I can SWIM!

ninakang

I've been boring everyone I know half to death with this so I thought to myself "Where can I always get the support and well wishes I need?" And so here I am!

I bought myself and the girls a pair of goggles at £11.99 each because we go swimming twice a week now and they're a good investment because we go so often (I like getting my money's worth out of things). I've never actually put my head under water before but took the plunge (so to speak) last Wednesday and my daughters did it with me (of course, they're total fishes themselves with no fear) and I saw them waving at me and pulling faces.

IT WAS BRILLIANT! I was so impressed with myself, I spent most of the rest of the time under the water, chasing them and tickling them. It was such good fun and I now keep thinking "Why didn't I learn to swim years ago?!"

Oh hang on, before you think I've lost it, I'm so pleased with myself because this time last year, I didn't even know how to swim - I only learned last summer. Now I'm thinking of trying my hand at diving head first in from the side of the pool when I go on Wednesday!

Nx

PS - another plus point for swimming - no matter how bad arthur is being to me, I can't feel a thing in the water.

mellman01

Hi Nina, very useful skill swiming, odd how humans have to learn it though?. I did my open water diver certificate about 87 years ago, that was fun although it was strange jumping in a lake in March, we were wearing dry suits though so it wasn't to bad.
I only had one near disater when we were 18 feet down and you have to take your mask off then put it back on and then blow the water out through your nose, all was going well until I took the dam mask off,the water was so cold that when it hit my face I involuntley breathed in through the nose, god I nearly paniced, just managed to stop it going all the way to my lungs, once I cleared my nose I was fine but I only just held on from panicing, when u look up at the surface it suddenly looks a real long way off.

abfab1963

Nina, that is just brilliant. I would love to go swimming at the mo!! And yes, it is a really good form of exercise for Arthur!

Pride is stopping me......

1. My hair is only starting to grow back from chemo last year and its bloody grey....the shame!! I cant go swimming in my wig and Im not sure about a swimming cap?

2. I have Psoriasis on the soles of my feet..picture peoples faces, swimming behind me. I could wear swim socks...

However, the thought of both a swimming cap and swim socks...mmmmm...I dont think so!

great to see you enjoying the time with your kids

Abfab
x

ninakang

Abfab

I have mishapen toes (should really stop wearing heels, but I love them too much) and hanging skin under my arms from an op a few years ago (breast reduction). The advice I have for you is - put on your swim cap (invest in a good one) and put on your swim socks and get in there :-)

Mel, do you really mean you were doing that cert 87 years ago? Or was that a mistype?!

Nx

barbara12

Hi Nina
Thats brilliant, I only learned a few years ago, me and water did not get on before that.
You enjoy it.
Love
Barbarax

katekelly

Hi Nina,
Glad to hear you are enjoying swimming with your kiddies. We swam quite a bit on holiday and actually swam with a dolphin. Our youngest only learnt to swim this last year but has really taken to it. There is no stopping her now. Whilst at Discovery Cove we were given masks and snorkels and I showed Sarah how to snorkel so now all she keeps on about is learning to Dive (Scuba that is) - must take after her Mother (I learnt many years ago pre-children and pre-Arthur days). The funniest thing was though whilst we were at the Cove I went into a 'tropical' pool full of exotic fish. I really was enjoying myself looking at all the different fish etc. when all of a sudden a Black Tipped Shark swam under me- that was my time to panic!!!- but did I feel a fool when I realised there was a glass panel between me and it!!! :oops: :oops: :oops:
And what's this about diving in a lake in a dry suit??? I learnt to dive in a wet suit at Stoney Cove with the Rugby branch of BSAC-I sometimes wonder if that has anything to do with the old aches and pains!!! :roll: :roll:

ninakang

Right, am adding swimming with dolphins and sharks to the "Things to do before I die" list - ooooh! That's a good topic for a new post!

Nx

skezier

Hi Nina,

When I was a kid we used to swim to St Michael’s mount and back every weekend..... We lived by the water so I learned to swim young (my mother actually threw me in at a very young age and I swam with no fear at all...... mind she might have been trying to drown me )

Then I saw Jaws........ I have been edgy for a long time bout what’s under me in the sea..... I used to dive and well I did brave the water for a splash with seals, dolphins and the Basking sharks :shock: They are huge as well and not sure they really rate us mere humans of anything of consequence really........

Swimming pools..... well like Abfab said (a big ((( ))) to you Abfab) body image doesn't make it easy to go in one...... I used to a lot even after Jaws but then I lost a toe and got a huge ugly scare down my back and also ballooned up to an old hag :roll: ...... Best I just look at the sea or else use a wet suit too big.... normally its jeans and a T-shirt with out it being planned.......

Keep your swimming up and Abfab you and I can help each other with body image Cris x

ninakang

All these swimming stories coming out - I wish I lived near water like some of you, it sounds idillic.

I might go swimming this afternoon with my girlies, not got much else planned. The weather is miserable and we've been baking cakes all morning (which I can't eat as haven't bought the gluten-free flour yet).

Nx

valval

i remember the open air pool we used to have the water would have thin layer of ice on when it first opened so first one in would break it lol. suposed to be going swimming but not sure would be able to get out of pool again if water cool as joints freeze up and would feel silly asking for help

dachshund

Hi Nina.
i've been going swimming for 14 years.
i go to a hydrotherapy pool i have cerebral palsy
so i walk strange but right for me.
i knew a lady that went swimming and she wore a wig we did not know untill one day she said so give it a try i'm sorry nina i forgot the ladys name.
joan xx
i

joanlawson

Well done , Nina :!: :!:

If I know you, there'll be no stopping you now. This year Moorways swimming pool, next year the world :!:

Are you getting in training for the Olympics? There's plenty of time!!

ninakang

The olympics? Not while I'm still being overtaken by my 7 year old :-)

I do love it though. Am SO glad I learned. My hubby thinks we're barking going in the depths of winter when it's snowing, but it's good to toughen kids up!

Nx

joyful164

Well done Nina.

ASo good for you. If I can still keep losing weight, I shall eventually try and get back into a costume so that I don't look like a whale. I feel too shy at the moment. I'm not sure about crawl or breast stroke because of my neck. With spondilities, it would upset it and if I do the back stroke, which is my best stroke, all I do is poke other peoples eyes out. I may try and give aquarobics a go again. Did it 6 years ago before the arthritis surfaced and took over my life.

Joy

jordan7j

Nina, I am so jealous!!! I never learned to swim. I had the hydro 6 week sessions at physio, that was ok, just a shallow and warm pool. I am very nervous of water, as when I was a child the instructor pushed me in as I wouldnt jump in, even when a friend said I had never been before. After that every session was a nightmare (school lessons) I tried so hard to get out of it, but we had to go.
If I could find a warm pool I may be brave enough, but the sight of a normal pool scares the life out of me x x x

ninakang

Hi Joy and Jordan

I hope I inspire you to learn to swim/ take up swimming again. I don't know what I'd do now if I didn't go. I was always scared of the water (school swimming lessons have a lot to answer to!) then when I had the girls I didn't want them growing up with the same inhibitions as me, so I started taking them to the teaching pool. I've always taken them, on and off, right from when they were tiny babies, which is why they're like little fishes :-) Then one day I suddenly decided to try paddling, just to see if I could get my feet off the bottom. I found I could, then got a friend who's a swimming teacher to give me a lesson and I've never looked back from that one hour in the pool with her :-)

I also find that while we're worrying about what we look like in our costumes, no one else actually notices because they're all too worried about their own body hang ups!

Nx