18th/19th October 2025 ... my 10th-great-grandfather, John Brundish and his wife, Rachel (née Hubbard), left their home in Felsham, England in Suffolk county for the new world. In 1633, John and Rachel would have been 40 and 33, respectively, and they sailed with two children, settling in what is today Connecticut, but was then part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. For reasons unknown, they dropped the "-ish" and replaced it with an "age" and thus the North American Brundag

6 October 2025 Well, Boris did one thing great, even if all it probably was, was showing up and cutting a ribbon. While the 1930s era lido gets all the pool love online (which appears deserved), I swam indoors today and think this is the finest leisure Centre aquatic facility in the London area (note: I still think the London Aquatics Centre is the best pool, but that’s in a different category). The indoor tank appears to be 50M, with at least the far end (in the picture) at

5 October 2025 This morning’s very short 1,100 meters was so for three very good reasons. First, this leisure centre just outside of the downtown core of Southampton doesn’t start its Sunday lane swimming service until 8:30am and I have a morning train to catch back to London, with breakfast still to eat. Second, with yesterday’s 2,500 meters fast aerobic Masters workout, I had already ratcheted up my average weekly swim volume by 30%**, and I am trying to be mindful of incre

17 September 2025 I really would have liked to get a good picture of the inside of this newly renovated pool in Basel, but the lifeguard/entry office was right next to the only window with a good view of the whole pool … and that glass window had a sufficiently sized pictogram indicating no photos that I couldn’t take a snap and play dumb! So, a crummy picture of pretty pool, the Hallenbad Rialto , now #756 on my #1001Pools quest. In the basement underneath the four lane,

1 September 2025 I didn't see any evidence of potters anywhere at the massive Furzefield Leisure Centre in Potters Bar, the first town...

30 August 2025 My wife went to Paris for the weekend to connect with her (practically) lifelong friend, who happened to be there for a...

27 August 2025 Technically (unless I do some rounding), I didn't cross the 75% achievement hurdle on my #1001Pools goal until I swam in...

25 August 2025 Since Roman times, many people arrive in Bath, England with healing waters on their minds. I was no different when my wife...

22 August 2025 Of course, it makes sense that the city name Edmonton originated in the UK and not in Canada! However, as I have only...

7 August 2025 An old friend was in London on a business trip, so we made plans to meet up for dinner at his hotel, the Leonardo Royal...