Pacific Jules

Wednesday 28 February - feeling blue

Under moody skies, reflecting the sadness of the Bold & Beautiful community who have lost stalwarts Ted de Jager and Justus Potgeiter in the last week,  after a few stellar days with dolphins and turtles bringing smiles and joy,  mother nature decided that she also must mourn... sending choppy seas and lots of bluebottles... the planned memorial swim to remember two kind, generous men who contributed so much to the B&B and wider community is deferred now until Saturday, 7am - please watch the B&B face book page for details.  

Guy's artwork lifted the mood as always, adding colour to an otherwise dull day.

water temp:  a warm 23.6 degrees

air temp at 6:30am:  24.5 degrees

conditions: moody, invaded by the "blue peril"

vibe: sombre

not many dared to venture into the "blue peril" infestation, and those that did, felt its pain.   Kylie and Murray attempted to breach the blue wall with some success but not without pain, Murray made a quick exit to tend to his wounds....

Capless suffered.....

Brave Caroline nearly breached the "blue wall", and combined with a run on the beach to Queenscliff playing slalom with the bluebottles on the sand

The bench was quiet today.   Holding dear the memories and stories from Ted and Justus and all who shared them.  If only the bench could talk, however it will forever keep its secrets.    Henrietta, Alan, Jim and Iron Man Geoff quietly holding the fort.

Ian gave his morning wall pep talk, advising of the "blue peril" and options of harbourside, coffee, chats and, really, anything else.   The Drinks Express swam harbour side which is a rarity!   

Liz and Rob travelled all the way across the Spit Bridge from Balmoral only to join the "coffee group" instead. 

the Guvnor, shanny and john all dipped, avoiding bluebottles

others chose the coffee & chat option! 

Our hearts go out to Lainey, Charlie and Soleil De Jager (& of course Freddy), and Charl & Susie Potgieter & their families as we and the ocean wrap them up in our hearts with huge warm heartfelt salty hugs...

Stay safe, stay kind and look out for and after each other, wrap up your friends and family in warm, huge, salty hugs,

Jocelyn

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 27th February - A Ray Day

A grey morning seems to have put people off as it was very quiet this morning but that made for a very relaxing swim not having to dodge the crowds. The water was a pleasant 23.3c, calm seas and good viz.  A few bities that pushed me to get out after enjoying a leisurely swim looking for the turtle that had been spotted by the 6.30ers, no success there but did spot an assortment of rays, a numb ray, an eagle ray and a fiddler ray all swimming about, not together.

Welcome back Cath, who has been travelling Australia for the last 18 months, with her daughter Sarah and also Lindsay,  who is back from holidays. 

I joined Edwina,  Sid (another one who has returned), Lainey and Karen in our turtle search. Ed continued and was successful so we were cursing. 

The bench doesn't feel the same without Ted and Justus. We're all missing them.❤️

Jane and Roz having a post swim natter.

Edwina got some great shots of what she saw today. 

 

 

Plenty of fish around. 

The rain held off while we were down there but is back again !

Have a great day .

Amanda 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 26 February 2024 A two dolphin sunrise

5:58am

B&B Execs


Welcome to the Rutherfords from the Firth of Forth in Fife


6am crew.

Bootie clothes & sprint

Proud Mary

Brendan the man.

Simon, was the scrape with the rocks or the road?

Enjoy the day stay safe.

Simon

 

 

 

Here is the link to:

here is the link to:

JK Trivia night Tickets, Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite - 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jk-trivia-night-tickets-846533734187?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

 

2024 Summer Badge Ceremony – Sunday 24^th March at 8 am

You’ve done the hard yards and earned your Winter Badge(s), so why not collect them personally with all the pomp and ceremony the B&B can muster. Our Summer Badge Ceremony will be held at the Shelly Beach Reserve (please note new venue) on Sunday 24^th March, at 8 am, straight after the regular swim! Everyone is welcome, family, friends and swimmers alike. Bring along $10 for each badge you have earned (credit cards will be accepted at this event). $5 will be donated to RFW for each badge collected at this event, so, if you can’t make it, get your friends to collect your badge for you. Or if you have previous badges you have forgotten to collect, now is the time to do it.

