Thoroughly alarmed

[shewhomust]

This morning's swim was disrupted by the testing of the fire alarm. At first I thought the persistent moise was the whistle which sounds while the floor / cover of the small pool is being lowered - but as it persisted and I became more focused on it, I realised it was a bell. The attendants didn't seem too bothered, though, so I guessed it wasn't an actual fire. It stopped, and then started again. And again. Perhaps burglars were trying to break into the pool? A few more blasts, loud enough to be painful, and I was thoroughly jittery, trying to cover my ears until it stopped, hanging round the shallow end wondering whether I dared set off again.

I don't know how many times that bell rang; it must have been in double figures. It seems that we should have known that the fire alarm was simply being tested, because this had been announced on the tannoy, but I hadn't heard that (which may be my fault, as I had asked for the music to be turned off in the pool, which apparently switches out the tannoy. Also, or so I'm told, these tests are carried out every week or so, I've simply been lucky not to catch one before - and no, there is no chance of finding out when it will happen and avoiding swimming then, it just depends on when the staff are free.

Though grumblesome, I am better off than desperance, who is spending an overnight in hospital while the medics try to cure his sore paw with antibiotics.

Comments

[lamentables.livejournal.com]

Given the purpose of an alarm, I suppose it has to be a distressing experience. How unfortunate that you can't plan to avoid it.

Glad to have news of desperance; hope there is better news today.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

durham_rambler is posting news updates in the Comments to desperance's most recent post (seemed the best way to reach his friends, rather than just ours). He's in theatre this afternoon, for serious cleaning out of the injury, and we'll visit this evening. More news as we have it...