Pacific Jules

Monday 21st October 2019 Fiona is looking for a 3 bedder in Manly

Sophie & Fiona

Pre-dawn at the point.

Bootie balancing.

Sarah guesses there were 190++ swimmers.

Michael.

Bernard.

7am.

Boys on the wall.

I like Brents coffee cup camera.

Fiona Jill & Jo.


Sun deck flagged for repairs.

Tim welcomed Sarah home to Manly.

Have a great week ahead

 

Simon


The Monthly Dinner – 12^th November 2019– Guest Speaker

 

The Next B&B monthly dinner for the year will be held on Tuesday 12th Novemober at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. Our guest on the night will be Allan Sparkes CV, OAM, VA FRSN, who is one of only 5 Australians in the past 44 years to be awarded the Cross of Valour (CV), Australia's highest bravery decoration. Allan will speak about "What is the rarely recognised element of courage and why is it so important today?" Is courage about overcoming fear? willingness to risk your all, an inner strength? perhaps it is about choice, leaving a place of safety to go to a place of danger? But how often do we consider courage is about the willingness to care. In his talk Al Sparkes will touch on the times he has had to be courageous to help others and the times he stopped caring about himself. And what he did to recover his life from the pits of hell.

Please book early for this event as it is sure to be popular. 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 atwww.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/bb-bluewater-monthly-dinner.html .    

 

 

Thank you

20/10/2019 - Great swims in history

This morning after the swim I'm doing the brain cancer charity walk from Shelly Beach to Curl Curl, so as I'm super-organised and a little short on time I prepared most of this blog yesterday :). Also, I took some great close-up photos of a wobbegong this morning but just discovered that the memory card was missing. So apologies for no swim photos in today's blog. 

I'm forever impressed with those courageous, sometimes a little crazy, ocean swimmers who attempt first crossings and channel swims. So today's blog will look back in time at a selection of some of the greatest swims in history...

The Hellespont Strait (also known as the Dardanelles). In 1810 Lord Byron, an English poet, politician and revolutionary, and Lieutenant Ekenhead, successfully crossed this infamous stretch of water that separates Europe from Asia. I suspect a wager of sorts must have kept them motivated. That's Lord Byron below, sporting pre-swim attire rarely seen amongst the B&B crew!!

Next up, and much closer to home, is the Maori legend of the first crossing of Cook Strait, which separates New Zealand's north and south islands. According to the story, the beautiful Hinepoupou made the 22km crossing girded with a small amount of seaweed. Since then, official records show that only 126 swimmers have completed the crossing. Looks nice, but I reckon it would be cold...

One of my favourites would have to be the Strait of Gibraltar crossing, around 16km from Europe (Spain) to Africa (Morocco). Swimmers must dodge all number of obstacles including ships - about 300 per day pass through the straits - and even killer whales! Congrats Mark Mallinson on completing this swim last year. Here's what it looks like from space...

I would be remiss to exclude the English Channel swim from this list and it was first crossed by Captain Matthew Webb in 1875. Too many stories of courage and perseverance to detail here (including by some B&B swimmers), but I was particularly impressed with Sarah Thomas, a cancer survivor who earlier this year became the first person to swim the channel 4 times without stopping. Here's a GPS record of Sarah's swim...

As good as all of those swims were and are, our daily trek across Cabbage Tree Bay and back has to rank as one of the best in my opinion. 

Stats: 17 degrees (felt cooler to me) and it seemed like loads of people heading in for the 7am swim.

IN LATEST EXCITING NEWS…..   THERE’S A BOLD & BEAUTIFUL WINE !!!

 

There is a new set of wines, just for Manly!

They're a white and a red named 'The Bold' and 'The Beautiful' dedicated to “us” - all the swimmers who take to the ocean for the daily Bold & Beautiful swim from Manly to Shelly Beach and back. 

The wines are made by James Becker, out of his vineyards in the Hunter Valley.  David Webster has said it’s been a wonderful journey planning the grape varieties, the style of wines and helping James through the process of making, bottling and labelling the wines. It's a very small run with just 100 six packs available for purchase. Each six pack contains 3 bottles of the red (Shiraz Viognier) and 3 bottles of the white (Chardonnay).

David and James would love to see you at the wine launch on October 22nd at Manly Surf Club where you'll have the chance to taste the wines and nibble on some cheese while David talks you through the story behind the wine. Tasting starts at 6:30pm and runs through until 8pm. 

