General Chat

I swim like a brick!

We did have lessons when I was at school, aged about 8 and never been to a swimming pool before, it was the open air one and we were supposed to hold hands in a circle and let the alternate person lie on their back and kick their legs, the people next to me thought it would be funny to let me go. Never tried again till I was older and still didn't get any help so didn't learn or get the confidence. I felt worse as I was very shortsighted and wore specs from the age of 11, the teacher made me remove my specs and I was so nervous I couldn't do anything but hang on to the side!
When I was in my twenties a boyfriend used to take me to Cambridge baths - we lived near there at the time - and he would try to teach me but I hated all the little kids splashing past me and we gave up after a few weeks.
I made sure I got my son lessons in a school pool from the age of 4 and once he was confident in his water wings, I was able to leave him bobbing about at the end of the lesson and have a go myself with a float held on to tightly. I managed to get across the pool then but that was as far as it went and my son progressed to lessons without Mum in the water with him, so I didn't have the chance again.
My son is a good swimmer now as he had lots of lessons and used to go with friends as he got older. I always felt chuffed I had given him the chance to do it and wish my parents had been as sensible.
I know my parents never took us to a pool and only paddled in the sea with us, neither of them ever owned bathing costumes to come in the water with us on holiday.
I would love to go to a private warm pool and learn with my son or someone who I could trust, but haven't got the money or the energy now.

I think it is highly likely that at least one of my two brothers is a non swimmer as well, maybe both of them never learned.
Lizx

Sigh!........Why?

I cant - not taken to learn by the School, as it was wartime, and can you imagine getting all the kids in the baths, and an air raid warning going.
I have tried and tried, had lesson upon lesson, and still cant swim.

Nor could my Dad, as 'You caught things in the baths' was his mother's idea, when he was young.

Teddys Girl .In the war we swam in the River or Canal or evan the boating lake . When i was 18 I went in the Royal Navy .We had to pass a Swimming tedt .Alenght and half and float for 3 min .allin a duck suit ,I passed ,i was chuffed .till the first time i went to sea and saw how big it was . Robert

I can now,, at the age of three i fell into the river severn..in hospital four months ..

want to learn bad ..bro and myself went to baths.. then he jump in and i went under lol never tried for a long time after that.. then my OH taught me in reservoir..sp..loved it .taught my grandchildren from early age in the sea.. my children where taught at school.. love the happy days with them in the sea ..can only swim a few yards now .. so dont get in only for paddle lol..

all children should learn to swim ..

Keith, regrettably, I can`t swim at all...but you should see me paddle !!
I could enter the Olympics if there was a catagory for paddling !!
& if anyone happened to be in Florida, on Fort Lauderdale Beach last year , where all the Beautiful People almost wore swimming costumes, that was me with my jeans rolled up ,paddling for ENGLAND ! (my OH said all I needed was a knotted hanky on my head !)

Tina x

Hi Tenerife Sun, thats exactly why I can`t swim, I was pushed in our local river , by the waterfall, when I was 6.when I get into deeper water I can still hear that water coming down onto my head & then I can`t get my brearh & have to get out quick. I`ve had various lessons over the years as I would love to swim, but cannot put my head under water. I made sure all my children could swim well though..... as I told them, they may need to rescue me one day !!
Tina x

pmsl Tina x