Whilst fake B&B calendars float around B&B changing rooms (the trees and the tables) (see http://pacificjules.typepad.com/pacific-jules/2014/11/2111-1.html )
and Lips continues to spout and pout (just as he did on that fateful date with the bluebottle)about that Snorkles on the cover (of the official B&B calendar that is) and such like, I thought I’d share a swimming story, mine!
Roll back to 2012 and before I was a ‘pink capper’ I wore an orange one! Can Too taught me this stroke called freestyle (or front crawl as I had known it for years back in freezing cold swimming lessons in the UK). I had to also learn how to swim in BIG, SCARY WAVES.
Before orange cap wearing, I hated swimming, with a passion! I was lucky if I could doggy paddle for 100m, and yet I was an avid diver? I loved the underwater scenes which played out in front of me, you wouldn’t believe how many names I’ve given fish and their quirky ways! (Note: I’m not mad, it’s just too much seawater)
So after my goal event, the Cole classic….I had seen the ‘pink caps’ and decided ‘I want one!’
On 25 April 2012, I became not only a bold and beautiful swimmer, but an original ‘blog tart’ too. My first swim AND my first blog appearance !
Seen above behind the grey ‘!!’ It is me!
On my first day, I decided to have breakfast which seemed popular with the swimmers, and met the queen of BnB Jules. I also met some great people, who would become my friends and inspire me to swim more often, Nigel, Jules and Corinne.
Very soon, we were sending emails to each other (actually I was sending to the other three) photos of us in the blog, no matter how small!
14th August and it was my birthday, it was truly my favourite start to the day. Several folks shivering but singing happy birthday to me at 7:20am! “Let’s go” and we did!
Going into Winter I was determined to swim all the way through and turning up to swim, was “all about the badge”. Well it wasn’t really, it was more then that! Smiles in the morning, texts to each other to check we were swimming, grey days and the buoyancy (and speed) from wearing a wetsuit! But eventually we all gained our first coveted swim badge!
Blog appearances became a sport and the fictious ‘blog spreddy’ became a household name.
The spreddy became so competitive, some would even doctor photos before placing them on the blog, so that points couldn’t be awarded for that appearance!
It was about this time, I met this man (centre) ……I had to join forces, he wasn’t shy or retiring and he had the uncanny way of being in too many photos. If you can’t beat them, join them, so, I did!
By joining forces we would dream up ways we could get both of us in the blog! Weekly meetings were held and planning on what to do when, became the norm.
Still those underwater shots needed practice!
About this time, I was also introduced to a shy Elaine and before I knew it we were being blasted round peoples homes from our favourite corner of Australia on morning TV!
Blog tarting got so competitive, people would do anything to try and keep us hidden!
But try as they might, we would still appear!
Christmas 2012, meant we could enjoy a social event dressed up! And dress up we did!
It also meant we took part in a night swim. Imagine swimming with your B&B buddies IN THE DARK! Rainer was grateful for my handy day glo accessories.
Management can we do another one purlease? I reckon if I was timed for that swim it would have been my quickest!
Shy retiring. We are not. Christmas just gave us more of a chance to fool around. Jules (founder of B&B) looked on in despair but enjoyed the frivolity!
….and so we entered 2013, and the real blog spreddy became a live document. Enter Sarah……she became one to watch…..pert 2 to follow…….
Meanwhile Let’s go to today’s swim!
Lots of smiley happy Sunday swimmers filter down the catwalk.
The next photo, gives you the before(lady ducking down) , the during (two guys in the wave)and after (colourful swim suit on the right) a true wave experience.
A couple of legs went swimming today.
…coupled with a back, and one foot. Hopefully they found their rightful owners at Shelly.
Family shot as a wave is just about to break.
Oops! Wave broken.
Some just stand very tall through the sets.
Err, it’s not that kind of wave we’re interested in!
Shelly beach and normality resumes, lovely to see Alyson with us.
Plenty of paparazzi in the water today, although these two look confused by the different settings on their cameras …. Meanwhile their models wait patiently on.
I spoke too soon Shaun (also self named ‘the dolphin whisperer’) was trying to tempt LSA with seaweed, he heard that dolphins like it. That’s dolphins Shaun, not mammals called Sarah.
The reason for the blog ………you have to get one of these with that fantastic photo on the front!
On sale NOW!!
