Surf Life-Saving Club Mr Bloom: Here and There

# Hello, my name is Mr Bloom

# And I'd like to come to see you soon

# I'm out on the road, you see

# Here and there

# So that we

# Can get together and have some fun

# I'll help you out if there's work to be done

# So, where is it you like to go?

# Call me up and let me know

# What is it you like to do?

# I'll pop along and do it, too

# Cities, towns, the countryside

# I can travel far and wide

# I'm all about and everywhere

# I'm here and there

# Here and there

# I'm here and there. #

Hey, hello there, tiddlers. How are you tiddling? Mr Bloom here.

Apart from gardening, I like going out and about.

I like going here and there, doing fun things

and finding out about new places.

I've been wondering, what do you like to do where you live?

Perhaps you like going to the beach with your family, visiting museums?

ROUTE FINDER CHIMES

Oh, well, it looks like somebody wants to tell me.

-I'm Abigail.

-I'm Joe.

-We're lifeguard Nippers.

We even train in the rain.

BOTH: We love it!

Come for a visit, Mr Bloom.

THEY CHEER

You know what? I'd love to come.

# Whereabouts will I end up next?

# Let's put my Route Finder to the test

# It could be a beach A village or a city

# Museum, or a school A garden so pretty

# A church or a station A river or town

# I just can't wait till you show me around

# Tiddlers, I'm on my way

# So, where am I today? #

Well, here we are. I'm dressed up for the beach and ready to go.

We just need to find those tiddlers. I think this is the right beach.

They're not having a paddle or making a sand castle.

I wonder where they might be? Hang about...

Hey, what's going on over there? Shall we take a look?

Ready?

Ankles together. Chins on hands.

WHISTLE BLOWS

Hey! Hello, there, Abigail.

Hello, Joe. It's nice to see you.

Hey, thanks for inviting me along today. This looks cracking.

So, who are all your friends here?

These are the Nippers and they are coaches.

-And what are you training for?

-To be a lifeguard.

-Really?

Now, I didn't know that tiddlers like you could be lifeguards.

If I wanted to be a Nipper, what would I have to do?

You would have to train in the swimming pool.

You have to train on the beach.

-So, you have to be able to swim if you want to be a Nipper?

-Yeah.

-And how old do you have to be?

-Seven.

-Seven? Is that right?

Are you seven, Joe?

You can be with your dad if you're five.

-What's your favourite thing about being a Nipper, Joe?

-Doing flags.

-Doing flags - is this what your friends are doing right now?

-Yes.

The coaches and junior lifeguards put the flags -

well, they're really just pieces of pipe - they put them in the sand.

Then, the Nippers have to lie down and not look.

Then, when the coach blows the whistle,

the Nippers have to jump up and race to grab a flag.

There they go! But you know what?

It's just like musical chairs,

because there are never enough and the last one there is out.

So, you've got to be able to swim.

You've got to be five if you're with your dad, or seven.

-What are you wearing?

-BOTH: Wet suits.

-That's right. Why are wet suits important?

-They make you warm.

That's right. Sometimes the sea can be chilly.

-If you're wearing a wet suit, you don't get quite as cold, do you?

-No.

Tell me, what other types of training that you do?

-Run, wade, run.

-Run, wade, run? Hey, that sounds exciting, Joe.

Would you like to see it?

You bet I would. So, what do we have to do?

You have to go over there, between the two lifeguards,

and stand there and then we get in our place,

and you have to put your hands up and put them down.

And then that means we have to run around the first lifeguard,

and then run across you, run across the other lifeguard,

then through the finish line and stop.

Wow. I take my arms, throw them up in the air,

bring them down, then you're off. Is that right?

-Yes.

-Well, this sounds good to me.

-You run over to your friends and I'll go and get in the sea.

-OK.

We're here.

Run, wade, run is like a practice rescue.

It's how the Nippers practise running through the water quickly.

Right, so I think I'm ready to be rescued.

If I remember, Abigail said I need to raise my arms up when I'm ready.

Here we go!

Go!

Oh, good running! Good running, Nippers!

Good running! Keep going!

-Second.

-Brilliant!

Fourth.

That was top work. High-five, Nippers!

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

-Wow.

-I was fourth.

-Who won that?

-Me!

-Did you?

-I came fourth.

-Was that good fun?

-Yeah.

-Was that good fun?

You guys were tearing through the water.

How do you run through the water so fast?

You just go like this and run.

-Really, you hold your feet up high?

-Like that.

-Like this?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Is this right?

-Yeah.

And sometimes if you're deep, you go...

It'll help you through the water quicker.

Hey, the Route Finder's going to

show us some of the training we were doing.

All the games the Nippers play help them

practise the skills they need to be lifeguards.

They need to react quickly,

have eagle eyes to spot people in the sea.

And run really fast.

And, Joe, why do you think it's important

to have lifeguards on a beach like this?

Because if they're in trouble, the lifeguards will come and save them.

That's right. If people are in trouble in the water,

then the lifeguards go and help them.

Abigail tells me there have been surf life-saving clubs

in South Wales for almost 50 years.

Now, that's a long time keeping people safe.

What's the craic with these hats?

Why are you wearing these hats in Nippers?

If we got in trouble,

they'd know where we are and they'd come and save us,

-and they'd know it was one of the Nippers.

-Right, I see.

-So, you wear hats so the lifeguards can see you. Is that right?

-Yeah.

-ROUTE FINDER CHIMES

-Hey up! Looks like my Route Finder.

Hey, you know what it's going to show us?

It's going to show us the other things you can do at the seaside.

People have been coming to the seaside for years and years

because there's loads of things you can do.

You can build a sand castle...

..or you could go for a paddle.

Hey, you could watch a Punch and Judy show...

..or just play with a bat and ball.

Or, if you've had lots of training, you could go surfing.

Surfers practise hard

so they can catch a wave and stand up on the boards.

They have to be strong swimmers.

But, if something goes wrong and they need help,

lifeguards can speed to the rescue.

It's great spending time at the seaside.

The relay race is where

the Nippers really practise their speed.

Wow, look at them go!

All that running looks like good exercise to me.

-Hi, Mr Bloom, I'm Tom.

-Ah, Tom. It's nice to meet you.

You look a bit big to be a Nipper. Are you a surf life-saver, too?

Yes, I'm involved in the national team. I grew up being a Nipper.

-I've been involved since I was around eight.

-I see.

Where are you doing surf life-saving now? Have you moved on?

I'm still involved locally, but I've been across the world

to France, Australia, a number of places.

Australia? That's right on the other side of the world.

Did you have to use any of the skills you learnt?

I was racing in the world titles in Australia.

There was a problem where we had to rush in

and save some people, where there was boats hitting rocks.

The skills I learned as a Nipper really helped.

So, the skills they're learning, they'll be able to use them in the

future to save lives, like you?

Exactly. The skills will stay with them for a lifetime.

Jolly good. Are you off into the sea?

-Yeah, just going to catch some waves.

-I'll let you get on. Cheers, Tom.

In you come, Nippers!

Well, you know what? I can certainly see

why you love being part of Surf Life-saving Wales,

because I have had a cracking time today. Have you had fun?

-ALL: Yeah!

-Well, you know what?

I've got to say thank you for inviting me here today.

It's time I hit the road. So, you join me soon when I'll be...

ALL: Here and there!

-That's right. Bye-bye!

-ALL: Bye!

# Where is it you like to go?

# Call me up and let me know

# What is it you like to do?

# I'll pop along and do it, too

# Cities, towns, the countryside

# I can travel far and wide

# I'm all about and everywhere

# I'm here and there. #