All posts tagged swimming

The trouble with water

Here in Wales we’re having a bit of a drought… it’s hardly rained for weeks and the water butts Chez Snail are sadly depleted. This is a bit of an issue because we try to avoid flushing the toilet with mains water – instead using rainwater that we have collected from the roof of the house and shed. As the water butts have gradually emptied, we have started using ‘grey’ water: saving the water when we shower for use in the toilet, for example. We’ve also been tipping water from washing up and washing onto the plants in the garden (in both pots and the ground) and trying to make use of any other collected water, like when the  hot water tank started overflowing because the arm of the ballcock had warped (now mended).

So, when I get home from swimming, I put my swimming costume and my goggles into a bucket of cold water to rinse away the chlorine, and then I use the water in the garden (assuming that it’s so dilute by then that it will do no harm). And this is where the ‘trouble’ originated.

This morning I simply could not find my swimming goggles. I usually leave them on the table in the kitchen to dry and then put them back in my swimming bag ready for my next session. But this morning they were nowhere to be seen. Where had I put them? Had I left them at the pool? Now, I know that you can see exactly where this is going, but at 6:30 this morning I was completely bewildered. I hunted around the house to no avail, and I asked at the pool, where they have a box of abandoned goggles… none of which turned out to be mine. The lovely staff offered to lend me some, but I had my old ones and so although my swim was a bit blurry (unlike the new ones, my old ones do not have prescription lenses), I was fine. As I swam up and down I mulled over what I could possibly have done with my goggles… and the light started to dawn.

On returning home, I checked the garden, and there they were in a pot with a courgette plant. Apart from a little compost and needing a rinse, they were unharmed. Needless to say this is going to cause great amusement with my fellow swimmers when I tell them on Monday. Ah well, it’s just one of the hazards of a green lifestyle.

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The offending goggles with my eco-friendly swimming costume (made from recycled fibres)

 

 

11 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on July 6, 2018  •  Permalink
Posted in ethical living
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on July 6, 2018

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2018/07/06/the-trouble-with-water/

Five fings Friday

So, after yesterday’s post turned into a bit of a wallow on my part, I thought I would pick myself up and list  not three, but five fings things that are making me smile today (or made me smile yesterday).

First,  you lot. Your kind messages and comments yesterday went a long way to cheering me up. Although I’m still smarting from the rejection, it was lovely to be showered with so many positive messages. I’ve picked myself up and I’m moving on.

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it’s years since I’ve had Christmas presents!

Second,  secret Santa. Under normal circumstances I don’t do Christmas gifts, but I did decide to join in with Sewchet’s Stitching Santa this year. And yesterday I was very excited when my present arrived. It’s secret so I don’t know who it’s from until I open it, but it’s a lovely box filled with things yarn-related, so it’s bound to be a joy to open. I still haven’t decided whether to keep it an extra week until my birthday, but I may not be able to resist it for that long.

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chocolatey

Third, chocolate. Yesterday afternoon I cheered myself up with some cooking. In the absence of the beef, we decided to have fish pie (made using sustainably caught fish from Cornwall), followed by dark chocolate tart with a white chocolate sauce and raspberries (grown by me). The tart had chocolate pastry and a baked mousse-like filling. The sauce was simply a small amount of white chocolate melted in hot cream and then a teaspoon of liqueur added – it worked very well to contrast with the dark chocolate and the raspberries, although it would have been very sickly on its own.

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just the thing to make Sophie look extra-beautiful

Fourth, the end is in sight. I now only have two rows of Sophie remaining, so she will be finished tonight. I was delighted, therefore, that my new blocking mats arrived yesterday. Sophie is too big to block on my usual cork board, so I have bought some interlocking children’s play mats for the purpose. Each one measures 30cm × 30cm, so it’s possible to construct the size and shape of mat I need very easily. I did try to find some secondhand mats, but in the end I had to buy new; however, I think they are going to get lots of use in the future.

Fifth, a lot of swimming. Today is the final day in 2017 that our local swimming pool is open. I won’t be able to go and swim there again until 8 January 2018. So I’ve totted up my tally for this year and I discover that I have been swimming 112 times. I’m very proud of myself… especially considering that most of those swims have been at 7am.

So there we are, lots to make me smile today. How about you? I really hope good things are happening in your life and, for those of you who find this time of year difficult, I send a big hug and remind you that the media’s representation of Christmas is nonsense and that there are lots of lovely people out there who want to support you and make you happy, like the café owner in this story from our local newspaper.

Thanks once again for the lovely comments on yesterdays post – you are all amazing.

26 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on December 22, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Three Things Thursday
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on December 22, 2017

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2017/12/22/five-fings-friday/

Three Things Thursday: 9 November 2017

My weekly exercise in gratitude – three things that are making me smile – feel free to steal this idea with wild abandon and fill your blog [or Twitter account or Facebook page or diary or life in general] with happiness.

First, things arriving in the post. I love to receive letters and cards and parcels, especially when they have been sent by friends. The post this week has yielded two of these things – a card from Cathy and a parcel from Ann. Both made me smile a lot.

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lovely arrivals

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I think I can spare some!

