Almost 8ºC

It's cold, but it's not that cold. I could tell it had warmed up, I was sure of it. Yes it was cold, it just wasn't that cold. For most of my swim the water was empty, Fred left after a few lengths, Vince was on the far side and Sue B and Chris got in just as I finished my twelve lengths. Picture is of Nicola taken after I got out.

Not sure who the big kicker is. The lido seemed quieter than usual this morning, just two people in the sauna when I went in unlike the dozen or so we had yesterday.

David isn't tying his shoelace, he keeps the thermometer cord around his foot when he takes a reading, 'It's almost 8ºC' he confirmed.

Salsa

If you look very carefully you can see Tricky and Carl near the shallow end. They were already in the water when I arrived on this mild but overcast morning.

Here they are in the water, they went on to do a massive twenty lengths. I went back up to twelve knowing that the sauna was on again. It was packed, Angel was making us all laugh with tales of her salsa dancing. She and Tricky even gave us a demonstration!

Kate had come bearing cakes. Beautiful hazelnut macaroons, today I managed to get one before I left, fantastic. Find out how far she swam here.

I thought the temperature might have gone up a bit, it's still around 7ºC though.

No sauna!

'The sauna isn't on yet' were not the most welcoming words on a dull grey Monday morning. How far should I swim? Will I get too cold? I'm already reliant on the sauna to warm up after my swim after just a couple of weeks.

After much dithering I got in and swam, the water clear and beautiful if slightly chilly. Sue R was also doing lengths. I did six in the end, half distance compared to last week.

Vince is sans wetsuit on a Monday, I bet he wishes he'd bought it given the sauna situation. Anthony arrived with the key, the sauna went on at about 8:15 but takes an hour to get properly hot.

Kate had made another amazing cake. A Savoy Gateau, it looked delicious but I had to rush off to work before I could try it.

Precious

The SLSC re-enactment of Semagol finding the one true ring?

No. Carl was taking pictures for the I Spy project Sue R and Sue B are putting together.

I thought Carl might do the mile today, but photography duties meant otherwise. I managed a twelve length swim.

Angus with Sue R in the background. A cloudy morning, David said the water had gone up a bit to 7.5ºC.

A smaller splash

Post sauna quite a few folk are happy to have one last dip. Sue always whoops as she jumps back in.

Jonathan dived in and swam a couple of widths, perhaps longer than his first swim?

Ian without wetsuit plunged in and swam a width of butterfly.

'I'll jump today' Elizabeth told me, I got low to give the leap some hight, chopping her hand off.

She was happy to have another go, despite the change of format there was even more disasterous cropping!

One last attempt, still not right and water on the lens. We'll have to try it another time. I swam twelve lengths again at 7ºC.

Oompah

 The low level sun was blinding, Charlotte oompahed away on her euphonium. Not the frost from yesterday, the sky had only cleared in the morning.

Giles cut through the water at speed, the light in the water creating a great contrast. I felt the water was a little colder but David assures me it's still 7ºC.

 Margy in silhouette as she gingerly makes her way down the steps. I managed a twelve length swim again, Tricky and Carl had done eighteen together.

A good long sauna was needed to warm up again.

Lucky 7ºC

The first proper frost, the common was white, puddles were frozen and the leaves around the pool were still crisp when I arrived.

The water is still and heavy as it cools down. Pip reflected on the undersurface, the lifeguards had cleared most of yesterdays leaves.

Carl smiles as he almost runs me over. He started a length ahead of me and I was doing my best to catch him up.

The sun reached the water and I almost caught Carl by the end of my twelth length. I had to get out but he carried on to eighteen.

A good long sauna and then Elizabeth said she was going to dive in. I cropped into this image of her diving over the cafe.

On a second attempt I waited a bit too long and caught her between air and water.

It was 7ºC on David's thermometer, much colder than this time last year.