Please RSVP to David if you’re able to attend at: [email protected]

Just beautiful...

Today I swam early and got a glimpse of what the club area looks like before the crowds arrive. Same with the bay, not a bad experience.  I bet this is what it was like in the early days of the Bold and Beautiful.

 

Sunrise walk to Manly Beach.

Lots of fun down outside the club with swimmers gearing up to get in and see what the temp is like:

 

 

All alone waiting for a friend:

 

 

Middle of my swim:

 

 

A divers bubbles from way below took me out of my deep thoughts:

 

 

I left before the 6.30am group , took a different route, and arrived as their last swimmer arrived, hearing their fearless leader announce: we can all leave once these two arrive! Nice and organised.

 

Some underwater shots:

 

 

 

 

Always love seeing the men or ladies from the club enjoying the sea before their day of work starts:

 

 

Shane stretching before he joins the 7am group:

 

 

John and Errol heading in together:

 

 

All up it was a perfect swim, not too cold and so therapeutic to be in the water. A bit of a bump here and there but nothing challenging.

 

The end of my swim:

 

Both these pooches wanted my ham and cheese toastie, not a hope doggies. Cute enough for a photo mais oui :) 

 

 

Last chance to walk tomorrow morning in aid of a womens shelter , see below:

 

 

https://maryshousewalk.blackbaud-sites.com/  

 

IN LATEST EXCITING NEWS…..   THERE’S A BOLD & BEAUTIFUL WINE !!!

 

There is a new set of wines, just for Manly!

They're a white and a red named 'The Bold' and 'The Beautiful' dedicated to “us” - all the swimmers who take to the ocean for the daily Bold & Beautiful swim from Manly to Shelly Beach and back. 

The wines are made by James Becker, out of his vineyards in the Hunter Valley.  David Webster has said it’s been a wonderful journey planning the grape varieties, the style of wines and helping James through the process of making, bottling and labelling the wines. It's a very small run with just 100 six packs available for purchase. Each six pack contains 3 bottles of the red (Shiraz Viognier) and 3 bottles of the white (Chardonnay).

David and James would love to see you at the wine launch on October 22nd at Manly Surf Club where you'll have the chance to taste the wines and nibble on some cheese while David talks you through the story behind the wine. Tasting starts at 6:30pm and runs through until 8pm. 

Please RSVP to David if you’re able to attend at: [email protected]

Today's stats: temp  ( nearly 22 ) 17.5, 82 early swimmers, 205 at 7am, and 18 new swimmers!

Friday 18 October 2019

The media is awash with stories of the benefits of swimming in cold water and of people aiming for their goals in swimming the English Channel or the North Channel or reaching their own PB to Shelly 

The Bold and Beautiful has its own slice of all of this paradise and benefits on this sunny day. Isn’t it great that the sea has dropped its temperature to give us extra benefits! Who could have dreamed of 16.6 on a sunny October day!?!

 

 

 

There are craybabies appearing!

 

There is a new set of wines, just for Manly!

They're a white and a red named 'The Bold' and 'The Beautiful' dedicated to “us” - all the swimmers who take to the ocean for the daily Bold & Beautiful swim from Manly to Shelly Beach and back. 

The wines are made by James Becker, out of his vineyards in the Hunter Valley.  David Webster has said it’s been a wonderful journey planning the grape varieties, the style of wines and helping James through the process of making, bottling and labelling the wines. It's a very small run with just 100 six packs available for purchase. Each six pack contains 3 bottles of the red (Shiraz Viognier) and 3 bottles of the white (Cardonnay).

David and James would love to see you at the wine launch on October 22nd at Manly Surf Club where you'll have the chance to taste the wines and nibble on some cheese while David talks you through the story behind the wine. Tasting starts at 6:30pm and runs through until 8pm. 

Please RSVP to David if you’re able to attend at: [email protected]

 

 

What I have been reading:

Finished the Dutch House - it was pretty good. About a family with a special house but with its own dysfunctional life like every family to some extent

 

Thanks John for the photos!

 

Thursday 17th October - Feel the fear & do it anyway

I woke up with my old friend this morning - fear.  What if the water temperature has dropped again? What if those blueys are back? What if the surf is too big? And the truth behind all our fears? What if I can’t handle it? And of course fear has an insidious way of staying aroung in your mind like a bad jingle. 

