Here’s the Spaniard blogging, so make sure you have Google translator with you!
As many of you know, I spent the last two weeks in Colombia doing some Christian Peacemaking work with the Mennonite World Conference. And what happened was that instead of teaching, I learnt a lot. Specially about being thankful with what we have: families with 6 kids making around AUD2000 per year and being thankful because they have something to eat almost everyday!
So my idea for today is to have the B&B thanksgiving day. I’ll start:
I’m really thankful to Rusty for the day he asked me to join the swim group. One of the best decisions ever!! Thanks!
And here we have some other examples of grateful people this morning:
Sarah, John and Drinkie are thankful because they never let themselves down at 6:30am, even when it’s rainy!
Alex is thankful to Tim because he is not putting more pressure in that hug.
They are not thankful, it was cold and they were trying to warm up…
Julia is thankful for her new tv show in ABC!! Make sure you watch it at 5:30pm!
So… What are you thankful for today?! Share it!
Another topic… This Saturday starts the Winter Triple Crown and this time even with a trophy! The rules are:
– Top 8 place getters get points 8 through 1.
– Special Winter Triple rule: half points if you wear a wetsuit and you are ‘The Bishop’, ‘The Spaniard’, ‘Irish the Alex’ or ‘Scrappy’.
– We will have a pink buoy to mark the finish line.
To show how the trainings are going, here you have a series of pictures of the rocky area this morning…
Shalom everyone!
Marc – The Spaniard
Bottom of the Blog – the very useful stuff
Monthly Dinner – Bluewater Cafe, Tuesday 10th June at 6.30 pm
This month’s guest speaker, Chris Miller, is a freelance cameraman who worked on the TV program Getaway for 20 years. Chris has travelled to many exotic locations where he has filmed both above and below the water. Chris will talk about his experiences swimming with Whale Sharks in Western Australia and cage diving with Great White Sharks in South Australia.
The cost will be only $20 a head and includes shared entrees, a selection of main to choose (incl a vegetarian option) and corkage (for byo wine only) and a little thank you for the staff. All beers (including four pines beers!), wine and deserts an optional extra at the special price of only $5 each. BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL, so book here now!!
Winter Badge season kicked off 1 June.
You know you want one! There are 14 weeks in the winter season. To qualify for the prized Cold & Bold Badge you simply need to swim 20 times within the season ensuring you have swum in a minimum of 7 different weeks. So, attempting to do it all in the first few weeks does not count!!
The Biggest Morning Tea ever
Help B&B regular Miguel Maestre (aka the Crazy Bull) fight cancer this May and June, and make this year’s Biggest Morning Tea the biggest ever! Please share his video or maybe even organise one with as many friends as possible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqn8zLeMJZk&list=UUoqsI4BQjKoFanMQOy5VEIw
B&B i-Log
Really if you haven’t been using the B&B i-Log then you must be new!! Almost 75% of swimmers are now using the B&B i-Log. Log your swim ANYTIME of day using this really efficient and easy way to ensure your swim is recorded in the daily attendance and on the Pacific Challenge. To get started, send an email to Ian Forster ugoboyo@gmail.com (This is not a link so please copy and paste into your email). He will check that your email address is activated on the attendance register then send you info on how to get started.
Staying safe
We have had seen the return of some serious waves and rips this past week! Were you prepared? Remember that there are no badges for scaring yourself silly! While it is great to extend your boundaries, it is important to know your limits. Do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf. To read, or even download, click here.
31 comments
Mariah
05/06/2014 at 10:53 am
I’m thankful that I made it in the blog once again. Sneaked my head in the pic of Lesley, Rainer and friends.
Tim
05/06/2014 at 10:58 am
Awesome first blog Spaniard.
I love that shot of Scrappy Scotty and I at the end. He got me on a tactical move around the rocks. Well done Scotty! Our exhaustion is pretty evident in that shot. Classic!
Bring on the triple crown.
Jones
05/06/2014 at 11:01 am
I’m thankful for YOU Maximus … and your sandy feet !;) LOVE your “broken” English .. never stop saying David Atenbrough !
Great blog … and, umm, coffee ?? x
Jane
05/06/2014 at 11:03 am
I’m thankful that we have such marvellous photographers in our squad. Now Mary has joined the illustrious ranks of Official B&B Photographers to the OzMus with this gorgeous pic of our Garfish friends!
http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Eastern-Sea-Garfish-in-Cabbage-Tree-Bay/
Tim
05/06/2014 at 11:03 am
Clearly something happened behind that rock because I am beating him by a body length… Only to lose!
Jane
05/06/2014 at 11:12 am
Did you know that one of our swimmers, Penny Berents, is a Marine Invertebrates expert at the OzMus? Would someone with the technical expertise to do so please put Penny’s photo on the Blog here so we know who to ask about animals without backbones?
Rusty
05/06/2014 at 11:25 am
Love your blog Marc! Great topic. So much to be thankful for. Friends, family, health, where we live, laughing and enjoying the company of the amazing people in the B+B…..
