Hello ????! I hope you are keeping well.

???? A special ‘shout out’ to those of you in VIC & NSW back home in Australia who have gone back into lockdown. ????

My journey to ‘Queen of the Channel’ ???????? & All-time World Record for English Channel Crossings continues as I arrive and settle into England…

I can’t believe I have been in England 10 days already! The first few days I was in self-isolation ???? awaiting a negative PCR test which came through – luckily I had lots of doggy company ???? and amazing home cooked meals. ????

I was also nursing a badly blistered jelly fish sting at the time from a swim at Brighton-le-Sands (Sydney) just before I left Australia. I was concerned that it may get infected so I took about 5 days out of the water. ????????

It was only on my 3rd swim back that I regained my ‘feel’ for the water and I felt like a real swimmer again! ????

I had a marvelous first 6 days in Manchester kindly hosted by Nikki (English Channel solo & Ice swimmer & coach), Cate and Ben and their two doggies Finn and Jasmine.

I got to know some great swimming holes up North including Sale (amazing parades of ????????????????????????????????????????), the inner-city wonder of Salford Docks (with @uswimopenwater ) and Beech Hall’s own pool! ????

It was a riot swimming with the Beech Hall Mencap Marvels Channel Relay Squad, whom Nikki is coaching. They are swimming the Channel and raising funds for Autism in the process.????‍♀️ I shared a few swim tips too.

15 pupils from Beech Hall School are training hard for an English Channel relay crossing as part of Nikki Pope’s “Mencap Marvels”. With the possibility of two boats, late August and mid-September. ????????????‍♂️????‍♀️????‍♂️????‍♀️????‍♂️????‍♀️????‍♂️????????????

They have been training since September 2020 in Beech Hall’s own outdoor swimming pool as well as swimming in sub-five-degree water over winter❄.

???? It’s less than 6 weeks until their relay is due to start.

???? You can support their efforts by donating to their cause via @beechhall_mencapmarvels

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