Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Let’s see now. Everything is covered in snow outside. Every time I’ve been out so far, I’ve slipped on the ice, which is unnerving even if I’ve only fallen on my bum once. Today, I’m at home with the central heating on and under my ordinary clothes, I’m wearing my Damart long johns and undervest to shield me from the cold. I have an outdoor adventure fleece over the top of all the layers. I’ve got fingerless gloves on to stop my fingers freezing off while I type at my computer. I’m starting a cold and I’m feeling very sorry for myself.
So imagine how depressing it was to catch this news item from the BBC about some hearty chaps who have been paddling happily in the icy Serpentine in Hyde Park, proclaiming that an icy swim is what you need to cheer you up and stop you from getting colds…
Even whille mad dogs stay indoors in these arctic conditions, only Englishman go out in the midwinter snows!
- Posted on
Sat, January 9th, 2010 - Author
Yang-May Ooi - Category
- 4 responses
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January 13th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Yup them Water Rats (or was it Water Snakes?) - I’ve read about these mad Englishmen swimming in the Serpentine… brilliant! Haha, from a distance, of course. :P
January 15th, 2010 at 1:53 am
Winter is for hibernation as any non-desperate animal knows. As for slipping over, try walking with your toes turned in (pigeon-toed). It feels awkward but really works, or at least I have so far not fallen over.
January 20th, 2010 at 8:00 am
It hasn’t not snowed yet in my place but it’s freezing cold. I refuse to turn on the heater as my throat tends to get sore, despite with the humidifier on. So nowadays, I resort to layers of clothes. After reading your post, I started to use my son’s fingerless gloves to type. Hm…. why didn’t Ii think of that before?
January 23rd, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Hi aw - yes, central heating can really dry out skin, eyes and throat! I’m not as brave as you to leave the heating turned off, though.
David - good to hear you haven’t fallen over. I’ll have to try the pigeon toe technique the next time it snows.