Brighton, Sunday 27th November, 5pm

Leaving Dorset on Sunday morning the weather was perfect but the sea far too rough to swim. Resigning myself to another dry day I headed to Brighton. Three hours later the sun was still shining and I could see only tiny waves. France has brought us many great things (croissants, republican revolution, louise attaque to name three) but today the greatest thing, that I was most grateful for, was her sheltering power against the atlantic.

By the time I made it out for a run/swim combo it was already getting dark although the promenade was  thronged with people enjoying a mild autumn evening. Finishing my run near the Hove border I dithered for a few minutes - so many people about to potentially see me chicken out.. I needn't have worried. The water was almost obscenely un-cold and I could dive straight in without a shiver, (official temp 13deg, this time last year it was under 10 degrees - in fact its a year to the day since our snow swim)

The water smelled unsettlingly of diesel but it still felt amazing. A crescent moon, a few stars and the lights of Brighton town and pier in the distance, floating in warm-ish, calm water, knowing it was only a few days shy of December. Bliss.

Getting changed and still not shivering. A passing dog seemed intrigued by my stupidity and stared at me until its owner called it away. It stayed still long enough to liven up my photo.

SW

Continuing the theme....

MG

... of swimming in films (see Gary Oldman, below) we've got this to look forward to...

Michelle Willams as Marilyn Monroe, swimming in a British Lake in October...

"We worried for weeks beforehand because it can be freezing cold in October," says cinematographer Ben Smithard. "It was an absolute nightmare." When Parfitt saw a break in the English weather, they rushed to the location, where they had to do more 30 shots in four hours. "It was pretty scary," says Smithard. "We dressed the edge of the water so they could get in and out and wouldn't drown." But there was no time to set up lighting for each shot, so they did most of the shoot in natural light, constantly worrying that they were losing their illumination. "It was a horribly messy freezing rush," says Williams, "and it was supposed to be a beautiful summer day. Sometimes half of acting is ignoring the elements." The health and safety supervisor told Curtis the actors could only be in the icy water for 70 seconds at a time. Tents and oxygen tanks stood by. "I'm a director who admires actors," says Curtis, "but I've never admired actors so much as those two going into that water."Williams can't remember ever being that cold. "I'm pretty hearty; I'm from Montana. But that one … I just couldn't bounce back from it. I couldn't get my blood warm. I was frozen to the core." At one point, her teeth were chattering, so they had Williams bite on a washcloth. "I thought I was going to break a tooth," she recalls.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michelle-williams-my-week-with-marilyn-261854?page=2

Sounds like BLISS to me, what's she complaining about? (Jokes).

Swimmers Do Malvern Spa 17th November

Guest Blogger RL

 

West Midlands' answer to the sea comes in the form of Great Malvern Spa. On alighting from the train we encounter the Malvern hills. It's a beautiful sunny day and they appear majestic in the sunlight.We make our way down Malvern high street (not quite so majestic). My google map informs me that we have a 20 minute walk to our destination and although it seems circuitous, short cuts are fruitless and we arrive slightly harassed at a beautiful white building inauspiciously and puzzlingly located in the middle of an industrial estate.

Inside all is calm and I feel immediately peaceful. We are shown to our changing rooms, and once in our robes, feel completely anonymous and immersed like the other robed spa goers into the tranquil cocoon. The pool is impressive, with an outdoor and indoor area, and treatment rooms boast two saunas, steam room, salt room and two experience showers. MG insists in strident manner that we do everything in "the proper order" as outlined by the manual. Feel that this is slightly contrary to spa atmosphere but feel I will humour her, as futile to argue in spa environment. 

All rooms are well functioning and very well looked after and clean, and I'm filled with high hopes for the pool when MG deems fit, and it doesn't disappoint. It's wonderfully pleasant to swim in the perfectly warm pool in the afternoon sunshine. 

We decide a massage and facial are just whats called for, and after a relaxing cup of tea by the pool we head to our respective treatment rooms. I've now been wearing the robe for so long I don't know how I ever managed without it, and when instructed, I find it no trouble to lie on the heated bed and be massaged with essential oils. The therapists are really excellent. After rudimentary questions regarding preferences for essential oils they remain silent, and I can feel all the stresses and strains of life falling away. After, MG and I meet in the relaxation room, where we lie cocooned on beds watching the sea on a giant screen. It reminds me that spring will come after winter, and "next year I'll like spring just for spring, as the thrushes do" (see Charlottte Mew, ed).

