Let's call this one... Don't give up the day job

Let's call this one... Don't give up the day job

So, Alex, Ollie and Hildi arrive on the beach in front of Al Frescos at 6.50 this morning for a photo shoot with professional photographer (and friend of Ollie's) Pete Webb. We'd been told to wear wetsuits in preparation for a longer stint in the water in search of that perfect shot, and Ollie seemed to fear overheating if the fact that his suit was well ventilated with tears and holes was anything to go by. Pete and Dale arrived with the equipment and we were told to 'ignore the camera' as Dale documented the whole process. As the lens was about 10 inches wide and it was only a couple of feet away this proved difficult. Pete was hoping to interest Zoggs in the shots so free goggles and hats were handed out. Fans of SSF will be pleased to note that club hats were worn underneath.

It was a low tide, relatively warm, with cloud cover but the promise of a bright day once dawn broke. The waves broke fairly gently along the stretch of sand and the ruins of the West Pier were sillouhetted against a beautiful blue/grey sky as we made our way to the water's edge. Instructions for Alex who was to start out holding the flash and a little practice taking shots of Hildi and Ollie standing on the groin looking out towards the Palace Pier, and then into the water. With wetsuits on it was a different experience altogether. No rush of cold, no intake of breath, no swearing. Just a new appreciation of the beauty of the winter ocean at day break which came from an awareness of the camera.

So far so good with this modeling lark. Backwards and forwards we swam. Occaisionally waves turned us over or we swam too far into the shallows (or each other), but Pete was getting something he liked. After a while Alex started to shiver. I guess we are hardy but it's still a January sea, and it's cold when you're not moving much. Swap round to the boys swimming and Hildi on techie duty. Some really nice shots here of synchronised (high - coach will be pleased) elbows. Don't forget to breathe to the camera side (I always thought it was 'make love' to the camera, but I guess I was wrong!). Pete returned to the shore to adjust something on the flash and Hildi was left with the camera so we took a few snaps without the Zoggs hats - just for the club archives you understand - and then it was back to work. Ice-cream head for Ollie so Hildi returned to swimming duty while we waited for the sun to finally peep from behind the clouds, but eventually the cold got to us and our desks were calling us....

I'm sure the shots of getting dressed will be the funniest - Pete and Ollie in matching stripy pants, Hildi unable to even get Ugg boots on due to the cold, the ubiquitous cake (yes, Herman was there). Pete beat us all getting dressed, he would be a candidate for an honorary SSF member if he hadn't been a woose and worn a dry suit. And then, almost as soon as we were clothed, the sun emerged, resplendant, from behind the low cloud, and we saw a glimpse of the money shot that so could have been!

And then our modelling debut was all over. Back to Uni for Alex, work for Ollie, school for Hildi. And off to photograph the mighty Mark Cavendish for Pete and Dale. But I'm betting that their day didn't get any better than this.

Swimmers: Hildi, Ollie, Alex
Photographers: Pete, Dale
Conditions: Gentle white water on a sandy low tide
In: 7.30
Out: 8.10

Photos - to follow!

This one is entitled: We all 'do a Joan'.

Running along the undercliff in the dark dodging crashing waves while the swell thundered underneath I have to admit I wondered whether I would be getting my post-run swim or just an ice leg massage from the ocean. Joined by Pete and Ollie who had made it to the beach early enough for a proper run we chatted as we returned to our cars for our swimming stuff. Quel Horror and Zut Alors - I had forgotten my sheepskin boots! Ollie had also forgotten his swimming shoes. It looked like another day of cold feet beckoned both of us. We met Alex and Joan on the beach and headed out into a chilly westerly, Ollie failing to get his work shirt to hang on the groin wall due to the wind.

