A site about swimming and life
Autumn is officially here. The trees are turning and the water is cooling. There’s a distinct nip to the air. My house is full of conkers slowly going mouldy (thanks boys). I love changing seasons. I think I’d get bored without them. My best friend lived in New Orleans for a while and one of …
Things often go wrong in life, plans fall through, people let you down, you let people down, events get cancelled. My reaction to such events varies greatly. Sometimes I get angry, disappointed, frustrated, sad, pissed off. Sometimes I roll over and go ‘meh’, it didn’t matter. Other times, but not often enough, I seize the …
Six weeks ago today I lost my water. My solace, my comfort, my relief from everyday life. Somewhere I’ve cried, screamed, grinned and howled with laughter in. I’ve forged friendships I never thought I’d have in it. A place of celebration as well as a place to reflect and sometimes dwell. Long swims, short swims, …
At the end of the school holidays we went away on a camping trip with a rather large group of friends………..about 70 of us I think. They’re friends from university that we rarely see at any other time through the year. We all have kids and jobs and trying to meet up just becomes another …
Continue reading "A Complicated Relationship With Social Media"
A few weeks ago I had a little adventure. I’d managed to escape for 24 hours in the middle of the school holidays for a wee trip to Edinburgh. It was always going to be a rushed trip. I had to be in Edinburgh for mid-morning but I didn’t fancy a 3am alarm call to …
Alright, alright, I’ve used that as a blog title before but this one involves the lovely lady that coined the phrase. I started teaching adults to swim about 18 months ago. We were setting up a new session at work and I was paired with a fellow mum of boys. We bonded instantly over our …
This year I bought a stand up paddle board or SUP. One of those new fangled, fashionable things to do. Not that unlike open water swimming in its recent upsurge in popularity. Despite my hatred of the words, one of those “fashionable” “current trend” things. I’ve been a paddler, kayaker, canoeist or whatever you want …
This week has been the first of the school holidays. I look forward to it with joy and dread. No school runs, no frantic “put your shoes on”, no 9 to 3 time restriction. I get to spend leisurely time with the boys when we’re not having to rush anywhere or they’re tired and grumpy …
I love where I live. It’s hilly and green. There’s bare rock. There’s some water to swim in. There’s space and sky and weather. I can be in what feels like wild country within a few minutes of my house and yet it’s only a 40 minute train ride away from Manchester. I moved here …
Two weeks ago today it was all over. Celtman 2019 was done. It wasn’t a one woman show though. An event like this needs a support team, and well, I was part of that team. So what’s it like supporting on such an epic event? When The Short One got into Celtman back in November …
