From Blast Survivor to Inspiring Audiences @blownawaysmh-blog - Tumblr Blog

The Amputee Swimmer -

Open Water Swimming | Wild Swimming | Cold Water Swimming | Sea Swimming

A channel for all those interested in swimming outside. 🏝

ABOUT ME.

I started to regularly Open Water Swimming in 2011; swimming outdoors became an essential part of my recovery after receiving life-changing injuries in the autumn of 2009.

GUIDANCE

I'll give you some guidance on where to start, great locations to swim in, the best kit & equipment you'll need.

DISABLED SWIMMERS

We are all about encouraging swimmers of all abilities to get involved, we'll also look at accessibility for those with physical restrictions. ♿️

The Discussion Board. 📝

Please take a moment to check out the discussion board. I'll be adding useful information for all swimmers to continue their own open water journey.

https://www.simonharmer.com/amputee-swimmer?wix-vod-comp-id=comp-kmqaz9qw

It’s a #catslife🐾 😂😂😂 #imstacat #cats_of_instagram

#catslife🐾#imstacat #cats_of_instagram

Here’s a picture of @bryanadams and myself just #chilling

#chilling

Just got hunted by the #cat 😺 #predator #nomercy

#cat #nomercy #predator

After supper we went and spent some time looking at the #aquarium in the resort. This thing is massive, these pictures can’t really do the size of the ‘fish tank’ justice. It’s huge. They had everything in there from #sharks to #stingrays. Part of me wishes they didn’t have to be in there though... 🐠 (at Atlantis Bahamas)

#sharks #aquarium #stingrays

Had a great day diving on these little #scuba subs. I haven’t dived for years, great fun getting back under the waves. @stuartcovesdivebahamas (at Atlantis Bahamas)

#scuba

Not a bad view to wake up to... @atlantisbahamas 🇧🇸 (at Atlantis Bahamas)

I won’t get all sentimental with you lot today which is my 8 year (nearly) #blownaway anniversary. I’m going to send a few shout outs today as away of saying thank you to those who have helped me. This one goes to the @coldstream_guards battle group who pulled me off the battle field and saved my life. #wordsarentenough #thankyou

#thankyou #blownaway #wordsarentenough

I’ve been trying to get back doing regular #exercise for the past few weeks. I haven’t really got a plan I’m just in there doing my thing. This morning was a bit of fail. I started training on a hand bike and everything went wrong. I kept on dropping stuff, my leg fell off and everything just felt rushed and wrong. However, rather than give up I cracked on and finished what I started. We try and look for perfection in things we do but it isn’t always possible. Rarely, is it possible. We’ve just got to do the best we can in the moment. #getbusyliving

#getbusyliving #exercise

This is what #Sundays are all about making #Lego castles with the #kids

#lego #kids #sundays

The situations I get myself involved in! Today I started as a volunteer #ambassador for the @jubileesailingtrust This incredible #charity run tall sailing ships which are fully accessible. The program allows abled bodied and disabled crew to work together. (at Tower Bridge)

#ambassador #charity

This is a picture of me not long after I was injured. I've never seen it before and I'm not sure how the @dailymirror got hold of it. But it's nice to have a copy, I don't have a huge amount of #photographs from the first few weeks. I think this must have been taken at #HeadleyCourt probably on my first admission. #veteran #woundedinaction #wia (at Headley Court)

#headleycourt #woundedinaction #photographs #wia #veteran

This week I posted a few things about our @mwholidays which was a lot of fun. However there was a good reason that the hotel was a 3 Star ⭐️⭐️⭐️. @marisa_harmer recorded this to demonstrate how unsafe their #disabled access was around the complex. I 'managed' toget about but someone more restricted would have really struggled. We paid a lot of money for our break and had been assured that the access was good. This wasn't the only unsafe aspect of our #holiday but it was the worst. However, would I go again? Yes, the staff were helpful and it was great fun for the kids. 😊

#holiday #disabled

After delivering a presentation at the RSM's Convention at Sandhurst I had the honour of receiving an Army Sergeant Major's coin. #exceptional #everyday #aimhigh #britisharmy (at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst)

#aimhigh #everyday #exceptional #britisharmy

Have you ever felt like hammered shit? 💩🔨

I think we all have at times, especially at work.

If I was given a choice to repeat a time in my life between getting blown up and my first job as a senior manager.

I’d choose getting blown up every time.

Here’s why.

My first job as a senior manager was a very toxic, unhealthy and probably criminal environment. I knew my own abilities and what I was capable of and what I wasn’t.

However, what I needed was a mentor and a manager. Instead I what I got was blame and something verging on bullying. In fact it was bullying. This went on for around 2 years.

Two years of feeling like hammered shit.

People talk about letting someone sink or swim. Well I felt I was somewhere in the middle. I was drowning every day for two years. It was an awful situation to be in.

If you are a manger/leader (there is a difference) I hope that your employees don’t feel like this.

If you are an employee going through a similar experience my heart goes out to you. I think that by the time I left I was close to breaking down.

I wasn’t the same for over six months. It took me ages to figure it all out in my head. But thoughout all this I still had to function. I still had to crack on and get s**t done.

I’m sure that one of you have been in a similar situation.

What got me through it?

I’m not sure to be honest. I had no support at work. I think that it was probably my wife who helped the most.

The message from this post.

If you are going through a similar experience hang in there.

If you are putting someone through a similar experience.

Go boil your head. 🔥

My #dad used to say to me: 'Son. Shut up and let everyone think you are stupid rather than opening you're mouth and letting everyone know you are stupid.' He was a wise man my dad..... I really should have listened. 😂 #dadadvice

#dad #dadadvice

I love an inspirational or motivational quote... but what do they actually mean? We all read the same words, but to each of us they mean different things.... For me I learnt that my time is something I can't afford to lose. Time is just to bloody important to me. After being in a situation where my life was in the balance, I instantly had an understanding what is really important in this world. However, lately I seem to have forgotten this lesson. The things that are important to me are: My kids. My wife. My family. My friends. My work. How many of us are getting this up side down? What exactly are we chasing?

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