MORE SWIMMING STORIES

My Mum and I were the swimmers in the family-I think I remember her carrying me down the steps; me splashing, laughing and waving my little arms eagerly.
She often told me stories of swimming, young with friends in the Wannsee outside Berlin on a Saturday afternoon, diving off rafts in the middle of the water.
I was fearless kicking, splashing, and diving between my Mum’s legs to pick up sixpence from the bottom of the pool.
I’d go to the open air pool on my bike,riding carefully behind my big brother. I’d stand on the side pretending to be a racing diver and plop in.
One day I climbed slowly up to the top board, a hot day, everyone eating their Neapolitan ice creams between wafers looked so tiny below me.
The water sparkled blue/green.
I closed my eyes and jumped. I’d do it again tomorrow for that feeling; body straight arms together, flying through the air towards the sparkly blue/green water. I was concentrating on breathing as I came up breaking the surface of the water with bubbles. I climbed out, legs very wobbly, hoping I’d impressed my brother.
He turned round, surprised to see me, he hadn’t noticed my feat of courage, he was facing the other way, smoking, chatting up girls, all older, all teenagers ,all cool.
I pedalled home as fast as I could still in my swimming costume, long dripping wet hair.
I had to tell my Mum.

She was thrilled!

I went swimming last night
I always carry a swimming costume with me in case.
I nearly drowned twice in the sea-in Crete; the big waves in the storm beckoned me in.
In Israel when the undertow was too fast.
I have swum in the North Sea in February and shivered all afternoon, sipping brandy out of a plastic cup.
I cut my leg, dashed against rocks by an unexpected fast current in a river in Yorkshire.
I’m never afraid in the water
 floating is an old friend from long ago.
I like the sun beams dancing on the sea
Swimming with my friend side by side in a warm calm sea at sunset
The horizon ahead
I said‘Let’s swim out’
Swimming out- to freedom, carried by gentle waves
Don’t look back
The horizon’s ahead
Don’t look back