Not so long ago, I used to look out the window into the bay at the sea swimmers and wonder what on earth they were doing going for a swim out of choice in a swimsuit in the cold!

I would walk past them in my thermals, coat, and hat whilst they were smiling, laughing getting changed after the swim… why I thought would anyone be smiling after that it’s ridiculous and cold!

then I am not sure whether it was a mix of end-of-season boredom, my usual setting myself challenges that seem insane at the time, or the amazing charity I wanted to help, but the words ‘dip a day’ caught my eye whilst aimlessly browsing Facebook. The next minute I’ve uploaded a sponsor page, and I’m stood at the slipway where I so often stand fully drysuited up but this time I’m in a fricken bikini and it's October, I’m of course side by side with my partner in crime in most things, Adam. I am not sure if Adam felt sorry for me, also was bored, or if it has become the natural thing for him to support my craziness. But somehow here we both are.

I want to quit immediately but I never quit, and above all my mum has located my sponsor page and sponsored me already… crap!

The first swim was exhilarating, I think by the fact we didn’t die and that even after a summer of cakes and snacks provided by staff and lovely customers me, and adam don’t do too bad and managed to score a 5 in a pretend Dive master timed swim.

The days progress, some easier, some harder and I am forced again to not give up due to the ongoing sponsors and the pressure to upload some kind of evidence that we are doing this, or maybe the look of Libby ( who has now also joined ) excited face that she is going swimming.

Then…

I am not exactly sure when this happened but I started looking forward to the swims, one day I was traveling, so I have to take a cold shower instead. I mean don’t get me wrong I don’t feel like I cheated here, in fact, a 6 am freezing shower is far from pleasant. but I missed my swim. as in actually missed going in. This feeling of aliveness and freedom it seemed to give.

there were days that I was grumpy and didn’t want to get in or tired but every single time no matter the weather that I got out I felt so good.

Things went further and I started swimming with friends, meeting up with people to swim, and sometimes even cooking breakfast after. The biggest shocker of all was that I was feeling less cold in general and I wasn’t having to tell each customer and person around me how cold I was 1000 times a day and how you can’t do anything when it is cold! In fact, I started to not even mind being cold when I was. and as it happens you can still have a great time when it’s cold.

We also raised 260 quid for surfers against sewage too so that was worth it just for that! follow them to check out other events they do.

We are actually still swimming at least once a week just for fun… and for Libby who is now addicted to it.

so turns up these sea swimmers are not crazy at all and were on to a good darn thing all along!

We now even stock all the supplies you need for sea swimming wetsuits, booties, gloves, and goggles to name a few you will even start to see us in this gear now

come to check it out

we actually know what we are talking about now.