Afternoon at the Lido

Last weekend, inspired by the hot weather, we took Mole and Hedgehog to our local lido. It is set in a pretty village next to a cricket ground, the only disadvantage being that occasionally a child gets whacked with a cricket ball hurtling towards the lido. There is at least a red brick wall that surrounds the pool, which is slightly better protection than the wooden placards dotted around the cricket field.

It is one of the best afternoons of the summer. Both Mole and Hedgehog are being adorable. I get Mole ready in the changing room while she gives two other women the thousand yard stare. Then she toddles out with her Peppa Pig armbands on and we ease into the cold water, bouncing around to get warm. Pretty soon she is doing the starfish by herself, kicking and giggling, exclaiming “I’m in the swimming pool”.

Hedgehog on the other hand, is not so impressed with the cold water. She clings to Mr M&H like a limpet, unsure whether to use both hands for grabbing onto neck flesh, or keep one thumb handy for sucking. Her swimsuit with floats sewn into it around her body might provide some insulation, even if it does make her look like a suicide bomber. (A comment my dad made last year and now I can’t shake the image every time I see her in it).

At length we sit on the pool side and watch while Mole swims on her own in the pool for the first time. I try going in with her only to be greeted with a “No mummy I do it by myself”. She swims little circles and watches the other children, bobbing around and moving at the speed of a happy snail. Eventually she starts shivering and looks at me saying “Mummy I’m a bit cold”. Cue towels and playground, dodging the cricket balls.

Meanwhile, Hedgehog has no interest in swimming but keeps pointing to the edge of the pool and then scrambling out, demanding that I follow with fingers at the ready to have a walk about. She does three lengths of the poolside this way. Hedgehog is currently cruising the furniture at home and walking holding onto our hands, it’s her favourite thing to do. Later, naked after nappy changes, she crawls off with her bum to the wind and says hello to a man reading the paper, before getting shy and crawling back again to hide behind me.

We get ice lollies, which Mole devours with wild abandon until it’s covering most of her head and making her hair stick up. From time to time she shows her love for Hedgehog by shoving the ice lolly in her face. Hedgehog tastes it cautiously and ends up with the perfect ice lolly mustache.

When we join Mole and Mr M&H in the playground, Hedgehog is content to sit and stare at a blade of grass for about ten minutes, turning it over in her hands like it’s the most fascinating thing she’s ever seen. From time to time she looks up with a startled expression to excitedly point a finger and exclaim “Doggy”.

We come home with a tired Mole and Hedgehog in the car, they go down to sleep in about two minutes, and we enjoy an evening of films and popcorn, result.

Same time next week then.

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