UK Cold Water Swimming Championships

Ahh the UK Cold Water Swimming Champs, how wonderful you were. I was only on my own for about 20 seconds as I stood at the @slsclido spinning around to see if I recognised anyone amongst the 1000 dense sea of people when I arrived yesterday. “Ah, you made it!” @team_mermaids_uk said flinging one arm round me as she clutched her homemade mermaid eating T-Rex giant cake sized hat, in the other.
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“Cor blimey. That’s impressive.” I said noticing that it suitably matched her @batoko swimsuit. “Wait until you see the rest.” She said. Sure enough parades of swimmers streamed past with hats resembling the octopus from Love Actually, lengthy 5ft unicorn horns and an array of paper mache master pieces that would shit all over Anthea Turner’s Dick Tracey Island. I think it’s the only sporting event where sports wear is more important than athletic performance. 
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@team_mermaids_uk had to dash to marshal the 30m ice fly, but I felt another tap on my shoulder. It was Oxford’s @ellentayto and then Brighton’s @melodietyrer appeared, and moments later @ellachloeswims @belgokatia @diheelas and @julietturnbull joined the huddle as we caused a momentary traffic jam on the busy pathway. All who I’d never met before mermaiding the Thames in November. 

“Aha, are you @stompycole?” @wardenoflove asked as we shared a hot tub after our @crisis_uk 100 person mass jump in of the 4 degree pool. I also bumped into people I’ve been chatting to on Instagram, who I’d not yet met in person. @_finsandgoggles_ too and the sustainable swimwear designer @deakinandblue 
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And now I’ve had numerous offers of couches and water dips from wonderfully mad people all over the country who share my like for#coldwaterswimming.
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It really is social media at its finest.
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The only bad thing about yesterday is that we’re all going to have to wait another 2 years for the next champs.