Feel utterly bliss and we both agree that we are entirely subsumed by calm, zen like feelings of positivity and light. We go everywhere very slowly and carefully, needing only our robes and exuding essential oils everywhere we tread.

With Blackberry and iPhone cast aside no emails can intrude. We speak only in soft voices and everyone is most courteous and polite to each other. Wonder if they might let me live here? MG thinks possibly not (she has now become so relaxed that she has gone full circle and become stressed), but it's a thought. Back out into the cold night, greasy but well rested and content. A definite tonic for both. 

Ed - the highlight for me was psyching myself up for the "icy drench" - warnings in the manual it was only for the VERY BRAVE only to discover on drench that it was in fact probably warmer than the sea gets in August, at 15-20 degrees, which gave me a very superior feeling. Four days later RL and I are still floating on a zen like cloud of peace and calm and all is aligned in the way of hope. Or something. MG

12th November 2011, Hive, 4pm

Another grey but still and warm day. Its been a better than average autumn swim season so far. However the waves on the beach were bigger than expected. The long roller types with strong pullback. This makes us all cautious and KH sensibly decides to sit this one out. A and I however run in like true addicts. The water is grey and churned but only cool, not bad for mid November. As always the euphoria of being in the water and the views outweigh everything. 

As we are coming back to shore I see the smartly dressed MG arrive straight from work - and horror of horrors, joins KH sitting on the beach! After trying to get out of the sea I could see she was being wise. The pullback was strongest I have known for a while and I had to run out after a wave and get up the beach before the following wave arrived. Not that difficult but a good reminder to be careful round here. A seemed to have no problems however so maybe I was being a bit paranoid?

A quick change and barely even a shiver. Long may this mild weather continue!

SW

7th November 9am Burton Bradstock

Guest Blogger Extraordinaire; RL ("you wear socks too!")

Am cold, in the car, with all my clothes on. Dull and cloudy at Burton Bradstock although the majestic cliffs impress in any weather. There's been a frost overnight and the beach is deserted, except for solitary woman who stares in disbelief as we remove our clothes and reveal beach wear more suited to July. We reminisce fondly about our last summer swim together whilst I eye the sea with distrust, although I point out that 'at least the beach is quiet' (I think your words were...."it's not exactly August is it?" Ed) MG is kind and agrees fervently that this is definitely a good sign. Decide to go in with least amount of prevarication, partly because pebbles are like chips of ice! MG unwillingly remains on beach to procure photographic evidence.

(I like this as it is unclear what you are doing or why you are doing it! Ed)

Fortunately beach at Burton shelves steeply so once in up to one's knees, full immersion is almost inevitable progression from the shore. We swim. Feels very, very cold initially, but soon warms up (!!!). Am defeated before MG who's acclimatisation to temperature is admirable. SW would be proud. Retire to beach to change and both rediscover that tights on the beach are not conducive to ease of beach changing. Tea back in the car warms us considerably and we head to The Bull for bacon sandwiches.

I am sufficiently bold to broach a re swim. But think I may give into wetsuit next time.

Note from MG: extremley nice to have the company of RL who was quite astonishingly brave and savoured her blue fingers with the relish usually reserved for SW. Also, she brings the most delicious tea known to man. I'd like it if she and her sense of humour would move to Dorset forever. As long as she doesn't get a wetsuit. And in other news, not going to do this every time, but check out last year's amazing 7th November (especially you JJ!) 7th Nov 2010

