The thought process behind this entire blog is to "train" to become a Viking. A somewhat modern, coming of age series of tasks or skills that I'll undertake or learn in a bid to be fully capable of anything that might be expected or requested of me in a Viking extra capacity.
So first on the list was acclimatising to the temperatures and environment that they would have been used to. As they are/were seafaring people from way up North where their climate can only be described as "open plan icebox", I felt it was important to demonstrate that I am comfortable in such temperatures, and hopping in and out of water. This would be useful for invading territories. For example, ship sails in and Vikings disembark into frosty water and onto land to raid and plunder. Being a little princess about getting cold and wet would not fly with your fellow Vikings. That would probably lead to certain death...only the strong survive, etc.
So as the tradition now goes, people across the world come together on beaches and river banks on Christmas morning and partake in charity swims in freezing cold temperatures. Let's just say, mass doesn't seem so bad after all when faced with the River Barrow on a frosty morn in late Decemeber in Ireland!!!
You may have heard the cast and crew talk about the various challenges of shooting a show in Ireland. Predominatly, they will talk about the changeable weather conditions and, in particular, the cold. Well, they shoot in the summer and autumn months...that would have been a luxury to go swim anywhere in Ireland at that time(really only this year actually, with that unusually sizzling summer we enjoyed...good times!). I would challenge each and everyone of them to brave a river in Ireland on Christmas Day to prove their Viking-ness.
I can't even put into words how unbareably cold it was. A bath of ice cubes would have been warmer than the water myself and my other fellow brave souls endured. I could have done with a few of those snazzy bear furs they parade around in on the show to warm up after instead of my ridiculously summery beach towel(the hot whiskeys that were provided once we made land again did help greatly, to be fair). But let's not forget it was all for a good cause too. Much needed funds were raised for Crumlin Children's Hospital, Dublin. In the coming days I will hopefully be able to report on the amount that was raised and have a photo or two of the event...because you know, of course there was papparazzi!
Task one: Wet and wild(and not in a good way) Status: Completed successfully #LikeAViking
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