Thursday June 25th training - by Ellie

Today was my first day with my class (+ others) with no mask on and at open water. I've been swimming with my friends Kez and Jem every Friday before school till this week because I was busy with Irish dancing and rugby on weekends.  Kez and Jem swam around Middle Island a few weeks ago and are the kids who inspired us to show Lily we think about her.

It was great to be with the class group today. Rob, who's Kez and Jem's dad, one of my rugby coaches, a family friend and an excellent swimmer, told me that the hardest bit isn't physically but mentally.

I have felt scared of swimming in the sea. What kept me going today (even though I wasn't very motivated this morning) was a sentence in A Long Walk to Water: "one step at a time" (even though I was swimming). I was also more confident because I was with my friends!

Thank you very much.

Ellie.