Category: Bobbing

#1358 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn art, Birthdays, Bobbing, BoxLeave a comment

Every picture tells a story. But in this case it will  take two pictures.

Plymouth is celebrating the 100th Birthday of one of the most famous artists who has lived in the city.

On Saturday we went to one of the liveliest celebrations of a 100th Birthday you could imagine. A silent disco in a museum. I’m not sure if I would have blogged about our attendance but I was having a clean washing grump this morning. Bemoaning in my head that I am sick of the dull colours that emerge from the winter weekend laundry cycle.

But hiding in the corner of the laundry picture is evidence of a night out in fancy dress.

My 1940’s tiger print fake fur coat had her moment. I went to the disco dressed as the flashing woman in the top picture of a video about the life and work of Beryl Cook.

Luckily although I flashed a lot, there is no photographic evidence.

Our fitness trackers, tracked more than 5 miles of dancing. That would not have been achieved in a heavy coat. So she took a rest on the back of a chair while more light weight leopard print garments did the hard yards of the 5 miles of dancing. A bit more flashing as I left and the night was done. Of course it was an outing with the Bobbers. 6 of us on this occasion.

Surely Spring must be on the way. And with it a brighter laundry pile. But the coat is evidence that not all winter garments are dull and practical.

The coat in 2020 just a few days before the first Covid Lockdown.

#1355 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn BobbingLeave a comment
Cold in more ways than one.

And after sunshine the cold must come. 7 degrees yesterday and a pale and watery sun. The North wind was blowing. 3 intrepid bobbers went into the sea and 4 intrepid bobbers kept their clothes on to keep watch for Sea Monsters and Merpeople intent on kidnap. The sea was flat and calm. Nothing happened.

Bobbing and bobbers are one of the positive left overs from the Pandemic era. Formed to give a tiny group, now much bigger,of friends enjoying outdoor swimming exercise during the Covid Lockdowns. We started off 2 metres apart and strung out along  the promenade. Now we huddle together. Sometimes 15 of us share a tiny 4 metre shelter as a changing space. Other times when the weather is kind spilling onto the Prom to let salt flecked skin dry in heat of the sun.

As the Covid era slips from recent memory into history. The last lockdown was 4 years ago. Bobbing, and the friendship group developed, shows no sign of being forgotten.

Yesterday we sold the car that was chosen in 2021 specifically because it had heated seats. We used to live 20 minutes away from the Bobbing beach. A hot bottom was essential on days when the temperature was below freezing. Bobbing caused us to move 10 minutes walk away from the Bobbing beach. A hot bottom had become a daily driving pleasure but not essential. As we drove to do the part -exchange the seats were turned on to full.  We have entered the cold bottom era.

#1418 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Bobbing, Covid +1 Comment

For half an hour on Friday evening 12 Bobbers ( our cold water swimming group) gathered in our front room. Each one fully clothed, drinking fizz or tea. With thoughts of Comedy rather than freezing our t**s off.

The noise of chatter when we swim together is impressive. The noise when we were planning to laugh together was, when contained in one room, joyous. A curious, supportive and delightful friendship group forged in the dark days of the Covid Crisis that has evolved into a social group, predominantly for swimming but not exclusively so.

There is always laughter but 6 years in we are also there for each other for the sad and difficult bits as well as the life affirming moments. 

Less than a minute from leaving the house we were in a warm and welcoming school hall. A stage area designated by glittery curtains and the stalls filled with chairs and tables suitable for 6 year olds. The first laugh of the evening seeing 6 foot adults folding themselves in and out of childrens furniture.

The comedy was sparkling, words were said and songs sung that would not normally be welcome in a school hall.

One comedian would definitely get a school report of ” Could do better, and needs to enunciate” the rest were all  ‘A’ grade performers.

The bobbers had a great night out , for once with their clothes on.

#1376 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Aloneliness, BobbingLeave a comment

There was some serendipity in Firestone Bay yesterday. 5 Bobbers met at the bobbing zone without planning an official bob. 2 Bobbers decided on a short notice morning swim, 2 other bobbers and a grandchild went for a dog walk and just a little later another lone bobber turned up for a dip. As is the way of serendipity one thing led to another and hot drinks and radiators were offered to the three bobbers who actually went for a swim.

The night before, the Finale of Celebrity Traitors had aired. The minute all bobbers had gathered together in a warm house one of them announced that she had not seen the programme so there was to be no Traitors talk. Thankfully there was a 3 year old willing to host her favourite card game while everyone warmed up.

Probing and often delightful questions that could be aimed at three year olds or Centenarians. Predictably we only played a few rounds because 3 year olds have better things to do than entertain cold swimmers. But there was one golden moment when the question asked what we would all like to be doing in ten years. All 5 bobbers wanted still to be bobbing with the Bobbers. After a chilly November swim that is a fabulous response. I suspect all Bobbers would say the same thing. Our curious Covid-19 hobby has become more than a bit addictive.

©Helen Bobber

#1362 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Bobbing, Serendipity, Stonehouse1 Comment
©Kim Bobber

Just 3 bobbers , braved a bouncy sea yesterday. 15 degrees in the water and 10 degrees out, made for an enjoyable swim but a very chilly chattering session afterwards. I was unintentionally glam having showered and washed my hair just before the bob.

Glam or not it is not every day that we get to swim with a submarine.

Some people travel thousands of miles to swim with dolphins. Swimming with submarines has less of a cache,  but in 2025 we have had both experiences in our little bay.

