Bloody jobsworth!

It's Mothers day here in the UK today. Happy Mothers day to me:-0

As guessed, no flowers appeared at the front door:-( Although all the kids had made me cards - the girls when I was there, but Mstr A's at school - and he was desperate to make it a great surprise for me:-) I was (of course) suitably surprised.

We decided to take the kids down to sedgemoor splash - our nearest proper fun pool, with flumes, rapids & wave machine. this was a treat for mothers day & for Aggie getting out of hospital (he can't swim when he's covered in Psoriasis - and the kids really miss him being in the pool with them).

So we all packed into the car, and drove down the motorway in the pouring rain, paid for a couple of hours parking, and went into the reception area. Where we were told we couldn't swim as we exceeded the adult/child ratio.

No problem. I've faced this before (actually I face it alot). I asked to see the manager, and I explained that I am a qualified swimming teacher, lifeguard, lifeguard tutor, and pool manager. I requested that he uses his discretion "as laid down in the professional association guidelines" to be flexible.

NO, we can't go in

I explained that I am a memeber of said professional association, and I know for a fact that the guidelines DO NOT say the ratio should be 1:1 in pools such as this.

NO, we can't go in

I explain that this has been brought up in parliament and explicitly condemned by MP's, The DCMS, The Sports Minister, The HSE, and the Prime Minister.

NO, we can't go in

I point out that it is discriminatory to insist each child is accompanied by a parent, and that is against the law.

NO, we can't go in

I ask if I should send Mstr A outside to ask the next single adult to accompany him into the pool. The Duty Manager agrees that would be acceptable under his rules.

Aggie refuses to allow Mstr A to do this:-)

I request that we phone the Manager of the pool, to get clarification of the rules.

He refuses

I offer to sign a waiver accepting full responsibility for any incident that may happen

No, we may not go in

I ask if there are ANY circumstances where he would consider being flexible with the ratio guidelines.

he says no, there are NO circumstances he would ever adapt the guidelines.

I point out that I will be contacting the media, the manager, and his MP. He doesn't care.

I ask him to put in writing that he has taken this decision, personally, understanding all the facts explained above. He does so. We go home.

I have now written my letter & copied it in to two TV station, two radio stations, two newspapers, two MP's, the relevant professional associations, the Manager of the pool & the Chief Executive of the council. As soon as they get back from the commonwealth games, I am considering getting in touch with some old friends and pulling some high powered strings.

I have taken my kids to swimming pools across england, Wales, scotland and Northern ireland, and have NEVER been refused entry before. Not after a friendly chat with the manager:-) I understand the need for guidance but it is just that! NOT hard and fast rules. In fact, the professional association has released numerous statements and updates stating it MUST NOT be a blanket ban. The HSE has said it "deplores" the use of draconian measures such as this, and the guidelines DON'T EVEN SAY THAT in the first place!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

bloody Jobsworth

And a total idiot. I know what he gets paid (cos i didn't apply for his job on the basis that it wasn't enough). It definitely is not enough to take that kind of flak from a customer. Nor is it enough to accept that kind of responsibility. He is going to be in a lot of poo tomorrow when his manager asks why he didn't refer it up to them before the media became involved!