Sing Whilst You're Swimming

[rhythmaning]

My local swimming baths, Glenogle – named after one of my favourite highland glens, the narrow pass between Loch Earn and Glen Dochart - is closing down for a refurbishment.

There are rumours that it is closing down, period; but the public body that runs the pools is adamant that after eighteen months of work, they will re-open.

I hope so: it is only a short walk from my flat (though God knows where I might be in eighteen months’ time!), and for the last three months I have been trying to go there three times a week. (Being out of town a lot in the last four weeks has made that a little difficult, of course!)

Today was my last visit to the pool, at least until 2010.

It is a fine Victorian building: light, airy, and rather unbusy. (Hence my suspicion it might not re-open…)

Photo from Lesley Hind’s blog

There are several old men – older than me, at least – who always seem to be there, including one called Jimmy, who often sings whilst he is in the pool; indeed, he sings out of the pool, too; perhaps he sings all the time.

Today, as he swam, he was singing…

We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when,
But I know we'll meet again, some sunny day.
Keep smiling through, just like you always do,
'Til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away.

So will you please say hello to the folks that I know,
Tell them I won't be long.
They'll be happy to know that as you saw me go,
I was singing this song.

It seemed kind of appropriate, and made me smile, and made me sad, as I ploughed up and down in the water.

Comments

[frumiousb.livejournal.com]

I get genuinely teary eyed when I hear that song on my Vera Lynn cd. It's such a wonderful bit.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

Well, I have been feeling particularly sentimental recently, but yes, it does that to me too!