Diane is a special lady. She started coming to our swim group, the Blue Flamingos, in 2023 with debilitating MS. Her condition means she can’t feel the left-hand side of her body and she has trouble balancing. Her nerves can go into spasm causing a lot of pain and she has associated arthritis too, on the right side. To top it off she has a thing called Barretts Oesophagus which gives her problems swallowing.
However, Diane is not a quitter, she describes herself as a natural optimist. Her verve for life is palpable and she is such a happy and joyful Flamingo uplifting everyone with her positive attitude. 2023 was a year of many achievements for her – paddle boarding and parachuting to name just a couple, but it’s wild swimming that’s the one that she feels has been transformative. The cold water really helps her condition – giving her a pause in the pain as well as helping with her physical, psychological and emotional well-being. She told me she really wants to get it ‘out there’ and believes it should be prescribed on the NHS.
The picture was inspired by her first dip in sub-five degrees. It was a serene and peaceful morning at the lake. The air was calm – just a soft breeze gently shifting the mist across the surface. A moment that was very precious to her.
I surprised her with the image formatted for her to use as wallpaper on her phone. Apparently I made her cry – eek!
The images features as Miss November in my 2025 Outdoor Swimming calendar, and is also available as a card.