#hampstead women's pond

[larrylimericks]

27Dec23

Some boys be like, “I know a place...” Then take you to s̶t̶u̶n̶t̶ swim in a lake In water quite frigid And swim trunks quite fitted, Hitties free, beanie locked into place.

[runawaysiren940]

The University of Oxford is currently showing off a collection of African items, among which is “a mask made by Nigeria's Igbo people and which was originally used in male-only rituals”, which women are not allowed to see (Radnedge). This mask is part of a collection which the museum describes as being “closely tied to British Imperial expansion”, and falls under “a policy to ensure women do not view the mask in relation to taboos about secret ceremonies, human remains, nudity as well as gender roles” (Radnedge). In other words, the cultural values of the group which the artifact was taken from are being respected, instead of the commonly accepted ones of the culture which the museum is a part of. Why are members of a modern, and increasingly egalitarian society held to the traditions of one steeped in misogyny and woman hating? Why is misogyny given deference and respect when it comes from another culture?

As “Art critic and author Ruth Millington” notes, “To deny all women, of all cultures, sight of something because that is a taboo in one particular culture seems an extreme stance, particularly given that this country is a modern, liberal and enlightened society. Surely women should be given the right to decide, after reading about any cultural sensitivities, if they wish to look upon the artefact or not. When it comes to art, we should all have equal rights, regardless of sex, to view what we would like to.” (Radnedge) Not to mention, the cultural sensitivities of women never seem to be held to the same high esteem. When muslim women mention that they cannot take off their hijab in front of trans-identified males, they’re called transphobic for it, and told that they are harming trans-identified males with their bigotry by doing so. Not to mention, the sudden confirmation that women do exist, and are a separate entity from men is hypocritical in a society where self-id exists, and anyone can identify as anything they wish, regardless of reality.

We see a similar pattern of single sex spaces being respected when it is a men’s club- such as in 2018, when a group of female protesters entered the men’s pool after identifying as male. This occurred in response to Hampstead’s inclusion of trans-identified males in the women’s pond the previous December. However, despite the women protesters “telling staff at the pond that they 'identified as male' and said they had the right to swim there… police arrived 15 minutes later and they were forced to leave” (Daily Mail).

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5780623/Female-protesters-break-men-lido-leap-pool.html. Accessed 21 June 2024.

Any other examples come to mind?

[itsawritblr]

Jenny Watson: "We can do it, so let's do it." Jenny outlines her plan for a female-only, lesbian space.

For my lesbian, bisexual women, and radfem Followers. Via Graham Linehan's Substack.

For many decades, London was considered the global capital for lesbian nightlife. But you’d never know it if you visited the UK today. It’s not for a lack of British lesbian culture: I’m a lesbian, I’m involved in our country’s lesbian social scene, and I can assure you, it’s alive and well. What we lack at the moment are our own dedicated spaces. I think the UK needs once more to have lesbian-run, female-only community spaces. 

I’ve got an idea about how to make one such space a reality. And I believe I'm in a position to make it happen.

Over the past seven years, I've had the privilege of organising a range of lesbian social events in London. Throughout this time, I've made many connections in our community, gained an increasing understanding of our needs, and created social spaces that I hope go some way to meeting them. 

And in those seven years working to coordinate part of the the UK’s lesbian social scene, I’ve come to see how badly we need a dedicated, strictly female-only event space — now more than ever. 

Men have been encroaching on the lesbian community, and the problem is only getting worse. There’s been a sense of inevitability, that this is just something we have to learn to live with.

But I’ve had it.

In June, I skipped London’s official Pride festivities and instead visited an alternative, independent event at the Hampstead Ponds. It was a female-only picnic. Hundreds of women of all ages were gathered, from their teens to their eighties. And the sublime joy that I felt that day led me to a eureka moment:

We need this. We deserve this. This is our right. As lesbians and bisexual women, we have a right to social spaces that are entirely our own.

So, earlier this year, I decided to implement a women-only policy at my events. Although this sparked controversy, we ultimately received recognition from the UK’s largest pub operator that it is legitimate to hold women-only lesbian events - a real victory!

And then it suddenly dawned on me: we need more and not only do we need this, I can do this. I feel I have a good sense of the UK market for lesbian social events. So I crunched some numbers and developed a business proposal. I gauged interest and studied feasibility. And I’m excited to tell you: I believe this can work.

