Wednesday 24th March – hello sunshine! Connection & belonging – a year after COVID lockdowns!

Stop press!  *** Don’t forget to register for the badge ceremony on Sunday (so you wont miss out on a sausage! 😊 – read (or skim) through the blog for the rego linky thing 😊***

Welcome back sunshine!    The dawn light revealed mother natures sculptures on the beach, a messy confused surf, a LOT of debris in the water and on the beach, and, according to Shanny – a lot of “Culture” (and not the arty kind!) in the water!   And a HUGE temperature drop to 18.4 degrees, 18.1 at Shelly!   Positively arctic!   This year sure has provided more challenges than most of us can remember, testing or bringing out our resilience.

Just over a year ago Australia went into covid lockdown.  We didn’t know it at the time but our lives changed forever.    Out of “fear of missing out”, in fits of panic we stripped the supermarket aisles bare; hoarding toilet paper, sanitiser, rice, pasta, flour, pasta sauce, frozen meals and more.  Skies emptied as planes around the world were grounded & cars became garaged, BUT so many stars twinkled in the pollution free sky.  News feeds were full of daily briefings on covid cases BUT also full of stories of random acts of kindness & amusing memes (who could forget the “home schooling” “lesson” on “fractions” involving wine).   Huge Cruise “ghost” ships moored in Sydney harbour and along the coastline, deserted & waiting for clearance & instructions as to when they could leave and where would they go?   Rules around movement, mobility & distancing split families & friendships physically BUT connections became virtual.  Businesses adapted if they could, or closed, causing stress & hardship for so many.  Homes became workplaces & “schools”, and Saturday night Disco’s with free entertainment such as “Hot dub at home”.  Gyms closed BUT Exercise outdoors became a “thing” as we reconnected with nature.

Isolation became one of the most frequently used words also becoming synonymous with fear – of being alone,  fear of being without human connections, of the future.

For the Bold & Beautiful, that, too, had to adapt or stop.    So adaptation won,  in accordance with restrictions, in small groups at different times.  Swims could still be logged but in a huge change, the swim didn’t have to be at manly.   So, of course, with pools closed swimmers swam in their closest open water aquatic playground.  enabled by a modified “platform” & protocols the community grew, and ensured that swimming provided the human connection & sense of community & belonging that would be a welcome support & escape from the stresses covid brought.  Importantly, the daily blog and social media pages continued and once a month, the “B&B Committee” and a host of volunteers handed out pink caps and signed up new recruits!

However The “small groups” & different times protocols created some challenges.  For some, for whom swimming with b&b was such an important part of their daily lives, but didn’t want to swim alone, they were suddenly left without the certainty of swim buddies – perhaps without that sense of “belonging”.   Similarly those new to ocean swimming didn’t have a “ready made” 7am regular welcoming group. (And not everyone feels comfortable approaching strangers especially given the vast difference in swim speeds).  The B&B facebook pages became a useful forum for swimmers reaching out for company at their preferred swim time, or just swim company!

And other silver linings magically appeared – (and I might add not unique to swimming).   Sarah Metcalf was one swimmer who didn’t want anyone to swim alone, no matter the speed, so she reached out to those who posted on the b&b Facebook page, and the “Manly Mermaids and Manmaids” formed.   I was lucky enough to be one of Sarah’s recruits and along with the others (from all walks of life) whilst we came together because of covid we bonded over a common love of swimming & the outdoors.  And now the initial connection has flourished beyond the virus where the only contagions are happiness, fun and joy, forming strong lasting friendships (that include others across the wider b&b community); swimming & socialising together, supporting each other through the challenges 2020 brought.  We have pushed each other beyond our comfort zones, supporting each other swimming in ocean swim races which for some of us wasn’t even on our radar 12 months ago!    We’ve explored cabbage tree bay and its creatures, found out that sharks can be friendly, captured the wonders of nature through amazing photographs, and Above all we are having a lot of fun in, on and out of the water.    We are forever grateful for that particular covid silver lining.

The Manly Mermaids and Manmaids aren’t the only group formed as a result of covid.    You could “find replace” with the WOW’s, “buoyant and beautiful”, “BBB’s” or groups of friends without a moniker; and the list goes on.  And of course there’s the Drinks Express 6:30 departure!  Groups have formed, grown, changed, merged, split & everything in between.  But no matter the “name” there are common themes, and dare I say Culture (the fun kind) – belonging, friendship, connection, support, fun & sharing our common loves which transcend covid.   That’s what B&B is all about and thanks to Ian & the B&B committee (Anne Edwards & John Kelly) & the host of enthusiastic volunteers, adapting B&B to continue during COVID, the B&B community thrived.

