Happy Father’s Day Eve- Saturday, 2nd September 2017

Before I begin my Father’s Day tribute to the wonderful dad’s of the Bold and Beautiful Swim Squad and tell you about the conditions of the swim today, I would like to say THANK YOU to all of you. Why? It is because today marks my 2 year anniversary of my very first swim. I have said it many times before, but I will say it again. Being a member of such an amazing, eclectic group of positive people is an absolute joy. I thought doing that one swim 2 years ago was just something to tick off on my goals list. Little did I know that I would continue to swim regularly, even start blogging for you and also developing friendships which are so dear to my heart. Thank you for embracing me with your contagious smiles and your wonderful array of swimsuit fashion.

This pic was taken on 2 September 2015 by Ian aka Shelly (I took it from the blog he did that day) the conditions were pretty amazing for my first swim

This pic was taken this morning. The conditions today were virtually the same as two years ago…..absolute perfection. It was so gorgeous watching the sun rise over the horizon this morning.

 

The conditions were fantastic. The water was 18 degrees with great visibility. PLUS if you wanted to have a play in the surf after the swim there were small waves to body surf and duck through. Great fun!

 

 

6:30 Drinks Express heading in being led by the EPIC Andrew Drinkwater.

 

6:30am entering the water

 

6:30am Drinks Express at the Point

 

 

7am Squad

 

Gorgeous Jane at the Point

 

7am Squad made it to the luscious Shelly Beach

 

Happy Birthday to the gorgeous Mary

 

Mary’s husband came down for the swim today to celebrate with her

 

The Squad

 

 

Heading back to Manly and here is JK with incredible form…..nice mate.

 

Paradise

I spotted a flathead just off Shelly Beach as we were heading back

 

I love spotting the Blue Groper

 

I also spotted a Port Jackson Shark swimming around the Point

 

 

 

I asked some of the father’s who swim the Bold and Beautiful two questions:

1) How long have you been a dad?

2) What is the BEST thing about being a dad?

Here are there answers……..

Rainer “I have been a dad 9 years next week. The best thing about being a dad are the dad jokes. Hahahaha.”

I love how Rainer is always photo ready.

 

Shaun (holds the title of Lower Middle Management) “I have been a dad for 22 years. Being a dad adds another dimension to the world.”

On a side note he does look very official next to the whiteboard, perhaps it is time for him to climb the corporate ladder of the BnB?

 

JK “I have been a dad for over 38 years and the best part about being a father is having a wife.”

Another side note…..This pose is INCREDIBLE!

 

Dorset “I have been a dad for 36 years. The best thing about being a dad is having a beautiful daughter who has brought great joy to our lives. She is happily living today, in Columbus Ohio with her lovely husband. We have our first grand child, Oscar Dorset Samson. We will be celebrating Father’s Day on Sunday and my daughter will facetime in with Oscar and we will have a happy brunch facetime together.”

 

Ian “I have been a dad for 5 months. The best thing about being a dad is the fact that everyday is like Christmas. You wake up and can see their beautiful face.”

 

John “I have been a dad for over 46 years. The best thing about being a dad is watching them grow up and watching them achieve:  qualifications, degrees and satisfaction in their jobs. It is also important to communicate well with them especially when teaching them to drive.”

 

Peter “I have been a dad for 47 years. The best thing about being a dad is getting there in the first place and finally when you finally stop paying for everything haha. But then you get grandchildren and it is all good again.”

 

Neil “I have been a dad for over 50 years. The best thing about being a dad is raising responsible children and watching them grow and doing all the right things.”

Now, Neil Beachly is an absolute CHAMPION. He is the person who, everyday brings out the table and whiteboard for us folks doing the BnB. That is dedication. Thank you so much. Not only is he a champion because of that but he has raised a world champion surfer, Layne Beachly. WOAH that is pretty awesome. I bet you taught her all your awesome skills.

Roger “I have been a dad for nearly 16 years. The best thing about being a dad is when we get 6-8 kids and go away for a week in a cabin on holidays sometimes once or twice a year. It is hilarious. It is usually me and another mum, sometimes we even have up to nine children.”

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY for YESTERDAY BUDDY!!!!

This pose is EPIC. When I see you from now on I want you to strike this pose, it literally makes me smile/laugh, love it!

 

Me on this day 2 years ago on my first swim at Shelly Beach with my mate Ravi who is a father of two gorgeous children and has been a dad for over 8 years (I took this picture from the blog 2 years ago that Ian aka Shelly wrote).

 

Me today…..and yes I am still wearing my high visibility Hurley wetsuit so I am easy to spot. Yes, people still comment and or make jokes on how visible I am.

 

Finally, Happy Father’s Day to the legendary dads’ out there who are legit fathers to their children AND a massive shoutout to my husband who is the father of our 5 boys he makes it look easy. He is calm, fun and their bestfriend.

 

Much Love,

Nat

 

Stats: 18 degrees

Swimmers: Approx 300ish (I am totes using my estimation skills)

Newbies: I am sure there were a few I just didn’t meet any

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Monthly Dinner – 12^th September 2017 – Guest Speaker

The next B&B monthly dinner for the year will be held on Tuesday 12th September at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. The guest speaker on the night will be Dr Tanya Evans, whose talk is entitled “Swimming with the Spit”

Dr Tanya Evans is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Modern History at Macquarie University, President of the History Council of NSW and editor and author ofSwimming with the Spit. Tanya’s talk will demonstrate that we B&Bs are not the first people to amble down to the beach and enjoy our invigorating morning swims. Sydney has a fascinating history of dynamic community swimming organisations. Learn all about this fascinating subject on the night.

The cost of the dinner is great value at only $25 a head, which includes shared entrees, and a selection of mains to choose from (including a vegetarian option). Glasses of beer or wine and desserts are also available at the special price of only $5 each. Numbers are limited, so bookings are essential:  To avoid disappointment and secure your spot please book HERE.