the fifth day of summer

[hawkwing_lb]

I've done my first ritual jump-in jump-out (repeat three times, until actual swimming takes place) of the Irish Sea.

I was stiff, before that. Not anymore.

Fish and chips, and walking, and some time in the back garden reading a chapter of Richard Horsley's book on Second Temple Judaism, and now I eat M&Ms - many M&Ms - and relax.

Because, really. This weather isn't going to last.

Comments

[davefreer.livejournal.com]

complete wussies :-) especially me. -The boys do/did 'polar bear' -which means a dive into the dam every tuesday at 6 AM. - we've had -13C at that time midwinter, and yes, they did break the ice. They ARE crazy. Me I love wetsuits. I have a 3 mm I use even when the water is 24. I also have a 7mm and 5mm hooded vest I used to use when I did a bit of commercial diving in the Cape west coast in 10C. I had 5mm farmer john and a 5 mm jacket I used for crayfishing there.
If we got to live in Tassie - I am going to have to get a new 7mm. I dived there this last winter and the water was 15. Beautiful dive, just hell on hands and feet and ears. But catching spiny lobster, spear fishing or even abalone means spending a long time in the water.

[davefreer.livejournal.com]

-13 Air temperature at night

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't swim when there's ice on the water.

But it is odd, what seems normal to one and strange to another. I've swum in the Caribbean* in November, and had raised eyebrows. In Gozo in March, the locals asked me wasn't I cold? when I went swimming. It was so warm.

So, you know. Mileage varies. :)


*One holiday, when I was ten, which I shall remember fondly forever, and not just because it was my first overseas holiday.