I suppose I shouldn’t have been annoyed, but…

MammaTJ

I think it's easy to forget the time when we were bringing up children ourselves.

They have a right to exist in spaces we enjoy too.

It's sad that it spoiled your usual swim but at least they're not sat in front of screens for the whole summer.

…exactly, well said !
We were all children once 🤷‍♀️

I understand the annoyance, but think it is so important for kids to learn to swim and gain confidence. It's also a relatively cheaper option for families struggling to keep their kids occupied in the summer hols.

I agree with those who say they’re glad to see families enjoying themselves and children learning a vital skill. Swimming was about the only exercise I ever enjoyed but have only swam during a holiday to the Med earlier this year, the first time in 2 years. The main reason I don’t go to a pool is that my sight is poor these days so I wear varifocals, once I take them off I feel disoriented and can’t see the numbers on the locker doors - which is where of course my glasses are left. My sunbed is much larger and I have no trouble finding that 😆, anyone else have this issue?

ferry23

I always think gearing everything around children in the school holidays is a bit like all my favourite programmes disappearing when there's football on.

I think I'd have taken their things and chucked them in the pool.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Love it and I feel the same!

Ferry23 "....In the pool..."That is a tempting thought...but in practice...we wouldn't really do it, would we?..Seriously though, swimming pool length swims have become squeezed off the timetable. We stopped going due to so many "obstacles" such as private parties or closures dud to clubs etc etc, meaning no public swims when we were free. A pity.

Having worked in the leisure business for 30+ years ( thankfully no more) no matter what the pool programme is someone will moan about it. Unfortunately large pools cost lots of money to run so they tend to be in short supply. Everyone needs to SHARE, no group is more entitled than any other to a scarce resource.

I use our local gym and pool. It’s fantastic. Always a locker. Always a cubicle. Sometimes it’s closed for a couple of hours for schools. Sometimes couple of lanes for adult lessons. But that is a great community service.

We need to teach our children to swim and be confident and enjoy the water. And yes sometimes we go have to share a bit of pool. But I have no problem with any of this.

GoldenAge, I’m afraid to say that getting up before around 8 happens only if we have an early flight, and until at least 10 am my time is strictly devoted to reading the paper, imbibing a few coffees and doing the word puzzles. 🙂

I think sometimes we can forget our privilege as older people who have managed to divest ourselves of adult children and grandchildren, and who have the spare time and cash to be members of gyms, leisure clubs etc. Some mums don't get chance to have a 'usual 20 lengths' once in a blue moon and if they turn up at school holiday time with ebullient children so what? It's hardly a penance. My tip is to do the required 20 lengths at 7.30 am for a few weeks in the holidays and let the younger generations share our space amicably.

Greciangirl

My exercise and dance class has packed up four five weeks because teacher has young children.

Shocking that these teachers take time off in the holidays. Maybe the grandparents aren’t stepping up to help out.
And my Aquafit class has paused just because the teacher is expecting a baby soon.

And it’s not just swimming pools that are dominated by school children.
My exercise and dance class has packed up four five weeks because teacher has young children.

Also, senior screen at my local cinema.
Packed up because of school holidays.

It seems us older people are in the minority and not catered for at all because of School Holidays! .

eddiecat78

In view of the number of drownings there have been this summer shouldn't we be encouraging families to learn to swim during the holidays?. Not all schools have swimming lessons now

I don't think that would make a difference - they say the main problem is the sudden coldness of open water - probably doesn't matter if you. can swim or not.
Same with the seaside how many people have died both in UK and on holiday because of currents etc. not just not being able to swim. Also those that are daft enough to stand close to where waves are breaking - sadly some get washed away and then others die trying to save them.
I hated learning to swim at school - diving for bricks!! - yes I'm going to need that in later life. As a result I don't like swimming - well done to all of you that seem to enjoy it - and I wouldn't go into the sea because I wouldn't feel confident enough. Snorkelling on the barrier reef was hard enough - I told the lifeguards if I wave come and get me quick. Apart from that I'll stay on dry land thanks.

I'm just lost in admiration of you 🏊‍♂️ 🏊‍♀️ swimmers.
Definitely not my thing, though I do like going to my friend who has a lovely pool in her garden. We just flop around and chat.
I do cycle nearly every day, but it hardly counts because it only takes about 10 minutes by bike to get to the town centre.
Picking up the thread, what annoys me is people walking in the road. I have been known to ring my bell and remark, "Oh perhaps I should be cycling on the pavement."

only 3 more weeks...

