Heather Simpson talks to Chatter

Here’s Heather’s winter swim challenge story.

“Hi, my name is Heather. I am 69 yrs old and I live in Weymouth on the South coast. I have lived here all my life and have a husband called Martin with whom I have just celebrated 50yrs of marriage, two daughters, two grandsons and three great grandsons and I can’t wait to tell you about my winter swim challenge journey.”

What got you into sea swimming?

Heather states that she started swimming in the sea after seeing a post on Facebook in September 2020 for the Mental Health Swims in Weymouth.

She says, “They dip on the first Saturday in every month with a young girl called Tess. She’s fab.

“Like so many, I had never swam in the sea except as a small child even though I’d lived by the sea all my life. We were just coming out of the first lockdown due to Covid 19 so I thought I would give it a go.” 

Emotional

Heather grins as she recounts her first ever dip in the sea saying “that very first dip in the sea proved to me how beneficial and incredible the effect of the cold water made me feel. I cried and couldn’t explain why I got so emotional. I felt like all the worries and woes had just been lifted from my shoulders.

“The effect was tremendous and physically all my aches and pains through lockdown just disappeared. I had suffered every single winter with chest infections and have been asthmatic, for as long as I can remember. Much to my family’s delight I went through the whole of my first winter without single infection and I haven’t had one since?” Coincidence?

To wake up and start my day with an early dip sets me up physically and mentally for the day. There is nothing on earth that equals the feeling of cold water and a sunrise dip.

Heather Simpson

Embracing Life

How did you get into the Chatter Challenge?

Heather recalls, “After starting the Mental Health dips in the September, I saw another challenge on Facebook by a group of ladies in the Lake District who were raising money for a young boy with cancer. That was to dip for 30 days in October 2020. I thought that it would be good to challenge myself so I joined and completed that challenge. Then just before the end of October 2020, I saw a post about the Chatter Challenge and thought that I wanted to do that too.  

I loved the idea of it then lost the post. So I googled it and finally found you all. I honestly couldn’t wait to join in and keep dipping for my first winter swim challenge. 

Fun mini-challenges

Heather is renowned for embracing the mini-challenges and dragging her swim buddies into them. She explains, “I think every single mini challenge is outstanding. I love every one of them. It gives me the chance to let my alter ego out to play! Believe it or not I am genuinely shy and grit my teeth when I’m tasked to do anything in public but I do these and enjoy every second of it. My favourite last year was Movember as the moustache really suited me!” 

Personal achievement

Heather states that she goes in the sea every day that she can. She recalls that during the first winter of the Chatter Challenge (2020/21), she was delighted to dip 120 times and achieved the Platinum award. She added that over the last winter season (2021/22), she achieved the full 151 dips of the Chatter Challenge and loved it.  

I have to say that I was immensely proud of her and loved seeing her grinning face every day on the Facebook daily dipdate simply loving life.

This winter (2022/23) she confirms that due to personal circumstances, her priorities have changed somewhat so she won’t put herself under any pressure to dip. She does concede that if she doesn’t go in, she feels unhappy and dissatisfied as she misses it so much. She goes in as often as she can still.

She dips with a core group of 5/6 ladies called ‘The Mermaids’ but there are dozens of swim buddies if to go in with if she needs to.

Community

I love absolutely everything bout the Chatter Challenge. From keeping me motivated and supported to friendship, fun, games and laughter.

It is the companionship and being part of something really special. I made me super proud of myself for biting the bullet and achieving something I would never have been able to do alone without all the support that the Challenge gives us.  

And finally, to proving my family and friends wrong… now they shut up! 

Heather Simpson

Great swim spots

Heather loves where she swims and explains that they are lucky to have quite a few different safe swim spots locally.

She says, “It always depends on conditions wherever we decide to dip. Some places give more cover and protection than others. Our main love is along a spot called ‘Brunswick Terrace’ right on the sea front.

“The row of hotels there give us protection from the winds and rain plus we can park our cars right there next to the beach allowing us cover to change at the back of our cars if the weather gets bad. It really is a superb location to catch those rays in the mornings.

