THE KENWOOD LADIES' POND ASSOCIATION
Lifeguard Jane Smith invites KLPA members to visit the pond on Friday 14 February at 07.30 for a silent swim and shared quiet breakfast to celebrate ‘Love the Pond Day’ . Please bring with you silence and some of your favourite things to eat, to share a meditative mid-winter moment.
Morning swimmers who would rather avoid the event are encouraged to swim between 07.00 and 07.30 or after 08.45.
Due to the warning of high winds the Ladies’ Pond will be closed on Sunday 9 February. Women are welcome to swim at the Men’s Pond providing it remains open (it doesn’t have the same problem with overhanging trees). Many thanks to the swimmers and lifeguards there for accommodating us.
We hope that the weather and opening will be back to normal by Monday.
The New Yorker magazine of 27 January 2020 features this article “THE SUBVERSIVE JOY OF COLD WATER SWIMMING”. Definitely worth a read!
Several KLPA members have already signed this petition calling for part of Lea Marshes to be reclaimed and made into a place for wild swimming. If you agree that we need more wild swimming opportunities in and around London, please sign here.
SEASONAL REMINDERS:
In time for Christmas, The Ponds film is available to buy on DVD and Blu-Ray, together with a variety of film-related merchandise, from the Ponds Film website.
For anyone interested in awards, there are rumours (as yet unconfirmed) that the film may be nominated for a BAFTA in 2020.
Saturday 25 January 2020
In 21st Century Britain, no one should be sleeping, or dying, on the streets. Crisis works to put a stop to this (and not just at Christmas).
The Parliament Hill Lido will host a Crisis Icebreaker on Saturday 25 January 2020 to support this vital cause, and a relay team of regular swimmers from Kenwood Ladies’ Pond will take part.
Crisis really does save and turn around many lives every year. Best known for its Christmas shelters across London and the UK, it also runs year-round services for homeless people.
Throughout the year Crisis runs fundraising events, including the Crisis Icebreaker swims which provide a sobering reminder of the temperatures endured by many people who are street homeless, as well as a fantastic opportunity to get involved, support Crisis and raise money for the cause.
If you can, please sponsor the Kenwood Regulars (Opi Bell, Nicky Mayhew, Pauline McCulloch and Mary Powell) to help Crisis make a difference for more homeless people in 2020.
You can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kenwood-regulars.
An invitation from lifeguard Jane Smith….
Ladies, join us to celebrate Winter Solstice, the shortest day, on Sunday 22 December, 7.30am. If you can, gather at the gate to the Ladies Pond at 7.15am with lanterns to greet the dawn before we swim and share breakfast goodies. Hope to see you there!
Everyone is invited to the annual KLPA Winter Tea Party on Sunday 24 November from 3 – 6.00pm at Highgate Library, Chester Road, N19 5DH (use the Croftdown Road entrance). It’s an opportunity to get together with other swimmers over tea and cake; please bring food to share if you can.
At 5.00pm we will show City Swimmers, the 2006 film made by our fellow swimmer Margaret Dickinson to celebrate open water swimming and the right to swim on Hampstead Heath.
An invitation from lifeguard Jane Smith: ‘Ladies, why not fly by the pond for the Annual Witches’ Gathering, 07.30am, Thursday 31 October. Swim in your hat and share cauldron offerings for breakfast . . . carved pumpkins, best hat and fabulous food competitions for those who discover their inner witch!’