We braved the torrential rain on Broadstairs beach at midday to watch several hundred locals run screaming into the cold cold waters of the English Channel ( then run screaming out of it almost immediately!)
Most had donned various illfitting and inappropriate pieces of fancy dress....including this lunatic in a sombrero
It was all great fun.
Happy New Year
Your post sums up out British spirit.
ReplyDeleteWell, you got the title right!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
I think it may just be white people in general. People here do it too.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely brilliant! They might have been doing it for charity (one hopes) in which case, good on them.
ReplyDeleteIt's just been blowin' a hooley here, with hail and locusts. I can assure you that we remained indoors, and fully clothed!
ReplyDeleteat 7:30a this morning it was 7F here. ain't NO WAY am I going outside! round these parts, this behavior is called "the polar bear plunge"; they can keep their lunacy! HNY!
ReplyDeleteWe've reached a rousing 15 in Paoli. They threaten us with 17, but I think that's wishful thinking.
DeleteRaining frogs here too. I presume you only watched and didn't take part, although knowing about those lame underpants it would have been an event to try them out!
ReplyDeleteWould generations of excessive gin consumption explain the behavior?
ReplyDeleteyeah, fun for those watching!
ReplyDeleteWe have those (idiots) here also. I wonder why they do it.
ReplyDeleteThese are probably the same people that jump off a cliff if their friends do it ;-)
ReplyDeleteAt least it's not snowing! Did Prof run into the surf in his gold laame` undies?
ReplyDelete*lame`*
DeleteHere we have the Polar Bear plunge where volunteers leap into a swimming pool and, if they can stand it, go to the bottom to grab up objects which then give them prizes. 'Course it was in the 60's here so not so bad.
ReplyDeleteI spent new year's in Dusseldorf a few years ago, and people by the hundreds (slight exaggeration) where jumping into the ice-laden Rhine and floating downstream.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, the good old Canadian Polar Bear dip. Considering it's around -30 right now, they either are going to cancel it or have guys in white coats to grab the lunatics who are giving it a go! One year my sister in law dressed up like a chicken to advertise the family restaurant. She discovered she was pregnant a week later. That kid doesn't mind working out in the cold one bit!
ReplyDeleteThe Polar Bear dip in Toronto was cancelled because of the cold. That would be a spectator sport for me.
ReplyDelete-42C with the wind chill here yesterday. Son #3 went ice fishing with a couple of his friends!!! That's almost as bad as the polar bear plunge.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and The Prof! Stay inside where it's warm.
ReplyDeleteWe watched the same in Lyme Regis, crazy but wonderful. Lx
ReplyDeleteThat's why we Brits are classified as "eccentrics" by many. Aren't we fun!!!!!!?
ReplyDeleteYou should have joined in John, as Pat mentioned, you have the right underpants/bathers for such shenanigans.
Happy New Year.
Mary - (one of those eccentric ones who crossed the pond so long ago).
This lot is nuts indeed!!!!
ReplyDeleteHell...if I did that, id probably never see my mans bits for at least a week.
Such fun!
ReplyDeleteIt began as a hangover cure apparently.
ReplyDeleteAnd the people here jump into Lake Erie. It is the new year, you know.
ReplyDeleteYou won't catch me doing it, that's for sure! Happy New Year, John!
ReplyDeleteYes absolutely nuts.
ReplyDeleteLunatic.
Crazy.
And yet I'd rather have ANY ONE OF THEM as president rather than the rancid reprobate in the Oval.
Happy New Year.
And may God save us all.
When in Broadstairs do as the Broadstairians do. The Prof could have run into the sea in his academic gown with mortar board and you could have donned a nurse's uniform (latex).
ReplyDeleteI've been all hot and bothered since we last met. Take more than a dip in the sea to cool me down I'm that hot!
DeleteMrs Trellis
Oh...my heart's desire. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
DeleteBut thy eternal summer shall not fade, nor my longing for a Yorkshire Pudding. Who lives not to far away.
DeleteIt's about camaraderie in unusual circumstance. We had a version of it at the South Pole called The 300 Club. In lieu of jumping in water (there was none at the South Pole), we waited until it was -100 deg F and ran outside naked around the South Pole marker.
ReplyDeleteThey do it up here too. It's called 'The Loony Dook'for obvious reasons.
ReplyDeleteStart the year as you mean to go on I say!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHappens all across Canada, too. I'm pretty sure I'd end up dead, so I've never even considered doing it!
ReplyDeleteIt happens wherever there is thawed water. Sometimes a hole has to be cut in the ice, but I'd rather just try and stay warm for now.
ReplyDeletehttp://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1563617.1388608946!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/polar2n-5-web.jpg
ReplyDeleteAnd here you have the New York Polar Bear Club ... mad as hatters indeed.
The British do eccentricity really, really well.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year.
It's usually for charity, here the day is SuperBowl Sunday, benefitting Make a Wish. They raise quite a nice sum.
ReplyDeleteThe only water I'll be jumping in will be a hot sudsy bath! Happy new year everyone!
ReplyDeleteIt would have been the perfect opportunity for the two of you to introduce your sparkly 'underwears' to the world! A chance missed!!
ReplyDeleteNext year John....and what will your outfit be?
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what the rest of the world has been asking itself since the Norman Conquest: What is it with Brits??
ReplyDeleteWe usually go into Llandudno to watch the Boxing Day dash into icy Welsh waters but missed it this year. People are mad ... but it's fun to watch ;-)
ReplyDeleteBilly Connelly: People think women go through pain when they give birth. That's crap. You have NEVER EVER heard the sound of human pain like that of a man walking into the north sea just at that moment the water hits his bollocks.
ReplyDeleteTry stuffing a grapefruit up your arse and then saying the same thing.
DeleteI know a few who would find it easy
DeleteBrings a whole new meaning to the term frozen assets.
ReplyDeleteIt is 4c. In Florida
ReplyDeleteI might be warmer if I go back to NY
Meanwhile I am trying to get a little homeless cat to come onto the lanai where I have blankets and food but it is too skittish.
She is beautiful too :(
We have the same here in the states and it is usually called the Polar Bear Plunge, rather appropriately. The mid and eastern parts of our country is suffering from arctic temperatures and many a plunge has been cancelled.
ReplyDeleteAnd finally..... Top prize must go to Mr Gray for the year's most festive title (so far)!
ReplyDeleteWhat's up with Brits? Four young men stabbed to death in the capital on Happy New Years Eve. The Mayor says the responsible will be caught. Cold water swimming? Russians do it the best!
ReplyDeleteWhere I grew up, there was a Polar Bears Club. They swam in the Atlanitic all winter and did that traditional New Year’s dip. As for me, if the water temp is below 25C, I’m not going in, which means I’d never swim in Wales, I suppose.
ReplyDelete"The Loony Dook" in Edinburgh ..sums it up!..but great fun
ReplyDelete