Hove, Sat 18th December 2011, 12 noon

Stormy weather has kept us out of the sea for weeks. When it's been calm enough for me to swim in Brighton I have either been in school or it's been dark. Night swimming in December not that inviting (I did try twice but chickened out!). And wild Dorset has been out of the question. Waking up to a calm-ish, sunny-ish sunday in Brighton was just too good an opportunity to miss. A quick run then straight to beach. Gently wavy grey water, lots of bobbing gulls, tides of dead starfish brought in by the storms but not a single person.

 
Even the promenade was quiet as it was half covered in beach shingle - a sign of how rough it's been.

 
I have learnt to change and get in quick - less thinking time the better. It was cold but not freezing. I was worried it would be hard after such a long break but I dived in after less than 30 seconds of cormoranting and was away. So good to be in the salty water again. I could feel the old euphoria almost instantly.

I kept it short, I have gone a bit soft these past dry few weeks. After five minutes I was starting to cool down so swam back and clambered over the shingle. So happy to be able to swim again!