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But in the swim I can't just stop. So with the fear of drowning as my driving force I've been swimming every night after work. And I've definitely improved - a few nights ago I swam 400 metres freestyle without stopping for rests between laps. Considering the fact that four weeks ago I couldn't even do one lap without gasping and panting afterwards, it's pretty good.

But last night I let the lap counter go out the window. I started out with my normal disciplined routine, but after a couple of laps I stopped and looked around me. The pool was perfectly still, and I was its only occupant. The sunset was a typically Melbourne combination of dull orange bursting its way through autumn clouds and city smog above the sky line. The bursts of light that did succeed in breaking through created hundreds of tiny shapes on the bottom of the pool, shards of coloured glass littering the floor.

I slowly dove forward, gliding though the stillness, and watched golden contours fall away from my darting silhouette. I dove forward again, relaxing completely in a "Superman" pose and admired the light show on the tiles again.

Conscious that I was ignoring my strict training regime, I pulled forward with a couple of half-hearted attempts at a freestyle stroke, but was even more mesmerised - each stroke formed golden winds on the figure on the floor, a mysterious dark angel gracefully flying through a shimmering ether...

The only problem with not moving much in a cold outdoor pool is, well, it's cold. After my vain flight I emerged shivering, yet in awe, and headed for my towel.

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Submitted by Matthew Magain