BRING IT ON JERSEY!

Well dear readers, the hour approaches as I head off to Jersey for my 44 mile round Island swim.

I have trained hard and feel strong. This week my beloved Nene has been cool as the rains brought the temperature down to 15C with an increased flow so I had a taste of winter again.

I will endeavour to get tracking information on this site, wifi permitting!

The weather looks fair so hopefully I will get in the water Friday or Saturday.

Bob Seger playing on Planet Rock as I write. How good is he!

GARMIN, OH MY GARMIN!

I am in love.

Not only with all my lovely girls but with my new love, my Garmin 920XT.
This was a leaving gift from my colleagues at school. Wow!

Here are a few things that I have learnt since I started swimming with it on Saturday.

- Magic exists.

- I was never actually swimming as far as I thought I was!

- It goes beautifully with my new MacBook air and produces the most amazing information.
I will definitely benefit from the data and improve everything!

This time next week I will be getting ready to swim around Jersey. Still doing big swims but will taper down and get myself rested and ready. Can't wait, c'mon the weather, behave please.

Have Neil Young's greatest hits in the car and I'm trying to see if I can get to the river within 2 songs.

EGRETS I'VE HAD A FEW

Well dear reader. What a week.

On Thursday I spent what seemed like half the day in the river. All this week the water has been magnificent, calm and placid with beautiful sunshine and no one at all around.

Well, this brings me to my headline. As I was swimming through the lovely wooded area at Aldewinkle I noticed a dazzling white bird sitting on a log on the side of the river. At first I thought it to be a Heron, perhaps an albino.

But no! This was, as confirmed by knowledgeable people, an Egret. Not a baby eagle as 2 people have said to me, but a gleaming white Egret and and these birds have moved into the area from  France. They jumped into a lorry at Calais and got out at the A1 services at Peterborough.

Lots of Ks this week, more of the same as August approaches.

ADIOS MUCHACHOS! (Children only!)

A teacher I am no more!

I am writing this from the sanctuary of my retirement pad, which..............is the same as my normal working and living pad.

It's a great feeling not having to think about work for a few weeks as I am using the time to build up the miles as my Jersey swim approaches. I had my leaving do on Saturday night but still managed to flop into the river for 5 Ks on Sunday morning.

I am feeling fit and rearing to go, I even went for a run this morning, well more like a semi controlled stagger which sent me into a healthy sweatfest!

Biggie in the river tomorrow, going for a 6 hour.

New website is progressing. News soon.

Blackberry Smoke tickets have arrived. Can't wait.