3rd April 2021 - First Swim

Today I am accompanied by a relatively new friend who hasn’t swum in cold water since she was a child. She is moving somewhere tropical in less than a week’s time and wants to experience the ladies’ pond before she leaves. She meets me at my door and we set off.

On the way, she tells me that she is excited about the swim, but apprehensive about the temperature. Anxious that she not feel compelled, I encourage her to see how she feels when we get there. The day is cold and blustery and the ponds that we pass - dog’s pond, men’s pond, fishing pond - are slate grey and rippling in the wind.

We change in the meadow and walk to the “in” steps.

Four lifeguards, muffled in red fleeces and dry robes, stand sipping cups of tea. The lifeguard nearest the steps intuits that my friend is new to the pond.

“Is this your first cold water swim?”

“Yes.”

“Well, as long as you don’t do a really big lap, you’ll be fine. As long as you can swim.”

“I can swim!”

“Ok, well then…”

“Shall I just swim to the other steps?”

“Sure. Just concentrate on your out-breath.”

“Ok.”

She gets in quickly, without exclamation, and begins a rapid breaststroke doggy-paddle combination.

I follow and tread water as she swims from the “in” to the “out” steps. She gets out, looks around, and asks, “can I do it again?”

We all laugh, “of course!”

She swims from one set of steps to the other three times. I tread water and then do an unmindful lap, swimming quickly so as to not leave her waiting for too long.

Afterwards she is buzzing, “I can’t believe I haven’t done this before! I feels so good! Shall we go again this week?”

Although I love coming here by myself, it is nice sharing the adrenaline afterglow with someone else. We compare the effects of the water, noticing the ways it has invigorated our senses. My eyes feel wider and my skin very cold. She thinks it is a bit like the feeling after a run or a workout. We are both giggly.

We walk to the market for coffee and then up the hill for warmth. Sitting, looking out over the city, flowers fall on us. We realise we are under the most beautiful blossom tree.