21/06/13 – It can only get lighter and brighter from now on

Here’s Sam. Today was his first swim with the aptly and appropriately named swim squad the Bold & Beautiful. Welcome Sam, I’m sure you’ll get used to our mixed bag of personalities soon. You met 154 of us this morning but there’s plenty more. Sam, you have started one of the most important chapters of your life today by joining our swim group, and what better day to start it than on Winter Solstice?

 

 

The skies displayed an air of hope wanting to push away all that darkness. The sun hesitated to start with, but eventually got out of its cloudy doona and made a spectacular appearance. “I’m gonna show that darkness a thing or two”, the sun said, mostly to itself, but we all heard it. Yeah! Go sun! You’re on the home run now towards summer.

Shaun missed the 6.20am Nude Winter Solstice swim, but lingered around in a state of undress in the hope that he’d be snapped by the blog camera.

 

As of today we’re moving gradually but undeniably towards more brightness and hope in our hearts. It is a day for taking stock, checking the map and adjusting the course. And for making sure those goggles provide clear vision ahead.

 

At Shelly Beach, the Solstice was celebrated with the usual love, light and abundance of sunny smiles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the photo below we have on the left the very generous Vicki Harbutt who is one of our sponsors. Every day that you swim in your pink cap, you can thank Vicki and her company Access Communications for supplying this flattering head garment which keeps our locks tucked in and our skulls somewhat warm when the water is chilly. Vicki is so generous she will offer her shoulder to lean on, which is something Sarah decided to do today before flying off overseas for a while. We’ll miss you Sarah, say hello to your mum from us.

 

 

Visibility today was average across the bay, but I spotted a mermaid as we swam back.

 

“Thanks for the sea rescue and for providing mouth to mouth resuscitation in the shallows”, said a puffed out Maureen to her favourite life saver.

“Not a problem”, answered Dr Patrick, “In fact anytime”, he beamed.

 

Meanwhile, others were keen to show a bit of cheek in a token gesture to the now accepted Solstice tradition of showing a bit of cheek or more. Guess who.

 

“I’m totally shocked”, exclaimed a shocked Krystyna.

 

Jeremy felt obliged to laugh at the whole bizarre incident, but forgot to kneel for the vertically challenged photographer.

 

“Ooo la la”, concluded Laurent, one of our French participants.

 

Ok back to you Sam, our newbie of the day. Just want to tell you, in case you weren’t aware already, that this swim group is the opposite of the following: exclusive, competitive, serious and homogenous. We do like our swims, but we love our post-swim coffee.

 

 

 

 

 

Next week we’ll have the super pleasure of seeing our founding member Julie Isbill swim with us a few times while she’s visiting from Perth. So we are having “Julie Isbill welcome back drinks” Friday the 28th
of June in The Steyne’s Moonshine Bar in Manly from 6pm. See you there!

 

So today the sun allegedly stands still (yes that’s what ‘solstice’ means), not only here but also in the Northern Hemisphere where they celebrate midsummer with gusto and naked enthusiasm. And being of Swedish origin, this Girl Friday blogger signs off with a little pic from the family album and wish you all Happy New Beginnings. Anna x

 

Here’s a late entry from the photographer Elaine de Jaeger who managed to get herself out of bed early enough to capture the 6.20am Nude Solstice Swim. What on earth motivated you Elaine?

 

The Stats

Regulars:  154

Early lappers: 5 in the nude plus Sandy McIndoe in her cozzie. “I don’t
think they knew I was there though”, said Sandy at coffee, sporting a big smile
and a healthy spring in her step.

Newbies: 1 (Sam)

Ocean temp: 18.2 degrees

Air temp: 9 but increasing to a balmy 16 later in the day. Brrr.

Sunrise: 7am

Sunset: 4.53pm