The Girls That Can met up yesterday for the first time, except for Megan who was not able to make it. Her presence was missed but 5/6 was not bad considering journeys, weather, logistics and global apocalypse. We met at Lake 32 where the hospitality were second to none. Nobody is allowed to mention the jacket potatoes and why would you need to when you are greeted with cups of tea, hearty hailings and the Merthyr Mermaid. I kid you not. The lake was stunning and we hopped from one foot to the other in the way that is standard before you throw yourself into cold water – ‘I really want to go in and I know that I will feel great afterwards but at the moment it feels like a ridiculous idea’. Before getting in, we were presented with goodie bags by organiser extraordinaire, Juliet, from the Henley Swim Festival. In that bag was a wetsuit very kindly donated by Zone 3.

Now, I don’t know whether you have ever tried to get into a wet suit but there are actual lessons on you tube on how to do it properly. As delighted as I was at getting a gift of the wet suit, it was a challenge. Don’t get your nails anywhere near it, hoik it into every nook and cranny, bend forwards and this is starting to sound like an invite to a racy kind of party. Once on, it is great for posture, no chance of slumping around when you are trussed up that tightly. The other plus is that you are so hot and sweaty, from the effort of putting it on, that you can’t wait to fling yourself into a body of cold water. I’ve worn a wet suit before and it was a quasi traumatic experience but this thing is very bendy (I think that’s the technical term) and it makes you shimmy through the water like an old trout. And no cold! Pretty amazing all round. I’m not entirely sure that I’m converted but the quality is brilliant and it does mean that you can stay in the water for longer so I can see the allure.

We swam round the lake, chatting and it was a delight. The setting was beautiful. The company friendly and inspiring. The laughter was soul restoring. Getting the wet suit off again, well that’s a whole other story…