Friday 4th: One Year On

Conditions

Although drippy and wet on the ground, the ocean today is tranquil – and reflecting beautiful cobalts off the cloud cover.  Peaceful, and almost balmy.  Perfect for a swim, if you have managed to get out of bed …

 

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Your Chance to Grab the Stage!

Got a song?  Monologue, poetry … come along and get it on!  (Click on image to enlarge, for better reading)  Register your interest with Izzie’s assistant Amelie, by emailing

ameliedyda@yahoo.com

 

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Thinned Ranks

Boot Camp flying the colours at 6.17 a.m ….

 

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NB: Next B&B monthly dinner – Booked Out

Bluewater Restaurant – Tuesday 8th September at 6.30 pm

 

Guest speaker is Guy Dunstan (Senior Advisor to The Black Dog Institute – Research institute for Mental Health and Mood Disorders)
• Full house – closed for bookings.  If you are unable to come for any reason, would you please let Ian Forster know … for someone else on the waiting list

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Winter Badge Ceremony – BREAKING NEWS

In conjunction with the badge ceremony, Royal Far west will be holding a raffle.  On the Hospital’s behalf, we will be selling tickets this weekend and next weekend, so don’t forget to bring along extra money for their raffle.  All proceeds go to Royal Far West   🙂

 

Fantastic prizes
•  Mixed dozen Belgravia wines valued at approx. $240
•  Kids Toy Hamper valued at approx. $200
•  Coffee voucher from Silo Expresso valued $100

Raffle tickets:
1 for $5
3 for $10
6 for $20
Tickets will also be available on the day of the ceremony

… and even more!!

In addition to the fantastic free breakfast provided by RFW at our Badge Ceremony, there will be a cake stall and a coffee cart (with proper coffee) on site to raise extra funds, so make sure you budget for these extra goodies.

B&B Merchandise on the day
Now you have your badges, take this one-off opportunity (on the day of Badge Ceremony) to try on – and purchase – your hoodie or other B&B items.  RFW will have a range of our own gear for sale on the day – cash or credit card accepted.

A call for volunteers:

 

Can you assist with:

•  Selling raffle tickets on Sat and Sun before and/or after the swim
•  Helping on the day of the Badge Ceremony (selling raffle tickets, barbecue duties etc)

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Final Solstice
Third and final Solstice Swim is this Sunday:
6.20 a.m. sharp
Sunday 6th
An informal gathering and ceremony (with your award) will happen after swim …

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Beach Arrest

The Usual Suspects: Daphne, John, Greg and Krista.  (Pic by Jim Stackpool @ 6.21 a.m.)

 

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Pre-loaded Blog Essay:

“Twelve Months Later”
I’ve been swimming since July last year.  I’m originally from Victoria, and most long-term friends are down there.  I’ve gone from “Neville No Mates” and working alone at home-office, to now knowing some 100-plus wonderful people.  (Below: some more ex-Vics)

 

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Alcohol and make-up

I’d looked at the bowlos a few times, trying to find a social circle.  But I particularly didn’t like the idea of playing games in Sydney’s blazing midday sun (schooner in hand).  Since joining Bolds instead, I really like the way we all mix sans alcohol and sans make-up.  Just people, togs, mirth, friendship – and cake …

 

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Sea Vistas

Like most humans I love the ocean, but I’ve never been a surfer.  Living in Balgowlah, I’d felt a bit weird … that I was rarely down there.

Now I have a reason to be on the beach first thing; some five days a week.  Seeing wave conditions, speccy sunrises, cloud-play … alongside all you eccentric characters  (Below: Pic of Errol by Lesbubbs)

 

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Earnt coffees

Because of my work-alone graphics, I’ve been starting every day in cafes since 1990 … just to get out of the flat.  But now – nothing tops a post-swim coffee with friends, whilst warming one’s bones in the winter sun.  I love this ritual!

 

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 Hunger

I get ravenously famished around midday – after any swim …

 

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Swimming Right Along

I’ve become a very regular sort of bloke, in an All-Bran kind of way.  (And I don’t mean Rainer giving me the irrits)

 

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Being Active

Surely I must be fitter than I was a year ago?

