Swimming pools

[sobrique]

It's a swimming pool.
Not a 'sauntering pool'
Not a 'bimble up and down whilst you chat to your friend' pool.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not what you'd call a good swimmer. I'm not all that fast. I'm getting better than I was, but I fully accept that part of the reason I go swimming is because I'm _not_ in as good a shape as I'd like. So I can hardly complain about anyone else doing the same.

However there are few things more annoying than a couple of women (It's true, in the last two years of swimming 3-4 times per week, I've never seen men do this) swimming side by side up and down the pool whilst yakking. It's invariable 2 (or even 3) people moving at the same speed as the slowest. And slower still because they keep turning around to chunter at each other.

I don't have a problem with you talking to your friends at the swimming pool. I don't have a problem with you swimming slowly. However when you're effectively being a 'rolling roadblock' to EVERYONE ELSE then you're just being rude.

(Oh btw, I found a new icon. Innit great?)

Comments

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Clearly it's utterly unreasonable that one would be wanting to swim in a swimming pool. What WAS I thinking!

[mister-jack.livejournal.com]

There's nothing unreasonable about wanting to go up and down doing lengths. I didn't say there was. There is something unreasonable about deciding that those people who don't go to grind out lengths are using the pool wrong and should get out of your damn way.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

I'm not saying that at all. What I'm saying is that the people who proceed to form a line across the middle pool such that NO ONE can swim down it are offending me.

[mister-jack.livejournal.com]

Because three women are the same width as a swimming pool.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

It is quite easy for 5 people swimming abreast to 'cover' an entire 10m wide swimming pool. People swim in both directions.

[myki.livejournal.com]

I understand your pain Ed. I really do. As it is a public swimming pool you've got to respect that some people are not there to swim up and down. However, they've got to respect that youare there too and they can stand around and laugh like drains somewhere that isn't in the way of those who want to swim. It's not like they can't predict where you're going to swim.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Clearly the solution is for somebody to come along with a lane rope and divide the pool into one half for the length-pluggers and one half for the people who want to do other things.

[myki.livejournal.com]

Either that or we give the lifeguards beanbag shotguns. As a former swimming pool lifeguard I know which I'd prefer.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Then you'd have to employ somebody to dive down to the bottom of the pool at the end of the day and retrieve all the beanbags.

Actually that sounds quite a lot of fun...

[myki.livejournal.com]

You wouldn't have to employ anybody. Just add it to the things you need to do if you want your bronze swimming certificate. I for one am ready if ever I need to save a rubber brick from drowning in crystal clear waters whilst wearing my pyjamas.