Poolside Percy

Lazy Saturday afternoon in central London. Sat on the sun terrace reading ' Father of Locks ' Attempted to do a decent swim but bailed out after 18 lengths and retired to the sun terrace. Got booted out about 5pm. Great photo from the press association

Score: ۞۞ ۞۞ ۞ Website: www.chippylido.co.uk Distance: 71 miles (by Vespa) What seems like a good idea at two thirty on a sunny afternoon can sometimes seem well stupid when you're you're lost on a B road in the middle of a thunderstorm in Oxfordshire. Anyway, to cut a long and winding journey short, it got sunny again, despite a closed sign on the door and pictures of David 'Evil' Cameron and Jeremy Clarkson on the wall, I managed to get a swim. Can't deter me. Lovely place, quite similar to Chesham Pool but with the added bonus of a kids paddling pool and a picnic area. Water was kept at a tropical 28 degrees. Swam a number of lengths with one eye on the clock. Just enough time to dry my jacket in the sun. Hairy, crazy ride nack to London. I've never been so pleased to arrive in Watford. Plenty of Bunting between London and Oxfordshire.

Oh yes. Bank holiday weekend Lido Special... Water is heated to a rather balmy 17 degrees. Sprite and R Whites lemonade seems to be the in drink this Easter. About 4pm a few spots of rain landed on my hand. The pool was virtually empty within five minutes. Sun came back out to play. Now this is the life. Been reading Father of Locks by Andrew Killeen Home to watch Logan's Run with DD and DW.

Big lush swim with DD followed by tasty half price dins at Masala Zone. Cycled home along moonlit Regent's Park Canal.

Saturday afternoon swim left me with a major urge for curry...

Birthday treat away with DT down in Cornwall. Resort has own pool and waverider machine. That's me swimming in the 18m pool.

Big Birthday Swim. 44 lengths of London's only heated outdoor pool. Job done. Place is well full-on-on-Sundays.