Money oriented

When I was about 7 or 8 my sister and I were whisked away to sunny Devon for a holiday with Mum and Dad.  Apart from the weather being pretty awful, it was a normal and uneventful sort of holiday until I learned the value and importance of money. Even at such an early age I became a risk taker and nothing was going to get in my way of a few shillings.

One day, to avoid the rain that had plagued us most of the holiday, we all went to the swimming baths at Plymouth. Nothing special I hear you think, but as Gill could swim, she was offered the chance to complete a full length of the pool. The lifeguard would supervise and if successful, would award a fancy certificate. Not sure if she could manage the full 25 metres, she was at first reluctant, so up stepped Dad and offered a financial incentive in the form of 10 bob. (That's 50p to those born after me).
Off she popped to the deep end with the lifeguard watching from the poolside and as she started the daunting distance, the attendant walked alongside with a long pole ready for her to grab should she get into difficulties.
At this point, despite being unable to swim - even the doggy paddle - I figured I could get 10 bob as well. Fearless of my lack of swimming ability, and without the aid of a safety net, rubber ring or armbands (not sure if they even existed back then) I was off like a shot to the deep end whilst everyone else was watching Gill's marathon swim. Not to be outdone, I launched myself into the water much to my parents consternation and began what must have been an agonising time for them as I somehow managed to make my way towards shallower water. Whilst Dad was shouting for a lifeguard to get me out, the guard merely walked alongside, somewhat bemused at this skinny little runt managing to avoid drowning and ensured my safety from afar as I finally made it to the other end.
Ten bob was now mine, I was rich, I had become a man, I was fearless (for fearless read stupid) and had managed to "swim" (I use the term VERY loosely) and I could see money making ventures ahead spearheaded by the certificate I would receive in due course for having completed 25 metres of the pool.
When I look back, I'm damned if I can remember what the 10 bob was spent on, but I have a sneaky feeling that was the sweets I was munching on in the back of dad's car when a red light runner crashed into us on the journey back home a few days later. That's another story
Funnily enough, when clearing out my old paperwork a few months back I found that old certificate. I haven't needed or seen it in all that time, but today when I went to find it to get the date that all this happened, I can't find the bloody thing.