Joan was first off to the water. It was clear she was not going in, a smart lady like her does not mess with an angry sea. Pete, however, is either not as bright or infinitely more foolhardy. He made an attempt, getting turned a full 360 degrees in the process. Next to try was Ollie. He made it in but seemed trapped at the point where the waves reached their full height and began crashing down. He also reported a strong undertow. Hildi decided to follow Joan's example, and soon the boys followed. Sitting in the waves we were invigorated but soon grazed by sand and shingle. Exfoliated, Alex tried again, finding a temporary flat spot. It was not to last. One more Joan style bathe from the four of us and it was off to try and get into our clothes.

In keeping with a late January swim, we consumed out of date mince pies for our breakfast, surveying the bombsite that the wind had created out of our changing patch. Off the beach at 8 ready for the day. Hope everyone managed to get the sand out of their crevices and find feeling in their feet before too long. Still missing Sara.

Swimmers: Alex, Pete, Ollie

Bathers: Hildi, Joan

Conditions out: 8ish and cloudy with a steady drizzle settling in

Conditions in: rough

Oh no! I forgot my shoes!

A very chilly morning I thought, scraping the frost off the car.  I turned the key and it rumbled into life.  Flashing warning on the dash read "RISK OF ICE".  oh no.  that already tells me I will have cold feet until 10am.

Getting on to the beach we all looked round and round thinking we had lost something, and of course we have.  But we had had contact from Domino Sara was doing well so all well pleased.  We marked this swim in her honor.  Looking over the beach it was low tide again.  But hang on a mo, someone had the audacity to be on our beach.  Squinting it became clear....two fishermen were digging for lug worms by torchlight.  We had a couple of stares from them but they went back to digging.  All changed I reached into my bag to get my shoes...Oh no what a numpty.  Still drying out from weds in the spare room.  that tells me I will have cold feet until 11am!

Dashing across the pebbles we hit the sand and ran to the East groyne.  Joan and I a little ahead, stopped and exchanged words with teh fisherman.  He was dressed in warm clothes, outer clothes, wooly hat, anorak, big wellies, wooly socks.  His broad frame and tight-lipped face looked more weathered than the groyne he worked beside.  "You'll get frost bite!" he exclaimed, looking like he was about to rub his eyes thinking he was seeing things. But in true SSF community spirit, and noting I only have 2 hats left for sale I said to him "would you like to join us Sir?" he cackled like an old witch, turned, and went back to digging. 

Joan and I turned south and made our way in.  My feet were already cold from walking across the beach, now the cold water ran over them and I felt like an even bigger sissy.  I re-calculated....I will have cold feet until 11:30am!

But, you just gotta get in.  Joan and I both under, we were joined by Alex and Hildi.  After some puffing andshortness of breath, we were all in, saying it must be nearer 5 degress now!  Hildi laying down some impressive face under strokes we lounged in the shallows and let nature eat away at our core temperatures.  Followig the rush of warmth and blood to the core and brain we stood up and waded back in.  The rush was lovely.

Ran back to the bags and enjoyed warm shower before heading off.
swimmers: Ollie, Joan, Hildi, Alex
in 7:40
out: 7:47
conditions : would give frostbite to a fisherman.

nb: my prediction of cold feet was exagerated at hte time of making it, and I actually warmed up sufficiently not to limp in to the office by 9:30.  - just in case this affects my potential gold award.  Bring on the snow!!!  I need that gold award this year.....

The almighty send off

As we gathered in the carpark for another venture into the drink, you could hear bags rustling.  People had brought with them more than usual and all according to plan.  We headed beach-ward.

Sunrise was daring to start, much to our satisfaction as we plonked ourselves happily at the west groyne, observing the low tide.  The water having turned about an hour ago to make its way back in, and so had already reached the very end tip of the eastern groyne, a sign that you could walk out and swim (just) before hitting rocks underfoot.  ThenDomino and Sara came over the hill and after Alex joined, we were all together, even Herman (if you don't know who that is then you need to come more regularly), and as was requested, several comorant fly pasts.

