Of all the miseries of adolescence, for me no misery was greater that that of compulsory games. I hated sports and sports staff as much as my own unhealthy, wobbling body. Swimming I loathed most of all, as said body was exposed to the merciless ridicule of others, with the added risk of drowning thrown in for good measure. I spent the next 20 years avoiding exercise in general - and swimming pools in particular. The unexpected arrival of a fit, good-looking and much younger lover (who had been a competition swimmer at school) changed everything. The 34 year old lump of blubber I had become was coaxed back into the chlorinated water. I learned to breathe underwater and soon settled into the long hypnotic rhythms of the training lane. Stamina and self-confidence increase in equal measure. The athletic lover left me, but the habit of swimming never did.
Parenthood has added a whole new dimension of aquatic experience -my baby son started lessons at the age of 3 months. His total lack of fear was astonishing. Now 8, my son swims like a dolphin, hotly pursued by his kid sister in her paddling ring.
Exposing my bandy legs and pot belly to public gaze no longer worries me these days - after all everyone else is doing the same. I love the fact that the pool is a great leveller. The capped and goggled figure cutting past with perfect racing turns is that of the woman I mistook, out in the café, for a bag lady. The LL-Cool_J lookalike parking his jeep outside will soon be puffing and blowing like a beached whale after barely a length.
Whatever - the main thing for any of us is taking the plunge. To my 34 year old self - or anyone else still lingering on the brink, all I can say is "Come on in - the water's lovely."
