Christmas 2008

Christmas morning on Felixstowe beach saw many people about to plunge in for St Elizabeth Hospice. Water temp 4oC with a brisk easterly wind. Several Bennetts arrived to watch and we met Rob Allan who inspired us to join the group. This unfortunately meant that Joe wasn't with us but the adrenaline surge took over and within a few minutes Seamus, Miriam, William and Sean stripped off and plunged in for the briefest 'swim' of the year. We thought a second dip would be more pleasant but was no different! Very exhilarating and finished off with some 'vin chaud'. Next time Joe and after the November training, sorry.

North Pole

Last night I met someone who rather knocks the Felixstowe Ferry crossing and even the Humber Bridge crossing for six. His name is Lewis Pugh and he swam a kilometre at the North Pole and has swum the full length of the Thames to raise awareness about global warming. He's the first and I think only person to have done these swims. He was saying that he is able to psychologically raise his body temperature. So that when he gets into icy water he is sweating. I'm hoping that I have picked up his technique for our Christmas swim. It is worth looking him up on wikipedia to see what he has done.