Sara's last swim for a while, and also her birthday tomorrow, so we treated heer to a personal touch.  All of us bringing something from our own reading collection to lend to her to see her through her lazy days and keep her mind off missing swimming!  Pete went first, a collection of some meaty novels alongside, as you would expect, an introduction to cycling - Domino eagerly offering to look after that one. Then me next, the entire 2011 blog for the lady that has everything except a PC and internet access :).  And a picture book on the coasts of the UK.  Hildi next, very proud of her offering and why not, the history of the Cod.  I don'tknow where you can buy such a thing, amazon no doubt but Sara may not know what amazon is! :)

Joan then followed with what seemed like the contents of her spare room book shelf and CD collection ha ha, fantastic!  A bit of classical music  - to work against some of the thrashy loud stuff from the CDs with a motorhead sticker on - oh, and some Pavarotti (I must boast I have seen him sing at the Albert Hall.  Alex brought a selection , btI didn't catch what they were, please let me know!  Perhaps we have started a book swap club!

Finally the group gave a book as a pressie, you don't have to give this one back sara, a history of Motorhead.  Thanks to Domino and Pete for organising that one.

All feeling splendid we went on to the normal birthday rituals, Paul W attempted to fill Sara's big shoes and compose his own birthday limerick for her.  It went:a little something like this...

There was a swimmer called Sara

Who when it got colder went barer and barer

In January its her birthday which is cute

Lets call King Canute

As she may just swim in her birthday suit

Great stuff Paul.

Then on to joan.  Joan had written an Ode to Sara, (already posted separately on the blog).  I know it sounds a bit pathetic, but I couldn't write this blog next to it, it had to be on its own.  I was quite moved by it - I'm not joking!  In the moonlit beach Joan read her poem and we were all captivated for the next 2 minutes.  The words are beautiful and sincere and just say it all about Sara.  Thank you Joan, I think you have already earned your gold award for 2012!!!!

Anyway, stop muttering you girlie wimp Ollie, get on with swimming.....

We all quickly undressed, except Paul who put more clothes on, and including Domino who had promised to go "shoulders under" today.  So confident of his ability to complete this mission he bought a SSF swim hat and donned it.   Good lad.  Then another sale from the SSF shop.  James, our youngest and bravest meber, grabbed one and so with the whole gang capped up, we began to warm up by running widths of beach.  Then the inevitable awaited, and without further a do we began wading out.  Some it has to be said slower than others.  With the low tide bringing with it the creeping death of a freezinf cold water line slowly moving up your body, some ran and some waled, some dived in and some gracefully lowered in like a 1930's lady.  I won't mention names as it doesn't really matter, we all have our own way of dealing with the cold.  All in and some that swam a little further out over the rocks joined feet in a circle of floating star shapes.....quite peaceful thing to do as you watch the sky turn burnt pink to burnt orange.  All of us mesmorised until suddenly woken by the fact our bodies were giving into the cold, we turned and came out.  Sara last out, hanging on to the last few minutes.

But the treats kept coming, a perfect sunrise, Herman devoured and another world class tin of chocolate brownies, we laughed our way to 8 o'clock and trudged up the beach. Sara and Domino apparently going home to a fire stoked by three drunk oyster catchers.  I missd the start of that conversation, perhaps the cold had got to us by then!  Really lovely morning, and something special out there today, just lovely.

swimmers: James, Paul W, Joan, Sara, Domino, Ollie, Hildi, Pete, Alex
paddliers: Sharon
non swimmers: nervous mum Helen :)
conditions, peaceful and quite dreamy.

Ode To Sara

Dark and stormy
Cold and grey
Sunrise
Cormorants fly past
Oyster catchers skim away
And Sara is at play.

Jaws white horses
'Let's take a chance'
Ducking and diving
Croissants are beckoning
And she's off to France.

Gardening, allotments
Squashes yellow and red
Chickens honeybees
Flapjacks chocolate brownies
Sea Swim Fitness is well-fed.

Seaweed laver and nori
Triptych on easel
Dogfish purse on shingle
Nude women tingle
The artist
And our own water weasel.

