The last swim(s) of the year

Yesterday Ian decided he had to take the plunge.  We've owned this house for nearly a month and he hadn't yet had a swim.  Since the girls first took their dip (which they declared to be coooold at 68 degrees) the temperature has dropped substantially.  But, hey, Ian's tough and it was no colder than the waters of San Francisco when he did the Alcatraz swim.

Jump in, a quick jog to the far end and honour is satisfied...

So there we have it.  Ian has had what is probably going to be the last swim of the year.  Cheered on by Oriana.  As cold as Alcatraz.

But wait...

We have an Alcatraz hopeful up for a bit of late-night skinny dipping.

A bit too chilly for skinny dipping after all.  But put on a threadbare swimsuit and a hat at a jaunty angle and then a swim is well and truly on the cards.

Dad, you've been pipped at the post.  The Last Swimmer of the Year (so far) is definitely Ruth.  (We did have some video evidence, but as it was so late at night the video is just black with some shrieks and commentary.)

And as I've totally veered off the subject of the house and its progress, I should add that Ruth got her 800m badge today.  Alcatraz here she comes!

Oh, and I should also add, because it's actually about house progress, that while Ruth and I were at swimming then doing the very tedious task of getting the old house clean (nothing more depressing than looking backwards when forwards has so much to offer), Ian was getting the washing machine running, actually doing some much-needed laundry and pruning the tree which is currently preventing the washing line from turning.  Clean pants, anyone?