The Arena Park Pool inland from us in Bayview, Chatsworth, is one we haven’t seen before. It is well-maintained and attractive. There were many dozens of competitors, but surprisingly few parents/spectators.
Swimming Season is with us again. How do I know? Well, for starters I have to take R (9) to her Club sessions twice a week again, and J (6) to her lessons, also twice a week. That leaves me Friday free. Guess what: more likely than not I’ll be asked to take them to the beach or the local Olympic pool on that day, if there isn’t a competition on anyway.
On Sunday R was in her first ever Level One provincial gala, and swam five events. She came 4th in the 200m medley but was then disqualified for something she did wrong with her arms in the breaststroke leg. Then she came 2nd in 50m freestyle, 3rd in the backstroke, 4th in butterfly, and 3rd in the 100m breaststroke. We have yet to find out whether she made the same mistake and earned disqualification in that. All in all, not a bad debut, though.
And, they’re off!
J’s class this year so far consists of a slightly older boy, and two other girls aged nine and ten. She held her own very well in that company, and was occasionally called upon to demonstrate some of the actions.
Both grandchildren do sport swimming at school, there will be trials for the Super 8 and Squad as well as qualifiers for house teams, and then the first-term spate of galas.
I think I’ll stop taking water in my whiskey.
That looks a pretty big pool for the young ones what is it 50 metres?
and as for putting water in whiskey. SACRILEGIOUS !! 👿
Probably need to in whisky though, wouldn’t know meself; I’m a whiskey man too.
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The standard Olympic pool of 50 metres, indeed. It is a l…o…n…g way, as I discovered when accompanying R on her training for her 800 metre certificate which she did in April 2014. It was the longest swim ever undertaken by me, before or since.
A fine but important distinction, that!
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Well done to ‘R’! I’m sure she could teach me a thing or two when it comes to swimming. I would be disqualified on all counts. 😯
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It is getting more and more technical!
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I’d be happy just to keep afloat. 😅
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Vyf items is so baie! Oupa verdien beslis ‘n stywe dop en dan spaar jy nog water ook 🙂
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Vandag het sy by die skool geswem, asook die na skool uur oefening by Seagulls Club. Sy is die een wat ‘n stywe … iets … verdien!
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Dalk ‘n sjololademelkskommel? En beslis ‘n stywe drukkie!
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Altwee het sy verdien, en gekry!
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Are you Granddad or Grandpa? Either way it comes across that you faithfully carry out your duties as a very proud grandfather.
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They have followed a custom I encouraged with the pair of now-adult grandchildren in England when I said I felt too young to be a grandfather and they called me ‘Les’. But I am still a proud grandfather indeed!
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My eldest is seventeen and like you I felt too young to be a grandparent, I disliked grandma/granny because it made me feel old, so settled on Nan instead.
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A good compromise.
‘Gramp’ was considered, but I could foresee it changing to ‘Grump’, and on occasion that would be too close to the mark!
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