Poolside Percy

Water temp: 9 degrees

Block of Icicles Water temp: 9 degrees It's Friday morning folks. I peer out of the steamed-up window of my warm and toasty cottage in to the dark and misty gloom. Yep, trip to the lido I reckon. I ignore the will I, won't I argument that ensues relentlessly in my head, it's gonna be worth it. I bump in to this block of Icicles on an outing from Brockwell Lido. I take their photo. OK, water's cold but we've been in this situation before, my brain has it all worked out, we have a strategy, I hope. I swim a couple of lengths, well, I did a bit of wading, that's my brain's way of dealing with it. I take control of the situation and decide to do widths instead, that way I won't be tempted to put my feet on the floor. That works, I swim a few widths before scurrying off for an incredibly hot shower.  By the time I'm changed the Icicles are just getting out of the pool. Hardcore. Respect.

Water temp: 10 degrees Wow, despite the cold nights and early mornings the water is still 10 degrees. I saw the lifeguard chalking the numbers on the board so it must be true. Two numbers is definitely better than one. The place is empty today, devoid of all human existence, apart from lifeguard that is.   I have never seen so much algae in the men's pond, it looks like congealed spinach soup, very cold congealed spinach soup. I swim a lap keeping my mouth well and truly closed. I feel great, I feel alive, I'm so glad that I make the effort to do this. However, I need to stay in the water longer, a visit to The Lido is well overdue, I have a winter season ticket, I must use it.

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.