I think I must have a great face for radio (!?) because following my interview on baby envy for the World Service I’ve been invited on again. On Friday at 11am, I’m going to be in a documentary on BBC Radio 4 called A Family Without A Child presented by the award-winning journalist Sangita Myska. It also features the inspirational founder of Gateway Women, Jody Day, and the author Paula Coston. If you’re interested, please tune in.
If you do listen, you will hear something I’ve not mentioned here before which is that I’ve been swimming. And I’m not talking a few laps of the local pool. Part of the documentary was recorded at the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park where I’ve been spending rather a long time with the ducks. I’ve also been going to Dover and swimming in the sea.
It’s because I’ve been on a secret mission – call it childhood dream, midlife crisis or what you will – which is to swim the English Channel. The week after next I’m doing a relay (me and two others will swim one hour each in succession until we get to France). It’s training for next summer when I hope to do the whole thing solo. I guess it’s the kind of thing a girl like me does when she can’t have a baby. I don’t necessarily recommend it…
Jessica Hepburn's Blog 
I can’t wait to hear how you get on with the swimming!! I tried swimming in the sea on holiday and despite swimming a mile 3-4 times a week at home in the pool, I just couldn’t do it. Too much salt water up my nose and in my mouth! Good luck! x
Thank you! And don’t worry there won’t be any butterfly going on. Not even in the sea! Jessica x
woow thats such an exciting idea!! Let us know how how the swimming progresses. Can’t wait to hear about it next year. xx
Yes, more on the swim next year for sure…meanwhile hope you had a great time in Japan and have come back feeling refreshed. Am looking forward to your next post and hearing your latest news and thoughts (realise I haven’t been following you but am now). Jessica x
Best of luck, Jessica — and the phrase ‘I have a great face for radio’ has to go in your next book! (If you don’t use it, I will 🙂 ). PS – is it at all helpful to rephrase your last sentence as, ‘It’s the kind of thing a girl like me can do when she doesn’t have a baby’? — Based on other things you’ve said, i think there have been moments, however fleeting, when you’ve seen it that way?
Sadly I can’t claim the phrase for my own… it’s a good one though I agree. I hope people got it. And you’re so right about ‘can do’ and ‘doesn’t have’. I was obviously feeling sorry for myself yesterday, either that or wanting pity. Ugggh. J x
Fair enough!! You’ve earned your right to some pity along with the encouragement_, admiration, etc-it’s not easy to build a life around a reality you never chose.
You are a natural in both writing and being interviewed! Well done and keep up the good work jessica! Oh and swimming 😉 xxx
Thank you Ruth. Hope things are going well with you. Let me know how your project is coming along when you’ve got a mo. Jessica x