Skin

To the Wellcome exhibition "Skin", guided by Andrew Welch of British Naturism.

An unusual event this, maybe unprecedented in London (though not elsewhere). The Wellcome had invited BN to guide one of their Perspectives evenings, and it was their suggestion to have it clothing optional. The musuem is just around the corner for me, and their (medicine-themed) exhibitions are always excellent.

Participants were sent an info sheet which advised bringing a robe in case of emergency exit, but on the night almost everyone left theirs in the changing room. That's it really, naturists aren't going to be at all bothered if they have to stand on the Euston road while the emergency services arrived. I think we would have been more worried about our Oyster cards melting inside the building.

The tour was fully booked, and had 25+ punters, of whom at least 20 took the clothing optional option. Mostly older men, it has to be said.

Andrew Welch was entertaining enough, though I would have preferred slightly more on the relationship of the position of naturism to the exhibits gathered, rather than a general manifesto. As the show of hands poll indicated, almost all of the group didn't need convincing of the benefits of social nudity.

Another guide, Malcolm if memory serves, posed a slightly more rebellious view. He's the sort that goes for (naked) walks in the Dales on his tod rather than pile in to (BN-publicised : bit of a dig there?) mass nude weekends at Alton Towers.

There's maybe a debate, or perhaps a spectrum of positions here. Naturism-as-hobby vs nude as the manner of doing something else (with or without other naked people).

With social nudity potentially of the brink of acceptance, there are fewer and fewer reasons to "DO" naturism as a hobby, and perhaps in succeeding in its campaigning, BN is eventually going to make itself redundant. Still, some London swims would be a definite advance, so for now it's got plenty to be getting on with.

Wild Swimming

I've been an armchair fan of the idea of wild swimming for a while, encouraged a bit by the recent movement (Kate Rew, Daniel Start, Waterlog, OSS etc).

Therefore delighted to see mention in a recent OSS mailing of a spontaneous swim in my local river. Somewhere I've had a small splash in the past.

I therfore hooked up with the three or so participants on Facebook (strangers before today!) and a time and place was arranged. A time starting with a zero it has to be emphasised!

I had an experimental plunge in the very same stretch of water during last weekend's long run, and rather than getting out as soon as I felt cold, persisted for a few minutes. It felt better after a while, and I was in for about 10 minutes. Certainly more endurable than last time. Got spotted by a few people on the bank who may or may not have noticed my lack of trunks. Certainly got spotted just as I jumped out, right in front of a couple of walkers! No discernable change of expression, so hard to say if they were Disgusted of Surrey, or uncaring.

Back to the case in point. I was concerned about three or so things:

• Not getting up in time.
• Horrifying people with my nude swimming, especially potential friends.
  
• Swimming slowly, falling behind (someone had mentioned a route that seemed to be about a mile and half, and back!).
• Getting freezing cold, and having to get out.

Having mulled things over, I decided to mitigate the risks of the last two by practicing an extended period of swimming in the pool on Sunday (mostly crawl for a change - not my favourite stroke) and packing a nice cup of cocoa. I decided not to care about the second one, and set the alarm to counter the first risk.

The others seemed very nice on meeting (one bloke and two women, all my age, ish). Locked the bike, and took bag of stuff down to the water. Suggested a slightly more discreet entry point, away from the boat house. Mounted the cycle bag on the fence. Others left towels, put on their neoprene shoes and got in. Hmm, the nude angle, do I or don't I. Pretended to get "changed", whilst the others (in various degrees of wetsuits or swimming costumes) were already in. That is, I took what I had on, off, and boldly got in.

"Ahh - we've got a NATURIST!"

"Oh, excellent!"

"ooh er"

These were the initial comments, all in a very, I thought, friendly style. Either they really didn't mind, or were just being nice.

One of the women, let's say C, then started talking about did I know Charlie somebody. I said I didn't know many people in the naturist scene, being more of a free range nudie. Between mouthfuls of cold water.

We settled down and swam along, at less than walking pace downstream. It got less cold after a few minutes, and positively enjoyable after 10 more minutes. Ducks regarded us suspiciously. There were occassional walkers and cyclists, but no other river users. It started raining after a bit, which was fine. Conversation was mostly about swimming, lidos, next weekend's Big Jump. The bloke, A, moaned about his wetsuit vest, and I said that my costume was just fine.

C explained to me properly, that in the past she'd worked as a model, and had done work for Charlie Simonds, he of naturist publishing reknown, if not actual fame.

We turned back after 20 or so minutes in the water, and headed back upstream. Although the current was light (harldy any rain for weeks) the going was harder this way, and more determined swimming was required. It turned out we'd covered about 1000 m altogether.

Jumped out near the entry point, and walked back to the clothes. To various titters. And a friendly good morning to a passing cyclist.

Discussion sort of turned to my naturism. C said that in warm conditions, she actually preferred a zero costume. Woman J mentioned seeing the latest London WNBR, with some amusement I think. We briefly discussed, inter alia, the laws regarding nudity. That is, to my understanding BEING naked isn't an offence, but ACTING offensively can be. Which is as it should be, to my mind, since how can anyone be culpable for being anything? Whereas doing something implies some act of will.

We went our ways back to the unreal world. I promised to wear my blue comedy wig for the next outing, probably in a week's time. I'm also encouraged to note that my FB friend requests to the swimmers haven't been rejected.