Vic and I are delighted to announce that we have not one, but three new hydro (warm water) pools across Bristol and close to Weston Super Mare.

St Christophers School, Wesbury Park, Bristol, BS6 7JE

This is a lovely warm pool heated to 32 degrees (toasty), with spacious warm changing rooms maintained to the highest standard. It is conveniently located close to Clifton Downs and Westbury Park, with plenty of on street parking available.

We will be starting baby and toddler swimming classes on a Friday and a Monday lunchtime early November.

We are running a special introductory offer

**12 weeks for the price of 10**

New Hydro Pool in the Old Bristol North Baths, Gloucester Road, St Andrews, BS7 8BE

Due to be completed for January 2014. This is a state of the art hydrotherapy pool and perfect for teaching babies and toddlers. We can’t wait to start teaching in this lovely pool, which is perfectly situated on the Gloucester Road, Bishopston.

Classes are due to start early January 2014 and we will have sessions running on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Sandford Station Care Home, Sandford, North Somerset, BS25 5AA

This is an excellent hydrotherapy pool, with spacious warm changing rooms and conveniently located about 10 minutes from Weston Super Mare.

Lessons  for babies and toddlers are due to start mid October on a Thursday morning at 10.30am.

We are going to be very busy and may need to clone ourselves. On that note; we are looking for some new wonderful teachers. So if you love swimming and enjoy inspiring children to do the same – please get in contact with us.

During the long summer days, I have been reading “Waterlog – A Swimmer’s Journey through Britain” by Roger Deakin. It explores the sheer joy of outdoor swimming, from rivers, tarns and lochs to lidos, dykes and flooded quarries. Not only does Deakin celebrate ‘the magic of the water’ but he covers subjects as diverse as the health benefits of cold water immersion to Hell’s Angels’ tombstoning from a bridge in the Peak District! Deakin is fascinated by the natural world he finds on the riverbank and the swimmers (and their stories) who frequent these outdoor water spots.

It reminds me that although swimming is an essential life skill, it also opens the doors to a myriad of other spaces, cultures and experiences. It makes me want to go out and swim in the river next to my home and plan a trip to swim between the Isles of Scilly (maybe next summer?!)…….

If you are interested in outdoor swimming, take a look at the Outdoor Swimming Society website for ideas: www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/

Even if swimming outdoors (with what lies beneath!) is not your thing, this book is a wonderful journey through the watery parts of the British Isles.

Wow, it seems the end of an era.  Only a year ago we took our tentative steps into the pool with the lovely Vic & Helen.  A year on with a lot of laughter, fun and splashing the little ones have wibble wobbled on the jelly board, chased fish round the pool, swam underwater through hoops and even performed their own photo shoot.

Poor Daddy’s perception of parenthood was changed when he had to trot around in the pool with daughter sandwiched between him and a flotation  pole, both clinging on – daughter to keep afloat and Daddy to his sanity singing ‘Horsey, horsey,don’t you stop’!

Joking aside, Vic and Helen’s lessons are structured, safe and above all fun.  The reason we chose Vic and Helen was that we wanted our daughter not to be frightened of the water and with Vic and Helen, nothing is forced.  Repetition builds up the child’s confidence and it’s great that the parents don’t have to be great swimmers too – another reason for introducing our daughter so early on.

All in all, it has been a great family activity to do together at the weekend.  You couldn’t wish for a better pair of instructors as both have young families of their own. With their swimming skills and warm and friendly personalities, it makes for winning combination.

Looking forward to seeing you back in the pool in September Vic and Helen

Mummyzilla Wendy, Daddy Dan & Olivia xxx