A little bit of the last few weeks

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October 26th, 4.12pm
I‘ve been outdoors every day for the past few weeks, either swimming, running or going for walks, and this and the following two pictures are from a walk on Hampstead Heath. We met up with my father-in-law and my step mother-in-law and it was nice to check in on each other, as it was only the second time we’ve seen them since the beginning of the year. England has since gone into a four week lockdown, but it’s not quite as strict as the last one (it definitely has a very different feel). You are now allowed to meet one other person from another household outdoors “to exercise”, but sadly the Ladies Pond (although now Covid secure) closed on Thursday, even though outdoor swimming is regarded as low risk. It is what it is, and hopefully the lockdown won’t go on for much longer past the 2nd of December. I’ll make sure I go out daily though, regardless of the weather, and have longer cold showers so the cold water in the Pond won’t be too much of a shock with such a long break from it.

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4.14pm
Anywaaaaaaay, back to the Heath walk. This fallen tree looked like a sculpture lying on its side like that. It was HUGE and reminded me of the shadow monster in Stranger Things.

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4.31pm
Loved how neatly the leaves had fallen off the trees near Kenwood House.

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October 28th, 10.42am
As it was half term that week we ventured into town to see the Arctic exhibition at the British Museum en famille (pics from there coming up in another post), and while we were there I spotted this guy on the roof of the Great Court. He’s not scared.

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12.18pm

Outside the museum I found the pots of plants on the house on the left quite sweet. It looked like someone had tentatively just started gardening.

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October 31st, 1.28pm

Halloween… without the trick or treating, because, yeah, you know. Still got a pumpkin that Mr Famapa carved to perfection though. He called him… Charlie Frown.

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5.28-5.33pm
So what to do when you can’t go out trick or treating?! Hide sweets and let Oomoo loose with a head torch with all the lights off, that’s what.

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“Warm, warmer… HOT!”

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One room was reeeeeeeally scary!

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Mr Famapa had hidden sweets on top of picture frames, door handles and in plant pots.

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It was impossible to focus the camera in the dark. Maybe this is what a flash is for?! Don’t have one innit :D

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November 6th, 8.23am
And finally, the sky yesterday morning. The clouds stayed that way for nearly the whole day. I love it when Mother Nature shows off, she da boss! That’s it for today. Have as great a weekend as you can have, while we wait for good news from across the Atlantic.

Pond life

February 5th, 8.33am

February 5th, 8.33am

It started with one swim a week back in September, then eventually two, then four, and from the beginning of January - a daily one. To say that I’m addicted is an understatement. Those few days in the past six weeks when the Kenwood Ladies Pond was shut due to storms completely threw me; a morning without a swim messed my whole routine up, and I didn't feel like I was in my daily groove at all.

January 14th, 9.10am

January 14th, 9.10am

January 23rd, 7.55am

January 23rd, 7.55am

December 4th, 9.16am

December 4th, 9.16am

From the off I sent a daily picture to my friend Z in Amsterdam, with a temperature update, and some lines about how the swim was, like a little digital postcard. I’m so glad I have, as I now have a visual record of the seasons changing, and also because it’s so dang pretty.

November 24th, 9.25am

November 24th, 9.25am

I mean, am I right or am I right?!

January 20th, 7.50am

January 20th, 7.50am

January 12th, 8.48am

January 12th, 8.48am

The pond you see in all of these pics is not the Ladies Swimming Pond. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, photography is not allowed, but I sneak these of the neighbouring Bird Sanctuary Pond, which kind of looks like painting. The ponds are south facing, so when it’s sunny there are sections of the swims where your face is bathing in sunshine, which feels SO good in the middle of winter.

November 21st, 12.08pm

November 21st, 12.08pm

Now here’s the funny thing... I’m actually not looking forward to spring and summer this year! The water will become warmer and the Pond busier, and having the Pond to myself as I swim (which happens a lot) - will be a distant memory. BUT. What makes me so happy is that I’m now looking forward to next winter, which is kind of brilliant.

February 6th, 9.32am

February 6th, 9.32am

My Swedish friend M and I started swimming here after watching The Ponds film at the cinema. We don’t always manage to go together, but we get about two swims in a week. Here she is, drinking hot tea on freezing cold February morning. That hot drink, once you’ve got all your clothes back on, is crucial to get your body temperature back up again. The water temp hasn’t gone below +4 degrees celsius (38F) this winter, which apparently is warmer than usual. I’m so curious to feel the difference between +4 and +1. Maybe next winter?

January 30th, 9.41am

January 30th, 9.41am

February 13th, 9.44am

February 13th, 9.44am

February 7th, 9.04am

February 7th, 9.04am

In my favourite changing spot. As it’s cold, and these days quite wet in this little corner, I usually get it to myself, which I love. I used to get changed in the changing rooms, but as it’s quite small and can get very busy, I try and keep to myself as much as possible and just enjoy that last moment of quiet and nature, before rejoining modern life again. This spot reminds me so much of my childhood in Sweden; the being outside in nature, whatever the weather or season, is the one thing I miss, and I can’t believe how lucky I am to live so close to this magical place. I’m forever pinching myself.