History 2.

Old pictures.

I'm looking through old photo's, the top one is me. We're at a swimming pool some where in Malaya, and I think it's a bit deceptive. I don't remember how old I am but I remember the day. It sounds strange, but I think I'm about 8, it's the best I can do.

What I do remember about the day (this is dodgy) is it was the day I learnt to swim. Up to this point I had not had a lot to do with swimming pools. Most of the action is behind the camera, there's 3 swimming pools, a deep one, a middle depth one and a baby one.

I had gone playing in the baby one, just floating and supporting myself on the floor with my hands. I found I could float, so I went into the next size up. This was about 2' 6'' deep (90cm), I played around and found I could skim over the water without sinking.

I ran over to my parents and told them. Not a lot of interest there so I shuffled off and did a bit more skimming.
Getting late in the day I managed to talk myself into the big pool. I managed to get half way across before I put my foot down. I tried again, almost three quarters across. Eventually getting all the way across. I ran off and told my parents again, this time they came and watched.

It's not impressive, but what you have to remember, I came from a part of England that swimming was not the done thing. It was part of the curriculum only in the latter stages of education. From about 13 onwards (we left school at 15).

The bottom picture.
I think I'm about 4 and a half.   
Ice cream was very rare, so that's why I'm ignoring the giraffe. I'm in ecstasy with my ice cream. My sister is standing as far away as possible so I don't get hers.

I think it's Chester Zoo, you have to remember it's only a few years after the second world war. Rationing had just finished, it was a hard time. I was always in very smart cloths, my mother was passionate about this.

Editing.

I never edit, sorry, if I read the stuff I write I would never post.

Good night.   I'll tell you about moving house soon.