I can understand why the nouveau riche, when they buy up eighteenth century rectories, desecrate them by putting in swimming pools. Today was a swimming day, and I went to the pool at 4:30 to find one other swimmer in it. I drove him out, and had the pool to myself, so could indulge in backstroke with no fear of collision. Swimming is a solitary activity, and  the fewer other people in the pool, the better. In truth I would prefer, like Roger Deakin, to have my own moat to swim in, with only ducks and water-voles for company.

I followed the endurance workout again, but it is beginning to baffle me. Today it suggested only 175m of swimming. If that’s endurance, I’m a Dutchman. So, when I’d finished the prescribed nine lengths, I pressed on and did another twenty-one.