Sorry all those of you who borrowed four stacks of money, told the boss he’s a Harry Highpants, and substantially increased your calorie intake like there was no tomorrow. The Mayans got it wrong, as it turns out to the surprise of most of us. Today is a new day, and not just any day.
It’s a day when over 138 bold and beautiful people turned up for their constitutional morning swim. Six of those did a Boulderdash to Queenslcliff and three did a double to Shelly Beach in water as warm as 20.2 degrees. Today is a day when we’re celebrating being alive despite tempting fate last night with a Swim in the Dark with Glowsticks (see Julie’s last post and more pics below). We’re also celebrating the birthday of two of our fabulous swimmers.
Michael turns two scores and ten, and Lucy turns 14. Congratulations to you both!! Look at the amazing cake Julie surprised Michael with.
We have some new and some recycled swimmers, as usual.
The morning was cloudy, but the only rain was that of men. The B&B is full of lovely men.
And lovely women.
And gorgeous kids.
Bluewater was busier than usual this morning, as many of the swimmers were hoping to get a piece of that blue water birthday cake.
And to lift your spirits even more, take a look at this lovely, short clip of this morning’s swim, put together by Mauricio: http://youtu.be/ncheqchF-K8
Last night’s Swim in the Dark with Glowsticks was a euphoric success! Honestly, talk about lifting one’s spirit without an ounce of spirits needed. Cathie Coleman, Ray Oliver and Stephen Coulter have submitted a bunch of pictures. Restraint, modesty and complete lack of vanity and self promotion means I am only posting a few with myself in them. Let’s start with the most glowing of all Glowstick Swimmers as she was getting ready for our Christmas Adventure.
Here are some more glowers. (No, we’re not on drugs)
Some of us, like Adam and myself, felt the need to wave good bye to the world. What a noble way to go.
It looked a little dark and gloomy as we solemnly walked down the ramp to face our Mayan fate.
Some of us were quietly humming on the old tune “Wish me luck as you wave me good bye”.
As always at the scene of a potential disaster, there will be onlookers. These ones brazenly turned up, allegedly to give us “support”.
As we gathered in the dusky darkness at Shelly Beach, the nerves were palpable.
Luckily, we had some serious support in the form of medical staff. A heartfelt thank you to Nurse Grey, aka Sarah B who brought a tourniquet, and to Dr. John, aka the Sexy Smurf who brought his bedside manners.
Emerging from the deep, dark ocean like irredescent phytoplancton, here we are.
And since the Blog Rules and Regulations stipulate that the daily blog must be posted before midnight on the day of the swim depicted therein, I leave you without the fuzzy details about high and low tides etc, and wish ya’ll a wonderful first day of the rest of your lives and bid you farewell with the wise words of our very own Women’s Changing Room Philosopher, aka Lori the Lovely Ladeey: “You Never Regret a Swim”.
xx Anna
18 comments
Robbie Byrne
21/12/2012 at 1:31 pm
Favourite blog of the year.
That is all.
Anna Alvsdotter
21/12/2012 at 1:32 pm
Ok sorry I haven’t quite finished yet.
Last night I collected some words of wisdom from the Glowstick swim survivors, so please indulge me.
“When you surrender to the fear, it becomes therapeutic”
said Dr Andrew Maher. No, he’s not a shrink but almost. He’s a chiro and one of our sponsors.
“What doesn’t drown you makes you stronger”
said Lori the Lovely Ladeey who knows a thing or two about popping up again like a buoyant cork.
“Life is what you make it”
said Jeff Lange who lives in Paddington and swims with us twice weekly.
“Mr. Chompy didn’t get me”
said the young and gorgeous Claire Keeling
“You gotta be in it to swim it”
said Tomas Lees who is very proud to be back swimming with us after 18 months away.
“Did you see the Commandos?”
said an astonished Gareth Thomas
“I was really enjoying it right up to the point when Mr Jimble got hold of me. But I cought a brilliant wave all the way into the beach”
said the Man of Few Words, aka Chris Cameron-Doe
“When you kick, it’s better to have your feet in the water”
said a philosophical as well as literal Brendan Maher
Anna Alvsdotter
21/12/2012 at 1:35 pm
Naaaw. Thank you Robbie. Seriously flattered.
