Its nearly a pleasure again

photo from Visit Guernsey Library

Chris and I spend a very productive and satisfying day in the garden yesterday, 

a lot achieved including a very good sort of the shed! Much over due.

So after all that hard work in the sunshine we had earnt a swim, I forgot to take any photos which is why I have used one from Visit Guernsey, we weren't there at sunrise and we weren't at the Ladies Pool but at the Gents and it was high tide not low...….but I liked the photo!  

It was still a quick swim, but you are definitely noticing that it is warming up, 

its nearly a pleasure again, rather than a challenge. 

 After I got out and was waiting for Chris, a chap started chatting to me;

him; bet that was cold?!
me; well actually you really are noticing it is warming up now, it was lovely (smiling a lot)
him: hurumph…….(and wanders off)

don't think I gave him the answer he wanted or was expecting, but no need to be rude!

a wave of blue

We all seem to have been enjoying glorious weather the last few days, and for once this glorious weather coincided with afternoons off! 

So on Thursday afternoon, and decided to walk from town round the cliffs to check out how the bluebell wood was coming on and then on to Fermain and home.

It really was a stunning day and the wild flowers are all starting to come out, you could smell the warmth in the air.  I would say the bluebell wood was at two thirds of its blue capacity.

But still so very beautiful.  

I saw some of the invasive thugs Spanish bluebells on the cliffs, but so far they don't seem to have got into the wood, that is still very much the domain of the delicate and fragile British bluebell.

Oh dear done it again, co-ordinated myself with the bluebells.....

To all of you who are fans of The Durells, this scene always reminded me of the books and the early TV series, not really sure why, think its the evergreen oak hanging on for dear life!

Then round the corner to the beautiful Fermain, at very low tide, sea looking very tempting,

but when I did my April dip a week ago it was still only 9 degrees, so a while to wait before it becomes a pleasure again.

I sat in the sun on the cliffs reading my book 'The Ship Thieves'  (the true tale of James Porter, colonial pirate), when low and behold, look what sailed round St Martins Point! 

A real life Pirate Ship (sort off!).

Then finally the long slog up Fermain hill and a walk home, a good leg stretch, but those same legs are still aching today, which basically says I need to do more long walk ;-0

Creepy Creek!

 Yesterday I was down at the Bathing Pools, clocking off my April swim - still cold....

And I thought I would show you this map.  The original was found in a cupboard which had been in St Peter Port Constables office, and it is the original plan of the development of what we now know as the bathing pools.

 But look carefully at where the Horseshoe pool is, back then called New Gentleman's Bathing Place.

The gully next to it is called...

....Creux de la Morte Femme...

....Creek of the dead woman!

swimming over piers

A beautiful day on Tuesday, so super on the beach (Rocquaine) and a high evening tide,

made for perfection.

But first Chris suggested swimming out to the pole

Now I know I can be abit slow, but didn't realise it was the pole at the end of the pier that we often swim from till I was holding on to it and looked down.....

.....it is a bit weird swimming over something you often walk along...

Beautiful swim though, a lovely temperature 17 degrees. 

I know a lot of people don't agree with me, but I find swimming in warm water really weird, if not unpleasant.  The sea should be refreshing, not like swimming in someone else's bath water!!!!!!

Then back to beach for chicken tagine and trying to keep the sand hoppers out the couscous!!!

Castle swim, a family affair

Well the Castle Swim is getting to be a regular thing now for me!

And this year my cousin Lorna joined me and her daughter Clare, first time long distant (ish) swim for both of them. So we had to celebrate afterwards, did try using our medals to get a discount on the bubbles, but no joy.....

We approached it as a challenge not a race, slow and steady, breast stroke all the way with the odd rest floating, think its 500 metres which is about 40 lengths.  We all felt that the first two thirds were fine then the last third was a push.  But we all did it, and arrived together.

Tempted to wear my medal to work today but restrained myself......

Horse shoe

I went down to the bathing pools for an early swim yesterday,

the water is warmer than average for this time of year, so it was lovely just

floating, swimming and chatting, so peaceful.

Then as I was heading to work, I thought I would show you the newly refurbished Horse shoe pool.

It was badly damaged in the storms of 2014

and recently through a lot of hard volunteer work has re-opened.

