Joy!

This is how swimming makes you feel. Elizabeth did her best Friday leap into the now blue again lido. I met up with Richard and our four length swim changed into a six length swim.

Mr Ape stopped short for his photo call but i like the crop. The temperature is under 5°C but I think I'm getting a bit more used to it.

Windy

A blustery day, very difficult cycling up to the lido. The wind was cold but at least it wasn't raining. Widths again, the water a bit clearer than yesterday.

Chris just edging ahead of Sue on their last width. I wonder if he stared at the trains today? It would have been very cold standing in that wind.

Elizabeth on her second width, the wind was making the water quite choppy.

Green

I'm all for looking after the environment, we already have recycling bins at the lido. This morning though it seems the whole pool has gone green.

We were only allowed to do widths incase we got lost in the murk. Who's that swimming toward us?

It's Vince! I did a twelve width swim, I really much prefer lengths. I'm not sure the Brockwell Icicles were all that impressed with the water.

The morning's are getting a bit lighter now and these snowdrops I spotted on the way to work are another sign that spring is coming.

Home again

It was good to be back at the lido. Neither as warm nor as sunny as Madeira but it could have been worse. Richard and I did a brisk four length swim before retreating to the warmth of the sauna.

Pip looks like she's enjoying it! Not sure what the temperature is, 'Warm for February' seems to be the best guess.

Only one goose? To be fair it had made enough mess for whole flock.

Wave

The light wasn't great but I managed to catch some underwater pictures today. Here's Giles powering along.

Richard joined me in the water too, I did a six length swim then took a few pictures.

Batch stopped to wave making me laugh, which isn't good when you're underwater.

On my way out a caught another Elizabeth dive in exchange for carrying her flip flops back to the shallow end.

Dummy

Not sure what the life saving mannequin was doing at the bottom of the pool this morning, no one seemed to want to jump in and rescue him. Cloudy but mild, the water still has a bit of bite. I did six lengths before heading to the sauna.

Ian and Nando after a couple of lengths, I think Ian is trying to say that it's cold.

A week doesn't go by without an Elizabeth dive, it must be a real shock to get in the water this way.

Reflection

It was a chilly morning with bright sunlight and long shadows, the reflection of the trees in the kiddie pool looks amazing as the sun comes up.

The water lapped lazily at the steps, it was cold. I did a six length swim.

Long shadows with the sun behind me and the cubicle doors lit up. Another beautiful morning.