LONDON FIELDS LIDO   October 21st

We sat on the overground train from Hackey to Richmond with lots of school kids and others going about their business in this odd route that winds around London.  

Stations that I had never heard of before. And then got off in a park.We heard the shrieks of kids after only a few steps and followed the increasing sound as we entered the newly refurbished outdoor swimming pool, saved from demolition in 1980 and given a new life again for only a few million quid.

Big doors silently swung open and entered what seemed more like some London corporate headquaters. 

Two comfy chairs were arranged on a nice carpet to greet us and the lady got up to welcome us in. I felt that we were in for a long registration process. 

Want to swim here? Then lets get started! Name, Age, E-mail, bank details. Secret Password? We didn't sit down both waiting for the new discrimination: "Show me your vaccination history and passport please now!" 

But after only a few minutes of tinkering with the infathmable booking system we were sent inside for only £7 each. Even the receptionist seemed releived it had all worked this time.

It was sunny but the trees still green and shady so we sat wedged in the corner and felt irradiated by two old red brick walls still just in the sun. In the pool were 20 kids playing with a ball and all having a glorious time of it. No lane bullies here. It's 50 m long and 25C too!

We watched the super sleek guys surge up and down and the last class leaving and the next one shivering waiting to get in for their  time.  A group of business friends got changed near us in the sun..not bothering with the old changing cubicles nearby, or the first class new unisex changing areas inside the central heated new bit. Swum around a bit then out to try the hottest showers ever under the autumn shade of London plane trees.

We bought a hot bean soup and bread and sat and watched people scooter past, or turn up on cool bikes, or be pushed in by pushchairs coming from the nearby school. The man was blowing the fallen leaves from 100 mature trees in the park, and he laughed as I pointed to one he had missed. 

It was good to have a swim in late October and only for the price of a pint. One that loosened my tongue at the Scandinavian speaking evening-meet-up  over in Paddington later. Open all year. I will go again. Its fun and left me feeling better about almost everything.