A Whim In The Sea

[joggerjayne]

So yesterday, I had a swim in the sea. Just on a whim.

In my head, I was going to be like Ursula Andress (Dr No) or Halle Berry (Die Another Day). But with cold water, and pebbles.

As it turned out, the only other people in the sea were the local pensioners, some of whom had tight rubber things on their heads. There must be some sort of "sea dipping" club.

I know Sussex is not exactly glamorous ... it's not Jamaica. But ... Has swimming in the sea lost its appeal to younger people? Has it been replaced by "standing on the beach and staring at your iPhone"? We live on an island. We are surrounded by sea.

Then I went to the shopping centre. I must've been really, really bored to do that.

Desperation!

Hopefully some of you are having better weeks.

[mccfluff]

i love swimming in the sea, i just don;t get there much, there is a canal behind my house but no-way am i going in that

[rockyracoon]

The sea must be frigging cold at the moment so no wonder nobody's in it, it'll freeze your bits off.

[Quoi]

I like to pee in the sea - now there's a dilemma....
a whim a wee a whim a wee ........ i could go on but probably unnecessary

[joggerjayne]

Swimming in the canal.

I suppose you should only do that if you fall in by accident.

[ummmm]

I'm not talking about my last swim in a UK sea.....

[joggerjayne]

It warms up as the summer goes on, doesn't it, Rocky.

Okay, when I say "warms up" ... it gets a teeny bit less icy.

[Quoi]

I have a voluntary canal swimming story if you want to hear it?

[joggerjayne]

Well, obviously, we all need to know now, ummmm .... !!

Do tell.

[joggerjayne]

Quoi ... of course we want to hear it!

[Quoi]

ummmm will know the location well - billing aquadrome. I was about 12 and fishing with a few friends. Not sucessfully! On the way back there was a large dead fish in the lock.
As boys do, I was prodding it with my fishing rod, trying to get it back to the side.
Disaster! the rod slipped out of my hand & was bobbing in the canal because the handle was cork.
I had to get it or I would have been in trouble.
Can you stand the suspense of what happened next?

[Cloverjo]

I live by the sea and have always intended to get in and have a swim, but the furthest I get is a paddle up to my ankles. Shopping centre? I'd have to be really bored, or all my clothes would have had to have been lost in an accident.
Don't you live in Brighton, JJ? Judging by photos in the papers, there are hoards of people of all ages on the beach and in the sea whenever it gets a bit warm.

[joggerjayne]

Quoi ... I suspect we would all score points on "What Happened Next?"

[ummmm]

Quoi - Was suppose to there on Monday. I used to swim in the locks. We just threw our towels over the 'no swimming' signs.

Also nearly drowned in one of the lakes when I was very small.

JJ....I thought it was a good idea to go swimming in the sea really early in the morning. Got out of the water and passed out. My OH had to carry me to Jackthehats house and dumped me in front of McFluff..... :-) Hypothermia.....it wasn't pleasant....

[tamborine]

Sea swimming around over-populated land that expels raw effluent into same, is treacherous & a health risk. Safest sea swimming is outer hebrides, in a fur lined wet suit.

[joggerjayne]

Yes, I do, CJ.

The past few days haven't really been warm. Monday, it poured all day. Yesterday was overcast, with a bit of a sun at lunch time, and heavy rain in the afternoon.

The Sussex weather was brought to you by ... etc.

It was Mods Weekend. Hundreds of Mods arrived on scooters with lots of lights and mirrors. All very jolly. It's a shame they didn't get a sunny weekend. On Monday morning, they had a ride out to Beachy Head, which must've been a bit blowy.

[Quoi]

Well I had to get the rod and we were the only ones around so I stripped naked and jumped in. I had to swim through all the debris and that fish wasn't the only dead thing in that lock.
I could hear my 'mates' p!ssing themselves laughing at my bare bum bobbing in the water.
The worse bit was when I climbed up the ladder to get out about 20 people had gathered to see what the fuss was about.
I don't play with dead fish much now.

[joggerjayne]

Crikey, ummmm ... that must've been scary.

[joggerjayne]

I would've been almost right, Quoi.

I didn't guess the "stripping off in front of your pals" bit.

[ummmm]

It was scary for my OH. I don't really remember it :-) I won't do it again though....

[Quoi]

Back to the sea... a question for JJ. Did you jump straight in or wade in up to that bit where the water comes up just far enough for that first sharp intake of breath?