We usually hold the sponsored swim at Hinksey Open Air Pool and swim together but this year we are asking people to swim anywhere in the world in July/August and ask their friends to sponsor them to raise much needed funds for our friends in Oxford's twin city of León! Any money received will be a big help to poor people in and around León!

On a personal note, since Swimming My Age in September 2018, I have been a regular at the University pool, doing 3km/week. During lockdown swimming was one the things I missed most. Happily the pool is open again and since April, this routine has resumed, albeit with some restrictions.

Having just a 45 minute slot these days, when it takes me 42 or 43 minutes to swim my 40 lengths means I cannot undertake to swim my age again. So what challenge could I set myself that deserves sponsorship?

Chatting to friends last Sunday, they told me that during lockdown they measured the distance covered on their rowing machine and rowed across The Channel – and celebrated with baguettes when they "reached France". Here was my inspiration and this last week after many sums, much thought and extra sessions at the pool, I now pledge to swim the equivalent of crossing The Channel – hopefully by the end of August. But it’s got to be a full-blown slap-up French meal with a glass or two of decent wine - and not just a baguette!

At its shortest point The Channel is 34km. My total so far in July is 12km. So that’s 22 to go in just 5 weeks. Yikes!! Oh well, six sessions booked for the coming week … allons-y!