November brings strange times. Early morning swimming consists of a choice between "Clash Of The ASBO Pensioners" or freezing my balls off in the Lido. 'kind of a Devil v Deep Blue Sea scenario, really.
Swimming in the Tooting Leisure Centre is virtually free for the over 65s. Sadly, in the large apple barrel of fine folks that this altruistic concept attracts, there is a fair share of rotters.
Exactly what kind of selfish eejit insists on doing backstroke down a swim lane designed to fit two people? Exactly how many times do you have to crash into someone before they think: "Mmm, something's wrong here..." Is it ageist to ask whether someone is insane?
Meanwhile, Tooting Bec Lido is fantastic, if fantastically freezing cold. The sense of freedom there is always immense. Sometimes I even manage to get the whole pool to myself. Just me, a 90 metre pool and a swift cuppa at the end of proceedings.
All would be glorious if it wasn't such a shock getting into the sub-7 degrees of Celsius water. 'Scolding' my feet in the water, two or three times before getting in, seems to limit the pain. Only, never really quite enough.
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