Just starting our autumn break in the Lake District, what

a journey Motorway extremely busy, but at last we have arrived.

It takes a while to unload the car, give the wetsuits a good shaking

A quick cup of tea and a sandwich and we are ready to struggle into

the wetsuits, when you think about it some folks are getting ready

to dive into a warm sea or a luxurious pool we have a chuckle about this

We surged in and started around the headland with a jolting breaststroke

grunting and gasping are all part of the process, it’s quite an unsettle swim

As we get used to the cold, the water is rough with squalls moving first this way and that, you feel you are not really getting anywhere

Past driftwood tree which looked smooth and silvery in the water.

We reached an open space which looked very black until I put my

face in it, pebbles shiny white underneath, you look up above as the moon settles on the high peaks on the horizon.  Later we climbed on to the banks

then back to the car, feeling pretty cold, so now off we go the Pub

to eat beer battered cod and chips, this is the life

My friend had a fall a year ago and finished up having to use a wheelchair, she feels fine just got Gammy legs, so she decided to join a disabled swimming club it really turned her life around, even bought herself a new swimming costume. 

They have separate Ladies and Gents changing areas and plenty room for wheelchairs, detachable chairs on the hoist for easy transfer between the pool side, showers or changing areas. The pool side hoist with removable shower chairs helps you in and out of the water, and the water temperature of 31°C.  A special team of volunteer teachers are there to give you the confidence that you need when you are attempting it for the first time, they are there all the time to keep you safe, they give you as much independence as possible so that you enjoy and benefit from your swimming.

They hold various social and fundraising events throughout the year, so I decided to go and support them it was such fun for them “Fish & Chips” it is a relay race a strong swimmer starts the race and recovers a sinking fish and places it on the side of the pool then the team swim with plastics cubes (supposed to be chips) across the pool, the first team to get Fish & Chips all on the other side wins the game.

Guess what her team won!      

When I was a child my brother took me to the swimming baths, saying that it was about time I learnt how to swim, I really will never forget it as he pushed me in and down I went, although it was quite a few years ago, it did put me off swimming a bit.

My three year old daughter has a friend at her nursery school who has decided to have her birthday party at the local swimming baths I thought to myself what a good idea to encourage children to enjoy the water.

I really think making learning should be fun, so why not take along some sinkable toys into the game, start by dropping them in the water and getting your child to retrieve them, this helps them to get used to being totally submerged and opening their eyes at the same time

If you have a hoop try getting your child to move through it by kicking their legs and moving their arms if they can.  Often when young children first learn how to swim they are not very good at swimming in a straight line, using a hoop encourages them to swim in a comfortable but confined area, 

Going out in a boat to the Farne Islands is quite an experience, the sea is quite rough so if you pluck up the courage to go diving it is better to stay still, this way the Seals will feel safer near to you and come closer and play.

My Grandfather has been a fisherman for many years off the Northumberland and Scottish Coasts, and often curses the Grey Seals as there is a good deal of evidence that the Grey Seals have been doing quite a lot of damage to the nets. The matter has been raised many times in the House of Commons, let’s face it they have to talk about something, while the Seals like there bit of Salmon they also prey on other sea life that may in turn prey on our lobsters.

In my opinion there seems to be a lack of knowledge so far on the feeding habits of the Grey Seal, infact how do they know what type of Seal is doing the damage?

We all know that there has been an increase in the birth rate of Grey Seals that has happened at the same time as the Salmon fishing up in Scotland and other rivers has been a tremendous success

In my opinion children and adults unable to swim should be attended closely by an adult or lifeguard when in the water. Goggles keep the water out of your eyes your swimsuit should be well fitted but comfortable, a pool is for splashing around or for swimming laps, really relax and enjoy

Did you know you can swim all year round at Northwich Pool, very popular with a number of swimming clubs, Swimming classes are held morning and evening at 6 pools in the area which is beneficial for children and adults. In 1999 3.000 children had lessons. .

Swimming can really help you to lose weight it is not always the best way as the water does keep you cool, you can use a lot of calories swimming, but you don’t heat up as much as you do on land. You exercise you whole body which keeps you fit and healthy certainly helped me

Gates are around swimming pool, to keep kids safe away from the water although there is nearly always someone there to watch them. Have you seen those big numbers painted on the side of the pool? They are depth markers. You should always dive off the diving board, never off the side of the pool unless an adult says the water is deep enough

It is time for the Government to say that leisure facilities cannot just be demolished or closed down unless a clearly identified replacement is already available and that should hold true for the Swimming Pools of the future. Did you know The Great Britain Diving Federation claimed that public diving facilities have plummeted from 296 to 66 since 1987 a 78 per cent decrease?

went for a swim to the local swimming baths, very clean well looked after

a lot of pensioners in that day they seem to be enjoying themselves it must help to keep them fit. very healthy 

it is a form of swimming but your head is way down under the water you have to hold your breath an awful long time, no I’m only kidding ,you do have the aparatus to help, the wonderful sights you see, like sharks and whales, it is a strange world down there, infact no one really knows what is down there do they

I live near to the Farne Islands in Northumberland the sea is always rough large waves the seals jump in and out of the sea they swim and hunt all day  I go out in my boat and they swim along beside me

Swimming is very important, I remember when I was a child my first swimming lesson down I went under the water oh I was so scared, but I managed to waggle my arms and my legs and up I came, I slowly gained confidence and I have never looked back it is great 

The most lovable fish in the world, I swam with them in Florida wonderful experience, so gentle, some people think they are stuck in a pool all day but they have the freedom to come and go as they please, they come back to the pool because they love humans