Tim Radford 

Weatherwatch: By Jove! It’s jolly chilly!

Tim Radford follows the exploits of Jerome K Jerome as he takes an involuntary morning dip in the bitterly cold water of the Thames
  
  

Cover Illustration Three Men in a Boat
Cover Illustration from the 1946 edition of Three Men in a Boat, published by J.W. Arrowsmith Photograph: Guardian

The trio of freshwater mariners and the dog Montmorency poke their heads out over the offside, and look down at the water, and shiver. "The idea, over-night, had been that we should get up early in the morning, fling off our rugs and shawls, and throwing back the canvas, spring into the river with a joyous shout, and revel in a long, delicious swim. Somehow, now the morning had come, the notion seemed less tempting. The water felt damp and chilly: the wind felt cold," reports Jerome K Jerome in his 1889 classic Three Men in a Boat (to Say Nothing of the Dog). "'Well, who's going to be first in?' said Harris at last."

There is no rush for precedence. George pulls his socks on. Montmorency gives vent to an involuntary howl. Harris says it will be difficult to board the boat again. The narrator does not like to give in, though does not relish the plunge. He takes a towel and worms his way along a branch over the water.

"It was bitterly cold. The wind cut like a knife. I thought I would not throw the water over myself after all. I would go back into the boat and dress; and I turned to do so; and as I turned, the silly branch gave way, and I and the towel went in together with a tremendous splash, and I was out mid-stream with a gallon of Thames water inside me before I knew what had happened. 'By Jove! old J's gone in,' I heard Harris say, as I came blowing to the surface. 'I didn't think he'd have the pluck to do it.'"

 

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