Poolside Percy

Mixed Pond It's a lovely sunny morning in London Town. I've decided to go for a jog. It's exactly four weeks since I tore a calf muscle. I manage a very tender 5K without too much aggravation. So, I'd better get down the mixed pond to do a bit of stretching a cool off the old leg. The water is much cooler that The Lido or the Men's Pond, I guess it doesn't get that much sun. Two swans fly in to the pond right over my heard and land spectacularly a few yards away. I swim a few  casual lengths. It really is a beautiful morning. Bumped in to some parents from DW's old school in the pond and a few old faces on the way home.  I whistle Boy About Town for the rest of the day.

Water temp: 22 degrees Excellent, the water temperature is rising, hold on summer, hold on. It's a beautiful late Friday afternoon. I've till got one eye and one leg on Pondathon. There's a big board near the cashiers office with loads of people's names on it, mine's on there too. I swim lots and lots of lengths pretending that I haven't got a gammy leg and I'm in serious training for Sunday.There again, why take it seriously? It's a fun event. I pedal round my sister's for dinner. My Mum's there too, I haven't seen her for ages, she looks really well.

Water temp: 20 degrees Late afternoon swim in beautiful sunshine. Long chat beforehand with Dan the lifeguard. Beautiful swim. Swam two big energetic not-stop exotic laps. Goggles are still a bit freaky, reminds me of the first time I ever jumped in the men's pond, might share that another time. Home for green bean curry. I picked the beans from my garden, very nice. Even bought some elasticated laces on the way home in case the silly person inside me decides to run on Sunday. I feel free cycling home in t-shirt and shorts, long live the summer.

Late afternoon swim. I've got new goggles. I mean business. Feels a bit strange doing big lengths whilst the rest of the people round the pool are chilling out or having fun. Big powerful 27 lengths. My new goggles with the tinted blue lenses really suck the colour out of life, never mind, at least they don't leak. Really, really enjoyed my swim today.

Water temp: 20 degrees Back to work today. Popped down to Covent Garden to get some new goggles. Now, I don't like wearing goggles in the ponds cos it's a bit murky and a bit scary, you don't really want to see what you're doing. However, new goggles are new goggles and must be tried out immediately and I haven't really given up hope of doing Pondathon on Sunday. I just caught the very last rays of the setting sun as I arrived and it felt really good to be here. The water is warm but still refreshing. The goggles are great but a bit freaky. I swim a couple of lengths and a massive lap just in case I end up doing Pondathon on Sunday, three weeks in Spain has left me feeling a bit unfit and blown out. Tinted blue goggles work really well in the chlorinated brick work of the Lido but suck out all the natural colour of The Men's Pond. Bad news, summer is draining away, the pond now close at 7pm, must make the most of my time.

I'm back from Spanish holidays. What better way to settle back in to the British summer than a trip to The Lido. Arrived at 4pm and soaked up some sun for an hour. Swam a very enjoyable 28 lengths. It feels great to be back. I even consider doing Pondathon on Sunday despite my dodgy leg. My old mate Ann is a physio, she's gonna give me her diagnosis later this week. Went to The George on Haverstock Hill with J to watch Man U Chelsea. How can you charge £5.40 a pint. I used to like The George, well poncey these days.

OK, this place doesn't have the setting of La Piscina Corduentes but it does have that touch of urban council estate chic. You can just about see the Castilla Molina if you stand at the shallow end. Post lunch swim, managed a few bloated lengths in the setting sun. Will hopefully return one day for a proper swim. I'm going back to London tomorrow. 

An afternoon adventure with DW and Sanchita, a 20KM drive through spectacular mountain pine forests and valleys. DW had his rites of passage moment diving off this bridge in to the clearest, crispest mountain river. I swam upstream. Last gasp Super Sanchita jumped off the big bridge. Great afternoon had by all. If you're anywhere near Molina please check this place out, you won't be disappointed. DW topped off his day by proving he is taller than his Dad.

I've met up with an old amigo deep in the heart of Spain, Don Quixote country. Hot and dry. According to local legend there's a swimming pool a few villages away. As far as I can make out from the Spanish banter in the bar, the water is cold, but that could be the beer. Uno mas por favor. The next morning is adorned with a beautiful blue, cloudless sky. This day could only be improved with an adventure and a swim. Mapless and clueless but with the aid of my faithful companion Sanchita, this errant swimmer sets out on his quest. After many twists and turns and field upon field of sunflowers, we come to the historic village of Corduentes. The village is resplendent with ancient hombres passing the time of day. I asked one of the Spanish gentlemen the direction to La Piscina, he points vaguely with his stick in the direction of the only road out of town. Eventually we spy a concrete high diving board towering over yet another field of sunflowers. We have arrived at La Piscina Co...

I am destiny's child today as it's time to hit the lake. I'm disappointed that it's forbidden to swim the length and breadth of the lake but I make do with an area roped off for public swimming. The water is as clear as the mountain water from which it is fed and it's wonderfully warm. Lots and lots of fish join me for my swim. There's a bar further up the lake where you can pay to swim and listen to the once groovy sounds of Manu Chau. Boy, boy I'm such a snob sometimes. I feel totally peopled out and return to our mountain top retreat. It's my turn to cook tonight so I buy a couple of kilos of salmon and some tasty looking prawns.

DW and I are now with extended family. We've rented a massive house halfway up a mountain. To top it all the house has a pool with a view, not a huge pool, but a pool is a pool and oh what a view. Happiness and joy. There's a massive boulder just above the pool, it reminds me of the film ' Sexy Beast ', my belly reminds me of Ray Winstone. I consider myself to be a very lucky person. At the foot of the mountain is the Lake of Banyoles , apparently we can swim there. I gaze down upon my destiny, I feel like pre-space age man looking up at the moon in reverse. I'm Ned Merril (The Swimmer) gazing upon the Lucinda River. Hopefully I will swim there tomorrow...

I'm in the South of France. I've not been in this part of the world for years and years, not since the fresh-faced days of rucksacks and Interail cards with Emily. So, first leg of my European tour starts here... Mango's My poor leg feels stiff after a couple of days of recuperation, but I'm mobile enough to play frisbee on the beach. Wahay, I'm playing Frisbee on the beach in the South of France with my son and some friends, life is good. I've had a great pre-lunch swim in the Med, Suzanne our hostess has taken me to a sea-front  gaff called Mango's, I wonder who Mango is or hope that his food is better than his grammar. Mango's is frequented by white middle-class dudes and dudettes pretending to be a bit crusty Europeans. They gorge themselves on overpriced tapas and tap their toes to the delights of Manu Chau. Who am I to criticise as I gorge myself on overpriced tapas. I never did get the Manu Chau thing tho', I'm sure he was ...

Gutted, absolutely gutted. I've torn a calf muscle at Parkrun this morning. There goes Pondathon. I seek comfort in the rejuvenating waters of the Mixed Pond, they're not working today, I feel very sorry for myself.