There's a limit to how much you can do on a long weekend, but I think we made the most of our break in Jersey. We set out in the morning for a walk along the coast. However, as noted before, St Helier isn't the most picturesque seaside town. We could have gone into the town itself but we had done that in 2001 (I know this reads quite lamely but there was a logic). Instead we spent most of Saturday afternoon back in the Merton hotel, specifically in and around the swimming pool. What tremendous fun! Completely suited my way of swimming. I like to plod along, not frightfully bothered about doing lengths, but very much enjoying the sensuality. I like the feeling of buoyancy in the water and I love outdoor swimming (although I'm not really strong enough to be a wild swimmer). I won't have blog entries for my various seaside visits last summer, because I didn't take my camera, and there's little you can say other than 'I spent long periods lying on the beach reading; I also went in the sea for several lengthy spells mainly of floating, but feeling my muscles strengthen as they resisted the waves and current, I have rarely felt so alive as when I am swimming outdoors'.
I like hotel swimming pools partly because of the added extras - jacuzzis, steam room and sauna. The Merton has jacuzzis indoors and out, and, as an added bonus, the giant aquaslide. I took a couple of photos on my phone, to give a sense, but nothing can replicate that feeling.
I used to go on water slides a lot in my youth. As a student we used to visit Bramcote Pool and play on its slide. And when I visited my aunt in Hove, I couldn't resist the slide in the King Alfred. I did lobby the then leader of the council to install a slide and wave machine at the new West Norwood Pool, but to no avail. I don't think you can embrace 'sport for all' and ignore the needs of aquasliders and wave machine enthusiasts. I just don't.
The first time down a slide (after several years) is unbelievably scary. you're in darkness and you have no idea about the bends and falls, nor how long you will be on it, or how the journey will end. But each subsequent attempt is less scary and more fun, as you just relax and enjoy the adrenaline.
In the evening, we went for a meal at a local beachside pub, the White Horse. We hadn't booked and they initially said they could squeeze us in in the corner, but then a better table became available and we had a seafood platter to share.
Afterwards, it was nice to take our drinks outside and sitting in the fading light looking out to sea. We even had a stroll along the beach for a short distance, before realising that we weren't adequately shod, and the temperature was falling. But there is something ineffable about dinner, followed by a shoreline stroll in the fading light.
On return to the hotel, I took a few photos of the American-style diner. It's fun, and it's clever how it uses the Jersey/New Jersey connection. We had coffee and ice cream before retiring to the bar.
We passed an hour or so in the company of some other hotel residents. It was a quite pleasant exercise in 'other people are not the same as me'. We had almost nothing in common with them, but when you're on holiday, especially on a short break, it's quite pleasant to enjoy their company for what it is - pleasant friendly company.Quite a lot of talk about vegetable gardening. I can't say I'm interested, on the other hand, it's a subject that doesn't arouse opinions or reveal the bigots.
Two of the couples were regulars. One couple had been for their honeymoon twenty odd years before and came back every year for their anniversary. As I say, 'other people are not the same as me', but I couldn't keep going back to the same place year after year. (I don't mean Hove as the most convenient/nearest beach to home) but paying out money for flights and accommodation. Each to their own!
And so to bed, and looking forward to another high quality breakfast in the morning.
