Headgear

Mine, as modelled here.

The dress code for today, L's 365th daily swim, was black swimming costume and fabulous hats. There were some fine efforts, including A's rabbit or squirrel dog toy sewn by hand on top of her normal woolly hat. Very fine. Definitely honourable mentions for both H's tiara and M's orange squid. And the other L's glitter ball of tinsel, which I think might have been handcrafted too. But inevitably the star of the whole show was L with a very fine new swimsuit and a dinky black and white number on her head.

It was not easy to stay upright in the frothy water. Most of us did not venture far (and we were about 20 swimmers and a similar number of supporters / visitors). The car park was busy. Others were there trying to enjoy the beach, including a man with a drone who turned out to be quite a serious photographic artist. He should be credited with the drone photograph, which is my final extra of the year. And if you have instagram, you can find one of his drone videos on his page (@kierandodds), or shared to my stories (@joshawedi). Because I know what I'm looking for in the video, I can see myself being swept off my feet and managing to get upright before the next wave came in. Phew.

After the swimming, there was cake, and drinks, and laughter and lots of hugs to celebrate L's amazing achievement of keeping going through sickness and health, whilst shift working (which made for some interesting night time swims in late November and December), and through the storms and upending of the beach which is not how it was when she started the year. Mostly she had company for her swims, although sometimes it was just her faithful spaniel Tilly. And of course hugs to celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of the next one.

See you next year, blippers.