My plan involves establishing a private members’ club and securing a prime physical space in London. By day, this space will operate as a versatile hybrid workspace, becoming a venue hosting various social events in the evenings and weekends. Alongside these, we'll provide online events, and collaborate with service providers for health and wellness advice, fitness guidance, group trips, and more. Revenue will come from the events, partnerships, as well as from membership dues.

To the lesbian and bisexual women reading this: you’re welcome to get in touch with me if you’d like to learn more. There's an opportunity to invest if you’re interested, too. I’ve got a pitch deck I would be happy to show you and a fully fleshed-out, 50-page business plan. And I’m happy to report that there are already investors who have given the thumbs up. 

Following my announcement and inspired by the community's heartwarming response, I decided to introduce an early-bird membership programme. This includes a personalised QR-coded membership card for exclusive updates and access to a members’ discussion space. Joining early also signifies your part in accelerating our community's launch. 

Which brings me to another issue, and it’s a big part of the reason I’m writing this now: online critics. There’s a small but vocal group of people online who’ve been saying some pretty nasty and completely unfounded things about me. This group of people have taken to personal insults, and accusations that I’m a fraudster and a grifter.

I’m not entirely surprised to encounter pushback, but at the same time, the level of vitriol has been eye-opening.

But I try to put it in a bigger context: Lesbians have faced so much abuse, and for so long we’ve had to settle for having social spaces conditionally, on terms set by men. There’s a climate of distrust and fear looming over the lesbian community as a result. So much so that today the idea of even having one single space fully dedicated to lesbian and bisexual women seems so radical, some people’s initial reaction is that there’s got to be a catch.

I completely understand that a good dose of scrutiny, of tempering optimism with some degree of caution, is reasonable. It’s healthy. And it’s entirely welcome.

But personal insults and unfounded accusations are not. I know that emotions are running high, and we as a community are feeling beleaguered right now. But that’s no excuse to target my Irishness in personal attacks, for example. Or to target my business supporters with lies about me.

I'm not here to push or persuade anyone who doesn't feel the spark for this project. However, for those who do, our project investors' safety and security are crucial — capital funds are securely placed in escrow and I've teamed up with a business consultant who's right here supporting us until opening day. We’ve put together a solid business plan.

If anything, the tenor of some of the criticism I’ve faced only hardens my resolve: it just highlights how badly women need a space to unite us, to heal us in this difficult time.

It’s been upsetting to endure the smear campaign that a small online group has thrown at me… but my mind keeps going back to that Edenic afternoon at the Hampstead Ponds, where hundreds of women were gathered in serenity and harmony.

This will heal us. This will unite us. And it will make us all stronger. Lesbian strength comes through unity.

There are various ways you can help, but the most crucial one is spreading the word - our message is the most important part of this project. 

Other than that, as I mentioned earlier, if you are a lesbian/bi woman, there is the option to join as an early-bird member (however, this is not compulsory; you can wait until our opening). Additionally, there's the opportunity for investment or donation. I've prepared a comprehensive 50-page business plan and pitch deck available for those who are interested.

For a deeper understanding of the project, feel free to visit our website or you can email me at contact@lcommunity.co.uk 

Any form of support you can offer is immensely appreciated as we work towards making this a reality.  

We can do this. So let’s do it!

[twopoppies]

I'm going with my sister to London soon so of course I'm in charge of planning this trip.

This is going to be our first time going there and my sister is sooo impressed with my knowledge of everything London and UK related and I always tell her that I just google everything or that I saw it on TikTok.

The truth is I absolutely CAN'T tell her that 95% of the things I know is because I'm obsessed with the guys and I read fics that can be pretty descriptive.

And it's not because I'm ashamed, she definitely knows of my love for them and whatever but I'm not gonna tell her that I know Hampstead has a designated pond for women and another one for men because Harry loves to swim there or that I know where Mayfair is because Harry and Louis met there in my favourite fic or that my english vocabulary is mostly british because even though I learned american english in school I have read so many fics that it comes naturally to me to say rubbish, loo, trousers and so on.

I found the whole situation very funny, never thought that reading Larry fics would be actually useful

HAHAHA! That reminds me that I have an I LEARNED IT FROM FIC tag

I hope you guys have a wonderful trip!

