Swimming Day 373 - Monday 21st November 2011

Two very different evenings; one giving a good nights sleep and one a good nights pacing!

Saturday

Sharon and I spent the night in London; seeing a show and staying overnight.  We checked into the Hilton Park Lane and immediately were told we had been upgraded from a standard room to the Executive floor; how kind we thought.  A quick shower and change and we were off into London to see the show (Ghost – well worth a see).  Afterwards it was to a bar for cocktails and some snacks.  On returning to our room at the Hilton we found neither of the keys worked.  So at half past midnight I was back at reception asking for new keys.  The receptionist presented me with new keys for a different room; explaining that they had to give our room to another guest and had moved us!  I was a tad confused and a little annoyed; until she explained they had moved all our stuff to the Presidential Suit on the very top floor.  To say I was surprised was an understatement; the room is the biggest in the Hotel and can go for over £5,000 a night!!  She had no idea why this had been done, but there you have it.  So the 1^st Lady and I found ourselves in the largest suit the Hotel has.  Massive bedroom (you could land a small plane in it), 3 lounges, two bathrooms, a steam room shower, a dinning room with table for 12, a balcony, views over the whole of London and a Butler call button.  One of the most random things to have happened to me in many a while.  To say we slept well is an understatement.

Sunday

Back in our own room (all feeling rather small now!) and I ended up taking Mia back to her bed 5 times before giving up at 4.00am.  I also took Jesse back to his room 4 times, eventually giving up at 4.00am.  That is 9 bedroom visits between midnight and 4am.  The 1^st Lady slept on!!

Monday

Back to the arch to find it very busy for some reason; nicely busy however.  Sea very calm, not much wave action, but a very strong tidal pull to the West.  Temperature fallen BELOW 10 degrees, to 9.8.  A big drop from last week.  Big Bob and I swam to the helter skelter, drifting to mid beach with the tide, then swam back towards the pier, under it to the other side, then down the pier to the café, back through and headed to shore.  Total swim 24 minutes, against a strong tide.  A good strong swim, but temperature starting to bite now.  I hope to be able to still go around the pier until Monday next at the earliest to beat last years 26^th Nov swim; in fact 1^st December swim around the pier would be something, but we shall see; I might still not be carrying enough fat for that one!

Signed – The President (for a night)