It is the secret pool out of the four Victorian Bathing Pools,

as you approach all you can see are the steps above,

you round the corner and you find this magical man made pool,

a marvel of Victorian engineering and craftsmanship.

It is the only one of the pools that is open to the sea so is very popular with

divers, kayakers, paddle boarders etc.  Its also Chris's favourite at the moment!

There is a lovely little shelter at the top with beautiful granite pillar supports, quite a lot of the machinery from the repairs are still there, I am sure it wont be for long.

The job isn't quite finished,

you can still see how they are underpinning the steps to strengthen them from tide and waves.

I like it when an artist signs his work, well deserved.

Not sure that this was one of the craftsmen?

I would have lovely to see the moment that this seagull accidently walked across wet cement!

The look on its face!!!!

March swim done, a pretty perfect morning!

Woke this morning to sunshine when the forecast had promised us rain. 

So it seemed criminal to stay inside. 

 By 9, we were out of the house and heading down to 

La Valette bathing pools, admiring the yacht race zipping past us.

There was a bigger swell than I expected and the tide was high,

 so the ladie's pool was not a choice, 

children's pool was calmer,

 but with the walls all under water, the waves were going in all directions!

So I took the right hand steps and tackled the art of walking into the water over pebbles and managing to look slightly elegant, actually an impossible task!

 But I was in,

 and I must say it was a good swim, not a long swim at all, 

but it made you feel alive, all your senses are awakened and that with the sunshine was brilliant.

So March swim is done, 

but I dont think that will be the only time this month, 

it is definitely starting to feel more pleasurable.....

.........even if the sea is still only 9 degrees celsius(48F)....

January swim done!

 It was cold this morning, well cold for Guernsey!

 I know most off Europe is in the minus figures, but we are woses here and 1 degree feel really cold. But hay-ho, perfect weather for a swim.....

 ........and why is that you ask?  

Good question, well look at it, its a beautiful day, 

the wind has dropped and the sky is clear and the tide is low 

(no cold waves to splash you in the face like a wet fish)

 Lets just say it was bracing! 

Half a width and back, not much I know, 

but at this time of year all I am concerned about is getting in.

Chris was more impressive, nearly a whole length.

 Right January swim done, now for a hot shower and then off to find a fry up!

Well deserved I think.

preping for next Sunday!

 Guess what next Sunday is?!

Yes its the Polar Bear Swim,

 oh and also a popular holiday....

...and as it was such a beautiful morning with very little wind, 

it was perfect for a preparation swim.

But once at the bathing pools it became apparent that because of the high spring tides hitting the outside walls of the pools, the swell in the Ladies Pool with big and strong.

 alot better in the Children's Pool next door

 So in we went!

Well Chris chucked himself in head first and I went for a more dignified approach,

 down the steps, that is after I found them under the swell. 

No excuse, but I like to keep my head dry.

 He's ok!

 I know you lot wont believe me, but it is surprisingly mild still.  You don't want to stay in for ages, but it is so exhilarating, and really makes you feel alive and buzzing

 Its the waves that got me out, call me a wimp but I just don't like getting a face full of sea water, especially in mid December.

But that obviously isn't something that worries Chris!

Right time for a fry up!!

a November swim

The dreadful weather promised this weekend doesn't seem to have appeared, so yesterday morning Chris and I headed down for a swim.

And we werent the only ones, the changing rooms were heaving, those these guys were alot more hard core than me!  They were heading out to swim a route between the rock markers, they would be out for at least half an hour, not for me!

we prefer to wallow in the pools, its usually calmer, but yesterday the waves were still coming over, must still be Spring tides.

So a bit of a choppy one, but we are now in that strange situation when its warmer in the sea that out, 13 degrees as apposed to 10....

Chris needed the open water fix so did the little shunt between the pools, always alittle tricky when you actually swimming over the railings and the diving board is below the water!

and straight into the hot shower, but a winter swim is better than any coffee I know!

Stunningly dramatic skies

Then home to start the Christmas cake, I do Delia's Creole Cake where you marinate the dried fruit in rum, brandy, port, bitters and cherry brandy for a week, so the house is smelling incredible and I am feeling all toasty!