Community & Bring a Friend to B&B in September.
I pondered a number of themes for my first B&B Blog, exploring in my mind over recent days many of the wonderful topics we explore as we sit and reflect and enjoy each others company after a successful swim.
Would it be home made (nothing bad) banana bread, short sleeve wetsuits versus long sleeve wetsuits, English Channel Swims, aluminium and paraben free deodorants, triathlons, Silky the Dolphin, business productivity approaches, how cold is cold, or the strategy of wearing wet undies to get “uncomfortable and in character” for actors.
Yet in spite of all these quality themes, as I approched the beach this morning, I was still anxious that I had not arrived at a core theme to guide me through my first blog ever and of course my first blog for B&B and time was running out, fast.
Then it struck me, clear as the morning sky, it was simply community.
We as B&B are a community amongst other wonderful communities. There are walkers, runners, cyclists, surfers, paddleboarders and swimmers all enjoying their time on Manly Beach, all active and all amongst friends.
I then reflected on how I actually started at B&B and to my suprise the key to starting and staying involved was not the swimming at all, not the weather, not the ocean, not the sunshine, yet rather a friend simply saying would you like to swim tommorrow at 7:00 am and it all just flowing from there.
It may be interesting to reflect on how you got started at B&B and why you keep coming back, through good weather and not so good weather, through Summer, Autumn and Winter, as we move into Spring.
It may also be helpful to reach out to a friend and invite them to join you to “try B&B in September”, be it for a coffee, a look, a 750 m swim to Shelley, a 300 m swim from halfway to Shelley or just to dip their toe in the water.
Enjoy your wonderful day and look forward to seeing you this Sunday for the Winter Badge Ceremony.
David
Dean Cropp, interviewing Fi (Fiona) for a documentary he is making on B&B.
Some of the Boys.
And some of the Girls.
Contemplation.
Winter Badge Presentation – This Sunday (21 September) after the swim
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 21st September, straight after the regular 7am swim.
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 2014 winter 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 your upcoming summer badge challenges.
Calling All Media Tarts (whose not one of those)
James Pittar is doing his annual swim from Long Reef to North Steyne on Sunday 28th September to raise money for The Fred Hollows Foundation. James is asking swimmers to join him from Shelly to North Steyne with a BBQ to be held afterwards at North Steyne SLSC.
With Channel 9 coming down to film it is hoped that there will be lots of swimmers to join him. As seasoned swimmers along this route, the B&B guys are especially welcome.
To sign up to be part of James’s support team Click here for the link to the website and further information. Got a question? Contact Annabelle Sims via email asims@hollows.org or phone 0422 947 739.
Staying Safe
Remember that there are no badges for scaring yourself silly! ( Yet I have asked for this to be looked into and will report back in my next blog) (I am sure we could come up with something) While it is great to extend your boundaries, it is important to know your limits. Do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf. To read, or even download, click here.
The Stats
Regulars: 75 (Ian said he counted ever one of them)
Newbies: 0 (this is crazy, on such a beautiful morning)
Temp: 17.8 degrees (seemed colder than that to me Ian – but I trust you)
Sunrise: 5.50 am (over 12 hours of sunlight – sounds like time for two swims)
Sunset: 5.47 pm (how well did you use your 12 hours of sunshine today ?)
21 comments
Fifi the unphotogenic
17/09/2014 at 2:01 pm
Hey, nice blog david. Was such a nice day!
Just need to mention a few things: being photographed, especially post swim, is my idea of a total nightmare. Being filmed is off the richter of my person comfort scale, but i was being polite and didn’t want to make a fuss, he seemed a nice man. (Thanks Ian!)
But he really wanted me to say certain things: he wanted to create some tension between wetsuit and non wetsuit, and asked me to say something along those lines. Personally i hate wearing wetsuits but I don’t care what others wear, but he wanted to make a kind of fun argument about it for his clip. So, if there is some controversial airing of “Wetsuit wars” next week, I am trying to be tongue in cheek as requested.
Hopefully it will be screened on some obscure channel during graveyard hour.
Elaine de Jager
17/09/2014 at 2:09 pm
Well done on your first blog Dave! Great theme too. Yes I tell everyone about the B&B swim as I’ve seen so many peoples lives lighten up after getting in to it! Looks a great swim. See you all down on Friday!
David Brown
17/09/2014 at 2:48 pm
Hi Fifi,
Hello and thankyou for mentioning that you are not so keen on photographs, will keep in mind for future.
Have a great afternoon.
David
Claudia
17/09/2014 at 2:48 pm
David, B&B is not a community. It’s a ritual, a cult!! “A relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or as imposing excessive control over members”(Oxford Dictionary) 😉
David Brown
17/09/2014 at 2:51 pm
Thanks Elaine,
Plus thankyou for your guidance last week.
It’s good fun as well.
I all good for next Wednesday and the following Wednesday
Not able to get there Friday yet will be there Sunday
Wonder is it possible to borrow a underwater camera from someone ?
Cheers
David
David Brown
17/09/2014 at 2:52 pm
I all good should read
I am all good
Not keen on getting into trouble with a teacher
Fifi the unphotogenic
17/09/2014 at 3:32 pm
oh, its fine! its good therapy. I need to get over myself.
I think it was funny!
Billy, on the other hand, loves having his photo on the blog. He’ll even shout you a kebab. Ask Simon.
Lindsay
17/09/2014 at 5:15 pm
Love it David!
Dancing Roz
17/09/2014 at 5:42 pm
Lovely blog, David. Wonderful sentiments about community and swimming with (new) friends.
David Brown
17/09/2014 at 6:13 pm
Claudia, hello and excellent point … that only means one thing tho … once you start with B&B …. you have to either die or move away or both to get away from B&B …. scary 🙂
I hope Silky know this … otherwise she might be swimming with the fishes !!
David Brown
17/09/2014 at 6:15 pm
Hi Dancing Roz, I am such a believer that you meet the people you need to meet when you need to meet them … and what better place to do that, than by the ocean.
David Brown
17/09/2014 at 6:16 pm
Cheers Lindsay
David Brown
17/09/2014 at 6:17 pm
Thanks for that .. will have to meet Billy … I like kebabs
David Brown
17/09/2014 at 6:17 pm
Claudia, hello and excellent point … that only means one thing tho … once you start with B&B …. you have to either die or move away or both to get away from B&B …. scary 🙂
I hope Silky know this … otherwise she might be swimming with the fishes !!
Elizabeth
17/09/2014 at 8:01 pm
Great words and great photos. I liked this blog very much
David Brown
17/09/2014 at 9:18 pm
Thanks Elizabeth
Plus a great opportunity for me to meet others at B&B
Cheers
David
DWSS Hessian bag
17/09/2014 at 9:31 pm
Great blog David
Great work for your first blog. Coming up with a theme can be tough.
As a veteran blogger myself , I can relate.
Eve
18/09/2014 at 10:57 am
Is there kool aid in the water at B&B . . .
David Brown
18/09/2014 at 11:31 am
Dear DWSS Hessian Bag,
Thankyou …
Plus this is an interesting name … I need to meet you.
Cheers
David
Sheena
18/09/2014 at 11:33 am
Thanks David for reminding me to encourage my friends to swim – they all wimped out during winter but now there’s no excuse, love your photos.
David Brown
18/09/2014 at 11:34 am
Hi Eve,
yes I am sure of that .. yet only for the kids …
hang on, there all kids at B&B.