The gym is not my natural habitat. I’ve never been a very physically fit person. I’ve never really shown any physical or sporting prowess.

As a result I’m ridiculously unhealthy and suffer from a bad case of cellulite on my arse and thighs. As a relatively small girl, I hate this about myself.

I had a holiday coming up and so was actually pleased to get my hands on some free passes for a local hotels gym and pool facilities. During the holidays when the kids were away with their dad I went to the gym 6 days in a row 🙅🏼‍♀️ and I actually started to enjoy it.

I’d do an hour or so in the gym, concentrating on anything that I believed had a chance of eradicating my cellulite problem ASAP. The bike, the treadmill on a high incline, various leg based weight machines. I was pretty chuffed with myself and proud of the increased amount of weight I could lift or time I could spend on a machine as each day went by.

Afterwards I would go and rest my muscles in the pool, sauna, steam room and hot tub. It was a real treat and I found myself chatting to a few people along the way.

On one occasion I felt awkward as a young man came into the sauna when it was just me in there. So I commented on how quiet it was today. He proceeded to talk to me about his phobia of skanky feet and how he hates having to climb over peoples fungal infected toe nails, he went on to comment on my feet being well looked after (🤨🧐 he way lying!), he accurately guessed my shoe size and went on to tell me a story of him being in the army previously and therefore his feet should be a mess but they aren’t. His friend came in and started chatting. It transpired that he tells all the ‘birds’ he used to be in the army but he hadn’t been there long and now worked at Asda!

Embarrassed the poor guy left the sauna.

Later on I got in the hot tub and the 2 boys were there. Chatting about going to the bar in the hotel afterwards. Foot fetish boy asked me to join them; said he’d buy me a drink. Luckily I had plans to see a friend which I told them, they told me to bring her too! I didn’t but it was nice to be asked.

Another time I got chatting to a man about how he met his girlfriend and online dating and a few other people in the hot tour joined in.

Prior to this on a spa day I’d had, a much older man started chatting to me in the hot tub. Telling me how he only dated younger women, how he now has holidays away with his sons ex partner and mother of his grandchild, that last time they’d gone away it was a waste of time as she’d been having a period 🤮 and how he thinks I’m attractive and a catch.

Most recently I popped in the hot tub when a water aerobics class was starting in the pool. A man about my age was chatting to an older man about heading to his mums for dinner that evening. Then he turned to me and asked why I wasn’t joining in with the class. I said it wasn’t my thing. He said he’d seen me in the pool and thought I’d been limbering up ready for the class. I don’t recall any limbering going on but hey ho. He then offered to get in with me. I explained I’d just been to the gym so had done my workout for the day. He then offered to meet me same time next week and do the class together…holding my hand if I wanted him to 🤔. He introduced himself and told me it was lovely to meet me. Told me to check out the newly refurbished restaurant there and that if I was really lucky, someone might buy me dinner. Then when it was clear I wasn’t interested he told his friend that he respects a woman who knows what she does or does not want. Then he left. Mumbling something about getting to his mums for dinner.

I’m not just bigging myself up with tales of being chatted up. I’m writing this because I’m astounded. I don’t get chatted up often so I’m gobsmacked that men not necessarily in their prime have the balls to ask me out when we are both semi naked. I don’t think I look great in my tankini. I try and hide my body whenever possible. I’m no longer in my prime either.

It’s almost as though men obtain some sort of primal bravery when they are in their most natural state.

I’m not complaining. I just wish they did this in a club, in a supermarket, at the school gates, in an office. Anytime I’ve got some make up on and feel like I look reasonable. Apparently fully clothed men hide away and don’t talk to women. They hide behind the apps they download and the filters they can use. As do women. It’s nice to know that when we take away the phones and devices, we can still hold a conversation with a human being in real life.

Let’s all do that more often…with or without the hot tub! x