This morning I chatted to Stu and his beautiful 6 month old daughter Evie. He was admiring the perfection of the Bay and how calm, colourful and inviting the conditions looked. I was admiring his adorable bundle of joy and cuteness. We started talking about how wonderful the swim is, and what a perfect mix of exercise, community and sense of wellbeing it offers. We agreed it really is a perfect recipe for a perfect day. Our chat got me thinking, and I realised our swim is a lot like baking. So with that in mind I give you the recipe of the day.
Before you start, visualise what you would like to achieve.
Prepare all your ingredients and equipment, measure and mix together all dry ingredients, combining well.
Paul, Leone, Mandy and Kirsty
Annie, Henrietta and her school friend Rosslyn
David, Mel and Holly
Ingrid, aka Polly’s mum, Mark, Katrina and Sue
Ensure you have complete control of your work space
John and Maggie
Dorset and John
Remove packaging from cold ingredients
Alison
And bring chilled ingredients to room temperature
Karen and Debbie
Alex
Amelia
Annie
Ensure ingredients are fresh and colourful
Elaine, Jenny, Jalna and Kerry. Happy Birthday Jalna, I hope you have a wonderful remainder of your day.
Combine well. Set your timer
Do not rush any part of the procedure
Jill and Ranko
Stay focused and try to ensure distractions are kept to a minimum
Kirsty, Rachel, Margie and Annie
Remain calm if your equipment falters
Sophia who had trouble with her wetsuit this morning but who helped me with a memory game. Thanks Sophia, it worked.
Be adventurous and introduce new flavours to the recipe
Newbie Ruairi with his dad David, Mel and Holly. Welcome Ruairi, I hope you enjoyed the swim.
Or reintroduce favourite flavours that have been absent for a while that are a hit with everyone
Gemma and Shelley
This recipe requires team effort where everyones strengths are utilised
Booty campers
Ensure your oven is the correct temperature and not too cold
Fi, Jane and Jacqui
When it’s just right place ingredients into oven gently
Sue and Brian
Caroline and Fi
Check at half time to make sure it is cooking well
Marco, Dorset and friend
Alan, Kathy and Dorset
Alan and Kathy
John, Jacquie, Alison and Gemma
When it has finished cooking, remove slowly and gently so it doesn’t deflate
Gemma
Always remember to discard your rubbish and recycling appropriately
Thank you for clearing up the bay Jacquie and Fi
At the end of the process relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
And remind yourself it is the simple things in life that bring most joy.
Following our recent cake stalls, I have been asked by a few swimmers for the apricot, oat and chocolate slice recipe. So I thought today would be an appropriate day to share it.
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
1 cup fine desiccated coconut
1 cup Self Raising Flour
175g butter
2 heaped tablespoons honey
1 cup dried apricot, roughly chopped
250 grams good milk chocolate. I use Cadbury’s.
Preheat the oven at 165C. Line a lamington tin with baking paper, leaving a length of the paper hanging over two of the sides.
Melt the butter in a separate bowl and put it aside for later.
Mix the oats, brown sugar, desiccated coconut Flour and dried apricot in a large bowl.
Add honey to melted butter and pour over dry ingredients. Mix well.
Place the mixture into the slice tin and flatten it out, using the back of a spoon. Press the mixture into each corner of the tin.
Cover with foil for the first 10 minutes to prevent apricots burning. Remove foil and continue cooking for a further 10-15 mins or until golden. Remove from oven. Allow to cool completely. It will harden once cooled.
Melt chocolate and pour over slice. Place in fridge in cake tin. Cut into squares once set.
Enjoy!
This necklace was found on the wall this morning. If you have lost it, please see management.
News from Paul in Japan as he is planning his swim across the Tjsugaru Strait.
“This afternoon we met my coordinator for the swim, Shimasaki-san. He convened a meeting at the harbour with boat captain Mizushima-san to discuss the possibility of the swim proceeding.”
“A decision on whether to swim will be made on Wednesday evening at 7pm. If so, we will launch at 1am on Thursday morning. From there, we will motor for about an hour to the start point for the swim.”
“At best, conditions are not expected to be ideal, though they may just be satisfactory enough to allow an attempt at the strait. We are, however, still relying on the approaching typhoon to abate or alter its path within the next 24 hours.”
Good luck Paul. We will all be thinking of you.
I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your day.
Lisa
Stats:
Water temperature: 17.4
Swimmers:156
Newbies:2
ATEC Conference
Australian Triathlon, Endurance & Cycling (ATEC) Conference is coming up in Sydney soon: 9-10th Sept, at Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park. Every year ATEC attracts thousands of cyclists, runners, swimmers, triathletes and endurance sports enthusiasts to engage with leading endurance brands, learn from industry influencers, meet inspiring athletes and take part in the interactive seminars, workshops, competitions and activation.
