Early October, and you can feel the shift: warm water, cooler mornings. We keep swimming — and listen to what the body asks for.
It’s early October, and you can sense the season turning. The water is still lovely — 24.5°C this morning — but the moment you get out, you feel the change. The air is cooler, the wind sharper. It was 14°C when we went swimming, even dropping to twelve at times. With wet hair and a breeze on your skin, it feels very different from a few weeks ago.
We still swim almost every morning, between seven and eight. Just like last year, we’re trying to keep it up all year round. Only when the sea gets too rough, we skip it. Then we stand on the beach for a moment, watching the waves, feeling the wind. Most of the time we’re the only ones there, and it has to stay safe. On those days we walk a few kilometres along the path beside the beach — just to be outside anyway. The sea stays in sight, but it’s easier walking than on the sloping sand.
This morning, when I got home, I was cold. Not uncomfortably, but that deep kind of cold that asks for something warm inside. I had eaten lightly the night before and could feel my body wanting something nourishing. Something soft, creamy. And suddenly I thought of porridge. Not exactly keto, I know — but sometimes you just crave something that warms you from within.
There’s something comforting about stirring in a pan:
the porridge thickening, the scent of cinnamon, the warmth of the spoon in your hand.
How I make my porridge more nourishing
What I’ve learned over time is that plain porridge is nice, but it doesn’t give me lasting energy.
So I always add something — small touches that make a big difference.
- Sometimes a spoonful of peanut butter or a knob of butter; it makes it creamier and keeps me full for longer.
- A handful of nuts or seeds also helps; it turns it into a real meal instead of just a snack.
- When I’m in the mood for fruit, I usually go for berries — light and fresh. But apple with cinnamon — especially now that autumn is here — brings that warm, almost apple-pie taste.
- And spices: I almost always use cinnamon, but sometimes a pinch of cardamom or ginger powder makes it feel like tasting a new season.
A simple bowl of porridge becomes more than breakfast. It’s warmth, recovery, and a moment to pause and listen to what your body needs. And that’s exactly why this ritual now belongs to my mornings as much as the swim itself.
