Poolside Percy

Parliament Hill Fields Lido Sunday morning, far too early. Despite my gammy leg, I'm doing the Hampstead Heath Pondathon again today. I'm feeling a little bit nervous and a bit intimidated by all the fit young people around me. No, sod it, I'm doing this for me, doing this for fun. Before I know it I'm in the water and 3-2-1 we're off... The Lido is lean and mean and should be the easiest swim, after all I'm playing at home. However, I'm struggling, I feel like chucking in the towel at length two. I'm spurred on by the rousing cheers of the home fans GF and DW. At least I'm not last out of the pool, and by no means least. The run to the Men's Pond is like an Alan Sillitoe novel , long and lonely. I've not been overtaken yet. The Men's Pond greets me like an old friend. I manage to overtake two other swimmers in what seems like a never ending lap, good job I've been doing lots of swimming this week. Me in the Ladies Po...

Arrived back in Waterloo on Sunday afternoon from yesterday's trip to Gorgeous Guildford - seemed rude not to pop in to the Oasis for a swim. Quick visit to the model shop in Holborn, bought my son a Sunbeam Alpine 5 car, apparently used in Dr. No. It was only a quid. Anyway, blagged a free swim 'cos I is well cheeky. Started pouring with rain when when I arrived so the pool was deserted apart from one other person. That soon changed when I started grabbed the whole middle lane for myself, that soon changed when a few more late Sunday afternoon swimmers realised the sun was back out. I'll count this as a belated birthday swim. That means I swam 45 lengths. It was at this pool I started swimming birthday related lengths. Whatever. Huffed and puffed, got there in the end. Thoroughly enjoyable. Went home and watched Chelsea thrash Tottenham. Blue is the colour. Started reading 'Waterlog' again, more to follow...

Last gasp Easter Sunday swim. Back for more late night business. Nice chilled atmosphere at the pool this evening. A no-show for the swimming lesson left me with a lane to myself. I dutifully swam a mile and four for luck. The ever so precise scales tell me that I've put on 2KG since my last visit, must have been all that good living up in lovely Norfolk. Dined at the Indian Veg place on Chapel Street Market, two platefuls left me beyond bloated and in a state of nausea. Lots of drunken Arsenal fans still out on the Holloway Road.

Wednesday night wade. OK, been a bit slack with visits to the pool recently. Missed an opportunity to go to the Oasis pool in Hunstanton (Norfolk), well it was -10 degrees. Fairly busy, it usually is, water is cold, usually is. I ignore my own cold and plough up and down the middle lane. I'm enjoying this. A very big man makes himself enormous by swimming short bursts of butterfly, I seek refuge in the medium lane. I've swam a mile, I really enjoyed it I cycle across The Heath for cheap pints in the Five Smells. Arsenal get stuffed by AC Milan. Photo: www.guerrillaexploring.com

London Fields Lido How cold is it today? The steamy yet chilly hand of fate found me on Holloway Road so it seemed rude not to cycle a little further east and head for London Fields Lido. Went passed the Emirates Stadium just as Arsenal scored which was a bit surreal. I won't go in to my feelings about the gooners. Anyway, got to the pool. Realised I'd left my bike lock at home, however the lovely girl on reception let me park it in the first aid room. Very quick dash from the changing rooms to the pool, entered by the kids/disabled ramp, very gallant. Pretty quiet in the water, not surprising as the air temperature was about fifty degrees below. Overheard two guys discussing not twisting your hips too much to avoid aquadrag (is that a made up word, my spellchecker reckons so, but there again my spellchecker thinks 'spellchecker' is a dodgy word).  Whatever, first length went well, very stiff arms and legs today, managed 32 lengths in the very steamy pool. I...