As an ambassador of this event, they have offered a personal 2FOR1 code which I am able to share with you all, should any of you wish to attend, please quote ATEC17JI at the checkout to get your 2 for 1 tickets!
To check out more about the conference visit their website: www.atecshow.com.au
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.
Or watch the ATEC launch video: https://www.facebook.
B&B Badge info:
The winter swimming season runs from 1 June to 31 August, and to qualify for your winter badge, you must:
- swim at least 20 times during this period
- swim in at least 7 different weeks
- log your swims
To qualify for the WWW badge (winter without wetsuit) you must complete all of the above without wearing a wetsuit or any other form of bodily thermal enhancement (don’t forget to check the “without wetsuit” button on the log in screen). Why not give it a try?
28 comments
David
August 9, 2017 at 1:46 pm
A wonderful recipe Lisa xo
Matthew hawkins
August 9, 2017 at 2:18 pm
Great analogy Lisa. Well baked.
Jacqui
August 9, 2017 at 2:35 pm
Great blog lisa, one of my favourites! I’ll have to borrow that recipe of yours I love that slice! Yum!
Edwina Harrison
August 9, 2017 at 3:07 pm
Thanks for the recipe , best of luck to paul with the swim. Happy birthday jalna and welcome home Gemma, what a busy day today 💕
Shelley K
August 9, 2017 at 3:30 pm
Explains why my baking is always so shite…it may be that pinch of resentment I always seem to add at some stage of the proceedings … that and my utter inability to remain in control of my work space
David
August 9, 2017 at 3:57 pm
baking trouble as always Shelley K – keep up the great work 🙂
Thunderbird
August 9, 2017 at 4:38 pm
Fantastic blog Lisa.
Really whetted my appetite for a soon to be return to my favorite slice of BnB.
Nurse j
August 9, 2017 at 4:56 pm
Thank you for the birthday wishes Lisa and Edwina, best way to start your (birth)day. xx
Suzie P
August 9, 2017 at 6:49 pm
Love it!!! And thanks for the recipe, yay! 🙂
Gemma
August 9, 2017 at 7:57 pm
Great blog and photos, Lisa. Makes me hungry reading it!
Gemma
August 9, 2017 at 7:58 pm
Thanks Ed, good to be back. Hope you feel better soon. xx
Lisa B
August 9, 2017 at 8:35 pm
Thanks David
Lisa B
August 9, 2017 at 8:35 pm
Thanks Matt
Lisa B
August 9, 2017 at 8:36 pm
Glad you enjoyed it Jacqui
Lisa B
August 9, 2017 at 9:08 pm
But that is counteracted by the cup of mirth and the kilo of quick wit you bring to every occasion Shelley
Lisa B
August 9, 2017 at 9:10 pm
Thanks Thunderbird, we all look forward to your return in to the fold. Many celebrations will be had
Lisa B
August 9, 2017 at 9:11 pm
Pleasure Suzie. Enjoy baking!
Lisa B
August 9, 2017 at 9:12 pm
Thanks Gemma. It’s so good to see you back from your travels
Paul
August 10, 2017 at 6:26 am
Thanks, Lisa. Unfortunately my swim was cancelled. Very disappointing, although I knew this was a possibility from when I first considered the challenge.
Paul
August 10, 2017 at 6:28 am
Thank you to all at B&B who were there to help get me in the water early or accompany me on yet another lap to Shelly, or simply those taking the interest to remind me of why
I was pumping out all the miles.
Shelleyk
August 10, 2017 at 6:35 am
Bugger
Dilemma
August 10, 2017 at 12:30 pm
What a shame about Paul’s swim!!! Devastated for you paul!!😩😩 that sucks!!
Great recipe blog lisa!! Looking forward to seeing your smiling face tomorrow 😜😜
Lisa B
August 10, 2017 at 3:30 pm
Paul I am so disappointed for you. You must feel awfully frustrated and let down by those awful typhoon conditions. We all look forward to your return when we can give you a big hug. I hope you can enjoy the rest of your time away
Lisa B
August 10, 2017 at 3:32 pm
Thanks Em, looking your to tomorrow’s swim and coffee!
Lainey
August 10, 2017 at 5:51 pm
You’ve such a way with words Lisa, great blog! I think you should start writing your book.
So sorry to hear that Paul, you’ve put in enormous effort and hard work. Try and keep positive, we all think you’re awesome.
Jenny Holmes
August 11, 2017 at 8:35 am
What a beautiful blog. Your reminder of the joy of the simple things in life really moved me. Thank you❤️
Lisa B
August 11, 2017 at 6:41 pm
Thanks Lainey x
Lisa B
August 12, 2017 at 9:56 am
Thanks Jenny, I’m glad you enjoyed it x