Tiq's last session before he emigrates to Oz

I would however like to share my swimming story with you all ....
Like most I went to swimming lessons with school, however found unless you were a swimmer outside of school or couldn't swim at all, you got no attention off the coaches and thus naturally I stuck to the team sports where I was actually encouraged.
I developed more as a runner however loved the water and would always be in the pool or sea whilst away and couldn't get enough diving.
I just assumed some people are good runners and some good swimmers.
It used to frustrate me massively when people who were not as fit as me could swim endlessly without stopping where as I would be out of breath after only a length or two ....
A few years ago I watch Sara Barlow teaching the kids at LA Fitness how to swim, whilst I sat in the jacuzzi and then watched her swim herself flawlessly, I was mesmerised.
I approached her and asked her what I was doing wrong, and she offered to teach me :)
After only a few sessions I was Improving and building up the amount of lengths I could do non-stop, from 5 to 10 to 20, 30, 40 etc until I reached a mile.
This was my goal and I then swam a mile twice a week trying to beat my time PB.
Again I got frustrated as I couldn't get it below 43 minutes and Sara no longer taught at the gym so I had nobody to turn to, however I persevered.
I thought I would get advice from one of my crazy triathlon friends who had just completed an iron man. He invited me down to his training sessions run by some guy called Richard.
So off I popped and met our very own Richard Symons and his lovely wife Sheila.
All of a sudden I was swim training in a way I never had before and improving rapidly again.
A number of months later I again bumped into Sara and excitedly told her how my swimming was coming on. 
Sara invited me to come down to Trafford Metro and join in the sessions she coached with the improvers group. I was excited at the the prospect of being coached by Sara again, however daunted at swimming at such a club with such high standards.
I needn't have been worried, I was welcomed straight away and made to feel a part.
My swimming seemed to be getting better and better and I continued training both with the improvers as well as with Richard, until I took the next daunting step of moving up to masters.
Again I shouldn't have been worried, I found another bunch of wonderful people and fantastic coaches, all wanting to help me and not surprisingly I continued to improve.
I was competing in galas, open water swimming and had new group of likeable friends.
When people ask me what I'm going to miss when I go down under, I tell them one of the biggest things will be my swim family, as that is how you have made me feel, like a part of your family.
I will never forget the support I received at nationals from the balcony, knocking off 11 minutes from my mile time at the great north swim within 12 months, and of course showing off diving in the club pool and kissing the bottom the pool, ouch !!!!!
I now have an amazing sport that I feel I can do forever and lifelong friends. I'll keep swimming, keep improving and keep trying to be on time for training.
Thank you all once again, I wish you all good health, good luck in all you do in life and of course fast times :)
I'll stay in touch and if any of you or your loved ones ever find yourself on the west coast of Australia, then there will always be a hot meal, beers in the fridge and somewhere to rest your head.
Love & Peace My Friends 
Tiq xx