Pacific Jules
21/12/2012 at 1:40 pm
A really lovely blog ! Fabulous photos from all with brilliant commentary. Made me smile and feel warm all the way through. Just loved it Anna, thank you.
A fantastic start to the rest of my life 🙂
A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BOTH LUCY & MICHAEL TODAY xx
Claire
21/12/2012 at 1:43 pm
Young and gorgeous eh! Thanks Anna
Pacific Jules
21/12/2012 at 1:44 pm
Great quotes!
Anyone would think you were a journalist walking around with a notepad and pen, capturing people’s pearls of wisdom on a random end of the world, B&B Christmas adventure night swim. Love it, thanks for sharing Anna 🙂
Stephen "I need a nickname" Coulter
21/12/2012 at 2:05 pm
Unfortunately the Mayan calendar is based on South American time. Fortunately for us we probably get to have at least one more Saturday swim before the December 21 deadline in South America is reached!
Alyson
21/12/2012 at 2:36 pm
Fabulous blog and fabulous photo of you at the end Anna – gorgeous! Happy birthday to the two birthday peeps, hope you have a great day! Rainer where we’re you this morning? Not one photo of you, but I managed to get three appearances… Does this means you are at risk of loosing your tart status as well as your lips status? 😉 merry christmas all!!
Alyson
21/12/2012 at 2:41 pm
Almost forgot to ask… Does anyone have a manly car sticker I could buy off you if you are not using it? Unfortunately those parking inspectors have had too much luck with me this year 🙁 so would be super grateful if someone had a spare and wanted to make some money?
Alyson
21/12/2012 at 2:41 pm
Isn’t your nickname smurf?
James
21/12/2012 at 2:44 pm
Loving the blog today – the video clip by Mauricio, nice.
Happy birthday Michael and Lucy!
Little Sarah Abbott
21/12/2012 at 2:52 pm
Yes the blog(s) are amazing! Great to get the atmosphere, even when we miss a swim! Alyson, also super pic of you!
I spoke to 4 of the Bolderdashians this morning…. not exactly inspiring. These were hard-core swimmers who’d all had to drop out because of numerous Bluey attacks. James has a particularly pretty souvenir on the end of his nose:-)
Michael sort of assures me we’ll be right tomorrow. So Lips, how about it? I may hunt around for some face masks, socks and gloves to add to the wet-suit armour….
Little Sarah Abbott
21/12/2012 at 3:21 pm
Santa Claus?
'The Lips' formerly known as Rainer
21/12/2012 at 4:57 pm
You’re right Alyson! Missed this morning’s swim and looking jealously at your numerous blog appearances as we speak..
And that’s on top of the humiliation that was poor AnneE’s taking of the ‘Lip’ title from me on Wednesday!
Great blog Anna!!
'The Lips' formerly known as Rainer
21/12/2012 at 5:11 pm
Little Sarah, Michael promises you blue skies, light offshore breeze, and dancing mermaids if it gets a few more swimmers in the water.
Using my own common sense, there might still be few blueys around tomorrow. We’re still looking at light E/NE winds over the weekend, so not what we need to send those buggers back out into the ocean.
Would love to do a 6k with you. But cannot afford to disfigure my barely recovered face again this close to Xmas. How about a relaxing shelly double tomorrow with rain check for 6k when you’re back in Feb?
john S
21/12/2012 at 6:12 pm
Anna,
stunnibgly beautiful and loquaciously effervescent!
Happy birthday M & L!
Alyson
21/12/2012 at 9:16 pm
Perhaps we will see you tomorrow Rainer? 🙂
Laney-Loo formerly known as E-lane
21/12/2012 at 10:27 pm
Fantastic blog Anna and I love the quotes from last night! Beautiful photos and love the one of Aly and bump. How brave is LSA? Amazing little lady…I vote Smurfy for Stephen. Bummer I missed the guys without budgies last night. I would have tried to steal them 🙂