Blog posts

August 29, 2024August 29, 2024

Rounds 3 & 4….the middle bit!

Hello again, I had round 4 of my chemotherapy 2 days ago and as I didn’t write anything after round 3, I thought I would post an update. This isnt meant to be a pity party at all, it is just an honest account of my last few weeks and it might help someone going through this and to know that going through bad patches are normal.

Round 3 was difficult and I really hit a low, which is why I didn’t feel like writing anything. I think I just went down a bit of a hole mentally. My body was tired and uncooperative, but the main thing was how I felt mentally. I felt like I had come so far but still had so far to go and questioned whether I had another 3 rounds left in me. I was feeling tearful and overwhelmed by everything. The diagnosis, treatment and long-term implications of both.

Recently, someone I cared about died in her mid-40s from cancer and watching her funeral made me so very sad. I felt desperately sad for her friends, family and young daughter but also, selfishly for myself (what if my treatment doesn’t work etc). I guess it made it all feel very real and that we just don’t know what is around the corner. This process has undoubtably highlighted the important things in life and that we need to live in a way that we wish and makes us happiest (as much as possible). Life can be so cruel and unfair!

In the last three weeks I haven’t done much self-care, not played my guitar, not read my book much, not meditated, and just have not felt like me. But that gets into a viscous circle, the less you do, the less you feel like doing and the worse you feel! I went for a massage at the amazing Cancer Care a couple of weeks ago and when the therapist asked me how I ‘really’ was. I cried, a lot. It all just flooded out like a bit tidal wave. I did feel better though! I’m now booked in for some counselling instead of massage.

Many of us put on a brave face don’t we, sometimes we don’t know we are doing it. We just get through things and take a deep breath, which we do need to do. But I think it is so important to talk openly about how we feel about these situations, about how totally shit it is, without trying to protect how others feel. For the link to the cancercare website click here.

I was missing my life, and normality. I miss swimming, hiking, running, concerts, going out. It will be so good getting those things back. I’m such an active, busy person normally so it feels like I’ve lost who I am a bit. But making plans helps me to see that these things will return. I am working from home and that gives me some focus and direction and a bit of normality.

This appointment made me go home and plan how to help myself and get myself out of this hole. However many help groups etc we are in, ultimatly we have to help ourselves. I am back to meditating twice a day which I had been doing for around a year. I love making time for this, it is like a mind reset every day. I’ve got my new books out. I try to walk every day anyway, even if it just around my estate, it helps so much.

We have booked a weekend away and plan to go camping in a few weeks for two nights and to go away after chemo before surgery. I’ve planned to meet up with a friend (we have never met before) I have made on the breast cancer support forum; we chat several times a day. We are on the same treatment and number of rounds so we constantly swap notes. It is a huge help. I can’t wait to meet you, Tracey!

On round 4 it was discovered that my magnesium is low, so I am now taking supplements and I do think that is improving how I am feeling. I do feel more positive now, I have to. The treatment does seem to be working and the oncologist agrees that the lump is smaller, which is great. Chemotherapy is very brutal but very clever, and it does work for so many people!

I am waiting for an MRI and to see the surgeon to discuss what surgery will be needed. There is still a long road ahead, but I am now over halfway through the chemo bit! Only two more yukky cocktails left.

Onwards and upwards. It’s the only way. I am forever thankful for the wonderful people in my life, and I know I am very lucky to have them. I am feeling much better now I am planning things and that I can see an end to this first part of my journey 😊

To read about session 2 click here

July 20, 2024July 23, 2024

Pic Lines and Buzz Cuts

Today, I am 6 days on from my second round of chemotherapy. After having a few days on the sofa feeling sorry for myself I thought I would write my blog. The sun is shining at last, although I can’t seem to tolerate the sun at the moment. I havent been out but have been lying on my sofa looking out at my garden and pots of flowers. I love this room; it is light and airy, and I enjoy lying here feeling the breeze through the door. The cats wander in and out frequently to meow at me or look at their food bowl.

I have lovely family photos on one wall and one of my mum’s fabulous paintings on another (clever mum). My sofa points towards the door so I can prop up on cushions and look straight ahead into my garden. The washing is drying on the line and my chilli plants are sunbathing. The ones that haven’t been eaten by slugs anyway! That is another story!

After seeing the oncologist last week, they decided to reduce my chemotherapy due to previous dehydration due to tummy issues. I was slightly reluctant in case it was less effective. However, they reassured me it was better than having a break in treatment due to side-effects.