"I got proper whacked"

"I got proper whacked"...That was the line that came out of one of the swimmers mouths today as we took our chances against the big pounding waves breaking on the shore, to dash across a gap in those waves, and make it to safety just 10m out.  But who would say a line like that?  I wonder....
Perhaps a white-legged landscaper going in for the first time up to his knees (which itself heralded a cheer from his companions)? surely not, he was more worried about blinding people....; perhaps an experienced sea maiden, who has nipped between these sorts of waves on this beach for two decades?...surely not, the quality of the food at the pre-xmas drinkies gathering puts her in a different class not using that sort of language.....; Perhaps the Portugese man-o-war, swimming his first winter non-suited?   surely not, he is just too lovely and focussed on making sure others get in and out safely to worry about his own condition....; Perhaps the grey-headed big girls blouse (or 'illfitting ladies upper garment' as Domino later defined)  who usually winces at the cold, but has a tendency to break ranks and charge in first?...well this being the case again today I don't think it could be him;   Ah, I know, perhaps it was the scull-capped water weasal herself, suddenly allowing the water to get one back on her, even at last she (the sea) thought, I mean these two have become very firm friends as she is in water more than out of it these days... but something tells me no.....; I know, got it, I remember now.....its the recently head-teacher-in-waiting qualified, most educated, commander of the english word etc etc, and Doctor,  amongst us, thats right, she said it :-).  But sometimes it shows that perfect english and grammar like what I do, just doesn't cut the mustard.  So, it left me thinking,( heavens, a bit heavy for a Friday), this is the first of some quotes that I will be posting on the site for followers and visitors to enjoy...what this space.

After joining us in the water, Hildi, Sara, Alex and Ollie made a feeble attempt at swimming a width, but the now 7 degree water was getting to our cores.  Joan and Domino satisfied with waters edge activities looked to be 'enjoying' it as literally only SSF know how. .After some very accomplished exiting we were suddenly joined by Sharon on the beach going for a jog, sporting her new xmas running kit (where did she spring from), she jogged off after some damp hugs and left the rest of us shivering, blaspheming and swearing our way to fully dressed.  Time passed with old mince pies (again)  and some hot drinks. With good wkds wished to all, we departed, with next wednesday in mind - Sara's last dip for a while so a bumper turnout hoped for (where isPaul C?), a limerick on the cards, and a general farewell to be had.  see ya next time!

swimmers: Domino, Sara, Joan, Ollie, Hildi, Alex
swimmers missed: kamakaze Pete
in 7:35
out 7:45
conditions: beautiful sunrise, golden sky, knacker-bashing cold

Much too big and rough for anyone other than Pete

I finished my normal 6:30 am jog and headed back to the car.  Jogging along the seafront in the darkness is a lovely time spent.  Only the odd whirr of a speeding cyclist creeping up on you and making you jump.  But today was a little more exciting, as the sea was also trying to join me on the undercliff prom.  The waves lashed against the wall, spiling their contents skywards, and then the strong sw wind taking the contents about 30m alng the promenade.  Huge clumps of seaweed and I'm sure gerzillions of microscpic life form landing out of its natural place.  Too late to worry about all that life gone to waste, I had to return  (this time withthe wind behind me) to the advancing SSF bods keen to get their weekly fill.  Up to the carpark, and I past Pete, who I realised at that point was unaware of what lay ahead.  A high tide with seriously unhappy windy bits.  Grabbed my stuff form the car and returned o the beach only to see Pete dragging a large container from the lappnig sea.  A ship container about the size of a mini hot tub was beached.  Obviously thrown overboard during the night.  Its origin was given away by the printing on the side.  Portsmouth fishing.  I wish they would keep themselves to themselves, I don't know.