[so-idialed-9]

Harry's secret visit to women's only Hampstead Ladies Pond

This is the most Harry thing to do - go to the Ladies Only Pond with his favorite mug and some breakfast food to share. Did the mug have a pun on it? Did he tell everyone he used to be a baker? What did he make? I love that this is what he wanted to do with his time - swim and potluck with the ladies.

"Swimmers at the Hampstead Ladies’ Pond were thrilled to find a surprise guest at their breakfast on Sunday: superstar Harry Styles.

The singer popped down secretly from his home nearby for breakfast and a quick dip. The event, a “Shared Breakfast at the Ladies Pond”, was offering free drinks and croissants, but asked guests to bring their own mug, as well as food to share. The ladies pond is not usually open to men, though Harry’s a very special case." Evening Standard, Oct 11 2023

To be fair, the pond was open to men for the day, but I prefer the wording that Harry's a special case and is one of the girls.

[alarrytale]

New pic of Harry and TR at the Mens Pond on Hampstead Heath. That pond is only open to women on Christmas Day so Louis and Harry both spent Xmas Day stunting instead of with each other 😥

Ohhh Harry spent Christmas with Taylor, that's so beautiful. They are such a cute couple. And Louis spent his with his Son and his family. What a way to end the year!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Hi, anons!

Is this your first stunt? L and H stunting through Christmas is something we should be used to by now... I know it's disappointing, but after years of this shouldn't you have developed a little 'i know it's going to happen, but idgaf'-energy by now? I'm not fazed by any of this at all.

First of all, there is no way to tell when that picture was taken. They are not actually in the pond so it could be taken a month ago for all we know. If it's actually recent, then it's par for the course. It's nothing new.

Second of all, you do know that stunting during holidays and during times when people expect them to spend time with loved ones (aka Christmas, weddings, birthdays etc.) is the easiest way to sell a stunt? Surely L wouldn't be spending his family time stunting with F? Surely they wouldn't fly F across the ocean to spend Christmas with strangers? Surely TR wouldn't be across the ocean stunting during Christmas? So it must be real!

They are both closeted and contractually obligated to stunt. Stunting during Christmas is low effort for high rewards. They are both all about low effort, even if that means sacrificing their holidays. It's just how things are. If you're not used to it by now you should start to expect it. It's probably going to happen next Christmas too (if not by some miracle they're out by then...).

[majhee]

Top 10 Colposcopy Clinics in London: Ensuring the Best Care

When it comes to women's health, choosing the right clinic for specialized procedures like colposcopy is crucial. Colposcopy is an essential diagnostic tool for detecting cervical abnormalities, and having it done at a reputable clinic ensures you receive the highest quality care. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the top 10 colposcopy clinics in London, each known for their exceptional services, experienced staff, and patient-focused care.

1. Grosvenor Gardens Healthcare

Location: 7-10 Grosvenor Gardens, Belgravia, SW1W 0DH Website: Grosvenor Gardens Healthcare

Grosvenor Gardens Healthcare provides comprehensive women's health services in a modern facility. The clinic is known for its personalized care and experienced medical professionals.

2. Harley Street Gynaecology

Location: 113-115 Harley Street, Marylebone, W1G 6AP Website: Harley Street Gynaecology

Harley Street Gynaecology offers top-notch colposcopy services with a team of expert gynecologists. The clinic prides itself on providing personalized care in a comfortable and professional setting.

3. The London Clinic

Location: 20 Devonshire Place, Marylebone, W1G 6BW Website: The London Clinic

The London Clinic is renowned for its high standards and comprehensive medical services. With advanced diagnostic technology and expert gynecologists, patients receive precise and compassionate care.

4. Harley Street Clinic

Location: 35 Weymouth Street, Marylebone, W1G 8BJ Website: Harley Street Clinic

Known for its elite medical services, Harley Street Clinic offers personalized treatment plans from top specialists. The clinic is famous for its patient comfort and state-of-the-art facilities.

5. Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital

Location: Great Maze Pond, SE1 9RT Website: Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital

This esteemed NHS hospital provides extensive women's health services. The colposcopy clinic is staffed by highly skilled professionals and offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment options.