As usual, we are raising funds for the Royal Far West, so a $5 per person donation will be payable on entry, and .... RFW will provide a FREE breakfast (sausage sandwich and a drink). Bookings are essential to ensure there is enough food. Book here NOW https://www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/2024-summer-badge-ceremony.html

Friday 23 February 2024 Turtle by proxy

Again today I heard from a swimmer that there was a turtle in the surf. It seems that while I cannot see the turtle myself, the turtle is happy to contact me and send greetings via another swimmer. Well I think that is pretty good. 
The surf was big today and strong. Direct experience of swimming is the best - not via proxy!

 FFF was on today. Some of those guys really know how to read the waves. See Peter's approach to the running in - he is getting the current to do the work

"Mum for mum" TRIVIA NITE is on Tuesday 5 March at the Steyne hotel at 6pm hosted by John Kelly. There are a lot of swimmers who think this is a great charity - see all the cozzies !

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jk-trivia-night-tickets-846533734187?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwAR2_zyZ2pYwv6x9vx2nnfZQ9vyk29j9Pmdoe16Clcl73kZna5l7RWoPw_fI

 

 

 

 

Thursday 22 February Blog

The days are getting shorter and the 6:30 to 7:00 window is not so bright now.

Good to see some sunshine

Drinks said it was easy to get out, not so easy coming back in - I came back in quite a bit later in between the Dangerous Current signs (ironic, right?) and it wasn't too bad, and Edwina and Daphne who came in through the flags a bit earlier said the same but by then it was high tide. Conditions change all the time

Styrofoam, the gift that keeps on giving

Swimmers gotta swim

This is Michael. Michael used to be a pool swimmer until his immersion conversion this morning. He was very happy to hear about the sharks in the bay (I can still remember the first time I saw a Dusky Whaler very close to all the swimmers at Shelly and being surprised at the mutual nonchalance)

Visibility approaching Shelly was not great as you can see

 

I posted a few more photos on the Facebook page earlier today but in case you were not aware the blog product has become quite unfriendly especially when it comes to uploading photos so that's your lot here this time.

February is almost over and that means you only have a week left to get your summer badges so if you want a 6k or a triple (or 10k if there's one on this Saturday, sorry I have no idea) you need to get a wriggle on, likewise if you are close to your 30 or 50 target.

2024 Summer Badge Ceremony – Sunday 24^th March at 8 am

You’ve done the hard yards and earned your Winter Badge(s), so why not collect them personally with all the pomp and ceremony the B&B can muster. Our Summer Badge Ceremony will be held at the Shelly Beach Reserve (please note new venue) on Sunday 24^th March, at 8 am, straight after the regular swim! Everyone is welcome, family, friends and swimmers alike. Bring along $10 for each badge you have earned (credit cards will be accepted at this event). $5 will be donated to RFW for each badge collected at this event, so, if you can’t make it, get your friends to collect your badge for you. Or if you have previous badges you have forgotten to collect, now is the time to do it.

As usual, we are raising funds for the Royal Far West, so a $5 per person donation will be payable on entry, and .... RFW will provide a FREE breakfast (sausage sandwich and a drink). Bookings are essential to ensure there is enough food. Book here NOW https://www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/2024-summer-badge-ceremony.html

What am I listening to? Well, lots as usual and I am lucky because I'm going to some live music the next 2 weekends. Last Friday I saw Ralph McTell with the delightful Belinda. We also say the exquisite Jenny from the starting blocks there.

Here's a bit of Ralph (not THAT song)

Tuesday 20th February - Murky waters?

Today was my first swim back after being away so I was keen to get in. A few people were talking about all the rain we've had in the last 24 hours and that it may be polluted so I almost just dipped. But then the returning 6.30ers said it was lovely and clear so off I went. Thankfully the sign didn't go up till after I swam or I may not have.

The beach was pretty deserted, people put off by the weather ?

Sheena,  Suzi and Peter at dog bench central. The big dog had no owners so has now been taken to Twobytwo vet.

Tracey, Ian and Henrietta manning the board but didn't see any newbies. Apologies to Ian for the bad pic. He normally has 2 eyes.