Anyhow, I unleashed a thought on Pete as we brought the container up to the top beach (that was after pete had to run back to rescue his ag from being gobbled up some some serious incoming waves).  Why don't we go in a thte beach further East which is sheltered by sw winds.  Ok, he said, up for anything and the breakers looked hungry for blood on our beach.  Soon after, Joan, Sara and Domino (nick named 'the donkey' for this blog) joined us and we marched down to the said alternative beach.  Having arrived it didn't look quite as quiet as before, but hey ho, we were there now.  we stripped down after a bit of chat and the wind was popping over the groyne giving us a chill.  down the equivalent of a red ski run of shingle to the sea ad in we went.  well, I say in we went.  Pete was first, dodged a couple, dived a couple and was suddenly out there, showing off his masterful waterman skills.  Joan next up, tried a couple and the jaws closed on her, avoiding a sudden pulverising she was content with sitting onthe shore and letting it all wash over her.  Me next, shoeless I went in to knee deep.  I knew a couple more steps and I would reach the shelf and either have to get in or run back.  but as a wave broke during me decision, a rush of about 3 ton of single washed over my numbing feet.  painfull!!! note to self, wear shoes in wild water.  I was beaten back and had to be content with wathcing the master at play already out there.  Sara next, opting to follow Joans lead and ooh and ahh'd as the freezig water washed over.  Feeling rather wimpish, I gave up and internally gave myself a slap, but some days you just have to know when to give in.  Any how, content with watching the huge breakers hit the undercliff wall not 50 meters away, and also loving Pete's attempts at body surfing /dredging the bottom of shingle, I battled to get dressed and once joined safely by the others, tucked into left over mince pies and a whole flask of tea.  It was proper cold air temp.
hail the hero of the hour, Pete.

swimmers Pete the pacific creature, Joan the sitter, Sara the ooh-er and Ollie the shoeless wimp.
non swimmers.  the cheerful donkey.
in, 7:30
out 7:40
temp, I wouldn't know but my feet felt cold.
conditions: bordering on armageddon.

Sea Swim Fitness welcomes 2012...

And so the year began...I surveyed the empty wine bottles on the kitchen worktop and gazed out the window.  The weather looked surprisingly promising although the forecast suggested a deterioration.  I had an hour and a half before I would meet the public so better get in to gear.  Load the car up, and head on down there.  The beach was deserted, a few dog walkers showing the calm before the storm.  I began to set up the gazebo, and over the hill came Paul who helped greatly.  Soon after, the gang arrived, with bar-b and food being set up.  Some very notable fancy dress efforts were unveiled, as people began to sign in.  Guest swimmers came forward and it was lovely to see some familiar faces from last year return.  Thanks to everyone for supporting the event.

The spectators and swimmers slowly gathered on the beach, perhaps 120 people approx, and I called a pre-swim safety briefing that included a large glug of rum to warm our hearts.  Within a minute or two, we siad GO!!! and all galantly trotted into the sea.  Cheers from the beach and cameras flashing the hardy souls waded through the advancing breakers.  With Fancy dress outfits holding out very well, people enjoyed body surfing and looking around at fellow swimmers.  Too many brilliant solo performances to note, so will have to let you see from the pics.  Returning to shore I passed topless Christine who was wading in and clearly having a blast.  Up to get changed and take in hot drinks, as well as lighting the bar-b.  After getting changed it was time to get folks into the tug of war.  The huge rope nearly spanned the width of the beach and as we called for two teams everyone came down to get any inch of rope they could.  A huge heave ho and the "ladies" team to the west slowly etched out a lead.  Eventually winning the first round it turned to best of three.  Some additional members added to the team (you sneeks) ensured a second win and humiliating defeat for the "mens" team as they all fell to the floor and were dragged along.  I think some payback next year will definitely be on the cards. Then it was the turn of the wonderful people of the club to do what they do best.  Eat.  All sorts of fayre was on offer including some delicious roast potates from Pete.  Special mention to pete for mannig the bar-b and feeding the five thousand.  Thanks to everyone for contributing to a lovely feast, the day would not work without all your help.  thank you!!!
Proceedings drew to a close understandably as the weather turned for the worst.  A clear up operation ensued and we all drifted home on a high, after such a good day.  Pics to follow shortly....

swimmers: many
in: 11:30
out 11:50
conditions: fun and messy with a naughty rip tide