It did not feel like winter this morning. Oh, glorious sunshine and warmth! It was t-shirt weather folks: beanies and uggies were not required. Perhaps a change is in the air 🙂 The churned seas reminded me of the importance of looking out for each other. A quick check in with another swimmer can mean the difference between fear and relief. It’s just another great reason to swim with the B&B group!
Luke (left) picked perhaps the warmest day for his only winter swim. Cold avoidance strategy level: expert!
Jumping for joy! (or for YMCA)
A few rolling waves to get the heart beating quickly:
I must say that wearing a snorkel really helps when you’re swimming through a battlefield of suspended seaweed on the surface:
Churned seas made visibility, especially in pictures, poor. I’m glad I persevered and spent some time looking for fish as I was rewarded with many Groper and Sergeant Baker sightings, Flathead, Port Jackson, Stingray and many others I don’t know the name of! A few of us were lucky enough to swim into these guys on the way back to Manly:
2 pyjama types under a rock:
Groper:
Flathead camouflage:
Have a superb day!
Anna 😀
Statistics
170 swimmers
3 newbies
18.3 degrees in / 13 degrees out
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NOTICES
Next B&B monthly dinner
Bluewater Restaurant – Tuesday 8th September at 6.30 pm
Our guest speaker will be Guy Dunstan, who held CEO and senior management positions with major media and investment banking corporations in twenty countries throughout the world. That was before he experienced a severe episode of mental ill-health (severe melancholic depression + bi-polar disorder) and was forced to leave the workforce. From that moment, his life spiraled out of control in a seemingly never-ending downward vortex that ultimately resulted in him losing his career, reputation, wealth, marriage, family and friends. He was left broke, homeless and socially shunned. With seemingly no other options available, Guy eventually re-entered the workforce as a manual labourer working the night shift at the Sydney Fruit Markets. After 2 years in that role he now regards this period as the toughest, yet most challenging, meaningful, and rewarding of his career.
Guy is uniquely placed to offer insights into the complex and largely misunderstood subject of mental health: its prevalence and impact in the workplace. Guy will deliver an insiders view of what it is really like to experience mental ill-health in the workplace, and, in particular how this experience can potentially impact the lives of individuals concerned, the groups they work in, and the organisation as a whole.
Guy is currently Senior Advisor to The Black Dogs Institute, Australia’s leading research institute in the area of Mental Health and Mood Disorders.
Dinner $25 a head
Includes shared entrees, a selection of mains to choose (incl a vegetarian option), corkage (for byo wine only) and a little thank-you for the staff. 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 NOW,
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2015 Winter Badge Ceremony
You’ve done the hard yards and got your Winter Badge (or even harder yards for a WWW). Now come and collect your badges with all the pomp and ceremony the B&B can muster. Bring along $10 for each badge you have earned (correct money appreciated).
Royal Far West Children’s Home – opposite the beach
Sunday 13th September – straight after the regular swim!
A $5 donation will be payable to the RFW at the gate for hosting this event, and … RFW will provide a FREE breakfast (bacon and egg sandwich and a coffee/tea). Bookings are essential to ensure there is enough food. Click to book …
Click here for BADGES
All 2015 winter badge qualifiers will be presented with their well earned badge(s), so whether you are getting one personally or you want to enjoy the celebrations of your fellow swimmers, a great morning is guaranteed. Come along, soak up the atmosphere and get inspired for your upcoming summer badge challenges …