Poolside Percy

Dolphin Leisure Centre Haywards Heath Last gasp 2011 swim. I was slightly disappointed when I arrived and realised that I'd been here before - oh well. I wonder why they reverted to the old name? No, I don't really give a dolphin's flipper why they changed the name although it seems more appropriate to call it Olympos in 2012. Hey ho. Anyway, I've not been swimming for ages so it was a laborious rather than languid mile that I managed. Shuffled out-of-town on the train to lovely Lewes to celebrate new years eve.

What a difference a day makes. Sunday afternoon shenanigans. What started out as an innocent swim turned in to a marathon. Fifty four lengths didn't seem enough so I powered myself on and on. Felt necessary to swim 100 lengths, that's 3KM, don't think I've ever swum so far. Well done me. Even had the middle lane to myself for 30 odd lengths. Cycled to DD's for roast dinner, The Persuaders and The Golden Compass

Saturday afternoon swim. Really laboured over this one, even got overtaken by Edith's Mum. Getting bored of writing about this pool. I still don't feel at home here. I've run out of photos as well.   Cycled back to DD(AST)'s for homemade pizza fiorentina and a game of parcheesi - I didn't win.

Prince of Wales Baths pre-refurb Tuesday night post-work swim. Pretty damn busy. Ploughed up and down the middle lane. Swam a mile. Bumped in to Edith's Mum outside. Cycled home via cheap veg stall.

Prince of Wales Laundry Could also be known as St Pancras Public Baths Anyway, Saturday afternoon swim. Imagine how delighted I was when I walked through the doors of the Willies pool to find two empty lanes. By 4pm I had the middle lane all to myself. Swam a Saturday afternoon mile. Perfect. Photo is by Mike Abrahams . He used to live a couple of doors down from us when we lived on Grafton Road. We reckon our that's our Mum with her back to the camera in the second photo. Macbeth

Thursday evening workout. Found my space and pace in the lane between slow and fast. Medium I think it's called. Ended up in fast when someone who was definitely slow got in the way in medium. Had to intervene when three boys who had been having fun diving in the deep end for 45 minutes, were told by a new lifeguard that they had to swim lengths cos someone might complain that they were being intimidating. Sorry, I didn't put that very well, but there again there was no logic to her argument other than her boss might have a go at her, that's GLL for you. Cycled home for dinner with Gavin and Stacey. Photo: Camden local studies and archives (our mum used to do our washing here, I found it all quite amazing)

A return to swimming after a two-week break. Monday night immersion in Grafton Road. Was in before 5 o'clock, still loads of people in the pool, including the waitress from the café on Fleet Road, the one with the big portions. Swimmers getting in each others way, lots of splashing and waves, can't really cope with it. Still managed to blunder my way to 54 lengths. Even paid for the privilege today.