I’m also thankful for the small things: getting a great coffee, running and making the ferry on the way to work, finding a clean pair of underpants at the bottom of the draw JUST when you think you’ve run out…
I never get complacent about any of it. Every day is like the first day I arrived. I’m thankful for that.
I’m also thankful for red wine. Amen.
Rusty
05/06/2014 at 11:26 am
Yes, I thankful for sandy feet as well….. :/
Elizabeth
05/06/2014 at 11:34 am
And I was thankful to see you gracefully swimming by toward the point today Marije!
JeffwithaJ
05/06/2014 at 11:43 am
Apt topic Marc. I also am very thankful that Rusty persisted in encouraging me until I started to swim. I love it and the companionship, easy conversations and coffees that swimming brings. Thanks for your blog Marc!
Lips
05/06/2014 at 12:14 pm
Great blog Spaniard!
What a great theme. I can tell by looking at my fellow swimmers every morning how thankful everyone is for having discovered this magic morning ritual. The smiles say it all.* (except Lesley, who has perfected her grumpy look over years)
Never take it for granted!
Scrappy Scotty
05/06/2014 at 12:17 pm
I am thankful for Tim swimming into the rock this morning and letting me win. thank you.
Thanks to Jules for making B&B so welcoming and the dedicated crew who keep it going (John, Ian, Elaine, Mary, Nick).
Great Blog Spaniard, What a positive angle.
Scrappy Scotty
05/06/2014 at 12:18 pm
Thanks Tim, Im honestly very thankful! haha.
lesbubbles
05/06/2014 at 12:19 pm
That wasn’t my grumpy face Lips, that was my “someone has their hand on my butt” look!
“I am thankful that someone groped my butt this morning”
The Submarine
05/06/2014 at 12:28 pm
Looking at the photo, it’s probably Mariah
Lips
05/06/2014 at 12:31 pm
Yes, Mariah already admitted to that. If you look closely, you can see her face peeking out between you and me. Mischievously smiling. Grabbing bum cheeks with both of her hands.
I believe she had Mary’s bottom too.
lesbubbles
05/06/2014 at 12:33 pm
how close did u study it Sub?!?!? 😉
Marije
05/06/2014 at 1:18 pm
You are making me laugh guys
Marije
05/06/2014 at 1:18 pm
Hi Elizabeth! I think you and I both were thankful for the lack of waves and swell!
Marije
05/06/2014 at 1:20 pm
Hmmm for some reason my name keeps changing from Mariah to Marije and back
Simon
05/06/2014 at 1:24 pm
“Like”
Gracias por el circo de corona triple.
Lindsay
05/06/2014 at 1:32 pm
Great blog Spaniard!
I’m thankful every day for my wonderful friends and family and having found B and B.
Today I’m thankful for having done my ever first winter without wetsuit double and not getting hypothermia, and for the HUGE bowl of porridge with dates, bananas, and maple syrup that I ate afterwards!
ElizabethX
05/06/2014 at 4:12 pm
This morning when the colder water made my blood rush to my core and I felt like I had zero strength in my arms at first I was trying to distract myself from the hard slog by contemplating which one word sums up the Pink Caps to me. I am only a very new newbie (8 swims) but am LOVING it. I considered camaraderie, brave, disciplined, healthy, welcoming and hardy but I settled on generosity. I am very thankful for the enormous generosity of spirit I have encountered with the B&B. Firstly & hugely thankful to Bruce R for nudging and encouraging me to try it and then to he, Ian, Charlie & Kristy for their support and tips that helped such a landlubber actually work up to make the swim. Then to John & Nick yesterday for explanations and allaying further fears on big swells & how to deal with them and to all the people like Bob, Greg & Michelle who have been so friendly & welcoming. Much to be thankful for at the Pink Caps!!!
Elizabeth
05/06/2014 at 4:13 pm
There will be some swimmers thankful for the prospect of competing with speed for the Triple Crown. But what happened to the Tripe crown for the offal swimmers (me) that Ian mentioned. I’ve been training for it
Mary
05/06/2014 at 4:17 pm
Super blog! Well done Marc I do hope that you will become a regular…
Slow Ian
05/06/2014 at 4:20 pm
One thing that concerns me is the pink boy at the finish line. Would that be Storchy?
Sarge
05/06/2014 at 4:25 pm
This is all far too much lovey dovey, touchy feely for me me…..
John.S
05/06/2014 at 4:53 pm
Oi!
Lainey
05/06/2014 at 6:16 pm
I think you should have the gold medal for the offal swimmers Elizabeth. You are so determined, brave and committed. You have swam doubles, 6kms etc and tried to overcome a fear of big surf. I agree with the other Elizabeth that our group is so special because of the type of person it attracts but Elizabeth is amazing. Great blog Spaniard I too am so grateful for this group/activity/ experience that has enriched mine and Ted’s lives so much!
Margot
05/06/2014 at 7:48 pm
Wow man I’m feeling the love and peace all the way up here in the Blue Mountains!
mauricio
05/06/2014 at 10:21 pm
I am thankful to all the fish, sharks and groupers, cuttlefish, turtles, dolphin, whales and old wives, that make this swim, apart from the great people, so special!