I went a few days before my treatment, to have my PICC line inserted. This is a cannula that is fed into a vein in the arm and into a large vein in the chest, above the heart. I was not keen on having this, initially, but the medication is so toxic it can ruin perfectly good veins. My veins are lovely! So, I wanted to keep them. My hand is still sore and swollen from the first session, so I thought it the best option. It was supposed to me a half hour procedure, but in line with how my body reacts to medical things, mine wouldn’t go in! It got stuck somewhere near my shoulder.

After lots of pulling it out and pushing it back in it was eventually in but needed an Xray to check. I have now got used to the little friend in my arm and it doesn’t bother me unless I lean on it. It is much easier for treatment and bloods, and it should stay in until my final dose (that day cannot come soon enough).

A few days before treatment I also buzz cut my hair, as it had started falling out in clumps. When I say ‘I’, Jane popped round and did the deed in my back garden. It felt odd. To start with I was ok, it’s just hair. Then I wasn’t ok….. I looked like a patient.

Treatment day came and went. All went ok except I developed a rash which needed checking. I think my body was reacting to the steroids a little bit. I had some different sickness medications to take home this time. Tummy issues have returned but hopefully I can manage it without the dehydration this time. I stopped worrying about my lack of hair once I had feeling rough to worry about! Before my treatment started, I received a box of treats from a company called Little Lifts. It is for people going through cancer treatment. The bits in the box are wonderful and it contains things you wouldn’t know you would need. Lip balm, hand cream, mints, gentle toothpaste, hot pack and loads of other treats. I’ve dipped into this box many times and will do many times to come. Link to Little Lifts is here.

Helen picked me up after treatment with a wonderful bunch of sunflowers and cake. Friends and family messaged me often to check my well being and my wonderful neighbour Yasmin came round with homemade soup and healing thoughts.

Once again though I am turning a corner and starting to feel a little but more myself. Yesterday, my guitar came out for the first time in a while and played some of Boulevard of Broken Dreams. I’ve also restarted reading my book ‘Wintering’, Katherine May. Although we are in the middle of July, Wintering is around hibernating and hunkering down. That is exactly what I feel like doing at the moment. Resetting and healing myself. Sometimes we just need to listen to what our bodies need.

July 2, 2024July 2, 2024

How can it be cancer??

Morning, I am sitting here in my lounge at 5am, looking out of my double doors into my little garden, sipping weak tea (coffee tastes foul at the moment) and writing my thoughts down from the last couple of months. The giant daisies are blooming well, I have a few pots of wild flowers popping up and my hydrangia is starting to show its pink bloom. I am no gardener but I love flowers (and pretty weeds) so I don’t do much to my garden except plant a few things and sit in it! I love my lavender as the bees visit it often and it reminds me of lovely times in France.

It has been a rocky couple of months and it was only at 4.30am this morning that I woke up and thought, I want to write about it now. So lets begin. This is a long one so get comfy (and a weak tea!).

At just after 50 years old I had my first mammogram (don’t worry I’m not going to go back too far!) 🙂 It was all fine. So we thought. Fast forward two years and I felt a sizeable lump in my boob. I was recovering from my foot operation so it was more like ‘Oh what now’ rather than, ‘Oh, a lump, lets get that checked out’. I’d already had fun and games going back and forth to the GP with HRT/coil issues. It just felt like another thing to see the GP about. So I left it, for a while, until it wasnt for going away.

So, onto a two week wait I went, that is the cancer pathway for anyone with anything that could be suspiscious gets referred to, and it does seem to work well. I presumed it would be like the last lump I had and just be a harmless lump. How can it be cancer?? However, at the scan I felt that this wasnt going to be the case. The radiologist left a titanium marker in the lump, measured it with scans and took three biposies (ouch). and had another mammogram (extra ouch after the three biopsies!).

Results day came and I was so anxious I was almost sick in the waiting room. Not knowing, I think, is the worst thing. Knowing it was something, but not know what! We went in and a nurse was there with the consultant. Oh no, a nurse there….

They were lovely and explained that I had Grade 2 invasive ductal cancer….but that it is treatable with an intent to cure. Bursting into tears of relief, I had hung onto the words ‘intent to cure’. I had spent a couple of weeks imagining all sorts of scenarios. Minds are horrible places sometimes. I was stressed and highly anxious. The team at the oncology unit, breast cancer unit and Macmillan are fabulous and are being very supportive. The link for Macmillan is here if you want it.

