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.