23 Dec: Manly Surf Lifesaving Club

Conditions: After 30-odd hours of gentle, continuous rain the water this morning is calm, inviting … and not too cloudy at all.  Soft sunlight grants perfect ambience for staying on for chats and coffees …

 

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TWO MORE SLEEPS: Couple of lovely couples @ Bolds Xmas Party on Tuesday 8th.  Jonny and Di – Reg and Sylvia

 

 

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SLSC: Another startline photo.  The Bolds Bronze applicants were first group out of the blocks (Run Swim Run) at the start of Saturday Practicals.  Everyone passed the day!

 

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CLOSED BEACH: A word from Management

 

The big surf on Monday

“After the swim on Monday I was asked to have a conversation with the lifeguard on duty.  He wasn’t very happy about us going through the surf when the beach was closed, and asked that we please don’t do it – as he and his colleagues sometimes have to rescue Pink Cappers who cannot handle the swell and therefore B&B put the lifeguards lives at risk.  A reasonable request I thought.

I did explain to him that the majority of the 7 o’clock squad did as was suggested, and went in and back from Shelly.  However, I am powerless to stop people from swimming at their own risk from anywhere.
If you do see the beach closed, then – out of respect for the lifeguards – please consider not only yourself and the rest of the B&B squad – but also the lifeguards, as their job is difficult enough with inexperienced swimmers, without us experienced ocean swimmers complicating things for them.  Thanks in anticipation.”

John Kelly

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Fifty Wet Ones

Shaun found fifty bucks in the middle of the swim across bay two weeks ago.  It was sat there, about 30 cm under the surface.  That night he was livin’ large at the Xmas Party, drinking free grog and expanding the tale to any woman who passed by … I didn’t score a schooner off Lucky Shaun

 

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Help Wanted
Management have deserted us over the Christmas period, so we need help to carry out all of those tasks that normally happen in the background.  In particular, we need people to volunteer to assist in welcoming newbies each day, signing them up and distributing caps.  You will need to be on deck between 6.20 and 7.00 am.

If you can assist us between 27th December and 16th January, please contact Ian (ugoboyo@gmail.com) urgently!

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Beachfront Comic

These are the final frames of a recent cartoon storyboard which seeks to explain the life and times of Richard Castel (that Hawaiian pirate you sometimes see lingering by the cafe; coffee and helmet in hands … waiting for his Midge)

 

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Hot Off the Press: past blogs collection

 

 

 

It’s all-colour, 62 pages, A4 … and contains what I thought were the more interesting bits over past year or so, from Driftwood Friday blogs.  See me on the beach front (but not if it’s wet ‘n’ rainy)

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Old and Bolds

They’re getting into the festive swing today.  Old and Bolds are the pink-vest mob, and their leader is ex-army.  These guys train long and hard.  No wonder they’re so ripped!

 

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Oh no – not The Bishop again!

 

 Newbies on a Roll

Alice from UK, who – as of 6.50 a.m. today – has been in Australia for 12 hours, and is about to have her first swim in Aussie waters …

 

Two Andys.  Having newbies swims, before descending into a day-long Xmas breakup with Shaun; the Wrong Builder to get drunk with …

 

 

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The A-Tree

 

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Blog Crew

One of our gorgeous Friday bloggers – Liz …

 

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That Famous Yacht Race

As usual, the Sydney-Hobart explodes out The Heads the day after Christmas.  And this is how your head winds up, if you’ve raced it a dozen or more times …

 

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Booty Camp roll call …

 

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From upcoast

Lovely Sheena lives in beautiful Sawtell (the Manly of Coffs Harbour), and swims with us every time she’s down for work …

 

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Sweeping the sky

 

Steve’s available for hire:  stephen@thebalancingman.com

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Time Out

There will be no Booty Camp this Friday, as fatboy is booked solid – being Santa at Xmas gigs all day long

 

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Happy Christmas all – Wishing you a great week   🙂

 

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STATISTICS

Temp         20.3º

Newbies:  Eight

Swam:       155 pax