A SWIM AT THE ARCTIC CIRCLE!

Lizzie and I have just returned from a few days in Iceland. Wow, what a great place.

We saw the Northern Lights every night and if you get a chance to do this, GO, as it is one of the most amazing things that you will ever see. Our photos are rubbish so if you want to see the lights look up the magic inter web.

We also went whale watching but must have got on the wrong boat as our boat turned into a seagull watching trip as there weren't any whales or dolphins in sight. The seagulls were pretty boring as they just sat there. They could have mated or something but it was probably too cold.

We had a great afternoon at the thermal pools, wind chill -12, 40C in the water, just magical. The pools also had 2 x 50 metre pools so I took the chance to put in a few Ks,  my northern most swim ever. Not quite the Arctic Circle but pretty close.

Had my swim medical today. Fit as a buck rat. I was asked to donate my body to science but I would rather wait until I am dead.

Led Zep are huge in Iceland. I come from the land of ice and snow................

BACK TO THE GRIND!

Well the New Year seems long, long ago and so the count down to my Channel date begins. It was a bit comforting to say that I was in the Channel "next year", now it is just over 6 months!

I have really powered up the training, gym and pool. I have never used gym work along side the pool before and I am really enjoying it. I am amazed how much more I can can do in the gym in just 3 weeks. I am now back into the grind of 3 hour swim sessions. Today I did both pool and gym. Parents night tonight. I will try and stay awake.

The river calls, but it is really, really high at the moment and too dangerous, even for me.

Good to see Lorde got a couple of Grammies. She comes from my part of Auckland. A local girl done good. Besides myself, she is the only other person that I've seen that suits black lipstick.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD TOPS POLL!

Now I know dear reader that you have been holding your breath waiting to see which rock song topped the 1000 best songs of all time. The results have been announced.

1 Sweet Home Alabama
2 Stairway to Heaven
3 Hotel California.

There you go. Can't argue with that.

Now back to boring things like swimming. Actually I have joined the gym to do CV work. Loving it, all that sweat and lycra and that is only me! Gearing up now for my Channel relay and back into the pool to do the hard work.

Yesterday I saw 2 otters in the river at Market Harborough. It was one of the most amazing things that I have seen and I watched them play and feed for 30 minutes. I am easily pleased.

NGA MIHI O TE TAU HOU

Happy New Year dear readers.

What a year 2013 was. Two Channel swims and well over 1 million metres covered in training. Now onto 2014!

This year I am swimming the Channel again, this time as part of a relay for Diabetes U. K. The swim is booked for the week of 11-18 July. I still have Alcatraz on the books but that depends on time and money!

I have just returned from the U S A where I started my training for this year. I have banged on before about the facilities over there so I won't repeat myself, but I am so impressed with what the pools over there offer. It is so nice to swim without having to dodge children and old people!

I have the 4 Hills ski jumping on at the moment. How do you learn to do that? Surely they just don't get up and jump off. I have never seen small ski jumps in Europe, just the giant ones!

Washington 100.3 FM have been playing the top 1000 rock songs of all time. I can't get it over here. Can someone let me know the number 1 song.

Ta.

IT LOOKS LIKE CHANNEL AGAIN!

Believe it or not, my plans for 2014 have changed yet again! This is because I cannot get a definitive answer from the Sardinia pilots about a date so I need to crack on.

This week I have had an offer to swim the Channel again, this time as part of a relay for Diabetes UK. This is exciting for me as it will give me a good Channel swim as part of a team. I am also first reserve for a round Jersey for 2014.

Last weekend Lizzie and I went to Jersey for the JLDSC dinner. It was a fantastic time and I was delighted to receive a commemorative polo shirt and plaque for my Jersey to France swim. I also caught up with Simon , Bill and mum.

I also managed to catch up with Mark Faure Walker, a Maidwell old boy who broke the record for the Jersey it France swim this year. Amazing that 2 of the 3 swimmers that completed this difficult swim this year have Maidwell Hall connections.

Off to America soon. Yippee!

2014 STILL IN THE AIR!

My plans for 2014 are not yet finalised as I am waiting to hear on possible dates for a Corsica to Sardinia swim. I am still looking to do the Alcatraz swim so hopefully will do both. I will keep buying the lottery tickets!

Lizzie came home today from the USA. She had a wonderful 3 weeks with Kate, Doug, Tabby and newly arrived Phoebe Joy. 7 lbs born on the 9th of November.  Just wonderful!

Swimming going well, speed work is getting easier but I am still amazed how hard it actually is. I might treat myself to a nice 3 hour swim this week.

How does Mark survive? He doesn't really rock.

SPEED KING, NOT!

Over the last few weeks I have discovered something that my dear friends have kept from me.

I am not built for speed! OK, this is not a surprise to most of you, but it is a shock to find that 40 minutes of hard, hard swimming is so much more difficult for me than swimming in the Channel for 14 hours. Cream crackered is a polite way of describing it!

I am still planning an Alcatraz swim and have now progressed the idea of swimming from Corsica to Sardinia. Warm water has an appeal. Stay posted and I will keep you in touch.

Lizzie is still away in the US so don't forget that I am available for parties, food fights and cat sitting.

Keep on rocking me baby.