To try and blend in with the resident vikings I thought I would join the gf's father for an ice swim today. It's more of a quick dip than actually swimming, but with falling snow, 2 degrees below and a mild wind, it felt colder out of the water than in. The ice on the lake is about 4cm thick and the water hovering at 1.5 degrees above zero. You wouldn't want to stay in there for more than a few moments, but it wasn't too cold and it was quite an exhilarating experience.

There is a local club at the lake, and to be a member you must have a daily attendance of over 60% for two years for them to consider you. The clubhouse doesn't have a sauna or hot-tub so I don't see the point personally. Then again they do have a pick axe, which is quite useful at this time of year.

how many pirate raids did you see in total?

Actually, that neatly fills my criteria for being 'too damn cold'. It's a slight breeze away from being frozen!

It exactly fills my 'sod off' criteria.........

Al

It was best not to think about it, anticipation would have been a deal breaker. Previously in cold water I've always just jumped/dived in to get the experience over and done with, never could lower myself down a ladder. That was the biggest cause of concern today as the depth, ice and conditions meant that I had to be within reach of the ladder. Once you climb out and towel dry you instantly feel much warmer and don't even notice the wind or snow.

For some reason, all I can think of is the phrase "Walnut Whip"...

Do continue.

GAH! What's that from!

In a film the guy says "When in Rome..." and the other character keeps asking "when in rome what?" etc...

Comedy film but can't remember which one!

Maybe Red Dwarf? Monty Python?

Anchorman?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOA_-3nzgno

YES!

LOL!

I knew I recognised it from somewhere!

You and the GF's dad are mental. Not because of the swim, that's great, it's because you didn't couple it with a Sauna.

Were there no lakes with public saunas there?

No Saunas in the near vicinity. I don't think it is such a big thing as it is in other Scandinavian countries.

I've been saying to myself to do it for a few weeks now. My reasoning was that if I was only going to do it once then Sunday would have been best, what with the ice and falling snow. However I went again yesterday and will probably go again today. Anything to get naked in public and not be arrested.

Lol, true, I love it.

Butt naked in the lake at the summer house is always refreshing. Although I do have a slight concern that some of the fish have sharp teeth.

If they look like this, I'd think twice.

Slightly off topic, I have an extraordinarily poor knowledge of such sayings and get really annoyed when people only say the first line. Even if they finish the expression, I'm usually still uncertain as to what they mean...