So what's it all about?

Background - When I was a little girl my Grandad, a Merchant Navy Captain (Port Line) told me not to learn to swim as if you fall overboard in the middle of the ocean, it just prolongs the agony! So perhaps understandably, I didn't really develop a love of being in the sea as a result. Love being on it - sailing and rowing particularly - just not in it. But then I had my own children and guess what? I was determined that they should learn to swim because we live by the sea - a bit of a hypocrite I hear you say. Then about three years ago BBC Radio Cornwall ran a sea safety project in support of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) - a charity I work for - and one of their presenters and I got together to promote the idea that everyone should learn to swim.

We were taught by RNLI lifeguards who braved our nervous flapping about in the water to show us the fun you can have in the water. I was nearly convinced but not quite!

Now I have reached a crucial point in life called 'being 49' and I want to prove to myself that I can still face a challenge outside my comfort zone. So what could be simpler than taking on a mile long swim across open sea water?

Nervous isn't a strong enough word right now - though I can now swim a pretty mean breast stroke but at a very slow pace!

This blog will follow my fortunes as I face the last 23 days to the swim and continue with the training in our local pool and with the RNLI lifeguards who I hope will save me if this all goes horribly wrong.