In The Swim

On the excellent Urban 75 forums there's a thread entitled 'Brockwell Lido Breakfast Club'. The Lido is an institution in this area of South London, and now I'm a member of its spanking new gym complex I can go in whenever I like at no extra charge.

Well, I went in after the gym this morning. Do not believe these other people posting on that thread. Reader, it is insanely cold. I got in at the shallow end and I was literally a bit dizzy with the drop in temperature. It took me about two minutes to get my breathing under control, and it didn't help that Ms T turned up and started making satirical remarks from the side.

Eventually I started swimming and immediately got cramp in my foot. That disappeared and was replaced by a burning sensation on my skin which I presume was my sub cutaneous fat reserves imploding in a desperate attempt to keep my body temperature to a viable level.

After a bit I started enjoying it, but frankly the best thing was getting out. I admit I sort of felt energised. But mostly I was relieved my heart was still beating.

*Hat Tip to the editor of Urban 75 for the photo in this post. I would have taken one myself but my fingers were numb.

UPDATE on not drinking. Finally fell off the wagon last night and had three lovely pints at the Albert. And Rachel and J are coming for dinner tonight, so that's that then, for this weekend anyway. It's done me good, I'm feeling a lot fitter, but God, I was starting to bore myself by the end.

Giving Up Day 18

I always knew I'd get this far, but I hadn't anticipated it being so bump free. The big enemy is boredom. Sitting in pubs is really dreary when you don't drink, although a pub quiz can wile away the hours till everyone else considers they've had enough.

The bonuses are the slow and steady disappearance of my beer belly, helped on its way by swimming and working out my old limbs in the gym. And the clear head which lasts well into the evening which makes the long shifts much easier. Maybe I'm fooling myself but I also seem to be more mentally agile.

Now I should be back on the booze next Monday, the deal being that I'd stop for three weeks as Alice suggested. But I like this now and I'm considering doing another week.

Not Drinking Day 9

The first week was hardest; this week it's a tad boring but now there are benefits; deep sleep comes easily and stays for the full seven or eight hours, and I'm much more alert in the evenings. I also feel 'better' presumably because my aged superstructure isn't being deluged with sugary toxins night after night. A week and a half to go, but now I'm thinking, maybe I should do this for longer.

Giving Up Day 4

Regular readers of this blog, if there are any, will know I'm trying to give up drinking. Now I'm at the end of Day 4, so how am I doing? Well, I haven't had a drink. And I'm missing it in a slightly nagging fish-hook in the consciousness kind of way. Not sure if its the taste or the effect I'm missing, but I am missing it.
And there are some big tests ahead. There's the pub a bit later with Ms T, Tam and Rob. And tomorrow there's lunch with Rachel.
Deep breath.

Giving Up - Day 1

A's assertion that we 'social' drinkers are infact addicts (see previous post) has got me thinking. So from today I'm giving up for a few weeks. I'll aim for three, since that's the period she says it takes to break the spell. I'm sure it'll do me good. These first couple of days will be easy because I'm on nights. The next few less so, one suspects.