Suffolk Walk: Christmas Dip in Southwold

 25/12/2022

I was waiting for this day, Christmas dip, really excited and looking forward to it. Something I wanted to do for a long time. Ever since when I was a child, seeing people jumped in cold sea on new year's day in Japan. Always my dad told me I wasn't able to do such thing, too cold and I wasn't able to 'endure' the temperature etc.  As a child, thought dad was right, I believed in what he said when I was growing up. 

Then decades past, now I am in my early 50's 😌 ( grow-up now), started dipping into cold water and have cold shower every morning. Last year (2021 christmas day) was cancelled on the Christmas day due to rough sea and breezing wind. But the most of us dipped anyway. 

Anyway, I was already getting used to the cold water, that was why I decided to go ahead with it. My first time dip with lots of people, money raised went to the charity  (https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/23208062.take-plunge-charity-swim-returns-southwold/ ) 👈Link to a local news paper article 😊

Apparently 180 dippers, plus spectators. I met some lovely people and chatted away ( with other cold water dippers considering I am introvert) , lovely doggos 🐶 , lovely waves, lovely all the way round. I really enjoyed it. 

When I dipped in, there were some people in front of me, then they got pushed by waves, then one of guys stumbled on me 🤣, I quickly swam through between people over the waves. Then I floated for a while which I love doing. I don't swim, oh, some people from swimming club were really going for it, swimming away hard 🏊‍♀️. The most of people just quickly dipped in and out, which what we were supposed to do anyway. 

 Somehow, when the body get used to sea temperature, feels ok with it. Body can quickly climatise, but if I stay a bit too long, chill comes through later, and shakes 😅. I know now these days how long I can dip for. I don't get too cold anymore, I come out before feeling like that now. 

Back to the dip, we all had a medal 🏅 and colours of strap was Ukrainian flag 🇺🇦! It was my first time ever medal in my entire life. Never had a medal before, I felt so pleased❤️ Such a memorable day for me. 

Can't wait for next one! 

By the way......found them in Southwold.... who are they? 🤔 very long hair.... can't see their faces.....😆

Suffolk Walk: Christmas Eve Day walk in Walberswick 2022

 

24/12/2022

Our Christmas Eve walk in Walberswick... We felt we needed to get used to the sea for Christmas Day dip in Southwold, as we hadn't been in the water for a week.... But first, needed to have a walk! It was very quiet, and peaceful. The car park was empty. It wasn't brightly sunny day, nevertheless, it was beautiful there.

We parked our car up the road from the village, and went through the woods into the beach. Footpath was still a bit muddy. When we walked out from the woods, to open footpath where takes you to the beach and boardwalk, which I love looking out panoramic view of Walberswick. 

That day, one side was grey, other side had blue sky with a bit cloud, two different sky in one place! We didn't see any birds of prey, usually a harrier or two floating on the marsh. That day, we saw a pair of swans were chilling out on the river. Looked very peaceful, felt time passing differently from us humans. 

We carried on walking along the footpath, breathing fresh air, chatted about our dip, what to eat, nap and nature. The sea was lovely and calm, looked very inviting. It was a bit misty over Sizewell, still there. Sat there for a while, I needed a bit of rest, feeling very tired walking. These days, only a little walk really knackers me out. Often I need to stop to rest my legs and catch my breath. By the time back to the car, I was really knackered, then drove to the beach car park which was empty. Only another car parked there. 

We went in to the water, i felt it was really chilly. It reminded me when I was in late teen trying to stab myself with a needle to have my ear pierced. In those days, people often said; " use a bag of peas to numb your ears!" I did listen to the advice and yes, numbed my ear to stub, felt my ear was frozen. Jumping in the sea was a bit like that, my legs and arms felt really chilly went numb. soon got used to it though. Anyway, had a good dip, felt much better. Certainly woke me up! 😆

Now, I was ready for Southwold christmas day dip!