Poolside Percy

No Master's tonight but decided to swim anyway. Kept losing count of how many lengths I'd done. Jeanette was there. She gave me a 15 minute tumble turn lesson. Not much improvement. Photo: Finchley Lido 1931

Score: ۞۞۞ ۞۞ website: www.beccleslido.com After getting pasted in Waxham at the weekend, friend drove me to Beccles Lido in the heart of Suffolk. Great litttle outdoor, heated lido on the banks of the river Waveney. I felt reborn and rejuvenated. Seemed like I'd left an old part of me at the bottom of the pool. Would have like to stay longer but Guiness and goujons were calling.

Score: ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞۞ Now here's an odd place. An 18 x 9 metre pool in a purpose built dome. was worried about how long it would take me work out a mile in multiples of 18 metres but was saved the mental arithmetic thanks to a sign on the wall. In case you hadn't worked it out already, that's 88 lengths. Anyhow, it's air raid shelter appearance was saved by it's cleanliness and lovely warm, clean water. The photo is of the entrance, the pool is round the back, I forgot my camera. Managed most of my 88 lengths before the oldies and lane ropes arrived. The fast lane was a bit like heaven on a Sunday. I'm sure it's great for kids during the day and it's their personal oasis, but I can't imagine ever swimming here again. Church Hill Road Barnet EN4 8XE

Score: ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞۞ Old school pool, sauna and boxing venue. Proper East End. Bit tatty, but had bags of charm and diving board. Not sure it was operational tho'. Long pool, about 30 metres and not to busy. Had a quick look at the spa, not my scene really. Apparently there was cafe hidden away somewhere. There was a couple of trophy cabinets full of cups won by the Sharks Swimming Club. Well done. Thank god places like these still exist. Should be a world heritage site. Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Hall

Score: ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞۞ Found myself in Brentwood, Essex on a Saturday afternoon. More to the point I found myself at the Brentwood Centre which has a 25 meter pool. Strange place is Essex. Bloke said nice things about my Vespa Swam every single 64 lengths. High-tailed it back to London on the A12. Avoided the North Circular Road cos it's mental.

Score: ۞۞۞ ۞۞ L oved it here. Swam fifty lengths and thought it would be a shame to get out so swam another 14 to make it a mile. A real oasis. I wish this was my local pool. Could have stayed all day.

Late night business in my head. Managed seven lengths before bailing myself out. Don't really like this place. Full of middle class people. Holds a couple of nice memories tho'.

OK. So I'm a so-called master swimmer now. Couldn't master a tumble turn. Got rumbled. Teacher is great... Photo: me and my Mum at Finchley Lido, 1969

Now then. This is my favourite place to swim but this was a bit odd. Decided to go for the evening session at a very respectable price of two quid. Swan 25 lengths. Could have been 20. Very busy, a few width swimmers crossing lengths and loads of people in wet suits. I think it was the crazy people in wet suits who swam separately from everybody in water temperature of 20 degrees that annoyed me. Hey ho, people are strange.

Score: ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ Distance: 31 miles (scooter) Massive swimming complex and kids playground. Fifty metre heated outdoor pool, had one of the two lanes to myself. Finally got in to a rhythm and tried to remember my new, improved crawl. Kept needing the toilet. Must keep my mouth shut. Bet this place gets rammed on a hot summer's day. Dined on a Higgidy pie and olives from a posh supermarket. New Zoggs are wicked.