12
THE DAY THEY’D arranged to meet at the lake was unfortunately not the best day to introduce people to wild-swimming. Nora pulled open her bedroom curtains and groaned. It was a grey day and the cloud had settled low. It looked like it may even be drizzling.
She checked her phone, expecting to see a raft of messages from the others saying that they couldn’t make it after all, but there was nothing. After she’d dressed and had a quick cup of tea, she set off for the lake, glad that it wasn’t actually raining after all, but getting dripped on by the trees, nevertheless.
Nora climbed over the wall, hoping that she’d be the first to arrive, but found Jess already there and warming herself next to a blazing fire pit which had appeared from nowhere.
‘Morning!’ Nora called.
Jess grinned and stood up from where she’d been sat on a fold-up garden chair. ‘Morning!’
‘Wow, this is a treat,’ said Nora, standing close to the fire, feeling its warmth against her face.
‘Seb suggested it. He had these fire pits for the Christmas market and thought it’d be a good idea. I have to admit, I’m not itching to get in,’ Jess said, inclining her head towards the lake. ‘I grew up by the sea and I could never bear to go in unless the sun was out. It didn’t matter if it was winter or summer. I just need the sun.’
‘It’s a game-changer on a day like this,’ Nora agreed. ‘So you’re used to going in the cold water?’
‘I used to be. Bit out of practice these days, but I love an excuse to wear my dry robe.’
‘Hey! How do we get in?’ Patsy called from behind the hedge.
‘Walk along a bit further,’ Nora called. ‘There’s a gap.’
Patsy and Lois emerged from the hedge, followed by Hilary who was wearing about three coats.
‘I want to be supportive,’ Hilary said, ‘but I can’t go in.’
‘It’s okay. You don’t have to. It’s not for everyone, especially on a day like today,’ Nora said, understanding completely. It was always less enticing on a grey day. ‘You can be our lifeguard.’
‘Oh god. I’m telling you now, I won’t be jumping in to save any of you but I’m happy to watch you from here.’ She sat herself down in the chair that Jess had vacated.
‘Come on then, let’s do it,’ said Nora. ‘I don’t want to tell you what to do if you know, but I always get my stuff ready for afterwards before I get in.’
‘No, carry on,’ said Patsy. ‘We don’t know anything, right?’ The others nodded, so Nora carried on.
‘So, I have my towel ready to grab and then my clothes in a pile in the order I’ll put them back on. Once you’re out, the most important thing is to get your wet stuff off as quickly as you can and get dried and dressed quickly, so you don’t get too cold.’
They stripped off down to their swimming costumes. Nora had given them a list of basics that they might want to bring if they had them to hand. She’d suggested neoprene gloves and socks, although the water wasn’t so cold now that they were essential, and they wouldn’t be in for that long today.
Nora lowered herself into the water from the dock and stood up. ‘It’s not that deep here,’ she said, the water coming to just below her waist. ‘It’s a good place to get in and out.’
‘Here goes,’ said Jess, lowering herself in next, and managing it with little more than a sharp intake of air.
‘Oh god, is it freezing?’ Lois said.
‘Of course it’s freezing,’ said Hilary. ‘Look at it.’
‘It’s actually not that bad,’ said Jess. ‘It’s warmer than the English Channel on Christmas Day.’
‘Oh, well in that case,’ said Patsy, laughing. ‘Christ!’ she shouted as she lowered in with a splash. ‘It’s bloody freezing!’
Lois dipped a toe in, her eyes widening in shock. ‘It is!’
‘You just have to get in,’ Jess said. ‘Do it in one go or you’ll never do it!’
Lois took a deep breath and lowered herself in in one swift move. ‘Arrggghh!’
They all laughed, including Lois.
‘Okay, put your hands in. Getting your wrists acclimatised will help you get used to the temperature before we go any further,’ said Nora.
Apart from Nora, they all had their arms crossed but they reluctantly dipped their hands in the water.
‘When you feel ready, bend your knees and dip yourselves in up to your shoulders.’
Jess went first and seemed quite happy. Lois, still on a roll from when she got in went next and to everyone’s surprise just started swimming. ‘I just need to swim,’ she called as she headed off.
‘Come on, we’d better stick together,’ said Jess.
Patsy rolled her eyes, dipped herself down, swore loudly, making Hilary roar with laughter, and the three of them set off after Lois.
‘Everyone feeling alright?’ Nora asked after a minute.
‘I’m actually starting to feel warm,’ said Jess. ‘Not in an “I’ve got hypothermia way”, though.’
‘Good! It’s actually not as bad as I was expecting,’ said Patsy. ‘How far are we going to swim?’
‘Not too far today. We’ll turn round when we get to that wooden platform with the rope tied on,’ Nora said.
Lois screamed. ‘There’s something by me!’ and started splashing around, which caused Patsy to panic and do the same.
‘It’s just a twig,’ said Jess calmly. They all roared with laughter and Nora had to stand up because she went all weak from laughing too much.
‘You can stand up!’ Patsy said, doing the same, which for some reason just made them laugh all the more.
When they climbed out a few minutes later, they all had big smiles on their faces.
‘You actually look as if you enjoyed yourselves,’ Hilary said, handing them their towels which she’d thoughtfully warmed by the fire.
‘I feel amazing,’ Lois said, looking surprised.
‘Me too,’ said Patsy.
‘It’s so different to swimming in the sea but I realised how much I miss that,’ Jess said.
‘I feel like a right wuss now,’ said Hilary. ‘I’ll come in next time.’
‘We’ll hold you to that,’ said Nora, already pulling on her clothes while the others were still drying themselves.
‘How have you got dressed so quickly?’ Lois said.
