Not Really My Garden

It is colder still today and as I sit here trying to sort out some paper work for a container that Steve is working on, that is destined for South Africa, it has just started to rain to finalise the return to winter conditions. In one more week it will be May, and I have planted out Geraniums and Pelargonium’s in my tiny weeny little garden. I have a few herbs that are growing nicely in pots but none of them are going to like this cold spell.

Before we left for swimming this morning at something past six, Steve had to scrape the heavy frost off the windscreen of the car and once we got into the water a bit later, the only good thing about the day was that the weather must have put a number of people off leaving the warmth of their beds, since only a few of them had actually braved the cold and come swimming. A few of the blokes who swim to Steve’s schedules were there but not a full turn out. I don’t actually swim in a lane but instead I swim right up close to Steve’s animals lane rope, that is an area that those in the open side of the pool avoid because of the movement and splashing in that lane. I am used to being jostled, so it suits me that my little ‘half lane’ as it were is avoided by other people, no friends swimming with me this morning but I don’t mind and still work hard.

Swim schedules are at the bottom of this page. I enjoyed this work out and added enough lengths of backstroke to make my swim up to 1900 metres as a practice for the Ironman 70.3 Elsinore that is looming closer all the time (8 weeks away) and to further contribute to that I will take a couple of weeks concentrating on my biking on a trip to France in May with Steve whilst he is working there. The a quick race sharpener or two with Sprints at Eton Dorney Lake and Deva which is Standard distance in Chester two weeks before the bigger one in Denmark.

After out swim we wrapped up in winter training kit to go for our usual Wednesday morning 5km in Arundel using the Arundel Triathlon course but only doing one the two 5km laps. I wore a fleece hat because my hair was not quite dry after swimming and gloves and pulled my mitten ended running coat sleeves down over my hands.  Coffee was taken in Osteria afterwards and a skim the paper as we sat in the window there looking out at Arundel High Street. 10 am and all training done for the day. Mrs Swan is still sitting on the nest by the moat thinking that she must have her dates wrong because it s so cold. Stick at it madam.

Not Really My Garden

I used my newly acquired season ticket   

For the grounds and garden                     

At Arundel Castle this morning              

Where electric vehicles picket               

Helping those whose arteries harden     

‘Keep off the Banks’, signs warning      

My weaknesses are many and this is one  

I like to pretend that it is MY garden        

The one at home is a postage stamp          

This open season has only just begun       

As yet I have no real plan so pardon         

Me as I ramble and onwardly tramp          

My thought of reason barely dawning       

A habit forming within a garden thicket 

Marching around in early summer sun     

My notebook sets imagination spawning  

With specs and pen, in my bag I stick it    

Sure that a small reward is already won

A perfect Eden in the castle ground    

Recovering from a winter of utmost damp  

The ticket office hopes for visiting hoards

 My heart hopes new verses will be found

New notions liberally blossom and scamp 

Where ancient noble ladies walked with Lords 

Lane 1
Distance	Clock	Swim rest
300	60	5.00
200	60	3.30
200	30	3.20
200	50	3.10
150	60	2.30
150	30	2.30
100	60	1.45
100	45	1.45
100	30	1.45
300	15	4.45
200	60	3.20
200	20	3.15
200	35	3.10
150	45	2.20
150	05	2.30
100	35	1.40
100	15	1.40
100	55	1.45
Swim down	Swim down	Swim down
3000
mtrs

Lane 2
Distance	Clock	Swim
		Rest
300	60	8.00
200	60	5.30
200	30	5.30
150	60	4.30
150	30	4.30
100	60	2.30
100	30	2.30
100	60	2.30
75	30	1.50
75	20	1.50
75	10	1.50
75	60	1.50
50	50	1.20
50	10	1.20
swim	down
1700 M