Solo or Sociable?

Now, I'll be honest....and this is a bit of a shocking revelation perhaps for a waterblogged sister...but I'm a bit unsure about social swimming!

I guess I am a bit of a loner, a bit of a moocher, a bit of an old grump but recent tales of crowded swim spots has made me glad to be a lonely Lincolnshire lass pootling about on my solo dips.

Don't get me wrong swim mates out there - I love having the company of another like minded cool water friend from time and have some precious memories of shared swims. I also love to make a big splash from time to time with a big gang - check out The Jolly Japers http://jollyjapers.blogspot.com/

So here's to lots of lovely Lincolnshire lonesome times again this summer - time to reflect and ruminate!!

Swimming and a State of Mind

Once again a cool swim comes to my rescue...

...have been distinctly blue today and have called on the heroes to lift me back up - Thanks again!

Isn't weird how lack of self confidence translates into dithering on the water's edge? On a cocky top of the world kinda day I'm in the water like a otter (ok, not a very flattering analogy, but go with me on this one!)

On a less ebullient day I'm standing up to my knees looking at the water, worrying about fishy friends, wondering what the f*** I'm doing even thinking about a swim...

....but I always get in, and I always quickly feel so much stronger, more positive, happier, all that good stuff. On a really good evening like today, the happy effect spills over into a bit of a zen calm and that brilliant calm and happiness takes over - very lovely!

Only downside was the dead fingers and toes an hour later - zen trance all very well but at some point logic and reason has to kick in and tell me to GET OUT!!!

Not all days are sunny...

Friday evenings after work became a bit of an unintentional ritual for me last year - a swim in the lake to restore my enthusiasm and perspective always works...

.... have to say though, the water was NOT calling to me this Friday evening - choppy and a bit murky; I was too hesitant to get in at my usual launch spot so mooched around looking for a more appetising location.

Superstition makes me think that if I bottle it one time then I'll lose the will to ever get in cold water again. I stood like an idiot up to my waist for a good ten minutes superchilling the lower half of my body before I finally managed to go for full immersion and hasty swim out to centre of the lake. The wind was gusting across the surface, got a face and mouth full of wave which spooked me a bit - still relaxing into this year's swimming!

Anyhow, honour is restored - no long walk of shame back to the car with dry hair and dry towel!

Sun is shining for Mother's Day - maybe a little dip later?