“But generally all our spots are superb down here in sunny Weymouth.”

Swim Groups

Heather confirms that she is a member of ‘The Blue tits of Weymouth Bay’, ‘The Blue tits Global Flock’, ‘Weymouth Bay Sea Swimmers’, ‘Mental Health Swims, Weymouth’, ‘The Solent Splashers’ and the ‘National Outdoor Swimming Society’.

She states, “I became involved gradually as my needs evolved and meeting new people who had the same goals as me, just to dip through the winter and be a part of something special.”

The Chatter Challenge

The dip log and Chatter Tribe keep you focussed and motivated.

Furthermore, you will be supported throughout whichever option you choose via the Facebook page with daily dipdates for you to comment or add your photos. Follow us on Instagram too.

If you haven’t already, join the Chatter Challenge today.

Thank you Heather – great story!

Chatter speaks to Liz Fry

About Liz

Liz explains that she is now in her second year of sea swimming. She grew up by the coast and absolutely can’t imagine living anywhere that’s not within walking distance of the sea. She lives with her two children, husband Robin and beautiful black Labrador – Chester, who is her utterly adored and loyal companion. She works with volunteers who provide peer support to new parents in weekly group settings.

How it all started…

It was Summer 2021 and Liz’s daughter wanted her to go in the sea at Whitley Bay beach. She explains that she I had avoided it as she ‘wouldn’t be seen dead in a swimming costume’ but then thought ‘what the hell!’ so she went in one evening with her.

She describes it as the most wonderful experience as the sun was just setting and they had so much fun.

She says, “My neighbour did the Chatter Challenge the previous year and I remembered seeing her photos and posts on Facebook, thinking how amazingly brave she was. I contacted her and she told me how much  I would love it so I signed up and have never looked back since.”

Mental Health Benefits

Struggle

Liz states, “I really struggle with my mental health sometimes and when I go in the sea I feel absolutely exhilarated. I do love to go in on my own most of the time as it gives me the head space that I need. When I lay there with my head on my tow float staring out to the horizon, I feel like I’m the only person there. It feels completely empowering. I love the feeling of coming out of the water and getting changed quickly into cosy warm clothes. I then sit mindfully watching the sea with a hot drink. There’s no better place to be.”

Welcoming Group

Liz continued, “I like to go a couple of times a week but when I’m doing the challenge I do more. Most of the time I go on my own. I swim at Cullercoats, North Tyneside and there are always other swimmers about so I’ve never not felt safe. Sometimes, I meet some of the other members of the Chatter Tribe at King Edwards Bay.

She adds, “I’ve always felt so welcome and it’s lovely to be part of the group sometimes and share the passion and craziness. I always come away with a smile on my face.”

Morning swims – not a chance!

Liz laughs, “I’m absolutely not a morning person but I do drag myself out of bed early sometimes. We have the most amazing sunrises along our coast and I always feel like I’m missing out if I don’t get my lazy arse up.

I do love an evening swim though. Lunch time is lovely as it’s really quiet. When I’m totally in the zone and my cold water addiction has grabbed ahold, I’ll go morning and night. Oh yes, the full moon dips are like nothing else….absolutely magical.

Liz Fry

Evening dip and Cullercoats

How did you get into the Chatter Challenge?

Liz enthuses that her friend did it in the first year (2020/21) and she loved to see all of her photos. Her friend got so much out of it, talking about it with so much passion that it made her feel like she really wanted to be part of it. Thankfully she states, “I have absolutely no regrets.”

Phew, what a relief, we all cry! I guess the fact that she is into her second year of this wonderful winter swim challenge is testament to that.

So what is it?

Liz ponders and says, “I just love feeling part of a group who all have the same mindset with regards to being in cold, open water. Everyone feels the same buzz and benefits.

“The camaraderie is amazing and I feel like I’ve met so many amazing people. There’s no judgement from anyone and everyone is so supportive.

“When I do go in with some of the tribe it is so much fun and I’ve even been introduced to bodyboarding which I never thought I’d be doing that at 46 but it’s hilarious. Because of all the support I’ve also lost my inhibitions of being in a swimming costume. I actually feel really proud of what I’m doing!”