The above represents my personal observations, but I thought I would ask Ian (one of the B&B Committee) their thoughts on B&B one year on from COVID restrictions.

Me: When the restrictions were announced, what were your thoughts about how or if B&B could continue?

Ian:  When we realised that we would not be able to continue as a group, we weren’t particularly concerned as we knew that everyone would continue to swim anyway. The initial challenge was to encourage people to continue swimming, but at different times and not together. While some people initially stopped swimming, many others were able to swim more often.

Me:  It has been a huge effort to keep B&B going for the last year, having to change “traditions” such as badge ceremonies (and logistics around badges!), monthly dinners & events, sign up newbies, organise daily blogs & localised lockdowns and everything else associated with the B&B community – what were your biggest challenges in keeping the community going?

Ian: Since we weren’t allowed to swim as a group, the main challenge was to maintain people’s connection with the group, while still abiding by all the Covid regulations. This is why the Covid Badge was brought in, so that people anywhere could swm wherever they wanted (in a Covid safe environment) and still log their swims. Nearly 600 people got their Covid Winter Badge, which is 50% more than the previous year, so I guess we were successful.

Me:  the good, the bad and the ugly:  what has been good?  what has been challenging? what has been “ugly” (didnt work at all – if anything) about keeping B&B going & B&B generally over the last year?

Ian: Initially, we had problems with social distancing outside the surf club. Even though B&B was not operating at the time we copped a bit of criticism from some of the locals. The biggest success was maintaining our connection with our swimmers, even though several different small groups have formed and they all swim at different times of the day.

Me: I’m hearing that the B&B’ers love the flexibility of swimming at times to suit, just as workplaces have become more flexible – do you see B&B going back to a strict 7am swim or continuing as it has been, or something different?

Ian:  I am hoping that most people will return to the 7 am swim when the time comes. This will still be the official swim. Although some people would like to see an expansion in the range of starting times, it would be too difficult to admnister and maintain the inclusive nature the group. The original idea for B&B was for a group of friends to swim as together for safety and enjoyment. I still think this is worth pursuing.

Me:  What, for you, has been the biggest positive out of B&B during COVID?

Ian:  The biggest positive for me personally out of Covid has been the freedom I have in the mornings. I can now swim whenever I like, however, I still tend to swim just before or afer 7 am so I still catch up with my B&B friends every day

Thanks to Ian and Pauline we were and still are able to maintain a sense of belonging, connection & community.

Today, whilst the sun may be shining again, and the COVID vaccine rollout has started, we face new challenges with the impact of the watery deluge causing devastating floods across the city and state, and significant debris & pollution in our lovely aquatic playground.    As a result many swimmers have wisely chosen to swim in community pools, or simply meet as usual at the Point cafe for coffee, walk & a natter or two.    However as always Mother nature reminds us who is boss, and the need to look after our beautiful planet, including our aquatic playground and the beautiful creatures who generously share it with us.

stay safe & have a great day in the sunshine!

Some debris at Shelly this morning:

Drinks was back this morning for the first time since his surgery – he is recovering well but has missed the camaraderie and vitamin sea!

Some brave souls swam – but waited until sunrise so they could see!  – Jonno, Chris and Shanny (and Capless!) – they found it hard going, & the water full of “cultures” (the bad kind!)!

Lainey had a dip – and found it refreshing!  Hard to keep the Manly Mermaid out of the water!

Vincent – found the water dirty – more of that unwelcome culture!

Maxine and Hugh entered at Shelly & found the swim hard and cold!

Basil came down for some canine connection and met Coco (could be basil’s twin?) and Walter the puppy!

Ruby dragged her human (Nanette) down to the beach to check out the sunrise….

2021 Summer Badge Ceremony – Sunday 28^th March

You’ve done the hard yards and got your Summer Badge(s), 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). The ceremony will be held at the Royal Far West’s Centre for Country Kids at 14-18 Wentworth St (opposite Rialto Square) on Sunday 28^th March, straight after the regular swim! Everyone is welcome, family, friends and swimmers alike.

A $5 per person donation will be payable to the RFW at the gate for hosting this event, and …. RFW will provide a FREE breakfast (sausage sandwich and a coffee/tea). Bookings are essential to ensure there is enough food. Book here NOW  https://www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/2021-summer-badge-ceremony.html

All 2021 summer 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 so come along, soak up the atmosphere and get inspired for the upcoming winter badges…

To find out if you have qualified, go to the Daily View page on the Log-in site and click on the relevant badges. Or Click on the links below:

Covid Summer Badge

Corona Super Swimmer Badge

Triple Badge