Next came the MRI scan to accurately measure the size of the little bugger and formulate a treatment plan around that. If you havent had an MRI on your boobs, you get told to lie on your front on a table with two massive holes in it. I tried to break the ice by saying ‘Youre not expecting me to fill those are you?’ Then realised I had my gown on back to front and forgot my name. Its weird being a patient. I dont think I make a very good one. I knew it would be surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, a year of injections and 5-10 years of tablets, we just didnt know which order. Thats a lot to take in for someone who barely takes a paracetamol!

Unfortunatly the MRI scan showed it to be double in size than what they had measured on the first scan…chemotherapy here we come. The other things will come later. It needed to be shrunk down a bit first.

A couple of days before my first session we decided to have a night away in Almouth. I wanted to be by the sea, it is a calming place. I was so anxious, waiting is horrible. It was a good distraction. We had a lovely walk on the beach in the evening and had pizza and red wine sitting on the sand (it even stopped raining eventually). Fresh sea air, two chilly sea swims, chatting, laughing, a bit of crying, wine and pizza. It was just what we needed. Amazingly, the following day, we saw two huge pods of dolphins close by the shore as we were sitting looking out to sea. It was absolutely magical.

I had my first chemotherapy session 8 days ago. I am just turning the corner of feeling well enough to write this, and to do anything really. It was been a rough week! The session itself was ok, except feeling really anxious about the treatment. These are unpleasant poisons. I was so worried about what they were going to do to my insides. But one thing they are doing, hopefully, is battering this cancer. And that is the only important thing in all this.

I’ve spent all my life nourishing my body and looking after it. Ive been vegetarien all my adult life, always been very fit and active. How did this happen? I do feel really sorry that my body is now having to cope with all these chemicals flowing through, and believe me, it is not happy with me at all. I wont go into details but I have had massive tummy issues, irregular heart rate which I needed to go in for an ECG for and huge headaches. I’ve been dehydrated (probably causing the heart rate issue) and everything tastes foul, including cheese! (like I’ve been chewing paracetamols). Its been white toast and water mainly over this week. Oh and imodium and sick pills and paracetamol. Yum. I am really bad at feeling poorly. Because I’m just not used to it. I have no patience for it as I have things to do. But, I am learning to lie on the sofa when I need to. I havent had much choice this week!

But, Im through the other side (hopefully) of this first round. I have booked a couple of PT sessions in for the end of the week, I’ll be able to go and instruct even if I wont be swinging 10 kg kettlebells around just yet. I hugely miss normality, and being in the park and seeing my people. It is such a massive part of my life.

I am lucky, even through all this shit, because this is being treated and hopefully cured. Many people don’t get so lucky. I have lost three friends in the last few years to breast cancer. I have got plans and things to do. I’ve got my gorgeous grown up boys and my eldest has just got engaged (on my birthday) so I have got so much to look forward to. My partner, family and friends are amazing and I feel so loved. Times like these (Foo Fighters) really make you take stock of your life and who and what is important.

Also, please don’t just rely on mammograms. This wasn’t picked up. Check yourselves and get to know what is normally there and not there.

Onward and upwards, one day at a time., one step at a time. We have bloody got this xx

To read more posts click here

May 6, 2024May 6, 2024

Swimming at High Dam Tarn

Swimming at High Dam Tarn – I have been outdoor swimming for around six years now but this was my first visit to High Dam with my lovely friend Lindsay. High Dam is a beautiful area near Finsthwaite, at the south end of Windermere. It is a gorgeous, magical woodland area with oak trees, birches, larch and pine trees. Carpetted in a range of bracken, heather, bluebells and wild garlic, winding trails and footpaths guide you around.

We swim often together and had a free day off so decided to venture further afield. Our last swim had been at Devils Bridge, which was lovely, but theres always the slight worry about currents! As I’d never been to High Dam (but had heard about it) we opted for a trip up the M6.

It was a beautiful sunny day, after what seems like months of rain, it actually felt spring like. We had a short hike to the tarn from the car park. A very pretty warm up before getting into the water! I loved the woodland, it was so peaceful and quiet, smelt gorgeous and fresh, and was very picturesque.

