Bikinis and Beaches - Fun in Numbers

1947 - the year Paula Stafford is credited with becoming the first Australian

manufacturer of bikinis. 400 - stores sold her bikinis by 1952.

10,685 - the number of beaches in Australia, as counted by the Coastal Studies Unit of University of Sydney.  These beaches dot approximately 36,737 kilometres of coastline.

Number One – in the world for the beach with the whitest sand is Hyams’ Beach, south of Sydney.

40 – the number of solar cells in high-tech swimwear designed to charge your MP3 player and other small devises while you take in the sun.  The Solar Bikini is custom ordered and is 80 hours in the making. PS this is one for those who don't want to get their toes wet!  SolarCoterie.com.

Visit an art gallery in your swimsuit!

There's something uplifting about having art out and about.  There's something especially freeing about being able to appreciate art in your swimsuit! We find these inspiring, how about you?

Wendy Sharpe's multi-panelled mural of Australia's most famous 'mermaid' Annette Kellerman, poolside at Cook + Phillip Park in Sydney. 

Sculpture by the Sea - in Bondi on the East coast and Cottesloe on the West coast - not to be missed.     

And The Winner Is....

CONGRATULATIONS ANGELA!

READ HER STORY HERE...

I'm have to start this story by pointing out that I'm a rather large busted small woman.

After having baby number 2 and finally dropping most of my baby weight I decided that I deserved a little indulgence and spotted a bargain at one of the Sue Rice sales - a gorgeous tankini with a zip at the front.

Unfortunately it was the end of the swimming season when my tankini arrived so it lay unused in my drawer until my youngest started swimming classes a few months later.

About the same time my youngest started swimming he also developed some new talents, one that included a fascination with clothes, and removing them... He learnt how to unzip his sleeping bag, how to unzip his all in one pjs, how to unzip and remove his jackets... His carer at day care had also informed me that he would often sit on her lap and wiles away his time zipping and unzipping her hoodie... my son, it seems has a thing for zippers....

Fast forward to Saturday swim classes... Usually, being a Saturday class dear Dad has the pleasure of accompanying master 1 into the swimming pool, but on this particular day I had somehow drawn the short straw.

It wasn't until I was getting ready that I reached into my draw and realised that I had a fabulous, brand new, Sue Rice tankini to get myself into. I have to admit that everything else flew out of my mind as I pulled on my new flattering swimsuit and admired myself in the mirror....

I was a little excited at the thought of showing off my new swimsuit as I swept my bundle of joy into my arms, and joined the Saturday class that consisted mostly of Dads and their bubs.

Less than 60 seconds after getting into the pool master 1 discovers my zipper......
z
z
z
z
z
zzzzzzzzzzip
and out they float - to squeals of delight from my youngest.

I can even begin to describe the horror. I felt like a porn star let loose at nursery school!

My son still has a thing for zippers.

Me? Not so much anymore!

My lovely tankini is in retirement for the foreseeable future!