Menopause

Liz stated that she had signed up for the Mixed Bag subscription.

She confirms that when the 2021/22 challenge finished in March 2022, she started having cold showers. She absolutely loves them. She says that they are addictive too and were her salvation on hot days this summer. She also adds that when she is having hot menopausal flushes, whilst nothing beats the sea cold showers do come a close second.

Jaw dropping moment

Liz continues, “My daughter surfs so she has been in with me a few times. My mam went in once up to her knees. I remember being in a beach hut in Saltburn with my cousin who was home from Germany in February 2021.  She was dressed like she was in Antarctica and I walked out in my costume. I told her that I was just going for a dip. One of the funniest things ever. I’ll never forget the look on her face!”

Raffle winner

We had a raffle during the 2021/22 challenge. Liz won the GIL change robe which was supplied by Rob Storrar from Storrar Marine, Newcastle upon Tyne.

She says, “I was completely shocked and over the moon at the same time. It was so lovely when Jacqui brought it round for me.

I feel like Joseph in his technicolor dream coat with it on. There’s so many common change robes out there but so far I’ve never seen anyone with a Gil robe on. It’s so warm and toasty.

Pride 

She continues, “I remember last year feeling like Christmas had come when I received my Chatter Challenge merchandise in the post.

“I really hadn’t expected there to be so much lovely quality stuff in there. I wore my bobble hat with immense pride everywhere I went last winter and totally loved it when I saw other people with them on (like we were in a secret club). They are lush! This year’s merch is just as good and I am looking forward to wearing it with pride”

A personal challenge

Liz loves that we support the RNLI and Sea Shepherd UK. She states that the Chatter Challenge is something she does for herself as she donates money each month to several charities.

I want to just keep this as my challenge without any pressure. I love it.

Liz Fry

Still time to sign up

Extra merchandise was ordered so there is no problem in signing up for the 2022/23 Challenge (only 15 places left). The dip log and Chatter Tribe keep you focussed and motivated.

Furthermore, you will be supported throughout whichever option you choose via the Facebook page with daily dipdates for you to comment or add your photos. Follow us on Instagram too.

If you haven’t already, join the Chatter Challenge today.

Thank you Liz – great story!

Tony Barrett talks to Chatter

Tony has completed the Chatter Challenge every year since it started in 2021. He asked Chatter for an ‘Ironman’ type challenge to test him during the 2022/23 season. Hence The Ultimate was devised at his request! The Ultimate is a 365 day open water swim challenge and he isn’t the only member of the Tribe doing it!

Read about his open water swimming journey… but before you do – BBC One 21/11/22 ‘We are England – Cold Swim’ is being repeated nationally (I don’t think it will be North East and Cumbria but you can get it on iPlayer) and you will see one or two of us. So…. back to Tony!

Early childhood

Speaking to Tony, he says that his earliest memory of the sea was swimming at East Sands in St Andrew’s on a family holiday, aged five. His family of six stayed in a dull green, four berth caravan that smelled of gas and cigarette smoke. The siblings would spend most of their time outside in the fresher smelling air.

Every morning, they would open the caravan door and look to the heavens, rubbing their eyes in disbelief when they couldn’t see any clouds in the sky or feel the damp, dreich rain swirl around them. He says that being from Glasgow, they were unused to such a long spell of dry and warm weather.

Joyous memories

Each bright new day saw the four children basking in the hot sunshine at the beach and running in and out of the sea like “wee, blue skinned, seal pups”.

It was Tony’s first experience of the cooling effects of the North Sea. By the end of the holiday, he says that he had learned to swim and simply couldn’t get enough of being in the sea that whole week.

Tony said, “The joyous memories of splashing around stayed with me. Thankfully, the enjoyment still remains today. Occasionally, when I feel childlike energy to run into the sea, the memories of all those years ago come flooding back. I become that wee, innocent boy, running and diving headlong into the first decent swell. I know that
holiday to St Andrews is where my addiction started.”

