Early morning swimmers like myself know: once you start, it’s not so hard | Nova Weetman

This year , instead of heading away on holidays like much of Melbourne ’s inner-city suburb, I’ve enjoyed the quiet. Streets which are usually heaving with traffic now move close to the speed limit.

Those of us left behind have been meeting almost daily at Williamstown beach, creating a sort of unofficial rhythm to our days .

We began swimming in the bay during winter , when the water broke your spirit with its cold.