Whilst I'm enjoying my time in the UK, it's not all daffodils for this little badger. Sometimes - often - I feel totally trapped and claustrophobic. Without being able to drive, or go surfing, I often feel a lack of freedom that has me climbing walls. It's hard to even express to Jamie how I feel as it's his darling mother's we are staying at, and as we have spent lots of time with my family in Australia over the last 15 years, who am I to complain? 

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/riverflows/EpnDqVgXjtdToi6mx7JFG8a9ajdx2gnsu68GzJ9mhfYrpSy3k6gpFwqJTdLApUWP6KH.png)

Yesterday we drove past the Brighton Sea Baths, which looked so amazing - an outdoor pool right on the beach. My friend David swims there all the time - it's usually about 19 degrees, and fine to swim even if it's snowing. I couldn't think of much more of a delightful thing to do. I'm told a lot of people 'wild' swim int he ocean all year round, and you can see little woollen bobble hats bobbing about as they do so. 

However, if I wanted to swim in Somerset, it was down to the local pool for me. 

I can't say I *enjoyed* the experience, apart from tiring myself out. It was full of old ladies that could swim faster than me, making me feel like an old lady too. Maybe I am, and I'm just not admitting it. I also found it hard to get to grips with my breath, and was puffed quite quickly, let alone anxious as I was getting the rhythm all wrong. I had forgotten that you don't actually hold your breath when you swim - you gently blow bubbles out. Once I started doing this, I stopped panicking so much. I managed 20 laps, alternating between three or four laps freestyle and one of breaststroke. It took me the whole 45 minute session. I don't even know if that's good or not, but I feel like I overcame whatever resistance I had in the first ten minutes, which was something. 

It was certainly *interesting* being back at this pool - my son learnt to swim there, and I did *used* to do laps there before we moved back to Australia and I started surfing in earnest again. In all that time, the place hasn't changed.

Did I enjoy it? Not particularly. I miss the salt water. I miss seaweed and fishes and the big blue sky above. It doesn't feel like *proper* swimming to me. But until I can find a better alternative, I'll be packing my bathers and goggles and finding myself a pool for laps. 

### Do you swim laps? Do you enjoy it? Any tips for me? 

<center>

# `With Love,` 


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/riverflows/23t6xT1abr5kFMeEirKwZ2QqT6MK9U4SBpKCQZAjVEojgm7uSSGL9AJSuwtBsUmMAV5jv.png)







**Are you on HIVE yet? Earn for writing! Referral link for FREE account [here](https://hiveonboard.com?ref=riverflowsJ)**</center>
<a href="https://peakd.com/@naturalmedicine">