6. The Portland Hospital

Location: 205-209 Great Portland Street, Marylebone, W1W 5AH Website: The Portland Hospital

Specializing in women’s health and maternity care, The Portland Hospital is part of HCA Healthcare UK. The clinic uses the latest diagnostic tools and offers care from experienced gynecologists.

7. Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Location: 369 Fulham Road, SW10 9NH Website: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is dedicated to patient-centered care, delivering excellent clinical outcomes. It features a professional healthcare team and advanced medical technology.

8. University College Hospital (UCH)

Location: 235 Euston Road, NW1 2BU Website: University College Hospital

Part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UCH is known for its research-based approach and superior patient care. The colposcopy clinic uses advanced diagnostic tools for effective treatment.

9. Royal Free Hospital

Location: Pond Street, Hampstead, NW3 2QG Website: Royal Free Hospital

Royal Free Hospital emphasizes patient safety and comfort. The gynecology department offers high-quality colposcopy services with advanced equipment and specialized professionals.

10. King’s College Hospital

Location: Denmark Hill, SE5 9RS Website: King’s College Hospital

King’s College Hospital provides comprehensive healthcare services. The colposcopy clinic is known for its supportive environment, experienced gynecologists, and cutting-edge technology.

[wellthatwasaletdown]

That article goes hard. It looks to me like someone was commissioned to write a puff piece and decided to put the boot in while acknowledging Harry is rich and successful and seems nice. Which I guess he was told to include.

-Harry looks hot swimming

-btw the Hampstead Men’s Pond was a popular cruising area and he’s made millions from his sexual ambiguity

-Harry is very rich and apparently unpresuming

-exclusive sources (lol) say he’s ready to be away from the spotlight

-hasn’t dated Taylor long but ready to start a family

-quote about starting a family which I’m sure I read in the DM last week

-no new projects soon

-career is tailor-made to appeal to TikTok generation that subverts stereotypes (again, lol, knowing how many 40-something cash-rich mothers he appeals to)

-Harry is rich and successful

-Harry has expensive property

-Harry came from humble roots

-Harry was a cute kid

-One Direction

-“a temporary hiatus became a permanent split when Harry” did xyz - controversial!

-his bandmates have flopped - controversial!

-Harry is rich and successful

-Harry’s clothes, hmm

-the dress Vogue cover controversy

-queerbaiting!

-but he has never confirmed or denied

-he’s only ever dated women, in italics in the article lol

-Caroline Flack committed suicide

-“perhaps ill-advised forays into acting” pmsl

-quotes from critics, oh dear

-DWD descent into farce

-Florence Pugh reportedly furious

-shit film, promo gossip

-Harry seems normal though

-old quote from Anne repackaged

-“one wonders if Anne’s little boy has finally grown up” excuse me while I vomit

If his people gave a quote for this, I hope they’re furious at what’s been done with it 😂

Why are they dragging what happened to Caroline Flack into his mess? They dated for 5 minutes.

[dogsliampaynedoesntinstagram]

New pic of Harry and TR at the Men's Pond on Hampstead Heath. That pond is only open to women on Christmas Day so Louis and Harry both spent Xmas Day stunting instead of with each other 😥

I'm sorry if that makes you sad anon (at least that's what the emoji suggests.

I think perhaps the fact that you're thinking of their life as 'stunting' and 'not stunting' might add to your misery.

I don't think Louis spent Christmas 'stunting'. He was with his family doing family things. Freddie wouldn't be part of Louis' family Christmas if that wasn't what Louis wants.

Harry seems to really love the men's ponds. I think it's a big leap to assume that if he was going there with someone he was pretending to date it would be a 'stunt'. Maybe he's just going somewhere

I think rather than thinking of particular moments as stunts (particularly when there's zero publicity involved) - it's useful to think that they're really living their lives and really forming relationships with people. And that is shaped by their fame and it may be shaped by stories they're telling us that are not true. But they are the people navigating this set of circumstances and making decisions about their own lives.

