Enjoy the Great Outdoors 12Enjoy the Great Outdoors

By Monica Chard Trust the Nordics to come up with another great idea which means you have no excuse NOT to sit outdoors, even during winter! Recent restrictions have meant we can meet other householders OUTSIDE, but not in the cosy indoors. That is fine for the warmer months, but is a bit on the challenging side for winter, thank you! So how about wearing a sittingsuit? Sittingsuits, designed by norsemen, are light weight, and the insulated padding is made from recycled plastic bottles, so ticking the green credentials. They are an extra top layer, roomy enough to wear on top of a coat or jacket and many other layers. Ideal for camping, fishing, festival going (remember those days?!) or just sitting outside in that pub or café. Yes, you can stay warm, comfortable, and also smart and trendy, no matter what the weather is doing. Oh, and I didn’t mention that the UK distributor of Sittingsuits is based in Shepperton! So we had to find out more... The photo on this months front cover was taken at dawn by an intrepid swimmer, one of a growing gang of hardy souls who want to get the day off to a good start, so take a dip in the Thames. This is a growing movement, not only locally, but across the UK. So we went down to Rivermead Island in Lower Sunbury where Michelle Tucker (Win The Morning Win The Day which was featured in last month) was encouraging John Haagensen, MD of Norse Supply, to shed his Sittingsuit and plunge into the Thames! He looked very cosy and warm in his blue Sittingsuit...less so in his swimming gear! I will spare his blushes and not show you, but suffice to say, he got in, swam and got out again, happy to get warm once more in his Norse Supply Sittingsuit. Michelle Tucker is a hardened Thames swimmer. She is often out before dawn and is a great advocate of the benefits of cold water swimming. Her floral Sittingsuit is her lifesaver. Designed to allow movement she can get dressed and undressed in her suit, as well as getting warm after a dip.

These suits can change our attitude towards outdoor socialising all year round. John Haagensen’s idea is to get the local pubs to offer them to guests. The suits are designed to last longer than blankets and dry quickly. Offering them would render the use of un-eco heating devices redundant. The Feathers at Laleham has been one of the first pubs to take up the idea. We applaud the fact that the suits are using recycled materials, keeping plastic out of landfill. If you are looking for local stockists, Nauticalia is offering them for sale. Or you can take a look online at www.norsesupply.co.uk and select from the range of colours and designs. Now you have no excuse for not trying a dip in the chilly Thames!