Looked like the returning 6.30ers were a bigger group than the 7am ers!?

Pippa and Kate in mother- daughter matching bathers. They enjoyed their swim. Warm at 23.1, pretty flat, bit of a rip coming back in and good viz considering the rain. I saw a wobby and a big ray. 

Dave with yesterday's swimmer of the day,  Caroline,  fellow blogger. 

Jac down visiting with her kids, Emilia and Toby.

Lovely swim but now not such a lovely day. 

Enjoy anyway. 

Amanda 

 

Big swell has gone for now

I arrived in time to see the 6:30 folk disappearing into the sunrise that we could only imagine due to the cloud cover

 

Minkie

Everyone admires the Temperature Guy's artwork. 7792 insta followers and growing!

Girls just wanna have fun

What could they be looking at? 

It's always fascinating!

 

Standing at the Point with feet flat on the sand, a very low tide

So much seaweed today!

 

Is this the MoD (Men of the Door) uniform?

 

What am I listening to? A song the Beatles thought might not be good enough

Happy Valentines Day Lovers

Siyabona 💋

Temperature 22.9 C and ocean up.

Our community is full of heart, one only has to mention it 😉♥️

The build up  to this from the bench crowd was epic it has to be seen 





Every second Tuesday of the month is a gathering of swimmers for Schnitty night at the Skiff club - put your name down with Jon Howard  and please feel free to join meet more of the BNB  community. 



Jonny’s shares are high  ♥️

Happy Valentines to our lovely community ♥️


Hambe Kahle ( go well and safely) 

Di 

💋 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 13/02/2024 - Great friendships made at our swim!

It's my blog so I'll post the first pic of my good old Dad, Trevor, 89 years old, Birmingham born and bred. Here he is connecting with his mate Ian (who he met through Ted and I and the swim :-)) He reads the blog every day back in Brum! He's got 3 more weeks in sunny Sydney before going back to soaking and seriously cold Solihull.

The swim today was beautiful but waves were big and not much break between sets. Well done if you got through them and well done if you swam from a different part of the bay too!

Some of the 'Mermaids', the swim group that probably parties the hardest of all the groups who swim with the B&B. Fun Fridays often involve shots of Fireball, cake and prosecco post swim. #fridaymorningsarethenewsaturdaynights 

Dave, Michael, Brian and Marco are part of the 'MODS' or Men of the Door. Dave was congratulating Brian on his swimming today. "You're getting better" he said. Brian has been practising for well over 60 years, thanks Dave!

Kelly, Jan, Fi and Mary looking very colourful before their swim and those beautiful smiles!

Kas and Nicola met at the swim and have become big buddies. I love the way this swim connects people :-)

Welcome back Roz from Portugal. She's currently house sitting for friends made at the B&B. She may be looking for more house sitting opportunities if anyone needs someone...

We had a lot of fun with these hats when Drinky and Penny brought them along to a B&B Mum for Mum fundraiser!

The Guv with his gstring and furkin last week!

Wobbies and a Stingaree

Two B&B legends

Proof the Mermaids can party.A Mermaids pool party!

Well done Andrea on setting up Lombok's first swim school to address the 13 drownings that occur each day. Here's a few words thanking the B&B community

The B&B (all of you!) have been an amazing support in more ways than one. From backing last years Christmas in July Party, to the hundreds of donated goggles and the ongoing kindness and mentorship of you all.

This project was never in the plan but I could not be more thankful and proud of the collective community effort that has now brought it to life

We opened two weeks ago and it has been a huge success. Yesterday I ran lessons with the Islamic Deaf society. The kids had so much fun and were so excited to receive their goggles - thank you… check out the video!

I’ll be sure to keep you updated… this is just the start There is such beauty in the fact that the B&B swimming community can impact and build a swimming community 4534km across the sea.

 

Happy swimming and making friends guys!

Lainey

 

 

Monday 12th February 2024 - 5:45 DX Sunrise

I swam with the 5:45 crew.

Fiona’s sunrise

DX before & after

DX before & after

JOTW




Marco & Rainer

Bruce Tim Mike James Bruce

Girls + 1

 

22.7

Lainey

Stay safe enjoy

Simon