We changed into our cossies and headed for the water. There was no one else swimming, but a couple of women sitting by the water. That first feeling of stinging when you get into the water, a few gasps and controlling your breathing, then, bliss. Oh I do love that feeling once youve got over the cold. We had a lovely swim up and down the tarn. Looking at the woodland views and listening to the birds and some vocal geese at the far end of the tarn. So Beautiful and so peaceful.

After our swim we left the water, dried off, dressed (although I forgot my knickers!) and sat in the sun eating and drinking to warm up. Lots of good chatter, and then another walk to get the blood flowing again.

Days like this are just fabulous, they fill me up and get me ready to face what life throws. I’m so very lucky to have some wonderful friends who love these things as much as I do. Find something you love doing, and do it often 🙂

To read about other swims please click here.

July 15, 2023April 11, 2024

Movement in menopause

A few years ago I started getting symptoms that I didn’t understand. My sleep was very broken, my mood was low, my anxiety was high, I started gaining weight in areas I hadn’t before. I thought I was losing the plot! Then a friend suggested it may have been changing hormones, as I was around 45. It was a relief when I could identify what was happening.

After researching and reading up on movement in menopause, I enrolled onto a course about women’s fitness/wellness and menopause and went to discuss my symptoms with the GP. Having started HRT and increased my self care, I began yoga, meditation, more movement, mindfulness and listening to self help podcasts. I have always been very active and although I am not running as much, I make up for it in hiking up mountains and swimming outdoors. I make poor food choices sometimes and I drink wine….enjoying life is important! But I’m much more aware now of what my body needs and pay attention to it.

Most of my clients are women between the ages of 40 and 65 so all these things also benefit them. I like to share my knowledge. I developed a greater awareness of just how important movement is to women of our age. Obviously movement is important at any age but with passing years we start losing muscle mass, bone density, balance, strength, cardiovascular function, mobility and flexibility. Its not all bad news though as there are lots of things we can do to help slow down these processes. Motion is lotion! Moving helps keep our joints and tissues hydrated. It builds strength and flexibility. It increases bone strength to protect us from fractures if we fall (which we wont as we are working on our balance too!). This is espcially important for women.

Our range of movement bubble shrinks as we age, we need to move our bodies to the edge of our bubble. Moving for the love of our body and the joy of being active. We need to nurture our body with good food and adequate rest times and movement. Most of all, we need to have fun whilst we are doing it. Movement in menopause is so important! For every bit of our bodies.

There are many reasons why we forget to take care of ourselves. Tired, busy lives, lack of motivation, hormones all over the place in menopause, but nobody will do it for us. We need to take control and care for our body and mind. Its the only place we have to live.

For information about the outdoor peronal training sessions I offer click here.

For more information about menopause click here.

May 23, 2022February 28, 2024

Foody Thoughts (because you can’t outrun a bad diet)

As we get older, diet and nutrition becomes more important, we just can’t get away with eating (and drinking!) like we did in our teens! I am currently studying on a menopause training course which is focussing on all things holistic such as food, sleep, stress, movement and much more. So, here are my foody thoughts!

The food aspect has interested me hugely as to what foods/vitamins/minerals (or lack of them) can affect your hormones and menopause symptoms and how they do this.

As a nurse and a Personal Trainer I am in an ideal position to help people correct some of these lifelong habits with food that are causing symptoms they may not recognise as being nutrition related.

Poor food choices or habits such as comfort eating, binge eating, or just not giving much regard to the nutritional value of what we consume, i.e. a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates, can cause inflammation in the body and can be related to many common illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dementia and depression. In addition, poor nutrition can exacerbate symptoms of peri menopause and menopause such as hot flushes, mood disturbances, cognitive function, energy levels, weight gain, ability to manage stress and changes to skin, bones and hair.

But, its not all bad news! There are things we can do to turn things around and it is never too late to make changes. As the title says, ‘we can’t out run a bad diet’ and it is true. We can run miles every day but if we don’t input the right nutrients, we could start suffering from the above complaints.

One thing I say to clients regularly is nourish and move. We need to treat our bodies kindly, inside and out. After all, they do a lot for us and its the only place we have to live! This is not easy though! Especially if we try and use willpower alone! Habits form over years and years and take a long time to change and re form, but it is possible by taking a look at your daily diet. Breaking bad habits takes time and effort, but won’t be regretted.

Below are some of the points I address with clients in order to help them break habits and eat in a way their body deserves.

