Swim.Outside

Aw yeah!

​Hands up: who wants to come for a swim?

​Saturday at 10:30, walking from Pendreich Car Park down to Cocksburn Reservoir.

The walk back will be really, really muddy, so please wear appropriate shoes and a big jaisket!

​Winter’s nearly done. Well, the snowdrops are out—that’s a sign the dark days are limited. Although that doesn't stop the brain freeze; the water temperatures are michty fearsome!

​Bring loads of warm, woolly layers. A big hat and some gloves help, and swim shoes are essential. Let the Wellbeing Circle know you’re coming so we know to wait for you.

​Looking forward to having a chat and a life affirming, smile returning cold dook.
​Churs,

Awe yeah

Going for a wee swim hopefully on the 7th of February, come and join us. It is a couple weeks away and the weather is looking michty fearsome so plans may change.

Have a wee sqwuatch of the 2nd photo for more saftey polis and details.

Bring loads of warm layers
Auld shoes to swim in

Even just come up for a blether you don't have to join us.

.

Awe yeah

There’s loads of things that can generate a massive happy beetroot heed like the one in the foto. Unfortunately, some of them would have you up in front of a judge.

The extreme focus on yer skin burning from Baltic temperatures and the ache in yer bones as the frozeness bites at yer extremities has you not just forgetting major, life-altering issues — it stops you wishing yer life away, no daydreams of easy peeasy lazy lifestyles and also cancels the endless deep dives into past regrets that can't be changed, no matter how much you grind yer teeth or fill yer moo with chocolate cake.

Live in the moment.
Why not have a cold water experience.

It doesnae need to be a hardcore, sitting oot the back in a ice bath. Just dial the shower from roasty-toasty to breath-taking icyness and then rub yer heed and do a wee jig of glacial confusion. Or be a wee bit bonkers and fill the bath only from the tap with the blue sticker and lower yerself into a life-affirming five minutes of mentalness.

You could grab yer best pal, fill a bag with hunners of warm clothes, a flask of yer favourite warming beverage, and yer ultimate snack, and head to yer closest reservoir, loch, lake, or waterfall. Be filled with trepidation on the way, then laugh and giggle on yer return journey.

In fact you don't have to wait for a friend, they normally think you're weird when you suggest a cold water dip. Why not headlock someone your drawn to, in Tescos and drag them to the waters edge. Don't worry, after a refreshing dip you will both be giggling and hugging each other like life long besties and all kidnapping charges will be forgotten.

Am not advocating swimming away from troubles, am encouraging you to shoehorn a negligible quick icy cold vacation into your stressful daily routine to help you realise what's important.

Life is amazing.

Sometimes we forget.

Safety polis word: dinnae be daftie — don’t jump into deep water. Stay in the shallows. Take yer time. Make sure you can get out easily and have loads of warm layers prepared, as the ability for rational thinking seems to dissolve as yer skin turns pink and yer rattlin about, struggling to pull on socks and troosers.

Awe yeah 

Massive thanks to everyone that braved the wintery conditions up at Cocksburn, think we had about 20 folk in the balticness. 

The weather played a blinder, couldn't have asked for better conditions this morning for a life affirming New Year's Dook. 

The 4 degrees of breathtaking water didn't stop everyone smiling. 

You can contribute to Strathcarron Hospice

text DOOK to 70085 to donate £10 (or)
text DOOK £5 to 70085 to donate £5

A Magic Morning. Just hope the rest of the year continues. 

 

Being a shallow wee reservoir, Cocksburn gets toasty warm in the summer. But these wintry darker months leave Cocksburn pretty hard-core and takes yer breath away. Don’t worry, you won’t be in the frozeness for long. Just a few minutes in these temperatures will give you the biggest rush and leave you wearing a huge smile.

We do not want to restrict numbers to allow as many folk as possible to feel the benefits of doing something a little mental, even slightly radge and memorable to start the New Year. To ensure you are all supported and safe we will have groups of ten folk at a time enter the water. We realise that there will be a lot of anticipation and with the air temperatures and weather, folk will be eager to jump straight in and splash about. Please understand you may be asked to join the 2nd or 3rd group. It would be brilliant if the cold water veterans turning up, assist others acclimatise and also please understand we will have time restrictions so you may not get the long soak that you normally have. Everyone's patience and understanding will be appreciated to ensure everyone has a safe enjoyable dook.

Here are some preparations to help make yer dip more enjoyable:

The 1.5km (approx) walk in and out will be unsupervised. There are hard core paths from either Pendriech car park or the green gate near the top of the Bridge of Allan Golf Course.

Please understand we are having a dook in the countryside where access is by steep undulating exposed paths and unfortunately and sorry for excluding folk but these paths may not be safe and suitable for all wishing to participate. Please consider your health, mobility and physicality before attempting to join us.

Suitable foot wear must be worn and care taken.

Please let us know if you are feeling unwell and would like assistance to get back to your transportation.

Wear loads of warm layers so you arrive, stay warm and ensure you will heat up as soon as possible after getting out of the water.

Swimming shoes are required and essential for getting in and out safely and will help protect your feet

Swim in what makes you comfortable, maybe a bikini or baggy 30yr cossie or wet suit. We only care about the size of your smile once you are submerged.

A flask of your favourite hot drink is a worthy idea, and maybe bring a hot water bottle to keep your clothes pile warm and give the opportunity to pour the contents over your feet to heat them up after you get out.

Don't forget our favourite woolly hat and a big pair of gloves so your extremities heat up on the walk back to your transport.

This dip will make you feel magic, be life-affirming and brilliant start to the New Year.

Awe yeah 

Stressed oot, nerves are frayed, need some “me” time why don't you settle down with a wee kindle book and chill the funk oot. 

Ma heed is rubbish so some of the spelling and grammar may be slightly off and there are a few words small unimportant missing. Maybe you received a fancy tablet fae shanta clause or you could fire the kindle app on yer phone and reading ma wee covid camping adventure story will help reduce the festive doom scroll. Don't worry It's not a mammoth epic, its a relaxin 60k words. Maste of you mega brains wull smash it oot, in a day or two. 
⁸
Links on Instagram dinnea wurk so you wull need to use ma bio if you click to ma main page then click the Linktr.ee/swimoutside  link. 

You wull have various choices. 

Read the most recent blog at the Getootside option. Where ave gathered some recent fotos to accompany some ramblings about how the creative process blossomed from a wee waterfall day oot with Patrick and his pals. 

Or fire into the book option at the bottom Linktr.ee page. Where you wull have the option of two made up affairs and one photo book account of a strumash up north on ma bike. 

Enjoy and try not to stress the funk oot during this festive period. Ma story might help or even go for a walk and have the wind blow the anxious clouds from yer napper. 

Churs 

# scottishFiction