9.30am Sunday 6th November 2011, Hive

MG, text. Fantastic photo of Burton beach masquerading as an island, SW

8.45am. Stumbling back into my room from brushing my teeth I see my phone flashing an answerphone message. "Join us for a swim?" ring out KH's dulcet tones. The day is utterly perfect; golden oaks and clotted cream, which is how this time of year feels in Dorset. But alas! I'm working this morning and much as I want to swim, turning up blue lipped, shivering and bedraggled isn't my ideal look in front of the ex- British Ambassador to Moscow. "No no no" I say to KH, giving my reasons "Gosh…. That's very firm of you…" she says, sounding astonished, knowing how usually I will esquew all responsibilities, friendships, trains, meals, sanity in favour of a swim. The resolve lasts two minutes. By the time I have drawn the curtains and put on my shoes I've given in and am racing to the car, grabbing my bikini, texting KH and SW enroute. I arrive at the beach and see three bobbing heads in the flat turquoise expanse and head towards them at a brisk trot, only detained by Percy's ecstatic welcome. KH later memorably tells me that he never forgets a face. I'm changed and in head spinningly fast. As I splash out to join KH, L and A, the familiar throb across my collar bone and in my upper arms, as well as the brain freeze, is a friendly welcome and I emit a few soprano yelps. But it's easy really, and the company, warm sun and ideal conditions make it a joy.

I slowly swim out and look back to see SW following in my footsteps of ten minutes before and racing along the beach, tripping over Percy. He's made it from bed to beach in twenty minutes, which is impressive for anyone, especially him (some trouble with early mornings…). The others are exiting the water, striding up the beach looking incredibly strong and beautiful and I think again how this swimming is just the most brilliant thing in every way. I swim in as SW swims out and we pass to exchange some niceties about the conditions. I'm wary of getting cold and having been in for ages (15 mins maybe?), I know it's time to get out, though I really feel I could stay in for hours. KH etc are pulling on enviable layers of wool and cashmere – A brilliantly is putting on a boiler suit, which sounds mad but is actually inspired (why didn't we think of this before? When we were having our endless baby-gro conversations maybe? I'm heading straight to Mole Valley Farmers) and depart briskly, all feeling a tiny bit chilled. SW reappears, enlivened by his swim, and we gossip as I rather miserably pull on my TIGHTS (torture - and even worse, filled with sand for the rest of the day) and inadequate fancy clothes for work. In fact though I'm not even vaguely cold, just buoyed up and exuberant (though this does give way to a slow burn chill within about 10 minutes). I leave SW revolving as he takes his amazing panoramic photo of the beach, and stride towards my car. Then, in an alcove of the cliff, I see… people taking off their clothes and pulling on swimming costumes! "Have you been swimming?" they call, and – here they are – the Winter swimmers of Burton Bradstock of whom we'd heard tell but never met, possibly because a) we rarely swam at Burton last year and b) this early morning swimming is a new thing for us and I suspect the truly dedicated always swim first thing…. Anyway, here they are; three serious, hardy winter swimmers who have swum through the winter for the past five years. There is so much to share, and if I could stop my teeth chattering long enough to feign authority, I would share away. As it is, I can only exchange a few statistics, but I'm sure we are all going to collide again over the next few weeks. This feels very exciting!

I start as I see the time on my car clock and turn on my phone. "Umm, MG?" says the voice of the Ex-British Ambassador to Moscow on my answerphone "where are you?!". Diplomatically, an error, but winter swimming? Always worth it.

November fails so far

Poor form from the Dorset contigents - but not for want of trying: I committed the cardinal sin of changing and prancing before bailing, to my shame, rage and the glee of the gathered crowd. The sea has just got too tempestuous in the winds of the last week, and though I'm well aware it's been a horribly long time since my last swim, I'm not ready to die to save my honour quite yet.

...And SW and I had a walk on the beach yesterday during which we very, very nearly lost the most precious of our canine companions, the Hairy Aunt, to a monster wave. And then we got so drenched in a monsoon that we had the DELICIOUS spiced chai latte (yummy) SW had brought, standing in the rain admiring the double rainbow. We are getting all the benefits of swimming without actually swimming (freezing cold, soaking wet, banter and hot drinks). But the water is still warm - SW reports it has got warmer since our last swim - so I'm not yet panicing about a total winter fail.

Meanwhile, on the wider swimming theme, I like these book covers.

ps interestingly (!!) SW, yesterday's walk was the same day as the legendary swim last year when we nearly died so it would have been ironic if we HAD died.

MG

pps from SW -  That drink can only be described as yummy after a freezing swim or a good rain lashing... Under 'normal' conditions its just weird and claggy. My photos do not do the weather or the sea justice from our walk. It was the roughest sea I have seen in ages and despite not swimming I still had to change my clothes and have a bath when I got home!