A Charity Dip

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I noticed that at several seaside resorts a New Year's Day dip in the sea was being planned.

This sounded like a good day out especially as it was being done for charity.

I gather that more than a thousand swimmers were expected to flock to the beaches - many in fancy dress - and brave the icy waters for the annual New Year charity dips.

Which bit of seaside should I select for my winter dip?

As children we had spent many holidays down at Clevedon in Somerset in our Mother's caravan. (we always referred to it as 'our Mother's' as she had bought it with money she had inherited).

Let it be Clevedon I thought.....a quick nip down the M4.....be there in no time.

Grabbed my knitted woolly cossy, a couple of towels and a thermo of home-made lentil and bacon soup and set off about 9-30.

Parked the car and full of enthusiasm trotted down to the beach.

I had miscalculated.......the tide was out.

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Got dressed and retired to local pub for a 'swift half' (I'd forgotton about the soup I had left in the car)".

There I met a crowd of swimmers who had had more luck up at the Marina Lake. The eldest was 78-year-old Joyce Peters who has continued to enjoyed her annual New Year's Day dip despite a double shoulder replacement."I wanted to raise money for a good cause," she said.

Well it was too late for me to trudge all the way back up the prom to the Marina, and besides I never go swimming after consuming alcohol. So I stayed in the pub for another 'not so swift' half.

I later discovered that some 17 members of Middle Yeo Surf Lifesaving Club also took the plunge at their Marina.

The group usually wade straight into the sea from the beach, but this year the tide was too low.

So I was not alone.

On the return home I sorted out a suitable piece of music to finish off the day.

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And if you believe this you will believe anything!

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