A party for Roger

The King Edward's Bay Swimmers gathered for a celebratory lunchtime party in Tynemouth today.  The occasion was a delayed celebration for Roger's birthday.  Elaine's garden was the venue.  The menu included cucumber sandwiches, cheese and olives, all washed down with sparkling wine.

YC hastens to reassure readers that the KEBS had been out in force for their morning dips this weekend.  Furthermore, hardy souls such as Roger walk each day from Earsdon for the pleasure of a morning swim.  They'll be there tomorrow morning if any reader fancies joining them.  Sunshine guaranteed (possibly).

The KEBS wish Roger happy birthday

Elaine and Roger

Here's to Roger

Annette receives a helping hand with her glass

swimming in the slow lane, or travelling in the fast lane?

Celebratory birthday swims at Kings Edwards Bay are clearly catching on.  YC saw in his birthday with a morning dip - and very pleasant it was too.  For readers wondering just how many years young he was - click on the photo below.

Today he achieved a swimming first: in company with Chris Smith he swam from King Edwards Bays to the Long Sands.  Conditions were perfect - a flat calm and a high tide.  The visibility was great - with all the rocks and seaweed on view.  Unlike the morning dip, YC and Chris were attired in full wetsuits.  Chris wore a snorkel and flippers, while YC opted for goggles and front crawl.  Apart from a few gentle waves around Sharpness Point, the sea was calm and the swimming enjoyable.  It beats a pool any day and, what's more, it's free.

birthday swim at KEB

how old?

For those who prefer a slightly swifter mode of transport to swimming, you could:

• check out Concord at Manchester Airport
• go on a steam train on the Settle to Carlisle Railway

Tim & Gill Walker have been doing both - see below.  Lest readers think that they live their life exclusively in the fast lane, YC hastens to point out that Tim & Gill also climbed Cartmell Fell in the Lake District.  There was a welcome seat on the top, where Tim was delighted to rest his weary limbs.

Happy Birthday Emma!

Emma Duff celebrated her birthday in fine style this weekend.  On Saturday there was a dinner at the Birtley Avenue HQ attended by Duffs, Lois & Jayne.  The wine and songs flowed in equal measure.  The upstairs neighbour is prone to sing along to pop ballads all day long.  So he would no doubt have been thrilled by numbers such as "My Brother Sylvest" and "Minnie the Moocher" sung mf - mit feeling!

Today there was a gathering on the beach with the King Edward's Bay swimmers.  After the obligatory dip, the swimmers enjoyed a breakfast of coffee, smoked salmon sandwiches, and cake - amongst other culinary delights.  It's rude to reveal a lady's age, but a clue is given in one of the photos below.  The weather stayed fair, and the sun even came out for 30 minutes.  What better way is there to celebrate a birthday?

click here for a few more photos 

swimmers in the bay

in the sea

the assembled throng

guess the age

Britain's Hardy Sons

Who says The North Sea is on the chilly side?  Mr & Mrs Rev T have been braving it all year round.   So has Emma, and Matthew joined them the other day.  Here's the proof from King Edward's Bay.  As Rev T often quotes from Para Handy - "I'm one of Britain's hardy sons!"  Photos from Emma.

Play It Again, Matthew

James & family called into Tynemouth at the weekend.  After a stroll on King Edward's Bay, there was an enjoyable dinner at the Percy Gardens HQ.  Matthew has stayed on for the week.  This evening he honed his musical skills - playing the piano before turning his hand to the bodhran.  The tunes flowed thick and fast - Will Your Anchor Hold, Advance Australia Fair, and Scotland the Brave (complete with James' alternative lyrics of The Old Tigerleer).  The neighbours were deeply grateful, and Grandpa didn't enjoy it at all.

on King Edward's Bay

dinner at the HQ

the band in full flow

with an appreciative audience

Back in Blighty

YC is back home.  Amazingly it's warmer in the UK than Australia, even in Tynemouth.  With a flat calm sea, conditions are perfect for a dip.  YC has managed a length of the Long Sands sans wet suit on a couple of occasions.  Readers will be relieved to hear that he doesn't adopt the Rev T style of swimming.  When asked if he wore a wet suit for his morning dip, Rev T confidently replied: "I don't wear anything!".

YC has posted his photos from Australia on his flickr site(click here) for those who are interested.

Lions win the series

Lions 41 Australia 16

What a game.  After two nerve-shredders, the third test at the Olympic Park, Sydney was superb.  The Lions started well from the off with a try by Corbisero after 2 mins.  They were soon 19-3 up after Halfpenny had slotted 4 penalties, and the Wallabies were down to 14 men with a prop in the sin-bin.  But on the stroke of half-time, O'Connor scored a try for Australia.  With more pressure early in the second half, Australia reduced the  Lions' lead to 3 points.  Halfpenny slotted a penalty, but Australia were soon back on the Lions' line  and were pressing for a try.

But the Lions held out.  They cleared their lines and Jonathan Davies followed up a kick to relieve the pressure.  Gaps started to appear in the Wallabies' previously impregnable back-line.  After a break down the left, Sexton scored a try near the posts.  North followed up with another try, then Roberts set the seal on victory with a try on 68 minutes.  Now the celebrations could begin.  The last 10 minutes saw Australian supporters trooping for the exits, while Lions supporters enjoyed every moment.

After the game, YIC grabbed an exclusive interview with Warren Gatland who said: "I would like to thank all our fans for their fantastic support - especially those in the Turks Head Tynemouth and Tristan Miller in Canada.  We could not have done it without them.  I must apologise to Rev T for the stress of the first 2 tests - but I'm sure it is all worthwhile now.  I hope we made the trip down under worth while."

To which YIC replied - "You did."

at the Olympic Park

the stadium



Lions kick off the test



Lions supporters celebrate at the end