Delirious with exhaustion, and seeing double, I emerged from the sea and staggered, wobbly-legged, up the beach. Some people clapped. Others stared incredulously.
My tongue was so swollen I struggled to speak but managed to call out, "Is this France?" before punching the air with delight.
After almost 20 hours of swimming, and a lifetime of dreaming, I'd done it. Other women celebrate their 50th birthday with a spa visit or weekend away. I'd swum the Channel.
I'll never tire of seeing that footage from September 2020.
I've never been a swimming champion or gym bunny. In fact, I'm the Eddie the Eagle of Channel swimming... an ordinary mum who swims, eats cake and dreamed of swimming the 21 miles to France in a "nana" costume.
I loved swimming as a child and, aged just nine, completed my first mile. Everyone said, "Ooh, you could be the youngest person to swim the Channel," but back then I was terrified of fish! Over the years, as a single mum to three wonderful children - Eoin (now 24), Nico (12) and Lola (11), my life revolved solely around them.
Finally, I was swimming again at my local pool in Didcot and I began open water swimming in 2018.
I hated wearing a restrictive wetsuit. But peeling it off to swim in just my costume was a revelation. I'd never felt more alive.
My new partner, Ben, cheered me on at the Henley Mile in Oxford. He encouraged me to revive my dream.
Denne historien er fra November 01, 2022-utgaven av My Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra November 01, 2022-utgaven av My Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
I Can't Wait To Play The Queen Mum
Gracing screens, treading boards, royal roles much-loved actress Dame Penelope Wilton has done it all!
TAKING CANCER TO THE CATWALK X
Teacher Mary Jones reflects on the extraordinary way her breast cancer diagnosis challenged her view on womanhood and ultimately led her to a London catwalk
Fighting For All Women
Diagnosed with breast cancer aged 36, Jessica Parsons is raising awareness of the disease in younger women
The Fall Guy
Surely Caitlin’s boyfriend had nothing to do with all the drama going on at the jeweller’s...
The Widow At Number Ten
There were many secrets to unpack in this old house
Old Habits Die Hard
Even for our lively suburb, gunshots were pretty unusual and was curious to find out what was going on
A Wedding To Remember
Surely nothing would spoil this special day.
Distinctly Feline Flavour
Desperation forces Chris to add something unusual to his cup of tea!
The Old Burgundy Book
Within its ageing pages Rosie found a story of fading romance and a fresh chance for love to bloom...
The Haunted Ballroom
Mysteries swirled around this magical place...