Mindfulness – being in the moment, thinking about what we are eating and tasting it. Not rushing around with a chocolate bar in your mouth whilst doing something else. Are we comfort eating, binge eating? Eat 3 mindful mouthfuls…it sets your digestive system up ready, eat slowly and stop when you have eaten enough. Listen to what your body is saying. Can you hear your ghrelin and leptin?? 🙂

Eating real food – Limit or remove ready meals and highly processed food. Eat fresh food and a rainbow of colours while reducing beige foods that do our blood sugar levels no favours. I purchase veg/fruit boxes from Odd Box. They deliver weekly or fortnightly and everything is fresh and minimally packaged. I get very excited when it arrives as I never know what’s inside! OK, I know that makes me a little bit sad, but it makes me think about what I am eating and taken me out of a rut of eating the same things. Our diet should be filled with things that give us nutrients.

Hydrate – drink water. All these lovely nutrients we put in won’t do much good if we are dehydrated. Also, when we are hydrated, the feeling of thirst doesn’t get mistaken for hunger.

Habits – acknowledging them, using them to your benefit, breaking them, changing them, developing healthier ones.

Ways of eating – trying different things to suit us such as intermittent fasting, 5:2 diet, low carbohydrate diet. These are not fad diets that have an expiry date, but a way of eating in a way you feel better but don’t feel like you are missing out on anything. Different ways of eating suit different people and different lifestyles. I love intermittent fasting, it works for me, it doesn’t work for everybody.

Enjoy food – food is great. It is tasty(hopefully!), it is sociable and pleasurable, it is needed for life.

I will write more posts about the different aspects of nutrition, especially in relating to peri and menopause. For information about my outdoor personal training click here.

If this is something you would like help with please get in touch for more information.

sadie_anna@yahoo.co.uk

07811868851

January 30, 2022February 28, 2024

Wild Swimming in Wastwater

I’ve been to Wasdale a few times and walked the screes and Scafell Pike but had never been in the lake….the deepest lake in England…until this weekend. I’ve carried on swimming at least once a week through the winter, usually in Capernwray but other times in lakes. But had never been swimming in Wastwater. This weekend I wanted to brave my fears of going in the deep, dark, cold water of Wastwater.

The lake has easy access from laybys on the road. On the Friday the weather was windy and damp, very low cloud over the surrounding mountains, but we thought ‘its now or never’!

Zipping up wetsuits in anticipation we headed down the grassy slope to the water. The wind was blowing hard across the lake and there were sizeable waves! We took a rocky slope which shelved quite steeply into deep water….ooohhhh that cold feeling when the water runs inside your wetsuit… I love it! Swimming was a little difficult whilst being slapped in the face with waves but once we’d stopped yelping we swam towards the middle of the lake. It was amazing. The water felt clean (but looked really dark underneath). I had forgotten to put my goggles on so kept my face above the water (apart from the waves!)

After 15 minutes of swimming around, bobbing about and marvelling at the scenery I swam to shore and got warm. I’ve got that off to a tee now…quick speedy wetsuit removal, dry, dress, coffee, chocolate! 🙂

I loved the swim so much I decided on another one on the Sunday morning before heading home. The water was still this time, no waves, still dark and cold. I had goggles on this time and managed some front crawl and looking down into the dark below was beautiful. I am normally nervous about looking into the depths of a lake but because the water felt so clear it didn’t feel at all spooky. Being weightless, supported by the water, whether looking up at the beautiful mountains or down into the darkness below brings about such a huge feeling of being alive and safe. I absolutely love swimming in the outdoors.

For my experience of swimming in Ullswater click here.

For more information about wild swimming in the Lake District click here.

January 23, 2022February 28, 2024

Wild Swimming in Ullswater

Last weekend we travelled to Patterdale in the Lake District to swim in Ullswater, a lake I’ve read about in my wild swimming book but never been in. I know the area really well as I have run/walked the full Ullswater way around 8 times. Its a beautiful area and I was keen to get an outdoors dip. That weekend we got, not one, but two Ullswater swims.

Parking at Patterdale we headed onto the trail towards Howtown, rucksacks packed with snacks, warm clothes and a jet-boil for a well needed post swim brew. After walking for a couple of miles we came to a tiny track through the ferns down towards a small shingle beach next to the lake.

