Can You Swim?

[naomi24]

So many people seem unable to and I never understand why. Is it just a matter of confidence?

[Tilly2]

Yes, I can but don't make a special effort to do so. Mr T doesn't swim and won't even let go of the side in a plunge pool. It's definite a confidence thing.

[Tilly2]

Definitely

[Ellipsis]

I think, for the most part, it's because people haven't been taught ... at all, or at least well enough.

[seekeerz]

Well I could a long time ago but now I just float and bob around :)

[pastafreak]

I can't...and I have both confidence issues and a fear of water.
As a teen, my local high school was a brand new building that had its own pool...not common then.
The few of us who couldn't swim were stuck at one end...I don't recall actual lessons. It was difficult to see much as it was poorly lit, and I couldn't have my glasses on...so a rather uncomfortable situation for me. I think I eventually skipped those lessons.

[ducksie]

I love swimming, and can never remember a time when I couldn't, I swim daily. I do understand many people won't swim or cannot, I feel it is because of family life, if parents don't swim, they tend not take their children swimming and a kind of fear of the water forms in the next generation. When I'm at the coast I love to swim in the sea but settle for the pool here. A lot of people have problems with putting their head in the water (not me as my avatar shows ;) ) and it stops them from learning to swim. A friend of mine goes out foreign regularly, puts pics of herself by the pool with a cocktail but for the life of her, if she fell into the pool she'd drown as she cannot and never did learn to swim - such a shame as I feel it is a great way to start the day or just spend a few hours a day. So many water activities if a person could attend a swimming class and learn

[Tilly2]

We went to swimming lessons at school. The local baths was right next to the school.

[ducksie]

tha twas lucky for you Tilly, where I go, bus loads of children come at all hours of the day from schools to learn, it's great to see, I am usually home by then and see the buses heading up to the local swimming pool. if I don't want to be cordoned off by the classes, I need to be out of the pool by 8.30am or go in the evening after 4p.m

[roadman]

its ironic the first thing we do as sperm is swim and then once fully developed into amazing beings we lose the ability yes i think its confidence and panic mixed with lack of information on how to float

[Tilly2]

Yes, we were lucky with the baths but was had to travel by bus to the sports fields.

[pastafreak]

Even though I had my fears, I made sure my daughter learned. She had weekly lessons from a young age.
My mum was extremely over protective...I didn't learn many normal fun things including swimming, riding a bike, or roller skating...which many kids did then.

[Tilly2]

Sorry to keep making mistakes. I'm using my phone.

[ducksie]

good on you Pasta making sure your daughter learned to swim, I have to say, I cannot skate. Where I am Tilly, we're very lucky to have all those kind of amenities in walking distance

[Ellipsis]

I use my phone a lot more now, Tilly, and have so many more mistakes (and wrong autocorrections) that I just can't bother apologising any more - I'd have more sorries than actual posts. I think a lot of us are in the same boat ...

[Tilly2]

Fat fingers don't help either.

[ducksie]

I give up apologising too, those reading the message understand the point you are making, it's the spelling police that just but't in :)

[237SJ]

I love being in the water but I can't go to local swimming pools anymore as I`ve been spoilt by having to many hotel swimming pools to myself. Pools are great - it's just other people! Love the sea though.

[ducksie]

Nothing beats the sea 237 - the freedom and the good feeling for body and mind is brilliant, something hard to explain but I do love sea swimming. A lot of people here swim in the river, I wouldn't, I don't think the water is too clean

[ABSpareEditor]

I am quite adept at swimming, I must say. I acquired this invaluable skill during my formative years, and it has indeed served me in an extraordinarily advantageous manner. Possessing this proficiency instils a sense of self-assurance when in the vicinity of aquatic environments, be it a sophisticated lido or whilst embarking on a nautical escapade.

[david small]

Used to swim 40 lengths twice a week, all strokes inc butterfly.
Unfortunately local pool stopped adult only sessions.