I don’t like chlorinated indoor pools - hot/noisy/smelly. Fortunately we have a couple of lidos nearby and a swimming lake where you swim with ducks etc and its adults only. The water is cold but its refreshing in this weather. There are lifeguards and you do have to book and wear a tow float.

In term time there is so little space for anyone else, schools in the day and swimming club early to mid evening, so only early swim (early not my thing) or after 8pm. But lucky, although expensive we have a lido al through summer

SiobhanSharpe

But that could be any day and every day!
Our pool is closed is there is any, er, debris found in it.
The routine is removal and disinfection. (I.e. large amounts of chlorine dumped in)

Yes
More commonly known as a brown alert at our gym.
It worries me that there is extra chlorine in the “learner pool” which bleaches my swimsuit fairly rapidly and yet I see classes for very young babies/children in there.
The extra disinfectant is probably because it’s mostly used by children, but is it good for their skin?

RSALLAN2002

Don't use pool when children have been. Don't know what they've left in the water.

I don't really understand this. Unless you are going to a strictly adult-only facility, then surely a child/children could have been in the pool at any time beforehand?

The pool I use seems to manage their sessions really well, about a third of the pool is for ‘casual’ use and then there are lanes for swimming only, divided into slow/ medium slow/ medium fast & fast. Some people obviously think they are faster than they actually are but it’s never a serious problem. We only have 4 cubicles and don’t (so far) have a problem with people leaving their belongings in them. What annoys me is that there are big shoe racks outside the changing rooms and big notices asking us to remove outdoor shoes before entering- but- you know what I’m going to say… some people just don’t, particularly mothers with children attending lessons. I’ve spoken to a few but it doesn’t get me anywhere.

Oh, yes lots of this resonates with me too.
I called in as a visitor to a different David Lloyd club to break up a long journey.

Having checked on line first - “indoor pool for children and families / outdoor pool adult only” It was nothing like as advertised.

At my home club they have infuriatingly started the annual summer offer - non-members can purchase a cheap 2 week trial - so I’m doing a head-under dynamic hard timed racing lane swim - and the “guests” get in alongside me to do jogging or walking exercises - when the unlaned section is likely empty.

The only time my vehicles have ever been damaged anywhere are at DL and purely when they have the offer running - 3 lots of vehicle damage so far.

Having said all that, I did have a man openly just staring me up and down for 3 minutes whilst I was using a poolside shower - so I gestured with my arm and asked if he wanted to come in and shower with me. Very chuffed at the look of alarm on his face and the speed that he scuttled off.

At my pool most of the adult only swims have changed to family swims. The 6.30am session hasnt but often miss that one and also the 7.30pm but that gets booked out. I have opted to do a couple of extra aquacise sessions which I really enjoy. Its only for another couple of weeks then it will go back to normal.
I don’t mind.

Good to see I am not the only one! but then I don`t go swimming,, it is just that school holidays, us older people just need to retire! I am joking of course, but good to hear the grumbles..

So much of this thread resonates!! I get it re children - lifesaver when they were young and wouldn't change it tbh. We soon get our slots back. However - the cubicles thing!! How - just HOW - can anyone go off, comfortable to know that while you're gone no-one else can have the privacy you just enjoyed? These are the people who park their towels on a sunbed and go off to have breakfast or a wander - quite okay with knowing other people can't enjoy the shade while you're gone for two hours. You could get staff to do it but you're in your cossie all wet etc. I wouldn't chuck stuff in the pool (I think that was hyperbole for comic effect). I'd love to put it in a locker but I'd worry myself sick that they'd come back mid-move and maybe even accuse me of breaking/nicking something. I used to strip off at the drop of a hat (even known to hide behind a pillar in a store to try something on) but now I like a bit of bloody privacy to do my necessary bits like moisturising etc. Lots of women strip off and I admire them for it and never judge but give me a cubicle please and don't be so bloody selfish FFS. Phew! Sorry but that rant felt goooood...

I don't really think I can complain about the inflatable sessions, over the years I've taken both children and grandchildren to them. Of course these sessions need to be shown on a timetable so adults wishing to lane swim, which is me these days, can swerve them. Where I go now, is a public school that have long since opened their sporting facilities to the general public. The pool is 25 metres, which is larger than the average club pool. We have a timetable that factors in the school swimming sessions during term time, they have their own changing rooms, so they're completely separate. I couldn't believe how much cheaper this place is compared to what I used to pay at David Lloyds where I used to live and before they opened, I was at what is now a Nuffield, but they used to be a chain called Cannons.

Shouldn’t get irritated by posts like these, or about children swimming. Glad they are taken. In the great scheme of things? All that women endure?