The Festive Season

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, happiness and hoping all personal dreams come true in 2009

As some family members are in Melbourne and Karratha we had a small gathering at my daughter Lorelle's place for a cold Christmas dinner of ham, chicken, prawns and crayfish (lobster) plus a variety of salads. Very tasty, followed by plum pudding, custard, cream and icecream! So glad this festive season comes around once a year, I indulge too much!

Boxing Day is for rest / sleep they say - but no, not for us ....... its more celebrations, food, birthday cake - its my eldest daughter's birthday!! Happy birthday dear Karen.

27th December

Scarborough Beach to Trigg Island and Return

A beautiful sunny day - 28 degrees C with mild to strong winds developing. My husband Max is on surf patrol during the morning for the Scarboro SLSC. This is usually an appropriate time for myself to have an open water swim as I can leave my swim bag safely in the surf patrol van.

The swim from Scarborough Beach to Trigg Island and return is approx. 4k. and is my favourite place for ocean training. Today the water is around 22 degrees and clear when swimming out past the breakers. I know when I'm swimming in front of Rendezvous Observation City Hotel as it casts a huge grey shadow over the water. As I keep swimming there are just a few small fish to be seen and plenty of board and body surfers, mostly wearing wetsuits and waiting patiently for 'the right wave' to arrive. The surfers' presence make me feel safe as I encounter six big rips making their way out to sea and also making that part of the water area very sandy and ripply to swim through. Returning from Trigg to Scarborough after a short break treading water, the wind and waves have become stronger making the time to swim back a little longer. It was a good shoulder and arm workout which will be very beneficial. Upon finishing the swim, I spent some time body surfing the waves. It's great to be alive...

View from Trigg Island to Scarborough Beach on a calm day - Rendezvous Observation City Hotel in the background approx. 2km away

A great morning. I was pleased with my solitary swim. It wasn't a long way but I felt strong, confident and pleased. Once again there were no stingers ...... so glad about this! they have a very nasty sting.

28th December

Mullaloo Beach

This is another beautiful beach north of Scarborough Beach and Trigg Island. The beach is situated in a bay and has some reef scattered in places but mostly consists of a sandy ocean bed. The sea is calmer than other Perth beaches making it a delightful place to swim and train.

Every Sunday morning at 8:30am there is always a number of swimmers gathered just north of the Mullaloo SLS Club to train for a particular open water event or just swim for the sheer fun and enjoyment. This morning four of us - Natalie, Alan, Steven and myself decided to swim to 'the point' southwards and return - approx. 5k. The other swimmers are faster and upon my arrival at 'the point' there were three heads bobbing, laughing and chatting - this is a great sport! Thanks for waiting guys. We all swam back to our starting place where Natalie and I decided to keep on swimming. The weather is hot - 36 degrees C.

The swimmers here are mainly members of Westcoast Masters Swimming Club, quite a social crowd who bring a variety of food for all to enjoy after the swim. May this good life carry on through 2009.

Just keep swimming - a breathtaking experience