Friday 14 June 2019 Pondering and wondering

Young people just don’t know what it’s like to ponder things. These days you just check google if you are wondering about something.  In my day, you would ponder and then perhaps ask the person next to you – what is the road of Tyrgikistan or which film was that actress in – and while you meant to check the World Book Encyclopedia  you would invariably forget. As google is not to hand in the water, swimming allows some pondering time.

This morning I was thinking about technique: head position; three points of contact with the air (where the wind this morning was touching ankles bottom and head it was a bit cold), hand in with fingers down, angle about 35 degrees – that is what the youtube said but I don’t know what – and thrust hip but rotate body but not too much and reach forward and kick but don’t scissor kick and then second stroke.

Here is Sam getting some protein after a run and before a swim.

Dave is thinking about stretching that is required before a swim and obviously thinking one should do it . Do you agree?

Pondering the new temperature

Now here is something worthwhile to ponder:

NEW MEMBER

On Wednesday, we had a visitor from the outback, who became our latest member. His name is Brendan Cullen and he is a farmer who lives in Broken Hill.

Brendan was in Sydney for a media launch of a new Lifeline podcast series ‘Holding onto Hope’. In this series, people who have attempted suicide or suffered depression tell their stories and the various ways in which they found joy and meaning in life again. It sounds like a depressing subject but it’s actually full of heaps of accumulated wisdom.

Brendan suffered rural depression – battling isolation and drought and the 24/7 demands of work amongst other things. Interestingly, one of the ways in which he found joy again was to take up swimming. He now drives 240 km along the Menindee Road three times a week to go to swimming training in Broken Hill.  His real passion, however is ocean swimming which is pretty amazing as he lives five hours from his nearest beach. He enters races whenever he can and his ultimate goal is to swim the English Channel. As you can imagine, he was buzzing after this morning’s swim with the B&B. If you want to hear his podcast it’s available at lifeline.org.au/podcast and it offers some real insights into the struggle of rural living as well as reminding all of us how lucky we are to have this on our doorstep.

The shower scene

I am trying for that lovely arty shot that so many bloggers get on going in

Howzat for a recommendation

elbow of the day

Action


newbie Sonia. She has been doing a second best swim at Palm Beach but has now arrived to enjoy the best swim

Hi Claudia

While I was doing some aqua robics in the bay, here were some synchronised swimmers. There is room for all in the bay

The ghost of a cuttle fish. I include this so you know how great Anne and Elaine and Edwina and the other bloggers are when they get great fish shots. We use the same camera

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

B&B FUNDRAISING NIGHT,

TUESDAY 9th July from 6.30pm

Generously sponsored and hosted by The Steyne Hotel

All B&B swimmers and their family and friends are cordially invited to our inaugural Christmas in July Fundraising Event – (no under 18 unfortunately)

ONLY $30 PER PERSON INCLUDING A MEAL. PLACES ARE LIMITED SO BOOK NOW. TO SECURE YOUR PLACE, PURCHASE YOUR TICKET(S) OR PURCHASE A WHOLE TABLE HERE

Please wear your best Christmas paraphernalia on the night. Theme and dress up your table for the chance to win a prize. It will be a fun night, so don’t miss out!  First in best dressed… If everyone is very well behaved, we may get a visit from Santa himself. Who knows, if you are really good, Santa may even let you sit on his lap.

Enjoy a delicious steak or chicken dinner. A vegetarian option is also available on request, please tell us at the time of purchasing your table. Drinks will be available at bar prices.

Lots of silent auction items will up for grabs, and there will be live auctions right through the night. We will also have a monster raffle which will be drawn at the conclusion of the evening. If you or someone you know would like to donate an auction item or a prize, either individual or for a table please let us know (email Ian at ugoboyo@gmail.com). Funds raised will support both the Royal Far West and the B&B, two great causes.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

What I am reading

The Heart’s Invisible Furies. It has a funny tone, set in Ireland in the 1950s and then some horrific things happen to people who are homosexual or a single mum etc. Makes you think