Birthday swim and friends!!!

Birthday swim and friends!!!

2013 came in, in rather a more orderly fashion than it did last year, and so waking up without a mouth that felt like it belonged to the cat, a head that did not feel like it would explode or even the aching bones of last new years (and no i did not have a cold if that's what you are thinking) it was time to bounce round the house, open the cards and pressies, then get the swim kit ready!

What a great way to welcome in 2013, a swim with friends then off for a bite to eat at one of my favorite places, the Black Sheep Brewery.!

And to top it off the sun is shining!!!! Fantastic ....long may it last!

Arriving at Ellerton, the water glistening off the water that at the time was reasonably still, we were to be its sole occupants, a lone diver having been in earlier but exited rapidly due to his equipment freezing up! 

New years (and birthday greetings....thank you ) given and received, it was time to get ready....one swimmers Tristan Keates, assuring us that he was happy to aclimatise slowly...by looking at the water to start off with then maybe getting closer to it....! We were again a mixture of wetsuit and non wetsuit swimmers which is great to see.

The photo to show that we were all alive prior to entering the water taken and it was time to disrobe....

Oh that air temperature despite the sun shining was chilly...that meant the water would be colder! Wetsuiters in first as they would be swimming for longer...i reckon we are all turning into howler monkeys the amount of noise we made as the water hit the parts we wish it wouldn't Leaving us with less clothing to shiver on the side....Tony Robson being a gentleman by letting me get in first....i think!!! I really need to find another face to put as the water hits the thighs!!!

That first few moments where the arms have to stop hugging so close to the body and the cold water hits the armpits removes the last vestibules of warmth that i was clinging onto! Time to get moving!!!

Before you all say it...yes i wore my vest....it was my birthday....i'm allowed!!! Tony getting in straight after me....it was cold on the chest.

Time to put on a burst of speed, the wet suit clad persons...had my envy...they looked sooooo warm! Head down and go for it, the water was alot clearer than in previous weeks, and would you believe there was week starting to grown in places!!!

It does not seem to matter how cold the water we all come out with grins on our faces...it really is an exhilarating experience...oh and we know there is coffee and cake to come!!!

There is however one issue when trying to eat food....for those of you that have read my previous blogs you will be familiar with Jo Claytons dog (who's name i can NEVER remember so i rename her each time i see her and this time she became Loopy Lou!), now when Loopy Lou looks at you with 'those' eyes you would back cakes just for her...how adorable is this!!!! And she knows she is gorgeous too!!!

Cake duly given you get this!!!

Yeah go on see if you can refuse her!!!

One and all dressed and a little shivery but grinning all the same, it was time to enjoy the hot drinks and food. What a birthday treat!!!

Leaving the swimmers and their wonderful company it was time to head to the Black Sheep Brewery in Masham for birthday meal and ale.....totally spoilt!

The food is as always exceptional, the ale, Riggwelter my favorite ..although i do sample the rest...and jolly good they are too! A brilliant day, a swim with wonderful people followed by a brilliant meal and my favourite tipple!!! 

What a great start to 2013.....may the rest be as wonderful....thank you so much for making it so special!!!! xxxx