12 July 2010 - 1 Week and Counting

The last group training session is done, the lists are all prepared and now we need to pack and think about moving down to Dover on Saturday. There is so much to think about and try and arrange - it really is a logistical challenge quite apart from the swimming.

Thankfully, no one has got any injuries and we are all feeling up to the challenge. It has been a journey of grace thus far and we continue to trust that the Lord will bring us all through safely and that He will be glorified through the whole experience. I certainly feel my need to trust Him with every aspect.

The plan is to go for a short night swim in the harbour on Saturday night as a final preparation for our swim and then just doing some easy swimming until we get an opportunity to do the big swim.

Thanks for your ongoing prayers and support!

6 July 2010 - All Aboard

Everyone has now completed their 2 hour qualifying swim in under 16C water, and since we did the swim, the temperature has gone up 3 degrees so that it is now 16.4C and rising (?).

We met last night for a social time and to watch a swimming movie. I think that we are all looking forward to it now and getting excited at the prospect of the next two weeks.

The swim week is from 19 July, so we move down to Dover on the Saturday before and will do a night swim in the harbour that night just to get the feel of swimming in the dark which is a first for all of us.

Thanks for your support and I will keep you updated as the day approaches.

Peter

1 June 2010 - Ticking Down

We have 7 weeks to go before our swim week, so we need to keep focused and injury free.

The paper-work is mostly done with one last thing remaining of submitting our official 2 hour swims to the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation (CS&PF). Most of us have now done a two hour swim and at least two of us have done it in 16C or under which is the requirement, but it is quite a challenge to find a place to do the swim at the right temperature.

Dover Harbour where there is a designated swim area is still only 11C and even the outdoor pools have already been up to 18C although they are back down to 16C for now due to the colder weather.

There is a team of people who help to train swimmers at Dover harbour every Saturday and Sunday and they offer to do timed qualifying swims this month, but I don't think that it will get up to 16C in the harbour this month! In fact next month isn't looking promising to top 15C, so it may be a slightly chilly swim on the big day.

I swam in Dover Harbour last week and did 1hr 20 in 10C water. Although it was cold, I didn't find it uncomfortable and was fine when I got out. It was an interesting time meeting some of the regulars and seeing what happens every weekend through the summer. They are certainly a dedicated team who volunteer their time to help out.

Yesterday, Craig, Julie, Karen and I went down to Parliament Hill lido again in London as it is outdoor and unheated and hovering on 16C. It was quite cold as there was a breeze and the outside temp was just 12C. I didn't feel 100%, so I swam for an hour and a half, but Julie and Karen did 1hr40 and Craig did the golden 2 hours in 16C, so well done to him!

17 May 2010 - 9 Weeks and Counting...

It is just nine weeks to go now and the donations are starting to come in.

We are all swimming together tonight down in Potter's Bar which is more central for everyone. Coach Audrey will be there and will no doubt put us through our paces. The last time we went to Potter's Bar was a few months ago, so hopefully we will see some improvement for everyone since then.

This weekend we will be at Dover for our first harbour swim of the season. I don't know what the temperature will be, but it will no doubt be cold. There is a beach team through the spring and summer who help the swimmers to prepare for their Channel swims, so it will be good to get some exposure to some other people doing this slightly crazy thing.

Part of me says, "Only 9 weeks!" and part of me says, "Let's get it over!" which is suppose is pretty normal.

We've just got to keep pressing on till that day!

10/05/2010

10 Weeks today!!!

There are just 10 weeks till the neap tide week which will see us make an attempt to swim across the English Channel. Preparations are going well, but there is still much to do - fundraising, swimming, organisation for the time down there.

We have just done another cold water swim on Saturday in Jesus Green lido, Cambridge. I took along a little video recorder to try and do a clip, but with the outside temperature at 8C and everyone wanting to get going straight away, there wasn't an opportunity to get a video. We swam for different lengths of time and everyone was very cold when we got out, so that wasn't an option either.

The last couple of weeks, we have got in free at Parliament Hill lido and now Jesus Green lido because they were having their open days, so not only free entry, but coffee and cake afterwards - winner!

The water temperature in Cambridge was just 11.5C, so very cold, but everyone managed well. Soon we will be off to Dover for a swim in the harbour - good practice for the real thing.

Thanks again for your support!

 

28/04/2010

We've done a couple of outdoor swims now, this season, and it is pretty cold!

We all have to do a 2 hour qualifying swim in 16C water so twice in the last 3 weeks we have converged on Parliament Hill Lido on Hampstead Heath to brave the unheated outdoor pool there.

Last Saturday I swam 3 miles in just under 2 hours which is quite slow but okay. Although it was cold, I felt fine throughout and warmed up fairly quickly on getting out.

This Saturday it is back to the same pool for another long swim and then on to have our official medicals done but first... another training session tonight in a balmy 31C!

Introduction

Why the English Channel?

Simple really - A couple of years ago, I had a dream and I don't remember it, but when I woke, I knew I needed to swim the English Channel. I always knew it was a big thing, but when I did some research I found that I could do it as a relay which made it more possible.

Why Derek Prince Ministries?

I read my first book by Derek Prince about 20 years when I was a teenager in South Africa called God is a Matchmaker. His Bible teaching has revolutionised the way that I think about the Bible and it has helped me a tremendous amount in my understanding. I have now been working for DPM UK for nearly 5 years and see that as a real honour to served in a ministry which has given me so much.

A Confluence...

It seemed obvious that I could not only swim, but also fundraise to make this brilliant teaching available to more people all over the world. Currently Derek's teaching is available in over 100 languages, but the demand always outstrips supply.

So please give what you can to support this effort and help us to Reach the Un-reached and Teach the Untaught.