7am Sunday morning work shifts, and then TIGHTS for the bicycle ride through Brixton en route to the lovely lido.
This was the first morning of the season where I felt a chill in the air as I packed my swimming bag. I questioned the wisdom of putting in the lengths in an unheated outdoor pool.
I needn’t have worried.
The lovely lido was chilled, but absolutely GORGEOUS. This was my favourite swim so far of the year.
Once again I had a whole lane to myself. This meant that I could keep my head firmly underwater in-between strokes, rather than keep a look out for other Brockwell bodies.
It felt fantastic. I wanted to grow gills and live out the rest of my life in the waters of the lovely lido.
With Brockwell blue skies up above, the dancing fairies had also returned to the basin of the pool. The magical aquatic lantern show disrupted my length count. I think that I managed twenty.
The reward was ten minutes in the poolside sauna for the come down. The usual Icicle faces were already inside, getting very friendly with one another.
A handful left as soon as I entered.
oh.
It was another morning of chores back in the Sunny Stockwell flat. For such a small space, it doesn’t half attract the dust.
I bashed out my first Buzz piece in over a month. I’m still absolutely apathetic to the local politics that are taking place around here right now. I’m happy to blog Buzz Dulwich match reports though.
I had a luncheon meet up with @RichardGallon over in… Mayfair.
Gosh.
We haven’t met up since the start of the summer. We’ve both experienced some pretty painful cat grief since then. I knew that this would be difficult, but equally reassuring with the friendship.
There was a neon light exhibition around Shepherd Market. We both snapped away with a fading sunlight as the backdrop.
Talked turned towards coffee. Shepherd Market is not exactly known for serving up a cheap cup of beans.
We hit BINGO however with an old school Italian cafe lurking between Shepherd Market and Park Lane. It was positioned in the most unlikeliest of locations for such a cheap and cheerful resting place.
The plan was for a quick refreshment, but we passed a rather happy hour with conversation and coffee refills.
The route to the toilets was a bit like a Spinal Tap backstage scene.
We left the cafe to bloody rain.
Arse.
Shelter was found underneath a tree. The conversations continued.
I finally cycled back through Hyde Park Corner and the bloody mess that is Victoria, en route to crossing at Vauxhall Bridge.
In over twenty years of cycling, I still haven’t found a suitable alternative to navigating Victoria. I am open to suggestions.
I cycled past Vauxhall Park on the way back to Sunny Stockwell. The air immediately lifted me with the aroma of freshly cut lavender wafting all the way down Fentiman Road.
It was joyous.
I had plans for some ice hockey action up in Streatham early evening. But I had some school work to finish off, plus what looks like another demanding school day over in SE21 tomorrow.
And so a little work, and then early to bed.
A decent day.