Today was the perfect start to winter swimming: sharp, brisk breeze before and after the swim, crystal clear water that was flat as a pancake, and an abundance of marine life to marvel at. There were no newbies ( now’s the time to start peeps before it really gets cold! ), temperature was 19.1 (...

Filling in for lucky Lisa who is now on her way to warm and sunny Bali. Well timed Lisa! But you missed out on another beautiful swim, in perfectly flat water and abundant marine life. And it didn’t feel as cold as yesterday. According to the SMH, was last night was the coldest May night in 20...

As sure as the Sun shines, Winter is coming. For those that missed the Thredbo shots yesterday, I can assure you it’s snowing somewhere and as we edge towards the beginning of June, we may need to celebrate these warm days because they may not last. The ocean’s edge today was magnificent. Nary a zephyr...

Happiness and fulfilment have very little to do with your circumstance. The culture conditions you to ‘think’ otherwise; that you can only be happy when you change your circumstances, because culture needs you to be a good consumer. That’s the problem with thoughts, they’re like a shadow between yourself and reality. Whilst it’s true that...

Mornin’ all. Inner Westies here. It doesn’t get better than this. Stats: 330 swimmers 7 newbies and water 19.6 degrees.       Welcome newbie Alex!   Morning Toni!           So many fish today       I know this photo below is murky, but it’ll scare our friends who all think...

I left home in near darkness this morning, cursing myself for missing the opportunity to get shots of 6am starters yet again. On arrival at the gateway to the golden dawn my frustration was quickly replaced by awe and gratitude to be witnessing such beauty. And there was the sunrise too.     Here’s 2...

I look forward to Fridays because I get to go for a swim. It is a favourite thing for me. Also a favourite for me is seeing the great swimmers who swim early and are already having coffee when I arrive. What stars   John Bond No 1 and Dorsett who has hit no 60...

So it’s getting colder just 19.5 degrees today…and darker….   We just soldier on…some with more rubber…some with more clothes…we just adapt like good Darwinian specimens…     As those famous positive psychologists Chumbawamba sang… I get knocked down But I get up again You are never gonna keep me down… Of course they were...

 Thanks Kerry for the blog title! A funny old start to the morning with thunder and lightening on my drive to Manly at 5am. I knew the rain would have stopped by 5.30am as our running coach Joey always says it does. By the time we swam back from Shelly the sky put on a...

Rainer was in charge at Shelly Beach today?…and there were two swimmers still coming into the beach…meanwhile the A-Team were champing at the BIT…it was a struggle…BUT “LIPS” did the impossible and held back the crazy mob.   There they go …..   Yep, they went that way… Rainer had to jump out of the...