In at the deep end

Holidays bring this to a whole new level. "What are we doing today? Can we go swimming?" is usually met with some sort of lame mum excuse "Sorry guys, I can't find my swimsuit/my goggles/a towel".

I know I'm probably a bad mother to say it but I HATE the swimming pool. Mainly because it involves wearing less clothes than I am comfortable with.

I ALWAYS meet someone that I have interviewed for UTV Live - in fact the more gruesome I look (mascara down face, lumpy thighs etc) the more likely I am to bump into someone I don't know well enough to have a cup of tea with, never mind subject them to my cellulite.

And the water's cold. Apart from in the baby and toddler area which is always suspiciously warm.

But it's not about me. It's about making sure the littlies have fun. So last weekend we packed the big bag and headed off to the pool.

Being Saturday afternoon we knew it was likely to be busy, but nothing could have prepared us for the acres of flesh that we encountered. It was like a big vat of people soup.

And it was impossible to move six inches without brushing bare flesh with someone you've never met in your life before.

Despite this it was one of the best days out the children have enjoyed this summer, and believe me we have been EVERYWHERE. They laughed and giggled for the whole time they were there, ate everything that was put in front of them at dinner, and slept like logs that night.

In a moment of relaxation I told them what a great day I'd had.

Now, these children don't remember where they left their shoes, but they've remembered that I had a great time at the pool. And that means a lot more visits.

I wonder if you're allowed to wear full body wetsuits at the swimmers?