Then I remember all big and small accomplishments begin by overcoming a series of fears about challenges that tempt us to quit, before we even start. To just stay in bed. Success is often just a matter of getting up, keep moving forward, no matter how bumpy or cold the water, or life, gets.
We B&Bers are like that, we get up, and as we keep moving forward we move past the fear and into the ocean of life. And feeling good comes from doing well.

And so the water was 18.8, just a little swell, & only one little bluey off Shelly. Nothing to be afraid of, everything to enjoy. 

As Nelson Mandela said:
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Here are a few of the swimmers who enjoyed the challenge of the morning. 

 

May your challenges be worthy of your accomplishments.

Pete Anthony

 

 

The Stats

Swimmers:  123 (felt like 122.765)

Newbies: 2 (felt like 3)

Temp:   18.8 (felt like 18.897)

 

There is a new set of wines, just for Manly!

They're a white and a red named 'The Bold' and 'The Beautiful' dedicated to “us” - all the swimmers who take to the ocean for the daily Bold & Beautiful swim from Manly to Shelly Beach and back. 

The wines are made by James Becker, out of his vineyards in the Hunter Valley.  David Webster has said it’s been a wonderful journey planning the grape varieties, the style of wines and helping James through the process of making, bottling and labelling the wines. It's a very small run with just 100 six packs available for purchase. Each six pack contains 3 bottles of the red (Shiraz Viognier) and 3 bottles of the white (Cardonnay).

David and James would love to see you at the wine launch on October 22nd at Manly Surf Club where you'll have the chance to taste the wines and nibble on some cheese while David talks you through the story behind the wine. Tasting starts at 6:30pm and runs through until 8pm. 

Please RSVP to David if you’re able to attend at: [email protected]

 

 

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

 

Lucy's Crook.

Your regular Wednesday blogger, Lucy, couldn't make it today.  So as they worked down the list of replacement bloggers they finally came to me.

I admire Lucy's blogs. She remembers everyone's name and always includes pithy anecdotes to accompany each photo.

Well, today you've got me. They say you get what you pay for and since I do this for nothing, pretty well nothing is what you get.

So sit back and here is a snapshot of today.

Lucille come back!!!!

 

 

Bottom of the Blog - the really useful stuff 

And now for something completely different, a word or several from management

There is a new set of wines, just for Manly!

They're a white and a red named 'The Bold' and 'The Beautiful' dedicated to “us” - all the swimmers who take to the ocean for the daily Bold & Beautiful swim from Manly to Shelly Beach and back. 

The wines are made by James Becker, out of his vineyards in the Hunter Valley.  David Webster has said it’s been a wonderful journey planning the grape varieties, the style of wines and helping James through the process of making, bottling and labelling the wines. It's a very small run with just 100 six packs available for purchase. Each six pack contains 3 bottles of the red (Shiraz Viognier) and 3 bottles of the white (Cardonnay).

David and James would love to see you at the wine launch on October 22nd at Manly Surf Club where you'll have the chance to taste the wines and nibble on some cheese while David talks you through the story behind the wine. Tasting starts at 6:30pm and runs through until 8pm. 

Please RSVP to David if you’re able to attend at: [email protected]

The Stats

Swimmers:  183

Newbie:  3

Temp:  18.8

15/10/19

This is Kate (Ekaterina) who has been swimming with the Bolds for 3 weeks now. She first came down when a friend of hers asked for some running advice so she came to Manly and she saw the pink caps. She has always swum in pools, but has been scared of swimming in the ocean. She comes from Hornsby 6 mornings a week, and does Parkrun at Galston on day 7. Originally from Russia, she is amazed at how many different sports she has access to in Australia. She has chosen to do triathlons because she can get 3 sports done in one :) 

 

Unprepared

 

Prepared

 

Master and apprentice

 

Some of the WOWs happy to pose this morning

Karl said he swam into the only bluebottle in the ocean in the 6:30 group, and has an uncanny ability to do so.

The evidence!

 

Tom drinking from a mug with a company mug. He moved to Sydney fairly recently on a Management Traineeship with Swire in a shipping division. "Esse quam videri" meaning "to be, and not to seem to be". Another swimmer who has dived headfirst into BnB has hardly missed a day since their first swim.

