Mornin’ all. Inner Westies here. Yep, winter is on its way. Air getting fresh but water gorgeous and no jimbles or jellies. In case you’re wondering about why equinox is today and not tomorrow, the leap year is the reason. So start getting those wetsuits out of moth balls – let’s all try and keep them off...

Really? Really?? REALLY??? The water’s a whole THREE degrees lower than yesterday? Impossible! What’s going on?????……we asked ourselves this morning as we gawped at the white board.   But darkness and cooler waters were never going to stop the 6.30am crowd….     Meanwhile, back at the trees….JP & the much-blogged head-gear:   James The Amazing Bread Man’s bike, laden with...

it was so warm in the water today and very surge-y. I have not been for a swim all week so was looking forward to it and seeing all the swimmers too. John and Richard   David:   Alison:   Jim:   Michael, Soph, Shelley D, Peggy:   Dani, Craig and Nigel (spectators Austin and...

  If you are green or Irish then today is your special day and those who swum today got to celebrate St Patrick’s Day with Patrick.  St Patrick chased snakes out of Ireland, but funnily enough he as not Irish, but rather from Scotland or Roman England.  Either way I think St Patrick’s Day is...

We are so lucky to be able to swim, snorkel and play in this amazing Marine Park, Cabbage Tree Bay! The area is marked on the map below and stretches from Manly Surf Club out towards The Bower surf break and includes Shelly Beach. Since it was declared a ‘No Take Aquatic Reserve’ in 2002,...

Morning all. Just to set the scene in the depths of the Ides of a rainy March, I’m coming to you today remotely having also not swum myself (as in town for a meeting) filling in for Jenny (who’s dad’s in hospital for an ocular upgrade) with Elaine who has been up since 2.45am (dropping...

You’re all mind readers. Yep, mirror neurons in your brain read the subtle physical signals of others’ and emulate their mental state throughout your own body. It’s an ancient evolutionary communication mechanism, but one we can redirect if we choose.  It’s a choice too often ignored in our modern world for, whilst ‘contagious’ yawning or...

This is Lips reporting from the 2016 Badge Ceremony. What a morning! Lots of photos.. fasten your seat-belts:   Big turnout for the 7am swim – as you would expect on Badge Ceremony Sunday. The morning started with a short speech by the Prime Minister followed by live performances from Cold Play, U2, and The Wiggles. Management...

CONDITIONS • Foggy. Very hazy indeed • Burning. That ominous waft of bushfire is on the wing … • Balmy. Still the rain won’t come down off the the mountains … • Parking – Still heaps @ 5.55 a.m.   🙂 • Temp – Water is on the up, thank goodness   ———————————- Tanja watches Ros...

I got lasting benefit from Megan’s excellent blog yesterday as it got me through several first world problems yesterday and this morning. Why or why are the perforations in coffee lids done so poorly?! I am inspired by all the activity going on at the beach each time I visit   some discussions about the swim. I...