NORTH SEA ADVENTURE

I had a lovely swim at Aldeburgh over the weekend. The North Sea was at its best, brown and lumpy.

Temperature wise, it was not too cold and I felt comfortable swimming. The main problem was fishing lines cast in from the beach as I had to avoid them as they are impossible to see in the water.

It was great to get a sea swim in, probably the last before Gibraltar.

I did a much longer swim in the river today as it was nice and sunny and warm(er!). The water was nice and smooth and although it was only 7C it felt ok with the sun on my back.

Counting down to the end of term next week, plenty of miles in the river and pool and then off to the Med!

Everything at school is now becoming the last, yesterday last refereeing performance, today last Maidwell Chase cross country. Retirement looms!

Planet Rock sounds good on my new DAB car radio.

GIBRALTAR LOOMS!

Where did March come from? It is incredible to think that at the end of this month I fly to Gibraltar for my Straits swim.

Although I have been swimming in the river all winter this will be a tricky swim as I haven't had the chance to swim very long outside. My long swims are pool based at the moment but I hope the temperatures rise in the next few weeks.

I am going to swim in the North Sea this weekend as the temperatures look to be in double figures, virtually tropical.

My fitness is pretty good at the moment and I will alternate speed work and big distance swims over the next few weeks.

C'mon Black Caps. A Kiwi double World Cup for 2015.

TOASTIE CORNWALL

Just spent 3 days in sunny Cornwall and I managed to get 2 good pool swims and a sea swim at the beach at Looe.

The surf report said that the sea was 11C, I don't know about 11C but the water was far, far warmer than the mighty Nene and I managed to get a reasonable swim in rather than a longish dip.

All go for my Gibraltar swim now, really working hard at getting my speed up. Can't wait!

Just got Blackberry Smoke's Holding all the Roses. Great.

NEW HORIZONS!

Dear follower, I have made a life changing decision this week and decided to take early retirement from teaching. I will finish at the end of this school year.

I have opportunities that I wish to pursue outside the teaching world, notably motivational speaking and involvement with swimming events. This of course will also enable me to look at other swims to do throughout the year rather than in the over priced, expensive rip off school holidays! Huzzah!

Bookings are now being taken. Please feel free to e mail me.

The river was the coldest ever this week with all the snow melt so a long dip rather than a short swim! I am powering up my training in the toxic pool as I now leave for Gibraltar next month!
Wow, time has flown.

Blackberry Smoke have a new album out. Southern rock.

HOW COLD ACTUALLY IS COLD?

The first bad day of snow around the place today so I took the opportunity to get into the river!

Unbelievably I did not see a single snow flake all day although places all around had blizzards! The water was a balmy 3C with and air temperature of 2C with a sharp cold wind. My Dry Robe is just the best thing ever and prevents me getting cold as I try to change quickly. It is creeping up to self lighting BBQ charcoal as the best invention ever.

There are cold water swimming events on at the moment with lots of people swimming short distances. This weekend at Windermere there is an ice Kilometre, now that will be hardcore in the snow and chilled wind. ( my pleasure Colin Hill ) Sadly, I will be at school so miss yet another event.

This proves that it is possible to swim in very cold water as long as you are sensible and don't try to do too much. I am swimming a very short distance in the river as I am upping my milage in the pool at the moment.

I cannot describe the feeling of getting into water that is so cold as it is like swimming over broken glass whilst being stabbed by knives! The amazing feeling after it is worth it all!

My Hi Fi amp died this week, got a cheapie and boy what a difference 15 years technology development makes. My new one gives out a sound quality zillions of times better than my old one.
Cold Chisel got the inaugural blasting. Hello neighbours.

STRAITS of GIBRALTAR CONFIRMED

Look out for a speeding fat boy in the first week of April if you are sailing between Spain and Morocco as my swim is definitely on.

Assuming that I pass my medical next week, I will swim the Straits very, very early in the season. The water should be 16C so that will be toastie compared to the mighty Nene which is most definitely sub tropical at the moment.

Last week the river was pretty hard core as the lock was open and it was big, brown and very bad. A sane person would not have got in, but hey, it had to be done. My swimmers were full of mud at the end!

I am raising my mileage now so I have to put up with the red eyes and the au de chlorine as my companions, roll on warmer weather so I can spend more time in the river.

Just got a digital radio in my car, Planet Rock is getting the doors vibrating.

2015 HERE I COME!

Where did 2014 go? With 2 swims across the Channel with the Diabetes relay team and the Alderney swim to France, it all seems so long ago!

2015 is looking promising with a Straits of Gibraltar swim in the first week of April, a round Jersey in August and a third, "special" swim planned if I can sort out the complexities. More news to come!

I have just had 3 weeks swimming in the USA, I won't bore you again about the fantastic pools there so I won't.

I am increasing the miles in the pool but also getting in a river swim during the week. It is more of a long dip rather that a real swim but I am enjoying the experience of the frozen water. Seriously, it makes you feel invigorated once you stop shivering.

Love the new ACDC album.