It's never too late...

Soooo funny Granny23!

Granny23! You have had me howling with laughter! And I need a wee!

Wonderful, G23 - reminded me of my own fiasco doing the same thing in NZ too. I was lucky to have my personal physician (sister) with me.

I've just read this to DH, G23. We're both in stitches. Please put it on YouTube.

Granny23 - I think it's the way you tell 'em!
Swimming in water at 13C - no way, it was 26C in the Red Sea last week and I thought it could have been a bit warmer.

G23

greatnan, exactly! I needed two wet suits when scuba diving in the Gulf of Thailand with a surface temp of (they said) 27°. It certainly wasn't that once one went deeper, and even that is 10° below body temp.

I am 'nesh' (Lancashire word for feeling the cold!) when it comes to swimming
The air temperature in Nuweiba last week was 36C and I only float on top of the water, but I still found some little cold currents!

Granny23 - you've started my day with a

Granny23 great start to a dull Friday, thanks!

Oh Granny 23 that was just too much! As I used to say as a kid - Laugh, I thought my pants would never dry

Always regretted not getting into water sports...as a result of being very late learning to swim. When I read the blog I thought 'I could do that!' Then I came onto this thread and changed my mind. Swayed by jo8 and realised that I too would be coughing and spluttering with that awful stinging in my throat and nose from the sea water. Then I read Granny23's account of her daughter's escapade and laughed so much. Never realised a wet suit could cause those sort of problems, I'm definitely not getting one nor am I taking up any watersport in the foreseeable future.

When we were teenagers, we used to go down to the local tidal swimming pool in May to see what the thermometer said. As soon as it hit 56F (13.3C) we'd be off for a swim most days after school. Hardy souls we were then.

nonnanana ! Don't let me put you off! At least you can swim! You have a go.

If you are not a confident swimmer, get a face mask and snorkel! You don't even need to be able to swim - it is very difficult to get underwater wearing a face mask and just floating on the surface. You breathe through the snorkel tube, and the valve closes if a wave swamps it.
I have never learnt to breathe properly when swimming and I used to get a crick in my neck through trying to keep my head up, but with a face mask I can swim all day and just breathe normally.
Do I sound a tad enthusiastic? Once you have seen your first pristine coral you will understand!

Mr n. snorkels in Mauritius , he loves it but I am afraid it is not me (smile)

I tried to snorkel in Corfu once. I got into the sea by a wall to hold on to, put my mask on and my face under the water. It took quite a while for me to have the confidence to breathe normally. When I did, I was so pleased, I smiled, broke the seal on the mask, water rushed in, I gasped and choked. Haven't done it since.

It always comes back to bite you some way, doesn't it Grindos?!

You can practise with a mask and snorkel in the bath!

July and still not been in the sea..until this afternoon!It was fantastic and a balmy 13.5 deg. Anyone else going to join me?

Thanks for the tips everyone. I think I will have a go with a mask and snorkel. Should I try wearing it in the house first to get used to it? Then in the bath? I feel a comedy moment coming on...good job we know our postman. I once opened the door to him dressed as a caterpillar, I was trying out a costume for a fancy dress party and forgot I had it on. He laughed about it for weeks. I must remember not to smile Grindos when I finally get to the water stage.

nonnanna, I relish the thought of you opening the door to the postman wearing only a mask and snorkel. That really would go down in history,

Only just read this!
Granny23 had me in stitches!