I've always loved swimming, ever since I was quite small. At my Sussex Prep' School we were thrown in, and someone shouted "SWIM". If you didn't, somebody might have dived in to rescue you; but mostly boys did as they were advised.
The pool at my Prep' School was quite large, but it was fed by a natural spring, and was not chlorinated or cleaned in any way. The water was permanently green, and there were often snakes, or ducks in it. It was always freezing, but we didn't care.
I've just come out of our pool as I write this. I've been very busy all morning, and a refreshing pre-lunch swim was perfect. I always do the same thing; 12 lengths, which is just over 100 metres. I usually do this 3 times a day.
I cannot understand people who fail to learn to swim. Out here in the countryside it is quite common to find such people; surely, swimming is one of life's great pleasures.
One of my best swimming memories was from around 1959/60 in Puerto Soller, Majorca. Our hotel had a wonderful beach/pool/garden man. He was a man of 'small stature' (I'm not sure what we're supposed to call that these days), and would swim out into the bay, returning with half a dozen Octopi stuffed into his swim trunks. He was a wonderful man, and I used to love early morning swims in the pool whilst he swept tidied and gardened. I think his name was Emanuel.
These days my daily swims are for refreshment and exercise; mostly the latter. They do say it's one of the best forms of exercise; using all muscles. I don't really mind if the water is cold. Anything above 20C, and as long as there is sunshine, I'm in there splashing about.
What we DO NOT do is smother ourselves in sun cream, lounge about on the 'layabouts' drinking iced Pimm's through a Flamingo shaped straw, whilst wearing Hawaiian shirts. Nor do we scream when entering ice cold water!
For us, the pool is not a luxury item; it's essential. If one thinks of it as an extra room, and calculates the value of any extra room, a pool is a very good asset.
I never learned to swim as a child. I took swim lessons as an adult, but was surprised to learn that I'd developed what I suppose is a sensible fear of the water because I cannot swim. I suppose that if I spent more time in it, I'd learn to swim. However, I don't...because I can't swim.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine not being able to swim. Not only is a very simple process, but it would seriously inhibit where I spent my holidays etc. May I suggest you persevere, and really relax. Humans float if relaxed, then all you need to do is pull the water away from you. Off you go; you're swimming!
DeleteWell, I can swim alright - but I daren't put my head under water!
DeleteAh, the childcare philosophy of British education pre 1980. Fear, humiliation and punishment.
ReplyDeleteAnd it worked.
DeleteWhen I was young every school in NZ had some sort of a pool. I always say I learnt to swim first and to read later. Ours was pretty primitive, probably had frogs but it must have been chlorinated.
ReplyDeleteWe have only just started swimming here this summer. Having a dip in the sea, or in your case the pool, is a necessity in hot weather. It cools the body completely. And like you I do swim, I don't stand in the shallows and gossip like most of the locals. But I do enjoy the catch-up when k tells me it all later
I enjoy a good long swim. My greatest swimming achievement was swimming from one Pier to the other in Brighton. At the time it felt like swimming the channel.
DeleteI enjoy being in the water although I don't swim very well and I would struggle to do even one lap because I simply don't have access to a pool. (and I'm terribly unfit.) And for me the water must be warmer these days anyway. I remember a pool several years ago that was "heated" to 68 (20C) and it felt cold to me until I became used to it.
ReplyDeleteShingle/cobbles and seaweed made the Municipal Baths more attractive to me in my youth. Much later I found the dedicated lanes of a John Lloyds sports club ideal. I miss the daily swim and must sign up to my newish local pool now we are post Covid.
ReplyDeleteWe are actually considering swimming in the sea when we return to Brighton. We'll see; it might be far too cold.
DeleteLike Debby, I never mastered swimming as a child. Being extremely short sighted and unable to wear my specs in the pool during school swimming lessons, I felt very vulnerable in the water and couldn't bring myself to let go.
ReplyDeleteI still can't swim even though I now have reasonable eyesight.
Come over here, I'd have you swimming in 10 mins!
DeleteLocal authorities abandoning swimming lessons and pools because they can't afford to run them.
ReplyDeleteSad. I find it an essential bit of life-skill.
DeleteYour final point is interesting. At times pools are seen as an expensive liability here. I haven't swum in our building's pool for a long time. You've inspired me. I just hope it is 27 degrees and the spa at 37.
ReplyDeleteA week ago ours was almost 30 C, now it's dropped to 24 C. Anything over 22 C and I'm happy; above 30 C and I'm not.
DeleteI would love to be able to swim every day in the summertime. I prefer a warm(ish) sea where I can swim out to some distant buoy or float and just rest there looking at the beach or the mountains before swimming back.
ReplyDeleteIf you are going to swim then swim. I like to see Rick Stein plunging into the water on his culinary travels. I do the same. Swim out as far as I can, then leisurely swim back whilst fighting off the Sharks.
DeleteI have not got a pool.
DeleteI also love to swim. Lately, I swim daily. My neighbors are at their LI shore beach house and gave me keys to the pool. Swimming in the Atlantic is wonderful but cold. Making a quick dive in works for me. I do like the buoyancy of salt water.
ReplyDeleteWe missed a couple a days recently simply because it was cold and miserable, but usually we swim about three times a day.
DeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I can't swim either... but truth be told, if someone threw me in, I could get to the side (not gracefully mind you, but I could do it). But it's never been something I enjoyed - even though I'm fascinated with the ocean, seafaring, fishing, etc. - love watching movies about it - even great grandfathers in England and Ireland who were Ship Captains, etc.). So I'm fond of the water - just don't want to be in it...??? But I do believe it is wonderful exercise.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine not wanting to be in water. Every time I see the sea or a lake I want to dive in.
DeleteAm I in your spam folder?
ReplyDeleteI learnt to swim at school when I was 8. We were using rubber rings at the time and some bright spark thought it would be a good idea to pull out the stopper of mine as a joke. I didn't realise until I'd reached the other end of the pool and the ring was deflated. They unknowingly did me a great favour!
ReplyDelete