I didn't get told off in the swimming pool today, despite the fact that I got an even bigger float, shaped like a duck, and lay back to rest. That was because I did it while the Lifeguard-who-examines-her-nails was on duty. Another woman got told off, though, by Jobsworth-Lifeguard-with-A-Whistle, and was told 'floats only in the small pool'. Okay, maybe it's a rule, but it's a stupid rule, and it's not advertised. There's a fast lane, a middle lane, a slow lane and an area clearly for 'messing about'. There were two people in the slow lane, so need for anyone to do lengths in the 'messing about' area.
Jobsworth cleared up all the toys from alongside the big pool, even the armbands that look like dumbbells that someone had been using for a bit of an non-ostentatious aqua-workout. A bunch of six pre- or barely-teens got told off for using floats in the big pool. Then for playing volleyball over the fence between the small and big pools. Then when they gathered at the deep end and took turns to jump in...just copying me - I'd warned them I make a big splash and they seemed determined to outsplash me (never succeeded...!)...he got really agitated. I got a distinct sense that the six kids, the two women in their 20s/30s, and me all got an attitude that we were going to be the naughty kids defying teacher. We didn't have a problem with the kids, no it seemed did the two women. All the small kids and parents were in the Teaching Pool. If I had found the kids annoying, I could have stayed down the shallow end or gone in the slow lane.
Afterwards, in the showers, two women were saying how much nicer they are than the showers at Clapham. Agreed. Not least the fact that each shower is in a cubicle, also that you don't look strange if you get your kit off to shower (Clapham is like Sale, too genteel, shower with one's costume on). They were however lamenting that Clapham is closing down - it's a shame they have to do it all at once, can't they stagger it. So I said - they're knocking it down, and one of them said, no they have to keep the shell because it's listed. Oh right, okay, I said, and thought 'but even if you keep the shell you can't partially gut the inside, or maybe you can, but you end up making compromises in the re-modelling'.
But the internet says it will be knocked down. I think I like the idea of glass frontage. Although a Muslim friend pointed out to me several years ago that Peckham Splash is glass-fronted, which makes it unsuitable for Moslem women, although they do steam the glass up for Women Only sessions, but sometimes they forget. I did read somewhere that there is still one pool to be identified for 2012 training. Maybe that will be Clapham. Perhpas we can arrange for the Australian and US teams to train there, and host them in tents on Clapham Common, like the passengers from the Windrush.
After swimming we went to Halfords, where Jimmy ordered a bike. Basically, we are due to collect his 'n' hers matching bikes. How romantic...
We then went to Currys to buy a coffee machine. We saw one we liked, but it was the end of the line. They were prepared to knock £30 off, but it was incomplete - would have been a deal if we were replacing like with like. I decided instead to source it on the internet. Until I checked out the internet and discovered that the desired model wasn't so desirable after all. It uses coffee pods - which is just stupid. Further examination of the internet revealed this to be quite common. Of all the stupid ideas. Talk about limiting your choice...Jimmy says it's just an excuse to over-charge you for crap coffee. I don't suppose there'smuch in the way of Organic and/or FairTrade coffee pods. So, time to think again.