Health Benefits of Cold Water

Mental Health Benefits

Tony continues, “Like many others who have experienced episodes of the black dog I am ever vigilant and curious about why I feel the way that I do and I pay close attention to my own emotional weather.

“As a student of cold water immersion therapy, I am keenly aware of the scientific benefits. The shock
and gasp of the first minute triggers the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine. Both of these
are essential for focus.

“Once I have been in for a few minutes I really feel the surge in dopamine. I am a bit of a dopamine addict and unlike other dopamine activities, the great thing about cold water immersion is that there is no downside. There is no depletion after the spike which lasts
around four to five hours for me.

“The old maxim that for every up there has to be a down doesn’t apply to cold water immersion. Dopamine is much more than just a shot of pleasure though. It is the neurotransmitter that provides drive and motivation. Since swimming regularly in the sea I have become much more goal focused and productive. The overall improvement in my mental health is significant.”

Physical Health Benefits

Tony confirms that he gets vital physical benefits too.

He went onto explain, “I have an auto-immune condition called Psoriatic Arthritis. Although sea swimming hasn’t cured it, it helps me live a generally pain free existence alongside my medication. I am sure that the improved circulation and the boost to my immune system has led to a significant reduction in inflammation. I also get a good shiver on afterwards in the re-warm phase, which helps me maintain a decent healthy weight!

Resilience and Confidence

“I believe the most significant benefit for me, is the resilience that it builds and the confidence that it provides to deal with challenges. When faced with something daunting now, I ask myself whether it is harder than running across frosty sand at low tide? Is it harder than the icy sleet stabbing my bare skin, whilst the windchill temperature sits at minus ten, to launch myself into the frozen sea?

“The answer is generally no, so I find myself much more willing to push myself further than I would have previously.”

Daily Swimming

Tony adds that he is a daily swimmer now and has been for most of 2022. He reveals, “When I started swimming regularly, around two and a half years ago, I swam on my own on almost every occasion. I have an unhealthy
tendency to isolate myself within my own self-imposed bunkers so I knew that it was beneficial for me to get out and about.”

“The Chatter Challenge introduced me to other like minded people. I knew that to live a fuller and funnier life, I needed to connect more again. Subsequently I have had the pleasure of meeting many new and interesting people in the North Sea!’

Tony Bennett 2022

How did you get into the Chatter Challenge?

Tony revealed that in 2020, he got into the Wim Hof Method to try to boost his immune system. This coincided with him taking his health and fitness much more seriously. Having adapted pretty well to the daily cold showers, he
started to swim more regularly. He joined a number of open swimming Facebook groups and the algorithm brought The Chatter Challenge into his feed.

He states, “clearly, there are some good things that flow from Social Media. As I was challenging myself in other ways through fitness, running and weight training, I thought this was the perfect vehicle for me to get much more serious about open swimming.”

Couldn’t agree more Tony.

The reasons why Tony tends to swim in the morning.

1) Early morning is his favourite time.

2) It sets him up for the day and provides him with the boost to his energy. This helps him face whatever the day has in store him.

3) Although he loves the colder water in the winter more, he says that nothing beats a 5am sunrise swim at Cambois. This is in the company of a few birds flying overhead and the thoughts of what lies beneath!

He adds that unless it’s a moonlit and starry sky, he says that he doesn’t enjoy the darker mornings so much but does it anyway.

He laughs, “I eagerly await the 21st of December every year knowing that the light is going to change to provide us with more daylight.”

Chatter Community

He confirms, “The most important aspect of the Chatter Challenge for me is that it is a community; well, more than that really. It is a group of slightly tilted, like-minded people who don’t follow the orthodoxy of comfortable living.

Friendly and Welcoming

“I found Jacqui and the rest of the Chatter Tribe I met to be really friendly and welcoming. Their encouragement helped to foster a sense of belonging and I felt, unusually, that I kind of fitted in.

First and second year of The Chatter Challenge

“The first year of the Challenge, I was fully committed and swam for 153 consecutive days. I had never felt better, or stronger mentally and physically in my life.

“The second year saw me backslide despite knowing the tremendous benefits and I only hit something like 58 logged dips. This was a combination of swims in the sea and ice baths. I was still having cold showers every day but that did not register in my head as part of the Challenge.