I had a bad wrist (don’t ask…nasty cat bite!) so I braved it in a cossie. In we waded, the water was fresh and clear but felt really cold! Ullswater is known for being a deep, cold body of water. It certainly was. Deep breath and swim…it was fabulous. The scenery, the cold, the freshness of the water, the stillness. Beautiful. People were walking on the trail and waved to us. It was great seeing Ullswater from a different perspective. We got out, dried off in the sheltered cove and after re-fuelling, headed back to the van.

The following day we decided to try a different location so drove towards Aira Force on the other side of the lake. The car park was opposite the lake on the other side of a busy road. We changed and (again, me in my still damp cossie) entered the water. Not as clear over this side and still had the great cold feeling. We swam around a bit until…something touched my leg…cue inner panic

Anyone who swims with me knows I’m scared of jelly fish and generally anything else in the water. After remembering there are no jelly fish in the lakes, I calmed down a bit…just reeds…probably. We swam a bit longer but with the ‘leg touching’ incident and the busy main road very close by, this swim was not as perfect as the first one.

However, wild swimming in Ullswater twice in two days in a new lake was great and the sign of a good weekend!

Where to next?…need to get my book out again.

To read about wild swimming in Wastwater click here.

For more information about wild swimming in the Lake District click here.

January 23, 2022February 28, 2024

What’s in a PT session?

It is hard to know whether Personal Training sessions are what you want or need until you start them. This post is a little snippet into what a usual training session with me would be like. So, whats in a PT session? Obviously the sessions are different depending on my client. I like to build up a friendly rapport with clients to ensure everyone feels at ease and is relaxed and happy. People respond in different ways to exercise intruction. I dont shout at people as some PT’s seem to. I gently encourage and help people to see their potential.

Where are the sessions held?

All the sessions are outside and usually in Williamson’s Park in Lancaster. The park is beautiful, well cared for and lends itself to being a great gym. What better than to work out in the great outdoors!

The 1 hour session

We start with a warm up, fast walking, up hill usually and talking about how you are, just checking in with any niggles or worries etc. Sometimes we then do some short running drills, generally back and to a fixed point. This can be a lamp post, bench, path or a timed shuttle run. Adding into that some simple body weight exercises to make sure all the muscles are warm and ready to work. Then comes the main session, usually a mixture of body weight and weighted exercises for a fixed time. Sometimes that will be one time, or can be multiple sets of the same exercises. I mix it up a lot to challenge the body, and sometimes the mind, and ensure a great and also enjoyable workout.

During the hour we add run sets or step sets into the workout, client dependent. I look closely at how the client is feeling to check the workout is at the right level for the client on that particular day, we all have some days that are better than others for many reasons.

We work core and abdominal muscles through-out the session and also some of this is towards the end, lying on mats or standing.

An easy cool down follows, with plenty of stretching of legs, arms and back.

Some clients want exercises to do at home but others prefer to do them with me in the park and do their own activity in between such as hill walking, running, cycling or swimming. All of this is fine and different things work for different people, the main thing is consistency. Try to increase your activity in daily life and fit small sections of exercise in when you can. Look after your body, its the only place we have to live!

If you are going through peri or full meopause and are still unsure, have a look at my movement in menopause post by clinking here.

January 23, 2022February 28, 2024

An active holiday in Cornwall…….seals and surfers!

I recently spent an active holiday in Cornwall. Ten days of sea, sun and sand (the first week was sunny anyway). I’d never been down there before and found the coastal views really stunning. I had taken my bike, paddle board and of course wetsuit and swimming gear, ready for some outdoor activities.

The first few days were spent walking the coastal paths around the Lizard, Lands End and Penzance. Really stunning. We saw some seals and had some lovely swims and a paddle board. Unlike Morecambe bay, the sea was clear and the sand was soft and sand-like! Kynance Cove was just beautiful. Had a lovely swim there too.

On the second week we moved over towards Newquay and Padstow. The coastal walks were still great but I preferred the other area further down. The sea however was something else. Its surfers paradise. I’ve never been in such huge waves! Not much swimming went on, but lots of fun in the waves, whilst watching out for the surfers riding the waves!

The weather turned wet and windy so the walks were shorter and the ‘swims’ got even choppier. I’d come off my bike the previous week so my knee was recovering but I think the sea water helped with that.

With the weather turning we decided to return home a few days earlier. Time to wash the sand out of everything!! 🙂

Since getting home I’ve had a couple more swims at Capernwray. The water has definitely cooled down now but am hoping to keep swimming all winter like last year…watch this space!

To read about my swims in Ullswater and Wastwater click here and here.