Swim in Winter

Hi, Friends, how was your weekend? We're in the middle of winter. Some people celebrate Christmas in July. I swam 1 km in an ocean pool. Imagine you're in water around Christmas. But I enjoyed it. It was so refreshing.
I saw only two or three brave challengers. They all quickly left the pool. I'm a slow swimmer. It took nearly an hour to swim 20 laps. Interesting. Once, when I started to swim, I felt water warmer little by little. The more laps I made, the warmer the water became. (*Btw, I did not see fishes in the pool. Where were they hiding? In sea weeds or in/on sands?) My most favorite moment was becoming a jelly fish after the swimming. Yes, floating in waves, I looked up a blue sky..., ahhaa..., a heaven...! (*even in icy water!) An ocean is so lovely.  

Before my swim, a lady at  a changing room warned me, "It's shocking. VERY cold. Icy. Oh, you'll get shock," and quickly left the room. Gulp. But I made it. No one was in the pool. All mine, hahaha?! 

The lady recognised me at my car.  "How was water?" she asked me.
"Cold. I swam 20 laps, 1km..., I did not want to give up. My rehab," I answered, pointing at my leg with an embrace. The answer impressed her so much and surprised her.
"That's a great effort!!! No, don't give up!" she gave me a sincere praise and a good respect, "You deserve! Great efforts," and so ons. Thank you. My long distance swim is the best option in gentle exercises and for rehab. Without a certain amount of movements, muscles will get lazy. 

These five years, I've been sketching waves that fascinate me by movements, forms and colours. My most early sketches are simple like below. I've begun to play with colours in creating waves like the first image. Today, I play up the colours of waves. Waves change colours by time and sunshine. I love "cool mint" waves as well as dark emerald green ones. Sketches have taught me how to handle waves. These studies have helped me to organise the image of a sea in a picture book Moon. Also, I want to make a dramatic scene of a tall ship in a stormy sea.

Brave regulars really love Narrabeen beach, BUT all of us hate a cold shower! That's the only shortfall.  

Once, it was hard to walk well or swim even 100m. Sketching waves appeared almost impossible. But now, I walk, swim 1km and capture waves. Go, Sadami!  A friend says, "You are so strong and brave - keep going and going and going - like the Ever-Ready Bunny/ Energizer Bunny but in the water, swimming like a mermaid with the water calming and caressing you and healing you :)" Yes, indeed, the water is so lovely. Thank you for "warm" cheers. 
Friends, Happy Painting and enjoy swimming, too!   

Swim in Winter