A shimmer of distant fog hovered on the far horizon as we made our way across the small brown stones that made up the long shallow beach. The threat of rain saturated the air and a biting wind nipped at our exposed faces. At this point the question of whether I would make it into my swimsuit and down into the churning brown water, remained unanswered.

At even intervals, long wooden groynes keep the stones from being washed into one corner of the beach, and I used the steady surface to give me courage to enter the water. The stones gave way under my feet and I was glad of rubber socks to protect my skin.

There is no time for procrastination, and wading into the water, I launched immediately out into the salty depths. Almost at once, I was out of reach of the bottom, and the heaving sea bore me out into its embrace, and the body was kept buoyant despite the seeming roughness of the swell.

Healthy fear is good, and the sea is no grovelling beast to any human invention, therefore enjoy but remember what it can do. I am definitely in the weakest position and decisions are made with respect to this mighty power.

I leave the water and go back three times. It draws me in, that feeling of weightlessness and delight, that blots out all worry and stress and reminds you that you have been made by one greater than you could ever understand. I have to leave, as cold and time overcome the agenda, and reluctantly return to the car, get dressed and back to home.

The question is answered – that cold cannot stop the attraction to enter the water, and the drive to persevere in enjoying the sensations, of what the body can feel and endure. The world was made for us.