Jubilee Park Pool - Opens 15th May

I know .... it's still almost 3 months away - but hey here's the start date of the tropically warm Jubilee Pool at Woodhall Spa. Good luck to the parish council who have taken over the running of the pool from East Lindsey. Let's hope we have a fab swimming season in 2011.

http://www.jubileeparkwoodhallspa.co.uk/pdf/Jubilee%20Park%20Pool%20Opening%20Times%202011.pdf

Hurrah for the Environment Agency!

The plan for a 'super dairy' at Nocton has been withdrawn. The Environment Agency stated their concerns that groundwater (from which drinking water is taken) would become contaminated. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-12485392

Nocton is up-river of our swimming spot on the River Witham and we'd been concerned about the potential for water pollution affecting the quality of the river. This is good news for us and good news for those cows too. Thank you the EA. Let's hope we can now look forward to swimming in the clear green water of the Witham again this summer.

Is It Still There?

I'd love to know if Butlins still has their outdoor pool at Skeggy.... or has it been incorporated into their overheated, indoor 'fantasy island'?

Another to add to Sandra's list for this year?

And it seems that Mablethorpe used to have an outdoor swimming area known as The Basin (or is that Baaasin?!)

When can we get started?

So many lovely ideas for 2011, starting to get anxious about fitting them in around those pesky real life commitments like work, money, bla!

So far my wish list looks like this .... (in no particular order other than how they occurred to me)...

• swim Little Ouse in Thetford Forest


• Snowdon climb + lakes descent + perfect Pen y Gwryd


• Northumbria beach trip


• Lido's opening celebrations x 2 - The Fens (Peterborough, Cambridge, Bourne) and The Peaks (Ilkley, Hathersage, Derwent side splash?)


• London lidos reprise from 2010 perfect day


• Anything in Scotland....


• Holkham Beach for long walk and picnic and swim before masses arrive for summer


• Cambridge duo - Jesus Green and lovely Newnham if we can find a friendly member again


• Stonehaven heated saltwater lido Aberdeenshire


• Turkish Spa in Harrogate


• River Bure in Norfolk


• PLUS all the "regulars" - lovely local lake, Gib Point seaside, Bourne pool, naughty River Witham ....

AAAAGHH! Why can't Spring come a little earlier and Autumn stay a little longer?

How many will I fit into 2011? Go on, issue me a challenge - you know I can't resist it!!!

Plotting & Planning

Well, we've made it through the wilderness (as Madonna would no doubt say) and can now look the start of Spring square in they eye.

Plans and daydreams for the longer lighter days are coming thick and fast - even have a special wall map to plot all those lovely watery spots!



It's been three weeks since my last little dip in the bracing North Sea and it's fair to say I can feel the call of the cool water again. I drive past my special local lake every morning on the five mile detour I take to extend my commute and enjoy a little uplifting music in my ears before the trials of the day in the Castle. I can only catch glimpses of the water through the trees but I can hear the siren call loud and clear.



Maybe this weekend?