[stylesunchained]

No offense but you’re being incredibly biphobic, as someone who is bisexual. Harry can sing his heart out about eating pussy and also be sucking whoever’s dick because as he has said in a song, he likes it both ways. Also why would random gay men make up fake rumors about him at the ponds? Men who aren’t even his fans or care enough to make up fake stories. It sounds like you just don’t want him to be attracted to men which is on the other end of the spectrum of the harries who don’t want him to be attracted to women. Both of you are wrong. Trust me Harry likes both men and women and you denying that won’t change anything. The way Harry expresses his attraction for men will never be as public or blatant as his attraction for women because he’s the biggest male pop star in the world and sadly (judging by your thoughts and asks) homophobia is still extremely prevalent in today’s society. Hope you understand how offensive you’re coming across instead of automatically denying it and going into defensive mode.

Just because you think I’m wrong doesn’t automatically mean you’re right. And I think it’s funny you’re saying I’m being offensive when you’re the one forcing a sexuality onto Harry when he himself hasn’t claimed as his. A song - that fans interpreted themselves it’s about him being bi and HE hasn’t said that it is about him or about his sexuality and that fans also immediately changed the lyrics to fit into this narrative that you created on your minds - also doesn’t mean he’s bi.

And here’s the thing: if he were bi, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. I never did lmao My problem is with people who continuously go against what he says and does because THEY want him to be gay or bi or everything else people say he is. The choice is his and my problem is with the people who insistently, like you’re doing right now, project onto him and say something is certain when Harry himself hasn’t been vocal about it. I tend to believe what he says and shows me instead of picking a sexuality for him according to what I think or according to lyrics that people make up in their heads to fit a narrative.

And about men making up rumors… they themselves admitted they did it for clout. And the fact people think Harry, who is a very private person, would go out on a limb and have sex in plain sight in Hampstead Heath… y’all are just acting dumb at this point. If he has been with men - which I don’t know and can’t say for sure because I’m not him and I’m not privy to that information - he’d most certainly do it in private, just like he does with women.

Hope you understand how offensive you’re coming across by pushing a sexuality onto him he hasn’t said himself is his instead of automatically denying it and going into defensive mode.

[queercovens]

Hampstead Ponds are very special to me. I grew up coming here with my mum. She would tell me stories about my grandma coming here when she'd just moved to London from Demark in the 60s. I trapsed here on many sweltering summer days throughout my teens with my best friends. And I now continue coming here, mostly on the grey days, mostly on my own. Everyone that comes here knows it's special. Maybe just because this muddy duck pond is the best we can hope for in the way of swimming spots as Londoners. Or maybe there truly is a tangible low level buzz of energy that draws people in. If we all believe something to be true, then it is, right?   The space is not without its criticisms, with a loud minority of people aiming to exclude trans women from enjoying this peaceful and joyful place. So far they have, thank goddess, been unsuccessful in their plight to exclude, bar and barricade out members of the ponds community. Creating these harmful divisions would, of course, strip the beauty from the ponds, the low level buzz that keeps us all coming back, to be part of something, to be accepted and celebrated.  

[cherubthefish]

He told me he worked for an Oligarch.

L: His house is up by the pond in Hampstead. Next to the roundabout, where the pub is on the corner.

At the top before you dip down to Golders Green?

L: Not Hampstead, sorry. Highgate.

Pond square?

L: Not pond square. Right, okay. So if you’re at pond square, you go down the road by the school and you get to the roundabout.

Sure, I say. (I didn’t)

L: Where the pub is on the corner.

Sure, I say again.

L: He’s got gold everything! Gold taps, gold cutlery, everything.

Gold toilet?

L: I'm telling you gold everything!

Were you allowed to use it?

L: Yeah. He’s a really nice guy.

He paused.

L: I worked on his house, when I first started out. Must have been 28 at the time, something like that, when I did my first job there.

He paused again.

L: I met both his daughters. No, I wasn’t with my wife then. Or was I? Actually I might have been. They were both 18/19, couldn’t have been much older. Bear in mind I would’ve been ten years older than them.

L: They were beautiful. I mean still today the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. They came down the stairs and said hello to me and really, they were just stunning.

L: You know, I met one of them again years later? I said to her ‘You have a sister, don’t you?’ I met you before. She didn’t remember! I was surprised she didn't remember. "I’m suprised you don’t remember." I said to her. "You came down the stairs and said hello to me." I didn't tell her of course.

No you can’t.

