Icecream head? Mine's a 99.

It was properly dark when the keymaster arrived in the shape of Joan with the means to allow us to enter nirvana.  Yes, it's hut time again!

Unfortunately the keymaster struggled since all had reckoned without the dark and none had bought torches.  We waited as first Joan then Emma blindly fiddled  - then Pete came to the rescue since this was a rare occasion when he had bought his phone.  The sickly greenish light from an early 2000 Nokia was sufficient for us to gain entry.

After the rough and tumble of last week, today was calm and although two degrees cooler on land, felt much more comfortable.  The tide was in and Joan led the charge to the beach - One can only assume that she has hobbit's feet because running on the stones, Pete was in pain all the way.  The sea was warmer than the air but still potent enough to instantly freeze the toes.  For the good folk of Saltdean, it must have seemed like a Roman orgy was in progress somewhere in the dark, with alternate squeals from Ollie and groans from Emma as the withering briney inched further up the body.

Anyway, this was the start of widths season and letting Joan frolic solo, the others joined with a will to grind them out.  The sea was perfectly still and when we could see it, perfectly clear, absolutely beautiful, no sunrise treat this morning but the first collective ice cream head of the winter.  The first is always the worst because you forget that it gets better after a few minutes.  Anyway, the rosy glow appeared all over our bodies and then it was time to leave, Pete being the last to exit with four widths under belt and the others, two.  One feels that Emma is only just getting warmed up whilst Ollie declared that two was his limit each week until June.

Much discussion of Dip & Dash for New Year's Day and also, the SSF Swim Song for Dec 22nd.
Hoping that many will turn up for both to participate or simply sing & eat.

Swimmers: Joan, Emma, Ollie, Pete
Apologies: Poorly Hildi

Air temp: 6 degrees
Sea Temp: 8 degrees
In: 7.05
Out: 7.20
Sea: Bombay Sapphire