Award Ceremony

“To be honest, I felt a bit of a cheat to myself, I felt that I had copped out and taken the easy option. When I attended the awards ceremony at Crusoe’s, I could see the joy in the faces of the people who had truly embraced the Challenge as I had the previous year. I felt happy for them but didn’t feel good about myself and vowed that I wouldn’t let that happen again.”

The Ultimate

Tony stated “My mindset of seeking fresh challenges led to me reflecting that I didn’t want to just repeat the first year but wanted to take on something bigger, an even greater act of endurance.”

Resolve, resilience and discipline

“I thought the Challenge to swim every day for a full year would really test my resolve, resilience, discipline and my levels of commitment to achieving a demanding goal. I didn’t want any escape clauses. The exception would be where it was impossible due to conditions and would risk my personal safety or the safety of others. I approached Jacqui and was delighted when she was receptive to the idea.

“I hope to continue to thrive physically and mentally. I have lost a couple of friends in the last year so try not to take life for granted. Swimming in the vast sea helps give me a sense of perspective on my own blessed insignificance. I also have lots of gratitude for living in a part of the world that I have ready access to our amazing coastline and beaches.

Supportive Family

I had to use all of my sales skills to get my wife, Colette involved. To her surprise and to my
astonishment, she actually really enjoyed it. I was very proud of her pushing out of her comfort
zone as she believe that she couldn’t tread water. As a result, she had a real fear of finding herself in deep water.

Love of the sea

“Both of my daughters have given it a go with varying success. My eldest, Carmel tried it once, and I thought that she was going to be a regular. However, not long after and nothing to do with being in the sea, she discovered that she was expecting and hasn’t been back since! Her baby, Ameliè turns one next week so I’m hoping that she will return but probably not until summertime now.

“My youngest daughter, Cathlin has accompanied me on many occasions and loves it. Her husband,
Christian, soon got roped in and he is now one of our ‘Iceguys’ Tyneside Leaders.”

Tell us about The Ice Guys?

“I worked in Sunderland for many years. After seeing a couple of former colleagues get involved
in the dips down at Roker, I started following the ‘Iceguys’ page on Instagram. At the end of 2021, Chris,
the founder, asked if anyone fancied leading another group elsewhere.

“I thought it would be good to have a bit more company on my swims, so volunteered to lead it. I lead it alongside
Darren and my son in law Christian. We regularly have double figures on our Sunday morning ‘Nee Lasses’ sessions, 8am at Longsands, Tynemouth. Our numbers are steadily increasing with many regulars and lots of new people giving it a try.

“We have a similar amount for our Iceguys Tyneside Plus swim on a Friday at 6:30pm where lasses and even bairns are allowed. With the regular involvement of a number of the Chatter Challenge Tribe and others, it continues to grow. It’s a great way to end the week and start the weekend. I particularly like my well deserved fish and chips afterwards from Longsands Fish Kitchen which has become a weekly ritual. Many of us also enjoy a chat over coffee at Crusoe’s after both swims.”

Give it a go

“If anyone has a slight inkling that they fancy trying a dip in the North Sea then take the opportunity to do so.

“I have never known anyone to be disappointed afterwards. You will be freezing yes, but without regrets, having tested yourself in the cold water.

“There is no better way to get started than getting involved in the Chatter Challenge!”

Chosen Charity

“I am raising money for the mental health charity, Tyneside and Northumberland Mind. I hope to raise a penny or two via Facebook. If anyone would like to sponsor Tony, then please click the link.

‘I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Chatter Challenge to anyone who wants to keep swimming or dipping through the winter.

Tony Bennet

Still time to sign up

Extra merchandise was ordered so there is no problem in signing up for the 2022/23 Challenge. The dip log and Chatter Tribe keep you focussed and motivated.

Furthermore, you will be supported throughout whichever option you choose via the Facebook page with daily dipdates for you to comment or add your photos. Follow us on Instagram too.

If you haven’t already, join the Chatter Challenge today.

We look forward to you joining us this winter!