Morning Bold and Beautiful Swim Squad. It’s Zoe and Nat here again today. We cannot believe they have given us free reign again!
Last night we watched a Ted X talk which is entitled “What makes a good life?”
Harvard have done a longitudinal study scanning over 75 years of interviewing the same individuals about their lives. There are over 60 of the original people still living and all over the age of 90. The study showed what makes people happy and healthy in their later lives, is the relationships which they have in their early to mid lives. Meaning real friendships, supportive and loving partners and family.
Here is the link
The Bold and Beautiful Swim Squad is a perfect place to make new friends (real friendships) and enjoy this beautiful part of the world. (Trip Advisor just voted the best beaches in Australia for 2016 – Manly came 2nd and Shelly beach came 5th!!!!)
CHALLENGE: The next time you come down to Manly for a swim with the BnB introduce yourself to somebody new. Better yet introduce yourself to us. We would love to meet you.
Here are a few people that Zoe interviewed this morning. Continuing on with our theme from last month the questions which were asked were “Why did you start swimming with the Bold & Beautiful?” and “What does the Bold and Beautiful mean to you?”
Michelle works at Manly hospital. She used to run in the mornings and used to watch the pink cap people swim. One morning she saw a young boy of around 8 years of age and thought “if he can do it – so can I!” She had a few lessons and was terrified the first time she swam but now she LOVES it and can’t get here often enough.
This is Maurice (centre) standing with our favourite people John and Ian. Here started swimming 4 years ago. He enjoys the “great bunch of people. It is hard to explain why I like swimming it has something to do with the salt in the water and the lack of gravity and it is beautiful.”
This is Shelly “A friend dragged me down and I quickly got addicted. I love the people and the experienc. To the point that my goal in life is to move to Manly.”
This is John “I started off about 5 years ago. After back surgery. I did hydrotherapy and that sort of thing and then I gradually extended my swim. I started off with backstroke then I did freestyle. Now I am totally addicted. My back is great now.”
This is Alexandra “My bestest friend made me sign up for an ocean swim for fundraising but then I realised it was 2kms. So we started swimming the Bold and Beautiful to get me over my fears. My first swim hear was from half way to Shelly with my head out of the water because I was scared of the many things living under the water. But now I look for things under the water. It is a beautiful group and lovely Ian the sexy man that he is. I fully embrace it. All the old people and the different age groups. I hope to keep doing it till I die preferably not in the water.”
This is the Famous Laney holding the Manly Daily which has one of her famous pictures which she took down here the other day.
“I started doing Can Too which gave me the confidence to swim in the ocean. I started doing the BnB 5 years ago and was hooked after a few times. I love the energy because you feel so alive. The best start to the day you can possibly have and I feel revived. The people are such a friendly gutsy bunch who are like family.”
Lisa (second from the left) “I started after breast cancer and it means health, well being, happiness and friendship. I started swimming March 2015.”
On a side note: I met Lisa on my first swim down here on the 2 September. She is such a beautiful person. I was so nervous and frightened I had my wet suit on still wearing my back pack looking completely green. She was so calming and encouraging when she introduced herself to me. I have massive love for her. She is such an inspiration and a survivor. (Nat).
Allison (second from the right) “I started swimming in July 2015 and I had been looking to swim for a couple of years. July seemed like a nice cold month to start. It is a meditative event where I come down every couple of days to get into my groove.”
Jane (far right) “I have been swimming since March 2015 I love it. We started as a group of 4 or 5 of us we have just kept on swimming and meeting more and more lovely people.”
Shelley (first on the left) WELCOME she is a Newbie! “This was on my bucket list.”
Henrietta (on the right) “I started swimming because I have been watching them everyday and I wanted to do it. That was nearly 2 years ago. It is a massive social advantage. I have met at least one hundred people. I love it.”
Jenny (left) “I started about two and a half years ago and I used to hear them laughing in the bay. So the laughter is what drew my attention to it. ”
Andrew (right)”I started swimming the Bold and Beautiful so I can keep nice and beautiful. hahahaha”
Jared (left) “I started swimming because I have nothing else to do.”
Nat and Zoe – Over and out – Peace
RED FEB FUNDRAISING RACE – Heart Research Australia
Heart Research Australia would like to thank all those who participated on Saturday in the Red Feb race. But the fundraising race between our two teams is just hotting up and will continue over the whole of February. The “Race” is between our own two teams: The A TEAM and TEAM OMEGA.
The collection boxes on Saturday just favoured Team Omega, who raised $150.40 compared to the A Team total of $122.35. This trend is continuing in the On-line donation, with Team Omega edging further ahead:
A Team = $310
Team Omega = $568
You can donate funds to your chosen team on the team page, or even better, you can create your own page where all your friends can donate towards the cause. Hurry up A-Teamers, jump in quickly and support your team.