NRP Tridente

The Portuguese submarine was much easier to catch on camera. No need for arrows to point out the dark shape in this photograph.

#1355 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn BobbingLeave a comment
Sir David Attenborough on the horizon.

It is not every day that the bobbers get to bob in a very bobby sea with a world renowned natural scientist. But yesterday Sir David Attenborough sailed right past our swim zone.

The buoy to the right in the foreground is the outer limit of our swim zone.

Heading to Antarctica with a full crew and more than 60 scientists.

BBC News – Sir David Attenborough ship visits Plymouth
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz6nw7819zlo

So somewhere on the huge ship that sailed past the bobbers there is also Boaty McBoatface.

That is two celebrity ships for one bobbing session and it was a most delicious bobbity bob. Just the right amount of chill, chatter and chocolate.

#1348 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Bobbing, SerendipityLeave a comment
Friday Morning Bob © Kim Bobber

Friday morning bob, high tide, no sun and it was a chilly one. But we had a good time with great nattering. I have been on foot all week due to missing the due date for my cars MOT. Today was the day and the car passed, not with glowing references. A return visit to the garage next week will sort my brakes out and I can get two new tyres this weekend.  Being on foot in Stonehouse there is always the risk of fascinating conversations and my week without wheels has been a cornucopia of great chat. But my productivity has suffered at home. The lists are not quite as short as they should be at 5pm on a Friday. More jolly bobbers to end a blog which is largely about real world chattering.

Bobbers swimming out to the buoy ©Kim Bobber
Bobbers at the Buoy © Kim Bobber

You can tell the sea is getting colder, our post-bobbing conversations are getting a little funkier. Today’s topic is the quality of knicker gussets. Unsurprisingly, there is no good news on the gusset front; manufacturing corners are often cut, and profit-boosting measures do not always result in a comfortable gusset.

Thankfully my other Stonehouse conversations do not feature knickers at all. Have a good weekend.

.

#1335 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn blogging, BobbingLeave a comment

Another day and another squeezed in swim to the days activities. My real handbag has to double up as a swim bag. The dogs had to take a small break in their actual walk.

And I was on a time constraint to get my habitual swim done. Barely time to pose for an action shot.

My neighbours and the Bobbers were all planning dips at 10 but I needed to be out of the water and on the way at that point.

Bobbers at 10. Firestone Bay

Our dogs needed to be groomed and we needed to be on the road.

Yesterday a friend published a Substack about the phenomenal rise in sea swimming at Firestone Bay. I love the way he writes so thought I would share his musings with you.

https://open.substack.com/pub/thehutongbagelco/p/a-cultural-phenomenon?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2zszs8

After reading this I shared this photo of our Bobbers with him.

Summer and Winter Bobbers.

I would urge you to read his Substack.

While everything he says is true he certainly understates the significance of The Hutong Cafe.

I believe is is the beating heart of the Stonehouse Peninsular. A place where heart, passion and good vibes flood out to touch every swimmer, tourist, business person and their dogs who pass by the door. You don’t,even have to go in to feel the magic of Hutong.

Bottom right our dogs at Hutong.

We have taken our friends and family to Hutong. We even made Covid Friends in the Hutong Queue in Pandemic times. Bobbers pop in for warm ups. Does Jack  even mention they offer a free hot water bottle service?

A ponder with someone elses ponderings at its heart. What is not to love.

#1331 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn abstract photography, Architecture, art, blogging, Bobbing1 Comment

Our Autumn Equinox performed pretty well yesterday. Our 12 hours of daylight were sun-filled with just a hint of chill.

And if natural sun were not enough we popped along to Devonport Market Hall to see Helios an installation by Luke Jerram.Featuring a giant orb, representing the sun and an ambient soundtrack that represents many of the cultural, social and science impacts that the sun has on humanity around the world.

Bean bags and chairs are provided for static appreciation and the architecture of the Market Hall encourages  360 degree viewpoints.

I managed to get one of my complicated images. Which has half of my body balanced on a table and plugged into the mains via a socket extension. A dangerous position to be in, if it wasn’t just a trick of many lights.

12 hours filled with sunlight of different sorts. My final moment of sun worship was a little on the chilly side but worth the cold to spend time swimming towards the setting sun.

Helios is free to visit at the Market Hall, Devonport. Open daily until Sunday 28th September.

#1327 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn BobbingLeave a comment
Digitally enhanced

Fantasy Bobbing is the slightly unrealistic thought process that goes through most bobbers minds. This is one of our bobbing areas with just a touch of Disney. September is the cusp month of sea temperatures, they start to drop around now.

Another fantasy is tide times. There are a core of bobbers who like to swim between ten and eleven on aFriday morning.

We swim as near as possible to high tide.  Over excitement from the Friday bobbers declared high tide at ten today ( the opposite was true). So bobbing was replaced by breakfasting and great quality nattering.

High tide was at 4pm only two of  us bobbed. It was somewhat chilly.

We bobbed between the first paragraph and the one you have just read. Today is not the cusp, that moment has officially passed.  The sea temperature has actually dropped .

Last week I bobbed about in a beautiful balmy sea not really wishing to get out. Today we bobbed about but knew that it would be sensible to get out. 

The difference? Maybe 2 degrees. The temperature is 15.4 degrees today. An early start for our winter hardening. The irony is that in May, when the water hits 15.4, we bob about, joyously frolicking in what, after a long cold winter and Spring feels like swimming somewhere tropical.

But today it was a wooly hat kind of moment.

Cold digits and all other parts.