I’m doing a guest lightning blog today just to show that anybody can do it.
I was talking to a fellow B&B swimmer recently who is also a WWW swimmer, looking for inspiration for my guest blog today. She said tell them it’s almost like a religion, feeling part of something bigger, being accepted no matter who you are, an addiction. I told her that was a bit touchy feely for me and she, a little huffily, said, well extract the urine out of the wetties then…..now I thought that’s more my style, but instead of extracting the urine (she actually said something else), I thought I would celebrate the purist non wetsuit wearers today and that’s what today’s lightning blog is all about. The purists.
So, I arrived a little early to start my investigation about why people swim without wetsuits, especially right through the year. Cue, first picture below, the 6.10am’ers….Fifi said that she doesn’t like the smell of rubber and Billy said he’s never had rubber next to his skin before and he’s not starting now (right yeah !)….apologies to Ali who was the only one in the group and wasn’t allowed in the photo because of her attire….sorry Ali (I did see a bit of welling in the eyes when I brusquely refused her).
Then the 6.30’ers started arriving (see second picture), Storchy (who was a bit late for the photo thankfully), stated that he swims without a wetsuit because he has a Scottish Accountant wife…enough said. Drinksy said that if Jane Stevenson can do it then so can he…..she’s an inspiration (that’s our inspiration in photo four). Photo three is the team from the 7 am’ers gathered bravely on the ramp, (can you notice the wetsuited blog tart in the back of the photo, rather cowardly trying to get into the photo with the more courageous ones…..I hope his team has stronger convictions on Monday morning….I’m sure they will, they seem like they would never go near the rubber never mind shamelessly photo bomb like him wearing it). Talking of the World Cup, did you know that’s it’s been 800 years since we have had two living Popes and today’s two are from Germany and Argentina…spooky eh ? I wonder who God will support….let’s hope they have a good Catholic man officiating or there may be trouble.
Back onto the brave ones. Jalna said that she just doesn’t like the feel of that rubber on her skin and prefers to swim without it. Bernhard and James both said something similar about being fed up of having childish stick hurled at them by some particular swimmer (no names no pack drill). Another swimmer was heard to say that his hormones wouldn’t allow him to swim with one, despite having one….he said he felt more of a man (once again no names). Shaun said that he was waiting for his tailor made wettie to be delivered, whereas Veena gave him a nasty look.
Me, I just like the better feeling you get from the hot water shower at the end (photo 5).
Details 170 swimmers (approximately 80 brave ones)
5 Newbies
17.5 warm degrees
See you tomorrow…..JK
PS this only took 30 minutes so volunteer to Mary to do it. Go on….
19 comments
fifi
12/07/2014 at 11:47 am
Ha ha , brilliant work JK !
Ness
12/07/2014 at 11:52 am
Great Blog JK, glad you took the inspiration from your friend!
Sarge
12/07/2014 at 12:05 pm
John, I am very disappointed in your taking the mickey out of the Wetsuit Wearing Wannabee’s. They would if they could……….they just can’t.
As for needing a hot shower, that’s just not cricket is it. Next you’ll be telling me that people are wearing rubber booties and two or three swim caps and claim that as WWW as well.
What is happening to the world………….
Lips
12/07/2014 at 12:32 pm
Great work John.
May I add that everytime I see you blissfully walking down the ramp in your washed out, semi-transparent speedos, it reminds me of that old anecdote about Guy de Maupassant who hated the Eiffel Tower but, nevertheless, ate his main meal at the restaurant there everyday, and when asked why, replied, “It’s the only place in Paris where I can eat and not see that hideous tower”.
ros
12/07/2014 at 12:44 pm
Great blog, JK. But personally, I’m a fan of black rubber 😉
Bootycampbuffman
12/07/2014 at 12:45 pm
So that’s you who keeps stalking JK ! Maybe like Guy you should enter the water earlier with your new rubber on before JK that would solve the problem ! ! but also maybe JK will get the that subtle hint…
“It is the lives we encounter that make life worth living.”
― Guy de Maupassant
Golden Budda
12/07/2014 at 12:45 pm
Interesting blog, JK, you could become a regular.
Your pontificating of WWW raises further questions, some possibly best left lying dormant like the long lost graves of unknown WW2 Combatants in Indonesia.
I wonder in fairness to those few real purists that exist within the B&B, if arriving overly heavily dressed, warm and snug from a bed with a doona, jumping out of a heated car with butt warmers, swimming in costumes to Shelly and back, then having a hot shower, getting dressed into warm clothes/ugg boots, a hot coffee after a swim is akin to wearing a wetsuit or imbibing in performance enhancing drugs.
I believe it is.
It seems defeatist and soft to bookend the swim in clothing, hot showers and other worldly luxuries.
Perhaps there should be different gratings of WWW from hardcore (HWWW) through to I’m a pussy and need my mummy (IPNMMWWW).
Just opening up the discussion, you know. 😉
PS Skye, Renae, Kelly, Attracta and Billy,nice hair today.
Sarge
12/07/2014 at 1:14 pm
If we keep going on this downhill spiral a weak decaf soy latte will be considered an acceptable post swim social lubricant!
ros
12/07/2014 at 1:30 pm
One thing’s for certain, JK, your self-congratulatory ramblings has prompted a stream of hilarious responses. I would like to see you blogging every week, just for the laughs! Laughing at you, laughing with you … it doesn’t really matter.
Sarge
12/07/2014 at 1:33 pm
and most importantly, a bit of laughing at ourselves too! 🙂
Mary
12/07/2014 at 2:26 pm
Love the perennial debate around to wettie or not. Well covered JK – love your style.
Has someone who changed in the ladies public ice box noticed that their cossie didn’t go home with them? A black speedo with pink trim! Apologies I found it tangled with mine when I got home. Sorry!!!
Sarge
12/07/2014 at 2:34 pm
think it belongs to Storchy!
ros
12/07/2014 at 3:54 pm
Yes Indeedy!!
Billy Derrin
12/07/2014 at 6:06 pm
Winter without a wetsuit is that what it is really better change it to half a winter without a wetsuit for all those getting to 20 swims then hopping into a wetsuit , bullshit
Lesbubbles
12/07/2014 at 7:33 pm
Here here Billy!!! I’ve actually suggested that it should be 30 swims as 20 is waay too easy!
Can’t believe Billy aka superman commented!!
Also nice to see photos without any black rubber!!
Lion king
12/07/2014 at 8:32 pm
Double yes
Lion king
12/07/2014 at 8:34 pm
Yah Billy, nice hair today mate!
Louise Mackinlay
13/07/2014 at 9:53 am
great blog john but Im very disappointed you picked the one morning I wasn’t there….. love www
Fifi
14/07/2014 at 8:22 am
Oh my god! A comment from King Billy!
And yes indeed, I agree. Winter has barely started!