Ok, so in this part of our journey myself and John were already in a special relationship with my best friend Rita.
At this stage along the path we were still practicing separate room fun.
We had also been continuing to look for that special guy with whom to share me, had been since Chris left the scene. All our attempts except one had crashed before take off. The email pal sites had been productive, resulting in a meeting but despite some heavy flirting online, exchanging photos etc, in the end the chemistry just wasn't there and the meeting was awkward and embarrassing...I hate that.
We all thought it would work, but it is a very different story to actually meet the guy you have been flirting with from afar.
Anyway, life went on.
My job at the supermarket was still going ok, but now the shift rota had stopped and I was working permanent afternoons which suited me fine as I had my mornings free.
And in late June of seventeen John began working a later shift at the furniture warehouse, nine while six. This new work situation inadvertently led to the series of events which I'm about to relate, as in the case of our very good friend Dave, sometimes fate lends a hand and we acquire what we have been sorely needing...by chance.
Unlike our special relationship with Dave however, this particular episode was unfortunately short lived. Very intense, but way too brief.
So...on with the story.
Myself and John are usually up early, me before him as I have insomnia so I'm awake from around two in the morning and tend to get out of bed just after five. On a normal working day John is up before seven.
We usually go for a morning walk together for the exercise.
Anyway, at this time our local leisure centre had recently undergone a refurbishment with several million pounds being spent by the council.
The grand reopening had been heralded by local papers several weeks earlier.
The facility boasted amongst other things, a large swimming pool with a ten foot deep end.
This however, was old news to us as we both knew the place well despite not visiting for donkeys years.
I last went there when I was at school. The weekly class visit to the pool being a much looked forward to highlight.
We would be herded together and led in a line of pairs down to the 'baths' carrying our towels and swimsuits usually in a spar or kwick save carrier bag.
The pool always looked huge to me back in those days and the ten foot deep end was a little scary, especially when I had to dive down and retrieve a weight from the bottom to attain a swimming badge.
Anyway, what with John not being at work while nine I looked into an 'early bird' swimming session at the pool that started at seven thirty and lasted an hour. This would be perfect, allowing my hubby plenty of time to get to work afterwards as the leisure centre is only a five minute drive from the warehouse.
We'd been looking for something different to do on a morning instead of the walk and seen as we both love the water it made perfect sense.
So, one bright warm morning in late June we headed off together in the car to the leisure centre. On arrival there was the familiar smell of chlorine bringing back memories of our school days, however once inside it was hardly recognisable.
The place had been practically gutted and most things replaced, modernised. They had done a good job which was hardly surprising seen as it had been closed for nearly two years...the price of health and safety.
The length of time taken had become a joke locally, everybody grumbling about it. I'd hear folk comparing the project with that of the empire state building in new york, pointing out how long ago that was and the time it took to construct.
One of the big differences was the fact that now the changing rooms are unisex whereas before you had separate male/female.
The showers had been moved too, but once through into the main pool area everything was pretty much the same although now it looked somehow smaller.
John was already waiting for me in the deep end, I noticed him waving as I took in the view. I'd also noticed the company we had this morning. Despite the hype over the reopening there aren't that many folk here, maybe half a dozen. Mainly elderly women, one young lady and a couple of old guys.
As I'm walking to where John is I pass close to the two old men, both of them are paying me a lot of attention so while walking by I give them a cheery smile, they nod and smile back, the larger of the two bids me a 'morning'.
It's strange but when I make eye contact with this man, I just know, from that one brief look...I know.
You could call it instinct, a woman's intuition perhaps, but there is something special about him.
Walking on by towards John I can feel two pairs of eyes watching me walk away, I'm wearing a black one piece bathing suit which has a deep v neckline revealing quite a lot of cleavage.
We chose this suit especially as it clings nicely to my curves.
Although not having much faith in actually finding anyone at our local pool it's always best to be prepared.
And from that look the old guy gave me it appears that maybe...just maybe.
However, it is way too early to make any assumptions and I scold myself inwardly for being optimistic and getting my hopes up over one little look.
I can't help it I suppose, it has been way too long and I'm desperate, we both are. John is very happy with our current situation of course, as you can imagine...two women to wrestle with every saturday night. But we have both sorely missed having a guy to share me with.
Anyway, continuing on down towards John I try and rein in my hopes for now. Getting level with him and squeezing my nose with thumb and forefinger I jump in, the water being surprisingly cool brings a yelp forth as I resurface causing a chuckle from John, "I know...it's bloody freezing...they spent all the money doing it up so now can't afford to heat it!"
He says while glancing over my shoulder, back towards the two old men I just walked past.
He doesn't say anything but I've seen that look before, it appears John has noticed their admiring glances too and is suffering from the same optimism as myself.
It's a good sign but again I try and shrug the hope off and suggest to john we do a few lengths. Oh my goodness, when you haven't been swimming for a while?...I manage one length before I'm aching all over, John fairs little better at just two.
However, with perseverance we are soon taking it steady up and down the pool, as we do so I can't help but keep sneaking a peek at the two old guys and every time I do note that their eyes are upon me, also they keep leaning into each other close and talking privately...seemingly discussing me.
Another promising sign, however on this our first day at the pool that is as far as things get. With no opportunity to make contact with my two elderly admirers I'm left to satisfy myself by offering a cheeky grin to the lecherous pair as I leave the pool at the end of our session.
