There’s also the same offer from the The Good Time Guide card people for students with their cards. 

And the sun is shining – what more reasons could there be for visiting the Lido this afternoon?

Having enjoyed an early swim yesterday morning from 6.30am, and still there at 8am in what by then had become a virtually empty pool, once the early birds had left to get to work, I revisited in the afternoon and the place was playing host to a totally different bunch of several hundred sun-loving, Lido patrons. It was great to see the transformation and also to see everything swinging along so smoothly despite the technical problems that had hit over the hottest weekend of the year so far.

Much as I loved seeing the place buzzing and neither hubby nor me minded bobbing around in the midst of happy families, yesterday was the day when I really appreciated the beauty of the early sessions, as I’d still been able to enjoy my “proper” swim earlier on. 

If you love the Lido and want a quieter swim than when the pool’s swarming on sunny days, try the early sessions, you won’t be disappointed. Monday and Friday sessions run from 6.30am – 9am and if you get in around 8am the commuters have been and gone and the pool’s yours…at least until everyone else finds out how brilliant it is.

(Wednesday sessions run 8am-10am and are included in the season ticket price, the Monday & Friday sessions cost extra but are worth every penny & season ticket holders get them cheaper, or all sessions can be paid for individually or in blocks of 12 for extra discounts)

Janetta

For details see http://www.thegoodtimeguide.com/newsflash/?id=34

 If you know someone who doesn’t have a TGTG Card and would like to take advantage of a range of offers (not just for students) around Guildford, visit http://www.thegoodtimeguide.com/static/offers.asp

The guys at TGTG will be helping us to promote the Lido throughout the season through their newsletters, website and general all round good efforts.  Brilliant, we’re pleased to be working with you!

Active card holders can get 2 for 1 swims on Wednesdays (term time only). 

Other Active Card discounts are £1 CRAZY GOLF and £1 DECK CHAIR HIRE until 31^st August 2010.

(Cards are available from the Spectrum and must be produced at the Lido to claim the offer).

I would be delighted if you would post this to your site. It would be a great help to us.
I work for Zoggs and we’re designing a fantastic new range of club swimming gear. We need to have these products tested by swimmers so I’m offering you the opportunity to be a Zoggs Swim Tester!

This would involve you taking part in a fitting at our head office in Lightwater, Surrey or at your own home depending on where you live. You would then need to test the swimwear in the pool and review it on aspects such as comfort.

You need to be committed to swimming in the garment a minimum of 4 times within a fortnight and giving detailed feedback after your swim.

As you would be helping us out we would reward you with Zoggs products, check out our brand new webshop to view our product range! http://shop.zoggs.com/

I would love to hear from you. If you would like to get involved, please email the following to rachel.robinson@zoggs.com:

Name:
Male/Female:
Age:
Town:

If you are under 18 you will need parental consent, also a parent needs to be present at the fitting.

Photo petermerry.co.uk

No, this isn’t a plug for Aldi or Lidl, it’s a plug for buying in bulk at the Lido.
A week into the season and we want to make sure everyone gets the best deal on their swims this year and first off the season-tickets are offering the best value, closely followed by the – new for this season – blocks of 12 swims.

Prices for the 2010 season-tickets are:

Adult: £102.40

Junior/Student: £76.80

Senior Citizen: £51.20

Family (4 people, max 2 adults): £322.60

The season ticket covers all swim sessions with the exception of the new early morning swims on Mondays and Fridays, which can be bought at a discount for season-ticket holders. In addition, the Wednesday evening sessions are available only to season-ticket holders. If you’re over 50 and have a Prime Time card (available from Spectrum) there are further savings on the season-ticket price, call 01483 444888 for more details.

To check swimming times download and print your 2010 Timetable

If you don’t fancy a season-ticket, the discounted blocks of 12 swim sessions will cost you:

Early morning swimming sessions only:
Non season ticket holders £45.10 (12 for price of 11)
Season ticket holders £36.90 (12 for price of 9)

Any time sessions
£56.10 (12 for price of 11)

So however you decide to pay for your Lido swimming this season, it pays to buy in bulk and buy early to maximise your use of the pool, whatever the weather has in store for us all this season.

