There is this new thing which is really a very old thing. It is called Wild Swimming, otherwise known as swimming outside in rivers, lakes, ponds, in the sea even! With most of us not travelling abroad for holidays, Wild Swimming has taken off big time, but more than this, for many, including myself, it has become a mechanism for new friendships, and a massive lift to confidence, mental and physical health. I went for a dip at Shingle Street on the Suffolk coast at sunrise on New Year’s day 2022.

Another lift (for me at any rate) is music performed by the Fitzwilliam String Quartet. They are performing, free of charge, by live stream on Saturday Jan 8 at 19:30.

The programme includes: Purcell: Fantazia No.6 (1680), Barcham Stevens: Double on Purcell’s Fantazia No.6 (2014), Haydn: Quartet in D major, Op.76/5 (1796), Beethoven: Quartet in C sharp minor, Op.131 (1826)

Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxId-Hj8eU8

On 11 and 12 May 2022 they will return to Suffolk for two concerts at Aldeburgh Parish Church. This is not so far from Shingle Street! So come to these concerts and take to the waters while you are at it!

The programme will include: BEETHOVEN Quartet in E minor, Op.59/2 (Rasumovsky), MENDELSSOHN Quartet in F minor, Op.80 and BRITTEN Quartet No.3, BEETHOVEN Quartet in A minor, Op.132