to think that if you're in the swimming pool, you should bloody well SWIM.

[FreyaFridays]

Within reason, of course. The ninety-year-old and the baby in the yellow seat flotation I will graciously let off.

I live in a rural location which is very popular with tourists. We have no proper gyms or swimming pools, so locals use the hotels for gymming and swimming. I use a very popular hotel which has a highly subscribed gym and swimming pool, both excellent facilities. Partner and I go after work during peak time when all the other working folk are also at the gym and pool.

AIBU to wonder why the hell people choose to use the swimming pool during peak time to do anything except swim? What possible pleasure can you get out of floating aimlessly around the pool chatting or feeling each other up whilst us actual swimmers have to dodge round you as we're trying to do lengths? At my pool there is a small shallow pool for relaxing/children right off the main pool, two jacuzzis, a steam room and a sauna, so no real excuse for drifting around in people's way. It just seems bizarre to me that you would choose to stand in the middle of the pool staring blankly as six or seven other people come barelling up and down at speed because we've been at work all day and we're trying to get a bit of exercise in.

Why not sit in the jacuzzi/come at another time/swim the fuck on with it?

I'm with you, Freya. Regardless of the pool, there is pool etiquette. And the gist of it is don't ignorantly get in other people's way. Then everyone is happy.

I am also immensely pleased with your refusal to rise to the bait of the outraged.

When I win the lottery and have my own pool, you can come in.

Yes freya, you are slacking! What's the problem with getting in the pool at 6am? Will set you up for a great day at work and leave the floaters in peace

Bit autumn the people powering up and down the pool are getting in the way of the people who want to float! Do you really not see that.

For the record, I have been a swimmer and a floater - you gotta live and let live guys....

hahahaha This actually sounded real until the 19.57 post! Then you went just too OTT.

When I'm at the gym I swim lengths

When I'm in a hotel pool I will be playing keepy uppy with a beach-ball to entertain my kids

YABU

Ha ha, it is a real complaint, I assure you! I just can't be arsed with taking it too seriously, as I know I can never actually win. Until I have my own pool, of course, or I pop round to millionaire Autumn's pad. Cheers, btw! In the meantime, I shall snorkel, shout "POO", and generally use all of the other good advice on this thread.

Marshy, I wish 6am was an option, unfortunately, that's generally when my commute starts. However, I'm not yet beyond instructing Year 10 that to really appreciate the structure and rhythm of a poem, you have to use performance poetry in the form of synchronised swimming, therefore we'll be holding Period One classes at the hotel pool from now on.

No gym pool AnnoyingOrange. None at all.

DH is a floater, just lies on his back in the middle of the pool. In 15 years I don't think I've acyually seen him swim a stroke.

I think hotel pools aren't for real swimming. Gym pools with lanes now that's different. I love my gym pool there's a slow, medium and fast lane and a special lane for floating weirdos.

Freya, respect to you though I do think you need to chill out a bit and I hope the floaters get out of the way of your class. If I ever have to share a pool with you, I think we might clash!

Hey! Less of the weirdos ifcats!

YABU. They are hotel pools. Their guests can use their pool whenever the hell they feel like it. If anything you shouldn't really be there!

I'm with you Freya. I use similar set up but it's quieter and I just front crawl at speed which tends to scatter them. There is a separate pool where they could stand around and chit chat. The big pool is very obviously for serious swimming.

Even though I agree with you open you'd still hate me. I'm fat and even when I'm giving it my all I still look like a walrus trying to escape from a vat of jelly.

If I shouldn't be there Dottie, the hotel wouldn't offer six different combinations of pool and gym membership to locals, and advertise such in the local media!

I don't think I would hate you YourMa, you're still a Mover, doesn't matter the speed.

ffs freya of course you should be there, but sadly for you, so should they. You are a good swimmer - swim round them or get the management to put a lane system in place. The 'scatter them' approach - not really worthy of a response in all honesty....

I do swim round them (swimming into them would just be weird), but the fact is there are so MANY good swimmers at peak time, that we struggle for the space without cutting each other up. Really, the lazy buggers should just go away until the acceptable hotel guest pool hours.

Gosh, where do you live, Freya, that doesn't have council-run pools?

In an area which is perversely both filled with second homes enjoyed by the very rich, and yet remains one of the most socially-deprived areas of the country, with very little government money put into it. Growing up and living here fills me with some quite socialist feelings at times. I use the school washing machine to take care of far too many of my pupils' clothes for them, and make sure I always have cereal bars and fruit on hand to ensure my tutor group have had something to eat in the morning. And the price of a 1-bed flat is over £100,000 because townie twits keep prices up with their poncy second homes. Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm.

it's a pool in a hotel (so aimed at tourists, not residents) which doesn't offer lane swimming. Sorry, but I think the onus is on your to suck it up. Paying guests of the hotel can use the pool how and when they like.

growingold you are very funny

freya you need to start buying a lottery ticket as I can see no other option except building your own pool! I feel your pain but honestly they have as much right to be there as you do and ploughing into them is just twattish not saying you do this, but some undoubtedly do

No lottery tickets, but I'm bound to get picked up for that bestseller any day now (ANY. DAY. NOW.), so I'll grudgingly hang on 'til then.

No, I'm never in it to win it either.

Good luck to you, try not to be too grudging, it plays havoc with your wellbeing and your stroke!