Sun peaking through the clouds mid swim

A thumbs up from Alex at Shelly. 

Ian on one of his last swims before his departure on Thursday to the Americas. He and Pauline will be gone for nearly 8 weeks to what sounded like just about everywhere.

Obligatory dog photo - found Buddy waiting patiently for Georgina.

The apprentice becomes the master! I was told that Jesse smoked Natalie on the way back to Manly and left her for dead somewhere in the bay. Good to see she eventually made it back to shore.

 

Bottom of the Blog - the very useful stuff 

And now for something completely different, a word or several from management

There is a new set of wines, just for Manly!

They're a white and a red named 'The Bold' and 'The Beautiful' dedicated to “us” - all the swimmers who take to the ocean for the daily Bold & Beautiful swim from Manly to Shelly Beach and back. 

The wines are made by James Becker, out of his vineyards in the Hunter Valley.  David Webster has said it’s been a wonderful journey planning the grape varieties, the style of wines and helping James through the process of making, bottling and labelling the wines. It's a very small run with just 100 six packs available for purchase. Each six pack contains 3 bottles of the red (Shiraz Viognier) and 3 bottles of the white (Cardonnay).

David and James would love to see you at the wine launch on October 22nd at Manly Surf Club where you'll have the chance to taste the wines and nibble on some cheese while David talks you through the story behind the wine. Tasting starts at 6:30pm and runs through until 8pm. 

Please RSVP to David if you’re able to attend at: [email protected]

The Stats

Regulars:  150

Newbie:  

Temp:   18.5 degrees (yay!)

14/10/19 - Flow of Forgiveness

Look back as you leave the surf. The hollow that remains in the surface of the water is the amount to which the ocean harbours judgement upon you. This ability to so easily flow and forgive would never be mistaken for weakness. If anything it speaks volumes of a far reaching immense power, of endurance and resilience. Despite the capacity for tempest, it’s the serene fluid dignity of the ocean that garners our admiration, secures our protection and has us yearning to return.

 

(Click to zoom...)

 

 

 

 

With love,
Andrew Maher.
Foundation, Neuro-Structural Optimisation. Collaroy (mention you swim with B&B)


Stats:
Water temp: 18°
Swimmers: 159
Newbies: 2

Reasons to be grateful

Just sometimes on a drizzly Sunday morning, when you are hurrying across wet roads in the grey, 9 degree dawn, you question why you have forsaken the comfort of your cosy bed.

“I’m doing the blog today!” is the grumpy retort to myself. On the way to B&B Central you nod to other swimmers, check out the conditions and begin the routine – cap, goggles, earplugs, etc, chat then chat some more. Soon, that grumpy voice is silenced by another telling you to acknowledge your good fortune and to be grateful.

So today I give you the 10 things for which I am grateful.

1.There may be rain, but how grateful are we to have this precious gift from the heavens. For us in the ‘burbs our gardens and lawns are green and bursting with new growth.

2. The friends! What an opportunity to meet so many new and interesting people to not only swim with, but to share so many other joyous occasions!  Each time I swim, I have the opportunity to see these beautiful and amazing people.  Each with their perfectly unique stories that inspire, amuse and sometimes stretch the realms of believability.

3. The sea that ceases and suffices itself.  Plunging into the sea gives you such a sense of renewal.  We are so lucky to have this watery health spa.

4. My ability to swim.  I was told by a Buddhist friend that she begins each task by being grateful that she has the ability to complete the task.  I am very grateful that I can swim (‘cause I’m a hopeless runner).

5. The opportunity to celebrate. Today David cracked the 1,000km – and yes there was cake – and it was Corinne’s birthday.

6. The serene marine creatures we see each day.  The sunny flash of the yellow tail, a Blue Groper darting about the rocks, the Wobbegong that blends into the shelly bottom of the bay, the Rays, the Sand Whiting.  So much nicer to see them here than in submerged in ice at a fish market. (However, not seen today 'cause it was a bit murky).

7. That bottle of hot water on a wintry morning.  It makes all the difference.

8. The après swim coffee.   This is the only time I drink coffee – and it is soooo good.  Made even better with the pleasure of sharing the morning sun with friends.

9. Being here to enjoy this moment.

10. My friend, and Sunday Blog Meister, Gemma who has somehow enticed me back to blogging.  

What are you grateful for? 