The B&B Calendar is the perfect item for the ‘hard to buy for’ person in your life. You can pick one up at the swim from Ian (cash only), or online – Click here – with an option to have it posted or collected from Ian.
Summer Swims
It is that time again! 007, or Mr November 2015, has announced the proposed date for the first summer 10K swim challenge is Saturday 13 December 2014. Watch this space for updates.
Staying safe
Remember that there are no badges for scaring yourself silly! 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.
Stats:
245 swimmers
23 newbies
21.6 degrees
Posted with Blogsy
16 comments
margot
23/11/2014 at 11:36 am
Fantastic blog as always!So nice to see all the B & B groovy swimmers again today. Although hesitant, I pushed on through a post-viral haze and made it (from half way to Shelly and back). Not the hugest achievement compared to some of those other amazing swimmers, but I was happy I made it. I met a group of Japanese swimmers, and we met and bowed in the water: 宏さんは今日はお会いできてよかったよ！もう一度来てください！Fabulous start to the day.See you all again next weekend. Love from the Blue Mountains (and Margot).
Lainey Loo
23/11/2014 at 11:46 am
Love your blog and story Snorkles! If it wasn’t for Can Too and Jules Mackin I wouldn’t have become a Pink Capper either. Your ‘Spreddy’ brings back great memories, maybe we should bring it back. Love the wave photos and happy photos at Shelly too.
LSA aka HKTQ
23/11/2014 at 11:53 am
Thank goodness for the normality at Shelly shots:))
Yeh, loved the Spreddy but it had to stop when Lips and I were so far ahead of Snorks that it wasn’t fun for her anymore!
And certainly true – the B&B was never the same again after our Calendar Girl joined and started making it all such fun! I went away for one winter and came back to be told by Lips that we had to blog-tart every day on our swim!
LSA aka HKTQ
23/11/2014 at 12:08 pm
23 NEWBIES! Really great job, Ian and helpers, in signing them all in….. a lot of work! There were queues of them this morning.
For anyone new who is still a pink dolphin (or black square) on the B&B Attendance on the left of this screen, do catch Ian or one of the Reception Team one swim to have your pic taken! We like to see who the undercover agents are:)
Reember to Bold up and sign in each swim, even if you’re from Balmoral or Mosman! We like to see and meet you, not to mention our Guiness records in progress and views from the moon:)
Fifi
23/11/2014 at 1:05 pm
Great blog… I remember the spreddy and those phenomenal spreddy champs…. I think lips and lsa are still top of the blog tart list!
mary
23/11/2014 at 1:07 pm
Margot! So lovely to finally meet you today in the change room. Hope to see you again soon. All the best for the next few weeks of term.
Elizabeth X
23/11/2014 at 1:46 pm
Great to see you Margot
Such a trooper to come down from the Mtns especially when not 100%. See you next w/e 🙂
Elizabeth X
23/11/2014 at 1:50 pm
What an awesome blog Snorkles. Love it. Can’t wait for Part 2 of your entertaining story and really loved the wave photos especially the before, during and after one – a beauty.
Shelly
23/11/2014 at 2:00 pm
Shameful self promotion Snorkles !
Interesting story tho !
loved the blog.
Cya
Shelly
Alyson
23/11/2014 at 2:02 pm
Awesome blog, great memories and YAY for canToo! Not Only do they raise funds for cancer research but they are responsible for me joining BNB too (well maybe Lainey is responsible, but it was her encouragement from my first cantoo swim!) great to see everyone on a beautiful Sunday morning x
ros ex
23/11/2014 at 2:27 pm
Lovely blog Snorkles – great to read your the story about ‘how I started’. The only thing missing was a dog photo 🙂
Management
23/11/2014 at 3:41 pm
Special thanks to Helen Ludgate who acted as “Girl Sunday” giving out caps when the masses started arriving all at once.
Management
23/11/2014 at 3:43 pm
Can’t wait for the next installment.
Simon
23/11/2014 at 4:25 pm
Loved your blog Snorkles especially the personal touch
Lips
23/11/2014 at 4:40 pm
Thanks for the memories Snorks!
I really should take that white see-through rashie for another spin..
Elizabeth
23/11/2014 at 5:49 pm
I enjoyed the retrospective and today’s action shots of swimmers entering the beach. I saw lots of fabulous bb swimmers at coogee island challenge swim today. A lovely swim.