Wednesday 6 September 2023

Record Numbers at the Swimming Pool

According to our mayor, who I ran into when I was leaving the pool the other day, we've had record numbers at the pool this year, topping last year's record numbers. One very hot day there were nearly 400 people over the course of the day. That was the day swimming was like completing an obstacle course and I had to keep dodging people doing unexpected things in the lanes. There are a lot of holiday swimmers around, who haven't got the hang of pool etiquette. But we are a nice well run pool, and everyone gets on fine. I'm happy to share a lane because everybody starts somewhere and I can remember being a newbie in a pool with proper grown up swimmers. 

Public swimming pool, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.

This year has been much more temperate than last year, but even so we had a week of proper heatwave, with night time temperatures not going below 20C sometimes, and day time maximums in the high 30s. No wonder everyone has been at the pool lately.

I was particularly pleased to see the Ukrainians making themselves at home. They have developed a good relationship with Filou, the deservedly popular lifeguard/pool manager and they've bought themselves some inflatables for the kids. Filou stored them and made sure other kids don't help themselves.

Spotted at the pool on several occasions.

AIS bag spotted in France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.

And now it's over for another year. The pool closed on 1 September and won't reopen until May or June 2024.

4 comments:

Le Pré de la Forge said...

Today it let me sign in....
Pools closed, just as everyone needs it.... just like a lot of Dales tea rooms in the summer that close at 5PM just as you get back from your walk!!!
People just don't get it!!

potty said...

They say you can't get the staff.

Susan said...

potty: Preuilly had one year a while ago where we thought we weren't going to get a maitre nageur, but usually it isn't a problem, with the same person returning for several years. But certainly some small rural pools struggle because they can't compete on salary with the big pools in touristy areas.

Susan said...

Tim: it is literally that the budget won't stretch to opening for longer. The entry fee is set to be affordable for all, as it is a public facility, but there is no way it covers the cost of running the pool.

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