Poolside Percy

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous day in London. Lots of people sunbathing in the park, the Lido is busy but not as rammed as I thought it might be. New goggles today, I took my old Speedos back to the shop as the tint had worn off, they changed them, no questions asked. The last time I was here it was minus freezing, it must be be nearly 20 degrees today. No heroics today, I've spent much too much time on my bike and in the park keeping fit. I decide the best way forward is with a dive. I'm rubbish at diving, I manage a half decent/half rubbish dive which sends my goggles skewiff. Twenty lengths is more than enough, these are long, long, 50m lengths...  Enjoyed my visit to Hackney today. Cycle to Swiss Cottage to pick up DW, then to Victoria and home to East Finchley. Happy days.

Score: ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ Now here's posh for you. Birthday swim down at County Hall, ex home of the GLC and Ken Livingston, now a sumptuous hotel and sports/spa club. Amazing Thames view over The Houses of Parliament on one side and The London Eye on t'other. Delicious pool, lovely showers, complimentary towels and robes. DD and I had the place to ourselves for most of the morning. Swam 90 lengths, two for each of my years on the blue planet, then four more for he's a jolly good fellow. Tried to remember each of my birthdays as I went, got fixated with Fes (Morocco) on my 20th for some reason. Forgot to check if those palm trees are real or plastic. Thank you my darling. Can't pay won't pay. Lunch in sunny Covent garden. Nice.

Sunday morning insanity. I just can't help myself sometimes. And you may find yourself over the Lido in winter... It was actually 9 degrees when I arrived, I was bottling it already. I stood and stared at the water for about 20 minutes, the regulars were all there, I doubt they ever left since last October, that's what make them regulars I guess. Quite a few people in the water, few wetsuits, lots of rubber gloves and swimming socks, I felt inadequately equipped. The sun was shining but it was still pretty chilly. Not today I thought. And you may find yourself leaving the changing room wearing your trunks, tshirt, woolly hat and sun glasses, clutching your £2 entrance fee. They're only getting that if I actually get in the water. I sat on a bench at the shallow watching the brave souls, at least they weren't dead so the cold water probably wouldn't kill me either. I'm reading Oliver Twist, his childhood was a broken-hearted misery, whatever happened, m...

Saturday afternoon splash. Not been here for a couple weeks. Place seems pretty relaxed. Pool is fairly empty for a change. I start off in the middle lane, feeling pretty fit and confident, I feel relaxed, even happy to be here. I think I'm finally getting my head and heart around the refurbishment, it's starting to feel like my swimming pool. I Plough up and down the middle lane until my prowess is upstaged by some younger and fitter swimmers. Somehow I think that a mile is 57 lengths not 54. Pick up supplies and a disgusting pasty from Queen's Crescent. Cycle home and fix bike brakes. Photo: marklunch

Score: ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ Monday night mission. The timetable said swimming club till 9pm, then men only swimming till 10 o'clock. OK, I know that some pools do women only sessions, can't work out why they would have a men only. Out In Tottenham maybe? Beautiful day in London, very cold at 8.30 when I left my house. Even colder on my Vespa. The reception was empty apart from one customer. The receptionist took ages explaining the membership options which gave me time to read all the notices about being patient during busy periods and having the correct change to help shorten queuing time. They must get a lot of queues, it took 10 minutes to pay for my swim. Anyway, this is Tottenham. Think Marcus Garvey Library, Bernie Grant, Harry Redknapp. I was hoping to see Diane Abbot as lifeguard and Ricky Villa mopping the floors. What I did get was a bit of bling, tinny music and pools of stagnant dirty water on the changing room floors. OK, I am going to remain positive. I bet this ...

Finchley Lido Place was well packed when I arrived, swim school in full swing, fast lane moving slowly. Sat on the side and bided my time, joined the mêlée eventually, swam a few lengths, stopped when I hit the tailback. Fortunately, everybody must have got fed up as the pool lane was empty 10 minutes later. Swam 40 very tired lengths before the lane was full-up and unswimmable again. Photo: Graham Hobbs