 

Mary

 

Bottom of the Blog - the very useful stuff 

And now for something completely different, a word or several from management

There is a new set of wines, just for Manly!

They're a white and a red named 'The Bold' and 'The Beautiful' dedicated to “us” - all the swimmers who take to the ocean for the daily Bold & Beautiful swim from Manly to Shelly Beach and back. 

The wines are made by James Becker, out of his vineyards in the Hunter Valley.  David Webster has said it’s been a wonderful journey planning the grape varieties, the style of wines and helping James through the process of making, bottling and labelling the wines. It's a very small run with just 100 six packs available for purchase. Each six pack contains 3 bottles of the red (Shiraz Viognier) and 3 bottles of the white (Cardonnay).

David and James would love to see you at the wine launch on October 22nd at Manly Surf Club where you'll have the chance to taste the wines and nibble on some cheese while David talks you through the story behind the wine. Tasting starts at 6:30pm and runs through until 8pm. 

Please RSVP to David if you’re able to attend at: [email protected]

The Stats

Regulars:  about 180

Newbie:  7

Temp:   17.9 degrees

Sunrise:  6.17 am

Sunset:  7.06 pm

Weather man lied again last night

Heavy showers along the coast in the morning. Willy Weather concurred.  But they were both wrong.

Plenty of blue early morning sky greeted the 6:30 swimmers. I just managed to catch this group before they headed off (the parking gods were only moderately kind to me this morning).

Who needs a plane when you can swim?

Unfortunately the recent rain resulted in a bit of rubbish on the beach as well as in the water

Water temps a bit lower - what is going on?

I'm in awe of Roger's skill. This cartoon took him all of a minute to draw. And all this time I thought he was just a bullsh!t artist

A few newbies being indoctrinated sorry inducted by management

Just as I thought no one was showing up, the regular crowd appeared, possibly a little bleary from Friday night activities, or maybe the 9 to 5 grind.

Someone (was it Lisa?) dropped the trigger word (whale) 

Shaun's attention was drawn to warm blooded wildlife while all other eyes were turned seaward

Warm up shoulder exercises?

Amelia - 2 weeks to go. Legend 

Shelley

Amelia again with some admiring WOWs

The Liquorice Allsorts

Bummer of a shot

Heading back

No fish today, water was too murky. They were there but.......

This is the original Capless Dave on the ski, trailed by a conga line of WOWs, and Capless Dave The Younger

Then Jonny raced past on a double ski, distracting the WOWS.....

affording Dave the opportunity for a speedy escape

Which way did he go?

Back on shore, here is Monty Murray-McNaughty with Lyndall. Special kudos to fellow tennis tragic Murray who went to China to watch a tennis match. As you do.

Stats: Newbies - 2 that I know of; swimmers - 94 ticked, almost certainly more; water temp - you know that already

And now for something completely different, a word or several from management

There is a new set of wines, just for Manly!

They're a white and a red named 'The Bold' and 'The Beautiful' dedicated to “us” - all the swimmers who take to the ocean for the daily Bold & Beautiful swim from Manly to Shelly Beach and back. 

The wines are made by James Becker, out of his vineyards in the Hunter Valley.  David Webster has said it’s been a wonderful journey planning the grape varieties, the style of wines and helping James through the process of making, bottling and labelling the wines. It's a very small run with just 100 six packs available for purchase. Each six pack contains 3 bottles of the red (Shiraz Viognier) and 3 bottles of the white (Cardonnay).

David and James would love to see you at the wine launch on October 22nd at Manly Surf Club where you'll have the chance to taste the wines and nibble on some cheese while David talks you through the story behind the wine. Tasting starts at 6:30pm and runs through until 8pm. 

Please RSVP to David if you’re able to attend at: [email protected]

What am I listening to? It's my habit to pick something I like on Youtube Music and then let it do its thing but not today.

This is quite bizarre. Shonen Knife is an alternative rock band formed in Osaka, in 1981. Heavily influenced by 1960s girl groups, pop bands, The Beach Boys, and early punk rock bands, such as the Ramones, the trio crafts stripped-down songs with simple, yet uncoventional lyrics sung both in Japanese and English. (this from Wikipedia).

A very strange set of influences for a 3 piece female Japanese band. They are playing the Metro on November 8 and 9, I think I might go.