Water temp: 10 degrees
Work. Lunchtime. Who's up for a control-alt-delete my existence supermarket meal deal lunch? Not me. I have other plans. Quick cycle from Camden Town to Hampstead Heath and the men's pond. There are loads of people here today. I arrive just in time to see the Spanish guy fall off the paddle board. I swap a few pleasantries with the funny man who wears a wetsuit.
I can't believe the water is 10 degrees, it's been 10 degrees for weeks. It feels more like six degrees as it burns in to my forearms as I swim a rubbish combination of breaststroke and frontcrawl. I really should/could stay in a little bit longer I tell myself as I paddle furiously back to the jetty.