‘Practice.’ Nora took her tea flask out of her bag, and a packet of custard creams she’d bought specially. Hilary had popped open some more garden chairs that had been thoughtfully provided by Seb, and they both took a seat while they waited for the others to dress. The fire pit was wonderful. This was probably the worst weather that Nora had encountered so far in her almost daily swims. She’d been very lucky. If Archie did open the lake, something like this would be just the thing. Not only did it help warm people up, it created a nice community atmosphere. Even if someone came to swim alone, they could be sure that there would be a warm welcome and good conversation from others around the fire pit if this group were anything to go by.
‘No sign of Archie this morning,’ said Jess. Nora wasn’t sure whether it was a question, but with everyone’s eyes on her she felt she had to say something.
‘I didn’t think we’d want an audience,’ she said.
‘Too true,’ said Patsy. ‘Is it going to be women only if it’s open to the public?’
‘I doubt it, but I think it appeals more to women. Certainly where I’ve swum before, there are usually way more women than men.’
‘Nora’s going on a date with Archie,’ Hilary blurted out.
‘Hilary!’ Not that she minded people knowing, it seemed unnecessary to announce it quite so publicly.
‘Seb said he might ask you,’ Jess said, smiling. ‘I think it’s lovely.’
‘It’ll be interesting to see what he turns up in, said Patsy. ‘I’ve never seen him wear anything but very old tweed.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with that,’ Nora said, feeling the need to defend Archie, even though on some level she really hoped he wasn’t going to wear double-tweed on the date.
‘Nothing,’ Lois agreed.
‘Easy for you to say when your boyfriend is immaculate at all times,’ Patsy said.
‘Matt always looks alright.’
‘I’ve put a lot of work into getting that to happen,’ Patsy said, which sent them all into fits of giggles again at how serious she was.
‘I could get Seb to have a word,’ Jess suggested.
‘No, please don’t,’ Nora said. She would hate for Archie to feel that she cared at all about how he dressed, because she didn’t. It was obvious to her that he wasn’t exactly flush and she would hate him to feel any pressure to spend any money on clothes for her benefit.
‘Hitting it off with Constance is quite helpful though,’ said Hilary. ‘Constance tried to set them up, not knowing that Nora and Archie were already friends.’
Nora was beginning to think that being friends with Hilary was a double-edged sword. Clearly, nothing was sacred. She seemed happy to share Nora’s personal life with everyone.
‘Hilary, do you think perhaps Nora ought to tell us this sort of thing herself?’ Lois said.
‘You don’t mind do you?’ Hilary said, looking confused that it might even be a problem.
‘I suppose not,’ Nora said with a sigh. ‘I’m not used to living somewhere where everyone knows, or is even interested in what everyone else is up to.’
‘Best that you realise now,’ Patsy said.
‘It’s not really like that,’ said Jess. ‘At least not all the time. We’re just pleased that Archie is going out with someone as lovely as you. He deserves some happiness. And Constance can be a good laugh. Just keep her away from the Pimms.’
‘She got tipsy at the festival last summer and insisted that she wanted to stay the night in one of the glamping tents. She got so cross with Archie for making her go home. He shoved her into the back of a taxi which she wasn’t happy about at all,’ said Jess. ‘Poor Archie didn’t hear the end of it for weeks and he only put his foot down because he knew she wouldn’t normally stay anywhere that didn’t have a flushing toilet.’
‘You know, he’s letting the festival use his land for free again this year,’ said Hilary.
‘Seb’s tried to persuade him to charge but he won’t hear of it,’ said Jess. ‘It’s so kind of him, but I’m not sure he can afford to be kind.’
‘Do you think this swimming lake is a good idea?’ Nora asked them.
‘I love it,’ said Lois. ‘I’ve wanted to try cold-water swimming for ages but I can’t be bothered to travel to the other side of Worcester to do it. I haven’t got time. If this was open, I’d be able to come before or after work. I’d come as often as I could. I’m on a high, even if I can’t quite feel my toes yet.’
‘I’d come,’ said Jess. ‘I’d forgotten how much I miss the feeling of swimming outside. The rush you get from being cold and then feeling invincible when you get out. It’s amazing. Count me in.’
‘You’ve all convinced me that I’ve missed out,’ said Hilary. ‘I’d like to think I’d be a regular.’
‘Me too,’ said Patsy. ‘I spend so much time indoors, and in five minutes this has totally invigorated me. I can walk here too, which is brilliant.’
‘Great!’ said Nora. ‘Honestly, I think there’s a market for it but I was worried that I’m biased. I didn’t want to set Archie off on something that’ll never work.’
‘Seb thinks it’s a great idea too, and he’s got an expert eye for what works,’ said Jess.
‘Same time tomorrow then?’ Nora teased, laughing at their faces when they thought she was serious. ‘Same time next week?’
There were a chorus of yeses which gave Nora a fuzzy feeling inside. She’d found her new tribe. And whether or not the lake ever opened to the public, she hoped this group of women would continue to enjoy it regardless.
‘I’m off to buy a dry robe,’ said Lois before she disappeared through the hedge.
‘See you next week!’ Patsy called, following her.
‘Should we douse the fire?’ Nora asked Jess.
‘Probably. Seb said he’d come back to collect the chairs, but I reckon we could leave them here. Why don’t we fold them and put them under the dock? We could put a couple of stones from the wall in front of them to stop them from rolling into the water.’
Jess went to collect the stones while Nora pushed the chairs underneath, then dipped her cup into the lake and threw a cupful of water on the fire.
‘It’s like a proper swimming lake now, with the fire pit,’ said Nora.
‘You don’t mind that you’ll end up sharing it?’
‘Not at all. Today has been brilliant.’
She couldn’t wait to tell Archie what a success it had been, and she couldn’t wait for the same time next week to do it all again.