Swimming

Sounds sensible. I really wouldn't go down the route of a winter surfing wetsuit though, you'll be too hot very quickly as they are designed around sitting in cold water for a while whereas swimming you're moving the whole time! If you find a swimming wetsuit isn't warm enough you're better off buying gloves, swim socks and a neoprene hat as you'll lose more heat through your extremities anyway.

Sorry, I meant a winter swimming wetsuit (if such a thing exists?). Definitely won't be getting a surfing one, don't worry.

Lots of open water groups will organise Christmas morning swims which will be short and followed by booze and mince pies so maybe try to get confident enough to swim 400m or so contuously by Christmas and find a convenient one to you?! Nothing like a bracing swim to clear the Christmas Eve cobwebs and get you going for the food ahead!

Unfortunately I'll be in Birmingham over Christmas which is about as far from the sea as it gets! Maybe there's some nearby lakes though. I'll be in Cornwall on New Year's Day though, I bet people jump in the sea then.

Oh and as always with any open water environment make sure you ask locals about currents and tides or at the very least make sure you know what rips look like on a beach! unfortunately by the time you realise you're in danger is usually long after the danger starts, and can be a pretty shit scarey experience even for a really strong swimmer!

Have read a little about them, enough to know that you shouldn't swim against the current and a little bit about what they look like. Will do some more reading though.

Also has anyone got goggle recommendations? Some popular stuff on Wiggle but I'm guessing fit is most important. Might even go for a swim (in a pool) on Thursday morning so if I can get some tomorrow that'd be great. Pop down a shop and try a few pairs on?