Swimming in Mirandabad

After a reasonably quiet Firday night, I get a phone call early in the morning. I had promised to take Obi Wan and his friend swimming, so it's a quick bowl of porridge and hit of espresso and then a 45 minute bike ride to Diemen.



It's about 9.30 when I leave, so there is still that morning chill in the air which smells so fresh. A cycle is such a great way to wake up in the morning. It's not particlarly difficult, but it's continuous enough that it gets the heart pumping.

As I get to the last leg, his mum phones me to tell me that Diemen swimming pool is only open for lessons. I am going to stop off for coffee before heading nearly back into the centre to Mirandabad, another swimming pool.

We have coffee and play Lego Star wars, until it's time to head off on the bikes.



FInally a star wars game which is mindless enough, that you don't feel liek a geek when you are playing it, but still has the fun and adventure. It could be on my Christmas list.

We are cycling along the canal's which lead from Diemen to Amsterdam. I think this is the Watergraafsmeer, but I'm never sure. It's pretty picturesque, if a little industrial, and cycling along with two kids, makes me glad I got the phone call, cos otherwise, I wouldn't be out my bed yet, and I wouldn't have stared the day by cycling for 90 minutes before going for a swim.





We get to the swimming pool and are quickly in the water. I head off to the big pool for a quick 20 lengths. It's been a while, I'm tired out pretty quickly. The Bride and the kids have headed to the fun pool which has wave machines, slides, rope bridges and flumes, It's a great place for kids of all ages, and reminds you what it was like when you were that age. We muck around for a while, and then head for the flume.

I'm pretty disappointed. It's far less exciting that it was when I was 7 or whatever.

After a while, I say I'm heading for the big pool for some more swimming. They are always curious of mystery and think they are missing something. I tell them that it's for swimming only, and that they might not be allowed in. I am promptly reminded that they have Zwem Diploma C. This appears to qualify them for swimming upwards on the Niagra Falls.

The life guard gives us a bit of a strange look when these two kids come marching excitedly down the stairs to what is just a 25 metre pool with people doing lengths in. The kids are straight in the deep end and swimming no problem down to the other end. They don't put their heads in the water, but generally, I'm pretty impressed by their performance. We do probably 10-15 lengths, and then head back to the fun pool.

Now I'm completely knackered. It's approaching 4pm and I've been exercising since about 9.30. I'm worried that my body might go into shock.

Luckily the pool is closing, so I don't need to tell the kids that I can't keep up with them. We have a quick jacuzzi and then head into the changing rooms - Saturday's adventure over.

Once out of the swimming pool, it's a quick can of Cola Light and a phone call to find out what the evening plans are. I leave the kids with The Bride and head back to home for a quick change of clothes.

I meet up with The Kiwi and Dagenham Dave on Dam Square. They have been out on the razz the previous evening, so just want some food and a quiet night. We have chinese, and then head for a few in the Gollem before calling it a night.