25/02/16 ASK NOT …. Not, not, NOT an A-team blog

HIJACKED.

Yes, that’s right readers the Thursday blog has been hijacked by a non-A-teamer.  “Alleluia” I hear the chorus sing.  In a stunning piece of philanthropic espionage a wily Team Omega rep has control of the keyboard under a certain local cleric’s own sign-in. Oh the fun I could have, the trouble I could cause …. he he he …. but I think I might put my hacking skills to good use on this occasion.

What a swim !!! oh hang on – that sounds like a boring usual Thursday kind of thing to say. However it was a big swim. The swell was up again and is due to be bigger in the coming days. Someone told me this is the swell which originated from Cyclone Winston which decimated Fiji. I guess at least the waves will be good for the Aust Surfing Comp starting on Saturday in Manly. The water in our piece of paradise was a slightly cooler 23 degrees according to 007.  Management advised swimmers to go from half way due to the big swell and very strong rip but many ignored him …. again. The beach was open, unlike yesterday morning when it was closed, but again the visibility wasn’t great.  If a picture can paint a thousand words then this pic could sum up this morning at CBT. Lucky that because its the only one of the pics I took with Management’s camera that actually got captured (oops). Thanks to Bones for supplying some others.

Left to right we see Rainer, Miss Milly’s pram, David and Damian on the ramp, Peter about to take a pic of them, supporters on the wall, swimmers returning from half-way and the big surf in the background.

Damian has just arrived from Canada for David’s wedding to his sister which happens this Saturday at the sandstone edifice on the hill. Peter is David’s Dad. Peter said to me that he thought the pink caps was great and he “had seen 200 of the best looking guys”. “oh, are you here for Mardi Gras ?” I asked him. No he responded, he is a local gynaecologist !!!! go figure !!! David hopes to get all the groomsmen down for a swim on Saturday before the ceremony.

The next pic I failed to capture was one of David, Damian and Peter all together with an epic photobomb by Lips, Lucy and Miss Milly – drat.

NOT an A-team blog. Because Team Omega have hijacked this blog there will not be a single image or name of any of those ‘Year 6 boys’ who self-appointed themselves as our alpha males. How is that for a change. Who won the race back from the 7 am swim this morning ? Who cares ? There were 180 intrepid exercisers who faced the ocean this morning, not just 6 or so. In fact there were 6 newbies who faced the crossing (or half crossing) of CBT for the first time. Far more noteworthy. Welcome to you all.

NOT an unequal representation blog.  The prominence that mob of funsters have managed to grab, especially on a Thursday is way, way out of proportion to their number.  Less than ten of them have had one in 7 blogs fully devoted to them for the 18+ months I have been swimming. Even the fantastically inclusive Driftwood blogs, among others, have featured them ! This inequality is right up there with the 63 richest people in the world having as much money as the bottom 50% ie 3.5 billion people !!!  (yep ! that’s what the recent Oxfam report found) I have elsewhere seen reported that the richest 85 own more than the bottom 85%.

NOT a fan of the A-team? or their overexposure ? well you know what to do. Stick it to them by showing your support against them in the Red Feb challenge. Go on, I know some of you want to. I have heard the odd complaint about the bias in the Thursday blogs. Well here is your chance Richard to put your money where your mouth is and vote with your pocket for the non A-team. Just to remind them that the ten or so who claim to be A-teamers are less than .0009 of those who have donned a pink cap. You can support the non A-team in Red Feb by following this link:

Team Omega: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/event/TeamOmega

NOT just a swim. Of course our mornings at B&B central, in CBT, and apres swim at the wall, tree, benches or in various Manly cafes are not just about the swim. There is SO much more to the B&B.

We are a community that feels like a family. How gorgeous of Jenny (above right) and the first few to allow the extra 11,000+ of us to join their swim. No exclusivity, all welcome. But please, especially on mornings like today, don’t swim beyond your ability. The family extends of course to our wider families. I told Miss Milly (above having brekky with Mum Lucy) this morning that I loved her before she was born. Its true. We all watched Lucy bloom as Milly’s arrival approached and couldn’t wait to welcome her and all the new bubs that arrive. We also mourn when we lose loved Members: Will, Billy, Laiea, Pete’s Mum, or when loved ones face sickness or trials.  Denise, seen below, is one of numerous Pink Cappers who have recently joined the group of grandparents. I know – hard to believe, she must have had her kids when she was 10 !!

NOT an homogenous mob. One of the great features and strengths of the B&B is the diversity amongst us. Lots of people from all walks of life and all over the world. Below we have Smurf, one of the states most senior fireys with Jackson who is undertaking a law degree amongst his many adventures.

And then there in between them is your humble scribe. Sporting the cap of the month in an attempt at remaining somewhat incognito.  Management asked two of us to head up teams to try and invigorate some energy in to Red Feb month this year.  It hasn’t worked so well thus far. Even though one team is the at times controversial group who many love to comment about.  Last year in the whole month of Feb our group raised less than $2000 and this year its only about half that with only 4 days to go. Yikes! we all need to get a wriggle on.

ASK NOT ……..

As JFK famously posed….

Ask not what the B&B does or can do for you, ask what you can do for the B&B ?

We all have such a magnificent time in such a beautiful place and its available for FREE every day of the year and has been for years. You even get free caps along with IT log ins, tracking of your swims and totals and the ability to check on others. There are superb friendships, camaraderie, support and yes, love and health benefits and SO MUCH more to boot.

Management have asked us to support Red Feb.  Its actually an incredibly worthwhile cause.  Heart disease/attacks is the number one cause of deaths in Australia. We even lost one of our own amidst us. We all know people, including loved ones who have been affected and many of us face heart health issues ourselves or will one day.  The research Red Feb supports is life changing, for instance Australian researchers funded by it pioneered the stents that are now used in heart health maintenance all around the world.

The B&B asks for very little, especially compared to what we all benefit from it.  There have been thousands of swims this February by those wearing a pink cap.  If we each gave just $1 for every swim we had done this February we would easily surpass $2000.  Please consider making a donation by the web link (above, below or on other days blogs) or into the boxes at the sign on table over the next few days.

And finally, about those fun, feisty, fit fellas who are not featured today.  Good on them for adding a bit of spice and fun to their swim and our blogs.  If you get to know them you will find they are quite good company.  Many a stressed or ailing soul has been soothed and amused (if not abused) listening to their fun, harmless banter of a morning post the swim.  In fact some of them are, imho, really fine human beings.  Its easy to diss on those you don’t really know. Get to know them and you might just appreciate them. But hey, if you don’t want to that’s fine. Just vote against them. Here is the link again:

Team Omega: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/event/TeamOmega

over and out, Zig-zagging Zedder Zab on behalf of Team Omega and Red Feb

PS  I know, I know, I know, sorry I am a bit late posting this, technology was a major challenge this am

BOTTOM OF THE BLOG

One of our favourite elder statesmen ie BB is celebrating his birthday on Saturday. PLEASE, EVERYONE you are welcome to join us at the benches to help him celebrate