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.