When I was in primary school, I had my first ever crush. She was a cute, smart, bespectacled girl who was the studious type. Her wearing glasses was the reason I am wearing a pair now too. I had purposely read in the dark and all those other things that would apparently damage my eyesight, just so I could wear glasses too. I think I only slightly hastened the process, 'cause I'm pretty sure I'd need glasses in the end anyway.

I have the sinking feeling I had blogged about the above paragraph before. Hrmm.

Anyway, when we were choosing our Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA), as it was known then, I somehow found out that she was taking Swimming, so I enrolled in it as well. The first day, the instructor asked if anybody could swim and I raised up my hand. Wah, attention seeker! He asked me to give a demonstration, and there I went. There wasn't a particular style of swimming that I did... Just an anyhow-whack thing that got me from one side of the pool to the other. I remember climbing back up from the "medium pool" (as we used to call it) of Woodlands Swimming Complex and glancing at her, seeing her unimpressed look. Haha.

The funny thing was, during the whole time I had swimming lessons, I don't think I ever interacted with her. In fact, I think we talked more (not really that much, to begin with) just in our normal classes. I remember being occupied with the swimming lessons themselves and always being far away from her to even chat.

I had no problems swimming in the "medium pool" back then 'cause I could reach the floor. But I was scared shitless of the "deep pool" (the competition pool). When it was time to move to the "deep pool", I dreaded it. I was really frightened! I remember this one instructor who told me not to worry and that he'd catch me if I couldn't stay afloat when swimming towards him in that competition pool. He didn't, by the way, catch me. I flailed in the water a bit before he pulled me up.

I think after that incident, I always pretended to go to swimming classes, but never actually did anymore. So that was that.

The reason I'm blogging about this is because I just recently started cycling to Woodlands Swimming Complex for a swim again. The place had been newly renovated, but mostly it looks the same and I was reminded about my old swimming lessons. When I was there on Monday, I saw that swimming instructor again. I've always disliked him on sight after the incident. Haha.

It was a terrible cycle to the swimming complex... My bicycle's brakes kept getting slightly stuck to the tyres. Had to stop 3 times in the journey. Plus I was perspiring buckets halfway there! The place looks quite nice after the renovation. They added a gym and a slide for the kiddy pool. Added a tarp-like shelter thing for half of the competition pool. I was wondering, why half though? Might as well cover the whole competition pool, right? I suppose it's for people who are afraid to get sunburned, but still want to swim? :P

I swam only 6 laps in total. Was a bit pathetic really... My technique's got to shits again, and my stamina is... Wait, what stamina? Midpoint of the 6 laps, I saw someone flailing in the water. It was so rhythmic that I thought he was playing around, or doing some weird water exercise thing. I looked at him for a bit, trying to figure out if he was really drowning. He wasn't shouting for help or anything, so it took me a moment to realise he was really about to drown. The lifeguards only realised when he turned their direction and signalled for help (still no sound from him though!). And here's the best part... The lifeguards somewhat rushed to the side of the pool from where they were, took a buoy and signalled the guy to calm down. Taking his time, one of the lifeguards took aim and threw the buoy towards the guy. None of the lifeguards even jump in the water to help the poor kid!

The lifeguards actually seemed to me so hesitant like they didn't want to get wet! Before the buoy was thrown to the guy, his friend had already swam to him and helped him stay afloat. Rocks lah this other guy. He breaststroke-d his way to his friend immediately when he saw what was going on. Now, this is how the lifeguards, ANY of the 3 lifeguards there, should have reacted!

Also shown in the photo above is the tarp-like shelter thing I was telling you about. The incident got me wondering if they took this long to react to someone who was half-in-control (the guy still managed to bob up and down slightly controllably, but was really having difficulty), how about someone who is really drowning? The lifeguards weren't even really doing their job watching over the pool; they were chatting with each other, somewhat oblivious to their surrounding! When the guy was safely back on ground, the lifeguard who threw the buoy to him said in Mandarin (which I understood a little bit) "Really! I thought you were playing!" Okay lah... I thought he was playing too. Hrmm.

So... Did the 6 laps (almost wanted to do a seventh 'cause I prefer the number 7 over the number 6 haha), felt quite exhausted, stopped swimming 'cause I still needed to cycle back home. Went to the showers to get changed. The toilet/shower stalls have been renovated too, and finally there are doors to the shower cubicles! Haha. No more having to shower while some guy is beside you showing his butt off! But of course, even with the doors and cubicles and whatnots, there are still those exhibitionist uncles who refuse to stay naked within the cubicles! Gah!

They even have this desk thingie to put your stuff on while you shower. Convenient! But if you noticed... There's no latch on the door. -.-" I don't know if it was only a problem with this particular door, but even if it is... It's only been about a month after the renovation! Don't tell me someone damaged the door latch already? _-_"

After my shower, I cycled back home, totally exhaused. Gonna do it again later. :D (Someone help wake me up at noon please? Hurr.)

Erm, yeah... This entry didn't really have anything to do with my first crush. I saw her a few times around Woodlands though. Poor thing has a really severe acne problem. She's got a boyfriend though, so that's great. She'd be super pretty if she manages to get the acne problem under control. Nevertheless, she still has the baby-cute look that I fell for years and years ago. Heh.