Cold hands

Have to confess that I chose this pic just for the dramatic effect. Looks as if it was dark and gloomy but it wasn't. Well, it was a bit gloomy, overcast and bitterly cold but it wasn't nearly dark.

Went to pick Campbell up from kayaking at 9pm and as usual they were nowhere in sight, despite the leader telling me that they would be in sharpish at 9 as they weather wasn't great. So I had a wander along the beach while I waited. I did consider doing some tai chi whilst I waited but it was so cold that it would have been tai chi with hands stuffed in pockets to stop them going blue.

When they did finally make an appearance about 9.30 Campbell was easy to spot as he powered back to the beach well in front of the others. It wasn't a race, just that there were a lot of new people and the pace was fairly slow... and he said that he wanted to get back quickly because his hands, despite the insulated waterproof gloves, were frozen. Anyone who knows my son will tell you that he is immune to the cold (he happily swims in the sea around Orkney without a wet suit) so this should give an idea of how cold the cold was. He sat in the car on the way home trying to thaw his fingers out, during which they were red, swollen with white blotches and pins and needles. A hot shower and a mug of tea (green) sorted him out.

Really has been a cold, cold spring this year. Normally by the time the kayak club go back on the water after winter pool training the temperature is a lot warmer than this. One of the salty sea dogs was telling me that he hasn't known a May as cold as this since 1979.

Hmmm, might have to sacrifice a few tourists to the weather gods....