(Below: Not me – Action pic by Paul Rainbow)

 

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Stretching Out

I’d been procrastinating on the yoga front for about five years.  But now this year I’ve been on the beach at six a.m, some 25 times – thanks heaps Lou, Sharnie, Cara and Jenn!
(Pic by Ian McK)

 

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Enjoying winter

I’ve always suffered Sydney winters as quarter-years to be toughed out.  How things can change!  There are several elements to the winter swims that I really dig (and will miss during the nine months of warm swimming).  Life lived during these cold months barely troubles me at all now – thanks to Bolds.

 

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Sergeant Schultz

“That’ll be the day you see me doing some N@zi boot camp cr@p.”  Oops.  Started a month ago – and I’m loving it.  Very liberating to be playing body-tunnelball on the sand at my age!

 

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Bluewater Tuesdays

Awesome.  I love these monthly gigs – and have missed only one since I started swimming
(Below: Channel Crossing talk by Myles last September)

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Tourettes

I’m often putting my foot in my mouth.  With all the year’s huge amount of beach-front social interaction, I’ve managed to say the wrong thing several times now.  Apologies.   Hopefully I’m slowly learning to button it …  (Pic: Rainer)

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Blogging

It’s great to be part of the bloggers crew, and have such a fun outlet for writing and photography.  I really enjoy doing it

 

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Thank-you Management

Always there; like clockwork … friendly … and running this show for the benefit of all of us

(Pic: Ian McK)

 

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The Blogging Team

A great crew, creative and generous!  I’m not sure what the readership is, but personally I check it every day.  And I like to imagine some pensioner in Cairo following us – just for the heck of it
(Below … another example of blog creativity.  Pic: Lesbubbs)

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Manly town

Thank you Manly for having us here.  Blessed times indeed
(Pic: Lainey)

 

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2015 Winter Badge Ceremony  –  Sunday 13th September

All 2015 winter badge qualifiers will be presented with their well earned badge(s).  Come along and soak up the atmosphere – get inspired for your upcoming summer badge challenges!

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Back to today Friday:

Lindsay cuts a solo figure, with hot water shower.  “It was beautiful out there this morning,” she says.

 

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Friday Triday Bake-off

Only four Warringah Triathlete Clubbers turn up this morning, and to their dismay; nobody has brought cake …

 

A close-up:  This is the cake that isn’t here  …

 

Where are all the gingerbread women, Kane?!

 

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Shane turns up a little late for his swim (which is always preceded by a yoga stretch-out; discretely among rocks at base of ramp …).  “He’s on Gentlemens’ Hours,” says Hulk Hogan …

 

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A-Team Interviews

As a teenager, Barcelonian Marc Pasques swam at national level.  His race was the 200-metre butterfly, and he was a qualifier in final-eights.  A back strain at age 18 changed his life, however.  Marc had thought about pushing further (even aiming for Olympic selection in Spanish team), but chose instead to go to university … and at the same time, to join the Kallipolis Surf Life Saving Club. It was during SLSC international competitions that Marc first met some Aussies and – long story short – he now lives here with us, and is a member of Manly’s surf lifesaving club.

 

If you’ve seen a little less of The Spaniard in recent months, it’s because he has been out paddling and running too.  He’s training hard for this year’s Coolangatta Gold (The iconic Aussie event that combines swimming, running, board-paddling and surf-skiing.)  If Marc had been around back then, I’m sure they’d have slotted him into the 1984 movie!

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Drip Drip Drip

Socialising circles today are limited to chats under the eaves of surf club … Shaun, Richard and Fifi

 

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Buddhist saying – Do not let rain prevent you from getting wet.

 

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Meanwhile, over in the Greek Isles …

Latest Facebook reports (on the Bolds holidaying swim group) include this cracker from Stephen Coulter, taken by the side of their swim-base yacht

 

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Exit Frame: the Jane Stevenson Fan Club …

 

STATS

Temp:          17.8º

Newbies:       Nil

Swimmers:   Exactly 61  (According to Ian our esteemed estimator)