Second, sending things in the post. Although I don’t ‘do’ Christmas, I decided this year to participate in Sewchet’s Crafty Secret Santa event… Stitching Santa. Basically, you are allocated a person to send a little gift parcel to and you receive one from someone else; there’s a budget but you can add extra bits and bobs that you have from your stash. I’m taking part in the knitting/crochet version, but there’s a sewing version too. I’m having fun reading my recipient’s blog and trying to decide what to include in her parcel. I really think I must send some Cambrian Mountains wool and some vintage buttons and some of my spare stitch markers, plus I’d like to make something… I have so many ideas! The suggestion is that everyone opens their parcel on Christmas day, but I may keep mine until my birthday a week later since I rarely receive presents because everyone is so busy with Christmas/New Year that they either forget or just don’t bother. I’m sure my gifter won’t mind a little delay in getting thanks. Oh and I have a parcel to pack up and send to the Beasties too.

Third, 100 swims. Yes, that’s right; so far in 2017 I have been swimming 100 times. That must be a cause for celebration, and must mean that I’m getting fitter.

So, that’s some of what’s making me happy this week. How about you?

-oOo-

Emily of Nerd in the Brain originally created Three Things Thursday, but it’s now being hosted by Natalie of There She Goes.

17 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on November 9, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Three Things Thursday
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on November 9, 2017

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2017/11/09/three-things-thursday-9-november-2017/

Three Things Thursday: 2 March 2017

*three things that make me smile: an exercise in gratitude – feel free to steal this idea with wild abandon and fill your blog with the happy*

Inspired by Emily of Nerd in the Brain here are my Three Things Thursday, this week all seen during a trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London:

First, I’m very grateful that I don’t have to wear a woollen knitted costume when I go swimming. I can’t imagine the drag factor, the sag factor and how long it would take to get one dry! Click on the picture to go to the V&A’s description of this garment.

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1937 Knitted Bathing Costume

Second, amazing tiles. There were so many in the museum, both as exhibits and as part of the structure. Below you can see two exhibits that particularly made me smile. The tiled panel is from Iznik, Turkey and was made around 1580 (click here for more details); the huge fireplace is also Turkish and dates from 1731 (click here for more details)

Third, the skill that must have been required to make this quartz crystal ewer. It was made in Egypt around 1000 and was carved out of a single block of rock crystal. I have to say that this particular object left me speechless. Click on the picture for more details.

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This carved rock crystal ewer is a thousand years old

So, those are three things making me smile this week – what about you?

11 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on March 2, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Three Things Thursday
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on March 2, 2017

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2017/03/02/three-things-thursday-2-march-2017/

Three Things Thursday: 21 July 2016

As usual I’m joining with Emily of Nerd in the Brain (and others) for Three Things Thursday’. As she says…

*three things that make me smile: an exercise in gratitude – feel free to steal this idea with wild abandon and fill your blog with the happy*

First, unplanned plants. I do love an unexpected visitor in the garden and, in this particular case, in the limery. Some of the seed that we put out for the birds must have got into the potting compost, because one of my pepper plants has a companion. I nearly weeded it out when I first noticed it, but then I thought how lovely it would be if it flowered… and how right I was:

Second, the ‘big 50’. Not quite my birthday yet (although that will be happening in a few months time) but swimming. Since I started in mid-January, I have been swimming 50 times. I swim a minimum of a kilometre every time I go, so I’ve swum quite a long way this year. My annual pass has been a great investment and, in fact I’m close to having covered the cost already.

Third, swapsies! I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was swapping my knitting skills for some yarn. The deal is that I knit Kathryn some socks and she sends me some of the yarn that she is no longer able to use. So far I am up on the deal as the yarn to knit up, plus my ‘payment’ arrived yesterday. As well as the commercially produced yarn, Kathryn also sent me a little of the yarn she spins herself, which is lovely. I have a trip away at the end of next week, so Kathryn’s socks will be on my needles for that.

So that’s it for this week. What are you feeling grateful for?

13 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on July 21, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in Three Things Thursday
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on July 21, 2016

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2016/07/21/three-things-thursday-21-july-2016/

Fit for life

As I get older I find myself becoming less active. Last year was a particular challenge – the building work over much of the summer kept me from gardening and then the subsequent wet months kept me indoors and whilst this meant I was very productive with my knitting and crochet, I was also very sedentary. How unfit I had become was brought home to me when I dashed out into the garden on a dry day to get some mulch down and do some other chores… and after half an hour I was flagging and red in the face.

Now, you can’t live your life to the full unless you have the energy and stamina to get on and do things. I know that I’m going to be busy in the garden this year and I don’t want this to be a trial because I am so unfit. Fortunately, it’s been a little drier over recent weeks and so we’ve been out walking the dogs a couple of miles most days, but I wanted to do something more… to get into the habit of exercising. I considered a variety of options, but I think my days of aerobics classes are long-gone and the prospect of visiting a gym fills me with dread.

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All set!

So, my answer has been to start going swimming – it’s relatively gentle and once you’re in the water no one can see how hot and bothered you might be getting! Once suitable attire had been sourced, I made my first trip to the pool. I had forgotten how much I like being in the water, but the fact that I do has made it easy to make this a regular form of exercise. An additional incentive is that I have purchased an annual pass and I need to go 56 times in the year to make it cheaper than paying for each visit individually. I’m well on target as I’ve been ten times (twice a week) in the past month. One major plus is that three times a week the pool opens at 7am, so I have been able to do all my swimming first thing without it interfering with the rest of my life. I may have found my ideal way (except the chlorine) to get more active!

I’m hoping this extra exercise is going to mean I have much more energy and stamina for all those other things I want to do and so there will be even more going on than before chez snail!

15 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on February 16, 2016  •  Permalink
Posted in health and wellbeing
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on February 16, 2016

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2016/02/16/fit-for-life/

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