L: But even at 35, she was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

[thedraught]

my year in reading | 2022

My books this year were filled with water. Whether their contents overflowed into my life and made me crave the liquid pools of wet more than ever, or whether my summer spent in lakes made me seek them out I may never know. There was a lot of wildness in my reading this year, contemporary writers and many women accidentally. I peered through the cracks of sentences and letters into the lives of others in memoirs and truly felt as though a part of everything I read tethered and centred me this year, teaching me to find a way into my body.

I wrote a lot, for work, and my own writing came too short, as did my reading. And yet, when I look back, I see so much light and airiness that this year has sent my way, no matter the hardships I experienced or the tears I may have shed, that I cannot bear to discount this year. I learned in every conceivable way and I am hopeful that I can apply the lessons I have picked up on further down my path as I continue to move through words and imagery and make sense of what I see.

Thanks for reading the draught! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Subscribe

This year has given me much joy, my body suspended in bodies of water, hugs and love and so much more music than ever. So I can overlook my failings in the reading department and will continue to call this year visual and social without any regrets. It is a strange yet rewarding feeling to piece the year I had back together through books and photos on my camera roll. So much can happen in so little time, even though I did not experience an actual displacement this year for once, and it is difficult to imagine where I might be this time around 12 months from now, less than 48 hours before the turning over into another year. It is a surreal and scary but also an exciting feeling that I have not yet managed to grasp. So all I can suggest you do, if you feel even remotely the same, is to

Blink three times when you feel it kicking in.

And to look back at all the countless highlights you likely experienced.

My first full year in Berlin began not in Berlin at all, but on a balcony in Rudolstadt, screaming Total Eclipse of the Heart and All Too Well (10 Minute Version) into the newly born January night. I only read one book this cold and grey, grey month, The Written World, while navigating through my new life, receiving visitors and waiting for the heating to get fixed.

February was calm. I saw my grandmother and breathlessly followed the news, battled the winds on Tempelhofer Feld and read inconclusive Japanese fiction (The Factory). I revisited Seanen McGuire’s magical lands in Where the Drowned Girls Go and stayed in the realm of water - the major reading theme this year - with At the Pond, a charming and inspiring anthology about swimming at the Hampstead Ladies Pond.

The highlight of this month (and maybe of this year?) was Doireann Ní Ghríofa’s exquisitely crafted A Ghost in the Throat that made me long for writing and had me seek out many more memoirs for the rest of the year.

I injured my leg running to a yoga class in March, spent a weekend in blissful regency London with J and concocted a violet drink brewed from the arguably worst beverages there are: Dos Mas & ISO. The only book I read this month was The Language of Birds and there’s not much to say about that.

J and me returned to the Bridgerton-realm this April and read the entire Smythe-Smith Quartet, a stark disappointment in contract to the original series. I went to a Bachelorette party as well as a wedding this month and got drunk, drunk, drunk on Hugo of all things. I was successful in not throwing up in the car and read The Houseguest and my first Didion with The Year of Magical Thinking. A Taylor Swift string quartet rounded off the month with a perfect visit from J and lots of vegan food.

I only read four books in May, despite finally catching Covid and spending the first really hot days of the year confined inside. I did tackle the magical and exquisitely crafted Drive your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, was deeply stressed about apartment searching and read two contemporary novels: Nightbitch and Everyone in this Room Will Someday Be Dead, the latter of which was disappointing despite its enticing title. I celebrated M’s birthday, watched trees greening and found a new apartment two days before the end of the month.

Summer entered with a bang and I spent a portion of my June sitting amidst boxes and boxes of my stuff, planning and sorting. I read The House of Mirth and thoroughly enjoyed it, flew through Mona Awad’s All’s Well and read parts of Snuff on K, M’s and my 9€-ticket trip to the Sächsische Schweiz. Sunshine, heat and Lorde’s Solar Power tour made for the magical beginning of a glorious summer - beaming and glittering all around.

July (and very much the rest of my year) was water based. I swam in many different waters and began my journey through many more books centred around cool liquid lakes and oceans, among them this month The Pisces, another contemporary novel. I swam with the company during a canoeing adventure in the Spree, visited many lakes, took friends out on boats and swam in the Badeschiff. We ran through the fountain in the park during lunch breaks and S sprayed us with his spray bottle in the stuffy office.

