Michel and Spidey (aka Vincent) Besnard
Spidey (aka Vincent) took his dad Michel down to see the kites at this year’s Festival of the Winds that took place last Sunday. We were very excited to meet Spidey and thrilled when he very kindly showed us his web-spinning talents.
We got chatting with Michel and asked him to fill in the BO (Bondi Observer that is!) survey so we could find out a bit more about him.
“My Bondi story is not so unusual, as a 19 year old gap traveller back in 1996 I first came to Sydney, I travelled all over Australia on buses, camper vans, motor bikes, trains and just about any form of transport I could find and afford. As my start and end point Bondi always held a special place in my heart.
So a decade later when I was lucky enough to be offered a skilled migration position with a global investment bank in Sydney, I jumped at the chance and emigrated here permanently in 2006.
Bondi ticks a lot of boxes for me. Coming from the Isle of Portland [Ed: one of the Channel Islands] I have been surfing and ocean swimming all my life, so the transition to living and working in Sydney felt very natural and it has always felt like home. I have been living here ever since and it never gets boring.
The first hour of my day ideally involves a routine of a cycle to the beach from North Bondi, a walk or jog on the golden sand, and possibly a swim or surf in the crystal clear waters (more likely between Sept and May).
One thing people might like to know about me is that I am an eternal optimist. If your glass is half empty try using a straw and drink it from the bottom up.
Like many people I have had to adapt to lots of change throughout my life. I find if you approach change with optimism it’s often easier and a more interesting experience.
If I had to introduce Bondi to someone who has never been here before I would recommend a swim, some nice food, a cold drink on a hot day and possibly a social gathering in the evening at a local bar.
You really need at least a week to take it all in, and discover the shops, markets, cafes, bars, eateries, Icebergs the Pavilion and more.
Bondi has changed over the years, people come, people go, buildings are knocked down, new ones are built, shops open and close but some things remain the same, which is reassuring. It maintains a sense of community.
I love being a dad and showing Vincent around his neighbourhood. I hope that my son and his generation can continue to enjoy living at Bondi Beach and the surrounding wards as much as I have for the past twenty years.”
PS: Talking to strangers can be fun. It didn’t take long before the number of coincidences started piling up. Remo had spent significant time in the part of the world that Michel comes from. Michel lived for a while in the Netherlands where our daughter has been living for the last 10 years. And it went on!
Birdos by Reubszz
Reubszz’ mural depicts the endangered Regent honeyeater and the eastern yellow robin.
You can see more of his work HERE.
Amelia, Isabella and Gabriela
There was a large cohort of pyjama-wearing year 12 girls from Santa Sabina College in Strathfield walking along the promenade last Saturday morning.
This is the last week of face to face classes before the HSC exams in October and they all came down to the beach for the sunrise.
We wish them all well.
Choker and Envy
We time warped right back into the 1970s when we came across these two on the promenade last Sunday. Back then the Afghan Hound was the dog-de-jour. Think oodle/Daschund of today.
Anyway, they were glorious specimens.
Te with the Book
You’ll find Te on page 71 of the book