Page 45 - feb-mag-2022

February 2022 February 2022

the demands of dog owning It was now time to prepare for my swim so I retreated to the open air changing
enclosure to get into my swim gear. There were a number of guys using this area
even if I did moan about dog
hair, vets bills and demands of for sunbathing. Across the way was a fenced area set aside for nude sunbathing.
daily dog walks. I emerged from the changing

If you are a regular reader of the area for my first view of the
Parish Magazine you will know all pond and it was as I had
about her life with me under remembered it, a delightful
Covid. I would chat to her and tranquil spot flanked by trees
she was well aware of all the and grassy banks. At the end of
village issues and national issues the concrete pontoon which
as she watched the television jutted out into the pond was a 1
with me. I watched Gone Fishing metre spring board which I
with her at Christmas. She was a decided to use as my launch
great fan of Ted, the black Border pad for my swim. Back in the
terrier. She mentioned Downing 1930s, the Highgate Diving Club
Street Parties in her last column used to perform dives from a 10
and I think even she would have metre diving board and its
been surprised at how many Aquatic Carnivals attracted
there were. crowds of 10,000. Sadly, I am no
Tom Daley so I will not report on the aesthetic quality of my dive but the sheer
Tillie, the Alsatian misses her and still barks loudly as she approaches no 97 North glorious joy of leaping into the murky water, it was fantastic! You can see why so
Street only to be disappointed to not receive a response. At least people can many Londoners flock here, particularly during the summer months to get away
walk up the Street quietly now and not be watched. from the bustle of the city.
I miss her dreadfully, on the morning walks, going to the shop, up to the Doctors to The temperature of the water was 75F (24C),
get drugs, meetings for Coffee, visiting friends, chatting to people on walks and to positively balmy after the month long July heat
Judy when she collects her but especially first thing in the morning and last thing wave. I decided to circumnavigate the pond
at night when she simply is just not there and I am alone. keeping just inside the perimeter buoys (the
usual rubber one that is!) and was met by a
I know it was time for her and she is now resting peacefully at the top of my number of other swimmers who were criss-
garden a few metres from her first home with Elaine. She must have one of the crossing in different directions. It was such a
best views of the Purbeck Hills. She is survived by two of her sisters Jo Jo and gentle peaceful scene with the lifeguards
Breeze who are still living locally.
looking on.
In 2004 the City of London Corporation, which
manages the Heath, tried to close the ponds on
Editor’s note: I would like to say a special thanks to Sue Stone for her ‘dog blog’ the grounds that they were an unsustainable
contributions over the past two years. I have personally found these a delight to expense and posed a health risk to swimmers.
read and am very sad that as Jenny is no longer with us, we shall have no further Thankfully, the swimmers challenged this and
tales and observations about her owner’s idiosyncrasies! won in the High Court. To defray costs, the
Corporation introduced ticket meters charging
£2 per session, £1 concession which I believe is
now paid on a voluntary basis.. There was some
opposition even to this and some machines were vandalised at the time.
However, to me this seemed a small price to pay for what is a wonderful facility.

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