My first early morning swim of the season, in fact a first ever early morning one at Guildford Lido for me, was just great today. The pool felt warmer than yesterday afternoon, even though the air was on the fresh side. Gentle steam rose from the water surface which surprised me.

If you’ve not discovered the great joy of a Lido swim from 6.30am onwards, you don’t know what you’re missing. If anyone has any sense, they’ll be making the most of it (Mondays & Fridays 6.30-9am, Weds 8-10am) before the crowds cotton onto it in the warmer weather.

If you get in now, early in the season and buy the cheaper blocks of tickets, you’ll save money as well as being able to savour the peaceful early morning environment of our fabulous pool. Highly recommended and worth every penny and every tiny little shiver when changing. Although try this tip from a Channel swimmer (and he should know all about changing in cold conditions): The trick is to pay careful attention to how you pack your bag and clothes for exit from the water…No talking, hat on, out of wet cossie, as soon as possible, etc etc. Common sense and crocs are a must

I think that’s exagerating, it wasn’t that chilly, honest.
(Janetta Bensouilah, FOGL member)

Jim & Ellery taking the first dives of the 2010 season closely watched by Mayor Pauline Searle

As you probably know, FOGL re-formed last season when it was thought (incorrectly) that the Lido might be imminently closed. Since the initial frenetic activity to get FOGL up and running, we were then faced with all the challenges posed by getting a proactive comittee together and then establishing ways of working together both as a cohesive committee and with the outside decision makers during the closed season. Despite a very small committee, who largely all have demanding, full-time jobs and their own personal challenges, through voluntary efforts put in over the closed season, we have identified the following continuation of good things, changes, improvements or new developments that are in place this season, all  of which were raised as areas of concern by FOGL members through discussion and our survey last September:

• Opening day event which attracted press, local radio, and more importantly new visitors who discovered the Lido only through promotion of this event; the Mayor, councillors, decision makers as well as many Lido users and supporters
• A Charity swim organised on the opening day which has raised money for a local charity
• Later end of season closure which should allow enjoyment of the Indian summer we all hope for
• The introduction of new early morning sessions: 3 = Wednesday’s included in season ticket price, plus 2 optional extra days discounted for season ticket holders, allowing those who work to enjoy the Lido for the first time in some years
• Late evening sessions: 2 (included in season ticket price), plus 1 for season ticket holders only
• Blocks of sessions at a discounted price: for anytime and early morning sessions, perfect for those who discover the Lido later in the season
• Continuation of free swimming for over 60s
• Improved signage in the area promoting the Lido
• Gas pipe repaired, if this had not been done, the Lido may not have opened for this season
• Summer party planned, date to be confirmed
• Joint promoting of the Lido and FOGL in the press and media both through FOGL’s appointed, volunteer spokespeople and through a close working relationship with the PR people at Spectrum
• Full restoration and availability of the childrens’ pools

The one major issue that remains an ongoing concern for the FOGL committee on behalf of members is the continuation of pool halving this season. However, this is something we are continuing to seek solutions for and at least there is this season a firm public commitment to open the full pool when the conditions are favourable.  If we have more news of finding a workable solution to this, we will post it here immediately and no-one will be more delighted to do so than the FOGL committee!

12 ticket book prices are as follows:

Early morning swimming sessions only:

Non season ticket holders £45.10 (12 for price of 11)

Season ticket holders £36.90 (12 for price of 9)

 Any time sessions

Non season ticket holders £56.10 (12 for price of 11)

Through the 20 week season, a season-ticket certainly seems to represent pretty good value, which increases of course the more swimming we manage to squeeze into our diaries. Which suggests a challenge (the free swimming for the over 60s for obvious reasons can’t be included):

Who is going to get the cheapest swim, based upon a realistic estimation of how many swims you’re likely to enjoy at the Lido this season? No prizes, just plaudits for those who post here and show us they are either very busy swimming, or very good at maths, or both.