Poolside Percy

Water temp: 14 degrees The men's pond is now open late. This means I can drop in for a quick dip on my way home from work. Brief but enlightening chat with Dan. The things you learn, the origin of the croissant Sidestepped my way round an Egyptian goose for a lovely, calm, meditative swim.  

Saturday morning post Parkrun swim at Brockwell Lido. Definitely the most enjoyable swim I've ever had at Brockwell Lido, I'm usually knackered after doing The Swimmer and can't face the final swim. Hung out with the Brockwell Icicles afterwards. Thanks for the Chelsea Buns and carrot cake. Great cycle north in the London sunshine.

Water temp: 13/14 degrees Wednesday morning pre-work swim. Sometimes it all just comes to together. Glorious morning, glorious swim. Twenty lovely lengths, could've done more. See you next time.

Tuesday morning pre-work swim Water temp: 13 degrees I've arrived later than planned and I'm £1 short of my entrance money. I quickly set myself a very unambitious but time conscious challenge of swimming 10 lengths and boy am I making hard work of it. I'm not swim fit and I'm doing a triathlon sprint in four weeks. I refuse to practise wearing a wetsuit, aint happenin'. Hopefully it will all be OK on the day ('Despite the fact that did this/didn't do that...'). I spent far too long talking to a couple of regulars and found myself in a rush to get to work on time. A punctured rear tyre made sure I was really, really late.

Saturday morning post Parkrun swim. It's the bank holiday and the fair has returned to Hampstead Heath. After a tough, tough run, I shy away from the smell of fried onions and candy floss and waltzer off to the men's pond. There's still no springboard, it's not due back from the menders until May. The perimeter rope has been opened out for the season, the borders of my kingdom have expanded before me. I enter the water with a running dive and swim out as far as the rope. The lifeguard's hut seems miles away and I appreciate the solitude this gives me. I'm going to a wedding this afternoon somewhere near Staines. The reception is in a hotel right on the Thames so I should hopefully get a swim first thing tomorrow.

I'm at a wedding with GF. A Thameside wedding. The bride looks stunning and the groom is very calm. I'm extremely happy for the pair of them. I'm dressed to the nines in my blue suit with the pink pinstripe. I think I drank a little too much champagne earlier and I'm feeling adventurous and a bit naughty. Runnymede has something to do with the Magna Carta. 'Where was the Magna Carta signed?' a fellow guest asks. 'At the bottom' I reply.   It's time for a tour of the grounds of the hotel. First stop is the outdoor pool. Unfortunately it's being prepared for the the summer opening. Looks like fun tho'. Next item on the agenda is a stroll down to the river. We're right by a lock, I've promised myself a swim there tomorrow morning.* Next stop is the hotel spa. Our request for a look around is granted by the ever so friendly receptionist. The swimming pool is lovely. GF takes one look at me and sees the mischievou...

Thursday lunchtime run and swim Water temp: 12 degrees All the talk today is of rats and kebabs.

Water temp: 13 degrees Wednesday morning pre-work swim. I have neglected The Lido this winter. She's looking a little fragile since the back wall was blown over during a storm a few months ago. The regulars are all still here, they moved to a new spot while the wall is being repaired. After a sluggish start I finally find my rhythm. The sunlight bounces off the bubbles as they roll around the end of my fingers as I glide up and down the pool. The less I think about swimming the easier it gets. I complete 10 fantastic lengths. I love swimming at The Lido. I love swimming at The Lido. I love swimming at The Lido. I pick up a season ticket application form on the way out.

Water temp: 12 o C / 54 o F It's early on Tuesday morning. The world looks beautiful, sunny and warm from my bedroom window. My magnolia tree waves at me from the end of the garden. However, I still feel a bit shabby from an outrageously good birthday party at the weekend. There's only one thing that will bring me back to my senses, a swim in the ponds. As I cycle south I realise that's it's really cold. Too late to turn back. I lack the courage to dive in, I've forgotten what led me here in the first place. It's warmer in the water than out, it's wonderful, the elixir of life.  

 

I'm at work in King's Cross. It's lunchtime and it's sunny outside. I'm dreaming of a swim in the ponds. The relentless ping of the office microwave wakes me from my dreamlike trance. Lunch can wait while I cycle to Hampstead Heath for a dip. It's completely deserted at the ponds. I stand for ages on the jetty gazing at the dark green water. Still no springboard. A swan glides effortlessly in front of me, turns and looks me straight in the eye. The swan puffs out it's chest and wings, it's the size of a small pedalo, he or she is daring me to dive in to their pond. You win. Eventually the swan beats it's wings a few times and majestically flies off to the adjacent pond. Wow, how do you compete with that? All I can muster is a feeble dive. The water is well in to double figures. I paddle around for ages, this could be the best swim of the year, it's certainly the warmest of the year. I quickly forget about the swan. Afterwards I sit in t...

Saturday morning post-Parkrun swim Another spectacular Hampstead morning. I just smashed my PB at Parkrun so I'm a happy chap. I spend a few minutes chatting with the photographer who did a portrait of me recently. Couple of 'lengths' before heading home for more Saturday delights.

Springboard Thursday afternoon run and plunge. All the talk today is about the air quality or the lack of it. Undeterred, I take a jog around The Heath. On my return I spend a very pleasant time wheezing with Dan The Lifeguard. Still no springboard. The water feels cool against my arms and soothes my aching legs. Who knows what the temperature is, I'm not that bothered any more, this is just about perfect. I'm still not sure about this spring business, there's still a nip in the air. The pessimistic side of me is not convinced we've seen the last of winter. There again, I was hoping that summer was gonna make a spectacular comeback at Christmas.

Water temp: 10 degrees What a stunning morning. There's only a handful of punters in the changing rooms. I quickly head for my swim. The springboard is still missing, presumably having a spring clean at the springboard repair shop. The green water sparkles beneath me, the ducks lark about. The water is cold but not too cold, so I have a half decent swim for once. I'm the only soul in the pond, solitary watery bliss. The talk in the changing rooms is of the Hampstead Heath ponds project and potential legal challenge against the proposals. The chat then turns to football, I get quite irritated when the gentry talk about football.