We went to St Cyrus beach for a swim today. My sister-in-law is visiting and she has a penchant for icy showers and swims in freezing lakes in Switzerland. The photos make it look like a warm summer’s day but it’s actually winter here and the water temperature was 7°C.

I’m preparing myself psychologically before venturing in.

 

The swim was invigorating. It’s almost unbearable as you walk into the sea and can feel your feet going numb but once you’ve submerged yourself it feels terrific. It’s like a pulse of caffeine is pumped through every vein and artery and you suddenly feel warm and alive. This feeling lasts for quite a while afterwards but if you don’t get dressed quickly then you will feel cold again so it’s important to get dry and rugged up again.

Before our wild swimming we visited Dunottar Castle.

This is my sister, Caroline, with the kids.

Yesterday we went ice skating in the Christmas Village in Aberdeen.