To support Team Omega: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/event/TeamOmega
To support the A Team: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/event/ATeam
Also, don’t forget, our friends at Manly Beach Health Club, who are again sponsoring the RED FEB event, are offering a FREE 30 min Personal Training session to our members. This is a great way to kick start your New Years health goals. Click here to download your FREE voucher.
28 comments
Carol
February 19, 2016 at 11:07 am
A big thank you to Dorset today for helping me do my first triple. Dorset makes a great wingman especially when there was only three of us doing the crossing together 👏
Jane
February 19, 2016 at 11:14 am
What a beautiful Blog today. I really MUST get back!
elizabeth
February 19, 2016 at 11:47 am
I LOVE your blog series and glad you are back Zoe and Nat. I am interested in why people start swimming. I think like all of us I know why people continue. It is addictive – the water and the people. There are some fabulous photos of the water and sky today! Also Michelle’s queen bee swimming costume is to-die-for. Looking forward to tomorrow
Shelley K
February 19, 2016 at 12:35 pm
Gorgeous blog Zoe and Nat, thanks!
Jenny :)
February 19, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Great blog ladies it’s great to hear about fellow b&b ers stories of how they got involved. :))
Jenny :)
February 19, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Jane, I have been wondering where you are? Hope to see you back soon.
lesbubs
February 19, 2016 at 1:20 pm
You 2 can take my photo for the blog any day! …everyone looks so good!!
“… lovely Ian the sexy man that he is…”
!!!??
5 years ago THIS week for me ! My first swim was with a big pod of dolphins…. and a few grumpy old men – my how it has changed ;p
Bill McCaffeine
February 19, 2016 at 1:22 pm
Love it, so newsy and natural !
Come back Jane !
Elizabeth X
February 19, 2016 at 2:39 pm
What a lovely blog Zoe and Nat.
Jane the Bishops b’day tmrw so if you come down you will see the scrumptious Hope and her new baby bro /doppelganger Luca.
I must admit that third last pic had me somewhat perplexed for a while !
Rusty
February 19, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Great blog Zoe and Nat. Great concept. So many stories to capture. You have done a fantastic job at capturing the essence of the swim. The people. I look forward to future stories!
JK
February 19, 2016 at 3:12 pm
Nice one Ladies, hope you keep going Nat when Zoe deserts us
Nat
February 19, 2016 at 3:21 pm
John I will never leave. I will continue even when Zoe leaves us for a few months.
Nat
February 19, 2016 at 3:22 pm
Hahaha Elizabeth. That is an arm.
Lisa
February 19, 2016 at 3:57 pm
Love your style Nat and Zoe – fun, upbeat and creative. Nat I think a lot of swimmers have that first time anxiety, I’m glad I could help…… Look at you now!!
Graham
February 19, 2016 at 5:02 pm
Great blog ladies and thanks for the TED link ! 🙂
Nat
February 19, 2016 at 5:33 pm
You really did help me that morning Lisa. Your encouraging words were priceless.
Nat
February 19, 2016 at 5:33 pm
Thanks Graham and you are welcome.
Nat
February 19, 2016 at 5:37 pm
Everyone who does the BnB look great in pictures because their joy shines through.
Wow that sounds incredible. Happy 5 year BnB anniversary.
Nat
February 19, 2016 at 5:40 pm
Thanks for all your thoughtful sentiments.
Just wanted to let everyone know that Zoe and I did not mean for the picture of us to be poster size. We are relatively new to this blogging gig and are yet to discover how to change the sizes of the images.
Jane
February 19, 2016 at 5:47 pm
Well, I for one agree with that estimation. Pauline too I expect!
Jane
February 19, 2016 at 5:48 pm
Oh wow – worth getting out of bed for!
Deanna Waters
February 19, 2016 at 6:11 pm
Great blog girls and some inspirational people interviewed. Hope Jane is back with us soon – we miss you Jane
Elizabeth
February 19, 2016 at 7:17 pm
I love your photo at the start. Smiling like we all do after a swim
Nat
February 19, 2016 at 9:05 pm
Jane you must come back. Everyone wants you back. I want you back and I haven’t even met you. Hahaha. Hope to see you at the BnB soon.
Nat
February 19, 2016 at 9:06 pm
Thank you so much for swapping days with us. You are a life saver. Looking forward to reading your blog and seeing the amazing pics.
Lainey aka E-laine
February 19, 2016 at 9:31 pm
What an absolutely beautiful blog! You two ladies with your big smiles and warmth are what the B&B is about. Love your story sharing. Lisa is a very special person . She told me if she hadn’t have had cancer she wouldn’t have dared to do the B&B swim and is so glad she did. Please come back Jane (and don’t stay away too long Nat.) xx
Nat
February 19, 2016 at 10:07 pm
Thanks Lainey.
It’s not me going away it is Zoe. She will be back in October. See you tomorrow
Lips
February 20, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Love your blogs! Keep them coming!