As a regime it could help you forget most things - you venture into the icy night in swimming costume, psyche yourself up for a few minutes in a shallow outdoor hot-water pool on the dockside, run the 100m or so to the sea and then plunge in, screaming.

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In one memorable week last year, the hot water heater, the pool pump and the mechanical arm on the gate in their driveway all went on the fritz.

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Allegations of what went on privately, however, landed him in a big-boy pool of legal hot water.

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The installation of nearly 29, 500 solar pool heating systems and 35, 500 hot water systems.

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Once over the top of a high dune, you come to a hot spring, the size of a large jacuzzi, where sulphurous water bubbles in a pool and runs off to irrigate a garden.

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