Surrey People

Here is Andy Butler's fifth diary entry as he gets ready to complete his cross channel swim.

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It has been very interesting to go through what I have been doing at the weekends with training and then recount my feelings about it afterwards. In some ways I feel it has helped the process and certainly added to the experience.

Well, here goes for the last time!

(By the way forgive the slush at the end but it’s how I’m feeling right now)

Saturday 4th and as I headed out for what now appeared the last time,  I was in quite a light hearted mood.

I had arranged to pick a friend up en route who was coming down to Dover. Tim had already swum the channel and had been introduced to me by my swim coach. He had become a great source of information and encouragement over the last couple of months and we found ourselves merrily chatting about life and everything but not necessarily channel swimming.

When we arrived the weather was beautiful and I was looking forward to a nice short & easy swim...hey, I would be doing the real thing in a few days!  I met my very good friends Gary & James. Gary, who was already lined up with a three hour swim, seemed a bit bemused as both James and myself were given four hours.

I scratched my head, “Oh well, if that’s what it is then we better get on with it." Gary then piped up “well, if that’s what you’re doing then so am I”. God,  we "Channel Nutters" don’t half know how to stick together!

The swim went well and although both myself and James were off the pace a little bit from Gary, we decided just to take things easier, me particularly, as I was not far from the day of reckoning. Myself and James met Gary at the harbour wall on about three hours and finished our last hour together and headed in happy with our effort.

As we were getting out I was duly instructed by Freda (Goddess and Boss of all that is Channel Swimming) to do another half an hour, so without argument I turned and merrily went of to the harbour wall to do another half an hour. Oh how things have come on, only four weeks previously,  I found myself arguing with Freda that I certainly wouldn’t be getting back in, as she tried to send me back for a few more hours (after I'd swum five hours on Friday, six on the Saturday and two on the Sunday!)

We discussed over lunch how nice it was to only be doing four hours and it made me realize how far we had all come in the last month. You can never be arrogant and say that it’s easy but you become more assured of doing four hours,  when you had managed to swim for seven the week before and still have more in the tank.

After lunch I sat on the beach with Gary and his wonderful family, having been joined by my beautiful wife and children, a nicer couple of hours could not have been spent, particularly as all the hard work had been done.

Gary decided for some crazy reason to get back in with his brother and have a bit of swim, personally I just felt that he was upset as I swam longer than him that day and he wanted to catch up.

We all went out to dinner and as the evening ended and the family headed off home, I realized that now all the hard work had been done, it wouldn’t be that long before I could get my life back again.

Sunday 5th and the day started with bright sunshine on the beach and the usual drill was undertaken.

James had left the previous evening and decided that he would not be down on the Sunday, so Gary and I headed out for another four hour swim. The day saw the wind kick up the water, particularly down the far side of the harbour and I recollected that it was these kind of conditions that only six weeks ago had caused me to get out and come tearing down the beach almost crying into my towel.

We powered on through and once again the swim went without any real concerns to describe. I knew that as I crawled out of the water on Sunday that my training was complete.

I will, no doubt, be down on the beach again at some time to catch up with all the wonderful people that week in, week out give their valuable time for nothing, hoping they will see all these swimmers realize their dreams. Without them we would not be there, we cannot afford to have to much to worry about when we are swimming, particularly me, who can only focus on the swim and nothing else.

These unpaid volunteers give us the freedom to do this, so I thank you all from the bottom of my heart: to Freda, Irene, Barry, Louise and Michelle and nameless people that I have come across from week to week but do not know.

I could go on thanking people because I have met so many wonderful, giving people but I want to just give a special mention to Gary Fagg (one of the Maxim Boys) who has literally been with me every step/stroke of the way and who many times has picked me up from the depths of despair when I thought I couldn’t go on any more with it. When I thought I wanted to give up and when I questioned every reason why I was doing this, he wouldn’t have any of it.

Let’s not forget also all the highs and there have been many, the first 45 minute swim in waters beyond cold when we were introduced by Pete Beatty (channel swimmer extraordinaire and mentor) coming out of the water and taking an hour to warm up (how long it took for my teeth to stop chattering) then having to do it all over again!

To the epic seven hours last weekend with fellow swimmer James. Looking over my shoulder to see these guys there, will remain with me forever. Gary is a true legend and has continued to inspire me from Day One. Knowing what he has to deal with, on a personal level makes his achievements  (and he will achieve this challenge, no question!) even more remarkable. Cheers Buddy x

Thank you to all of you who have read my blogs over the last few weeks, I hope you have been able to get a flavour of what I have been through and felt some of the highs as well as the lows, and enjoyed some of my commentaries and observations.

Thank you to Heather at the BBC who has received my words first hand and has always sent back wonderful words of encouragement and positivity and has shown genuine interest about what I must be going through. Thank You Heather x

And lastly, thank you to my wife who has truly made all this possible by allowing me to commit the best part of my life, particularly over the last few months, to achieving this great feat. 

Words don’t express the depths of my feelings in this but I have felt her in my heart every step of the way. Debbie, love to you and our beautiful children.xx

All the experiences that I have gained through this process have truly stuck with me and I believe I will carry them forward in to the rest of my life.

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We will let you know how Andy gets on with his epic swim, as soon as we hear he made it!

Learn more about Andy and why he is attempting the swim here.

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Andy's blog and Just Giving page 

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ASBAH is the leading UK registered charity providing information and advice about spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Visit their website.