I did it!! A New Years Day dip in the sea!
The first of my series of challenges raising money for the lullaby trust.
New Years Day, 10:15 am and I arrived at the Salthouse pub in Clevedon, on the side of the marine lake, getting quite nervous... After getting caught up in the fun on New Years Eve, I was running on less than 5 hours sleep and not looking forward to jumping in to the water!
The theme for the dip was "The Wrong Trousers" and there were some very entertaining outfits being assembled....
I heard someone mentioning that the sea was at about 5 degrees, much colder than the 12 I had swum in before (in a wetsuit!).
Just before 11, we all came outside for some photos and then paraded down to the seafront.
We were then instructed to grab a member of the public to join in Auld Lang Syne with us, although (obviously) no-one knew the words!
And then it was time!! We walked down to the seafront and along the wall at the side of the marine pool.
After a countdown from 10, about half of us dived in and the others went in using the steps.
I dived in, and it was a shock!!! The water was so much colder than anything I had been in before and it felt like the whole of the outside of me was freezing. The man next to me declared his hangover had been fixed instantly!
I was obviously looking pretty cold, as I was advised by a woman in a flowery bathing cap that I should get out before I got too cold if I wasn't used to the water. She was swimming as if she was in the Med!
I had recommended that people sponsor me per minute I remained in the water, but after about 2 and a half my fingers were starting to prickle, and I was losing the feeling in the rest of me so I went towards the steps to get out. I was then encouraged by a photographer to remain in the water and join a group of people for a photo, so I just about managed to hold it together until he was done and then climbed out. In total I managed three minutes in the water before getting out.
We had all had bags of clothes brought down to the seafront for us, so I grabbed my bag, wrapped myself in a towel and posed triumphantly in front of my parents!
I then realised how cold I was and the shivering began... Even after changing into 3 layers of dry clothes back in the hotel, and a hot chocolate, I was still shivering enough to be shaking the table we were sat at! My legs had also turned rather blotchy....
Now I'm back at home and have finally warmed up - please remember to donate here to get my fundraising year off to a good start!
As a final note, the BBC, ITV and the Bristol post have some great photos of the dip!
The first of my series of challenges raising money for the lullaby trust.
New Years Day, 10:15 am and I arrived at the Salthouse pub in Clevedon, on the side of the marine lake, getting quite nervous... After getting caught up in the fun on New Years Eve, I was running on less than 5 hours sleep and not looking forward to jumping in to the water!
The theme for the dip was "The Wrong Trousers" and there were some very entertaining outfits being assembled.... I heard someone mentioning that the sea was at about 5 degrees, much colder than the 12 I had swum in before (in a wetsuit!).
Just before 11, we all came outside for some photos and then paraded down to the seafront.
We were then instructed to grab a member of the public to join in Auld Lang Syne with us, although (obviously) no-one knew the words!
And then it was time!! We walked down to the seafront and along the wall at the side of the marine pool.
After a countdown from 10, about half of us dived in and the others went in using the steps.
I dived in, and it was a shock!!! The water was so much colder than anything I had been in before and it felt like the whole of the outside of me was freezing. The man next to me declared his hangover had been fixed instantly!I was obviously looking pretty cold, as I was advised by a woman in a flowery bathing cap that I should get out before I got too cold if I wasn't used to the water. She was swimming as if she was in the Med!
I had recommended that people sponsor me per minute I remained in the water, but after about 2 and a half my fingers were starting to prickle, and I was losing the feeling in the rest of me so I went towards the steps to get out. I was then encouraged by a photographer to remain in the water and join a group of people for a photo, so I just about managed to hold it together until he was done and then climbed out. In total I managed three minutes in the water before getting out.
We had all had bags of clothes brought down to the seafront for us, so I grabbed my bag, wrapped myself in a towel and posed triumphantly in front of my parents!
I then realised how cold I was and the shivering began... Even after changing into 3 layers of dry clothes back in the hotel, and a hot chocolate, I was still shivering enough to be shaking the table we were sat at! My legs had also turned rather blotchy....
Now I'm back at home and have finally warmed up - please remember to donate here to get my fundraising year off to a good start!
As a final note, the BBC, ITV and the Bristol post have some great photos of the dip!
