Michelle, Mary and Leisa for showing us how it’s done.

 

Here’s an example of what the experts in the field of Neurolinguistic Psychoanalysis call “mixed messages”. Yes + No. Thanks Adam and Fiona for the helpful demo.

 

While some have just finished an early swim –

 

 

 

 

 

Others are taking our time getting in.

 

 

And I don’t need to tell you that it’s always worth it. But I will anyway. It’s always worth it.

 

Even when you think you don’t have enough time to fit in a swim and you’re running around sourcing school uniform components and coaxing offspring out of toasty beds and helping those with broken legs get breakfast and making sure the kitchen bench isn’t an OH&S hazard and you just have to ride your bicycle around to halfway beach to try and catch up with the bulk of the group at Shelly Beach.

 

Even then it’s worth showing up, because you are always guaranteed to get your daily fill of smiling, friendly greetings.

 

 

 

 

And even when you actually don’t even make it in time to Shelly to take photos for the blog despite having cut corners in a special effort to make it in time to said beach, and even when you realise, mid-stroke, that you left a cheese and tomato sandwich in the sandwich toaster for the youngest son and that said sandwich is by now either burnt into the anonymous, unidentifiable charred remains of a breakfast no-one’s gonna want to eat; or the entire kitchen is filled with smoke… Even then it’s worth showing up because Sharon, our lovely Sunday blogger says Hi!

 

And even, as you are in a state of undress, you hear the sirens of an emergency vehicle approaching the part in Manly where above mentioned kitchen is located and you think to yourself “Holy Smoke” and your heart rate is slightly abnormal and you frantically make a phone call to home base to check the state of affairs in said place. Even then.

 

Because then another emotion called schadenfreude sets in and takes over as you catch Rainer & Co getting out at halfway rather than completing the full swim on a calm day. Tsk tsk. So worth it.

 

Just ask any of these lovely men. I don’t claim to be an expert at reading facial expressions, but I would almost bet some money on these guys thinking “OMG it’s SO worth showing up. LOL”. And maybe even “TGIF”, but I’m just speculating now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep. It’s showing up that counts. And rounding off the experience with a coffee is So Worth It x 2, or to use another mathematical term; it’s So Worth It squared (which is of higher value than the first So Worth It aforementioned).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And with that mug shot of Saturday blogger Nick Crikey Dawkins (pictured above with the for the season appropriately named Jane Winter), signing out is your Girl Friday blogger Anna. I’ll be showing up again tomorrow, hope you will too. xx

 

Housekeeping

There are so many Iron people/Triathlete/Runners amongst us who would probably love to know that one of our sponsors, Northside Runners, has a sale on until Sunday.

 

We have LOTS of sponsors – You can click here to see who they are SPONSORS LINK or go to main Bold and Beautiful website / ABOUT / Sponsors – OR see their ads down the left hand side of each days blog!

ACCESS Communications pay for the free pink caps we give you all when you first swim with us and their website is HERE – They are Importers, manufacturers and wholesalers of plugs, sockets, cables, adaptors and tools for Power, Telecommunications, Computer and Data products and installations. AND 25% off for all Bold and Beautiful swimmers!

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Wine Dinner at Whitewater

On Thursday 20th June, Whitewater Restaurant is having a special one-off wine and food night hosted by McWilliams Wines.  McWilliams make some great wines, and to have them matched is great food is a true pleasure.  They will offer five delicious courses with wines to accompany each course. The cost to the general public is $120 per head, BUT since they are offering B&B swimmers a 25% discount in June only, we will get it for just $90. We are organising a B&B table, but places are limited, so please SMS Ian (0412 331 530) by this Thursday if you are interested.

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Staying safe

In case you see a wave – there have been very few of late – do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf.  To read, or even download, click here.

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The Stats

Regulars:  177

Newbies: 2

Temp: 18.8 degrees