Sometimes I wonder if I don’t quite fit into the demographics of certain establishments – am I too fussy/critical – or is my looking to try something/somewhere new not the way for me to go.
The decision had been made – It was time to return to the gym – But which gym?
A few kms from home we have a great health and fitness facility. Â It has a well ‘stocked’ gymnasium, basketball/ netball courts, various swimming pools plus a warm water pool plus other designated ‘rooms’ (group fitness, yoga, pilates, spin). Along with another similar facility and a couple of local golf courses is managed by the local council. Â I’ve been a member there on and off for quite a few years now.
Because it offers so much it has become very busy – the car park has been extended more times than I can remember- and classes have to be booked rather than the old way of just turning up and claiming your spot. Â And even though it has what I want there are times when I get fed up with being a ‘number’
So I thought I’d check out two other nearby ‘places’ Â to see what they offered.
I’d looked at their websites (well established businesses) so had a rough idea……classes, gym, membership options/fees (no pool) Â but wanted to get the feel of them before deciding.
After trying to park in the last vacant spot in a very tiny car park  I discovered no one at the desk in the first one…then a young lad wandered by…..”sorry, the person you need to speak to isn’t here.  She’ll be back tomorrow….no I don’t do membership!”  With that he wandered off again leaving me standing there……looking at some posters of some young,  very nice looking, well toned and well muscled people and wondering ( well you don’t need to know what I was wondering 😊)
OK, I’ll just drive down the road a bit to the second one.
My god what’s that noise – i thought I was going to be deafened when I opened the door.
I had a little chat with a very young girl – well she chatted to me….not answering any of my questions, just telling me what she wanted me to hear.  “I’ll print off our classes for you- we have a special program and classes for oldies like you.  Sorry you can’t look round the premises unless you are a member- no I can’t take you round- I’lll sign you up for a week’s free trial then someone will show you round.  Then you can join.  Here’s the forms, take them home and come back when you’ve decided”  With that she went off to make some special high protein drink for some young thing in the attached ‘kitchen’ (not café) we don’t serve food!”
OK, I said to myself (again) I’ll just go back down the road to my tried and true centre, where I know what’s what, how things work and where there’s a whole range of clients/users…….including oldies like me 😊
Guess what – as I stood at the reception desk waiting to be served one of the staff walked by “Hello Cathy. Â Lovely to see you – are you signing up again?”
No need to tell you what I did, is there?
Still Waters 