Valentine special

Much milder air temperature and no ice at all in the pool. Two lengths was todays aim. The contrast between air and water temperature was bigger than ever, the ice melt has kept the water temperature down. Half term week and it was quiet at the lido, Elizabeth swam four widths while I did my lengths.

Vince is never in a rush but with no school today he had a game of handball with Nick before his swim. The water feels thick still.

Eyes shut Vince finishes his second length. Chris did two lengths as well, keeping his distance up while Sue is away.

Ian showed up with a box of chocolates. 'To all the lido gals from Nando xx' read the message. There weren't too many gals around so I helped myself - Happy Valentines Nando!

David confirmed the temperature, still 0ºC despite the thaw. I'm sure it'll start to move up soon though.

A small splash

The ice has melted from the main pool and the bitter wind had dropped but it was trying to snow and the water is still around 0ºC. Elizabeth took her post sauna dive from the far side of the pool this morning. I was a bit late in catching her, that small splash was her disappearing under the water.

When she reached my side I got this snap before she turned and did another width. That was two before and two after the sauna! I just did the two lengths again today. Hands felt fine for about a length and a half, I thought I might do some widths aswell but then the cold got them and I was ready to get out after length two.

Iceberg alert

Although the ice sheet has mostly broken up there was were quite a few ice plates floating around in the pool. The lifeguards were doing there best to clear them from the water. A fine snow was falling and the wind bitterly cold, Swimming didn't seem like much fun.

I set off on a two length swim. It was good to be out of that wind but my hands soon swelled up and froze. I stuck to the wall to avoid the ice. I saw Vince getting in just after me, he usually swims close to the wall because he doesn't use goggles. I turned at the deep end expecting to see him behind me but he had gone wide to avoid a clash. Without goggles he had veered out in the icy water. He said he felt the ice brush against him as him swam though.

A good sauna soon warmed me up. Elizabeth then obliged me with a jump back into the water, reaching for the overcast skies.

Snowballs

Pip can't resist a photo opportunity and was prepared to sit in the snow for me, Elizabeth and Kate to all take pictures for our blogs.

Elizabeth and Kate laugh at the results? See their posts here and here. The period between 8 and 9 will have been well documented this morning!

It was still cold, the water looked oily and thick but most of the ice had melted. I did two lengths again, my fingers didn't freeze quite so much. Vince did two lengths and a width and Tricky did four lengths.

Despite a cold Elizabeth did a dive after her sauna. I like the flip flops at the pool edge as if she sprung out of them into the water. Luckily for Elizabeth I nailed this dive first time.

Not quite so elegant Tricky jumped into the water after his sauna, flinging his towel as he went.

The secret of Kate's swimming prowess? She has three arms! I do like this image a lot.

And the scores on the doors? Difficult to see in this pic but it's just about 0ºC.

Slush puppies

Saturday's snow still surrounded the pool, and the ice dragged to the deep end was still floating in the water despite the small rise in temperature. A grey morning but the roads were mostly clear now so I risked the cycle back to the lido.

Grabbing the snow shovel Vince cleared just enough ice to allow us to swim lengths. Not having been in since last Thursday I wasn't sure how far I could swim but if Vice was doing two lengths then so would I.

The channel in the ice wasn't large enough for us both to swim at the same time so I took this picture before it was my turn.

The water was cold, about 0.5ºC I'm told. My hands swelled up instantly but my core felt okay. Two lengths was enough with out gloves. I took this image afterwards, you can see the uneven depth of the ice. I imagine it was like swimming though a giant Slush Puppie.

Chilly willy

Pip sat on the pool edge in wet trunks for about ten minutes telling us how someone in Shackleton's polar expedition had got frost bite of the willy. 'Documented with pictures' he assured us, 'It's alright, he survived.'. Then when David announced it really was only 1ºC in the water so Pip hopped up to have a picture taken with the thermometer.

Icicles hang from the steps and foot prints freeze instantly to the concrete. I manage four lengths but it's really tough. In the sauna birthday boy Batch is berating Tricky. 'You're an idiot to swim four at this tempertaure'. Tricky points out I did the same, 'he's faster than you' batch replies, 'you're slow and an idiot!'. It's the camaraderieI love at SLSC!

The aerator had frozen up, a long icicle hung from the water pipe, strong sunlight made great shaows over the ice.

Elizabeth diving in for a post sauna dip, again I caught her sligtly too soon but she wasn't about to have a second attempt today.

Slightly more successful picture of Ian diving in, by now the sunlight was reflecting of the bottom of the pool like a summers day.

Fire and ice

The sky looked clear and I could see no frost when I looked out of my window this morning. Had the arctic blast we were promised not arrived yet? Stepping outside I realised it had been delivered in full, an icy breeze had kept the frost away but frozen puddles told another story. Elizabeth was already in the water when I reached the lido and I got this picture of her reaching for the line.

The sun was a ball of fire pushing it's way through the trees giving a warm orange light across the water. Stephanie had taken the water temperature, 3.1ºC. It was a beautiful swim, four lengths was plenty, my hands were going numb although my core still felt warm.

Getting out wasn't so much fun. I heaved myself on the the pool edge my wet hand froze to the ground as I tried to stand up. I rushed to the sauna as quickly as I could make it.

Frozen footprints and icy patches surround the pool. Winter is coming, February has started with a chill and it looks to get colder still.