In 2008 we started Christmas Day by walking the short distance from my sister’s home in Dalkey, County Dublin (where we were staying for Christmas) to partake in the annual Forty Foot Christmas Day Swim at Sandycove. By ‘we’ I meant OH and myself and by ‘partake’ I meant OH! Hey, someone needed to take the photos!
So on a very, very cold Christmas Day my game aussie plunged into the sea for a few minutes and swam briefly. It was his second time to do this swim and he declared this swim was ‘warmer’ than his first, a few years ago. I just reckon he’s getting more northern european and beginning to enjoy the cold. It’s a mad occasion with hundreds of men, woman and kids of all ages jumping in off the rocks or walking down some freezing steps into icy seas for a brief swim. The main event is an actual short sea race, around mid-day I think, but the real fun is the crazy good-natured crowds that come and go all morning, some in fancy dress sipping hot whiskey, mulled wine and munching mince pies. I’m told it’s a great hangover cure!
Christmas 2009 will be very different as we’ll be having our turkey cooked on the webber and dining outside under a shady pagola in 30 degree heat! We’re off to Perth, Western Australia to spend time with OH’s family. We’re nearly all packed and ready, house sitters on their way and presents bought. I’m looking forward to the visit (not so much the heat) although I still maintain Christmas Day in the sun is wrong. Simply wrong. But a warm Boxing Day is pretty nice : )
So to all our friends we wish peace and happiness for Christmas and the New Year.
Nollaig shonasach agus athbhliain shuaimhneach.
