Unlike in much of the world, public swimming pools in Finland are excellent. They are affordable anyway, but as a type 1 diabetic, I can get an annual pass for next to nothing.

Great value for money!

For several years, we have been taking the girls swimming (they swim, I supervise), but only recently I have discovered the entirely different world that exists in the same swimming pool between 6 and 7 am.

There are surprisingly many people there, but it’s a strangely quiet. No children yelling, no announcements, hardly any conversation. Everyone seems absorbed in their own rhythm. It’s almost meditative.

It’s just the serious swimmers.

And me.