August continued with its blessed weather and I frequented lake after lake after lake. With M, with B, sometimes alone even, traipsing through the woods and following Jessica J. Lees footsteps through Berlin in Turning. I finally read Where the Crawdads Sing (another watery story) and was touched by Solnit’s The Faraway Nearby. On a birthday trip to eastern France with my family I found my perfect farmhouse table and lounged in a farmhouse in the perfect overalls and by candlelight.

I read nothing in September, busy with a social week at work, drinks and laughs and rooftops and flowers from good friends. I tried to go to a party - and failed, I hosted M and met old friends amidst entering an emotionally turbulent time that now, looking back, taught me many things I needed to feel.

October continued my highly social drive. I carved pumpkins, sewed costumes and had my mum visit for a lovely trip. October saw the release of Taylor Swift’s Midnights and had me host a release party for J, M, M, A and A at my table that finally made it over to me from France. The books I read were all a throwback re-read from the Jette Weingärtner series by Monika Feth that re-entered my mind after a fun day of ice skating together with T at home.

F visited me in November and through him I made a new (and talented!) friend T who sings with me. I met J and brought her a specially made cake and crafted an advent calendar together with N whilst watching the worst Christmas movie ever made. I continued my path through Monika Feth’s series and met Joan Didion once more, as I immersed myself in her Blue Nights before embarking on the final month of the year…

In this poor reading year, I saw myself in a final reading frenzy in December. Broken by Backman’s The Winners - and actually watching a real ice hockey match - filled to the brim again with water in four gorgeous books: Saltwater, Summerwater, Pond and Turning that each moved me in a different way. I went home, engrossed in Die Wand (which was mentioned in Pond) and devastated all the same. I am not sure how (or if) I will ever get over the passing of Luchs or Benji for that matter.

Now, 9 books richer over Christmas, a new diary to fill and excitement overflowing all my edges, I cannot wait for what’s to come. A more succinct Year in Reading, perhaps. A diary filled with words more than pictures. A year of new beginnings, of Taylor (likely), friends and calm.

P.S. My year - at least the atmosphere, feeling and mindset - is probably best summed up through my Spotify wrapped this year: glitter, pink and girly happiness.

[camdensedimenta]

#PondsSoWhite

by Karla La Pond Antoinette

Hampstead Village Voice submission APRIL 2019 (unpublished & unabridged)

This New Year, a phenomenal surge of new winter swimmers unexpectedly followed the launch of 'The Ponds' film (2019), aided no doubt by that weirdly atypical February heatwave. Whatever the arguable merits and demerits of this popular feature length documentary, it's Oh-So-White profiling of all three Hampstead Heath swimming ponds, is an inescapable complexion which director Patrick McLelland cannot deny, try as he does. A local Indian woman approached him to interview her informal swimming group of NW5 habituees, the self-styled 'Kenwood Slappers'. All had their voices heard except she, the only B.A.M.E member.

The film makers' repeated defence that the Kenwood Ladies' Pond Association (KLPA) only sanctioned limited filming access does not embolden their argument. Our segment conveyed a sufficient sense of women's spiritual and playful political solidarity (excluding that nonsensical trans joke) with just four days' worth of footage. Yet our pond is a terrific tapestry of London's variously-melanated females.

To my knowledge, in 30 years, race has never overtly provoked anyone there. Class, gender, sex and even sexual activity, certainly have - though rarely. Swimsuits, for the most part, are a great leveller.

Photographer Ruth Corney being interviewed for The Ponds film (2019) ­Laser Guided Prods Ltd.

This film portrays the swimmers as mostly middle aged, middle class and oh-so-white. That may play in to a romanticised image of Hampstead and Highgate as an olde worlde Anglo-Saxon idyll replete with charming home county types, yet Blacks, Indians and Jews have lived locally for generations even at Kenwood House. For women, the pond is a refugia. A theatre of their sanctity - bodily, spiritual and sexual. The coalitions are sensed inwardly, while the men's are more outwardly. Many feel the Ladies' Pond should remain hidden and inaccessible to preserve its' power. The photography ban at our pond primarily protects religious women's privacy (Jewish and Muslim). But in truth, the rest of us feel like Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter these days. Instagram be damned! Lately, unwanted male ingressions both adult and little boys with their entitled mothers are an increasing annoyance. A sign of the impolite times? Or the felling of former tree cover by The City for their damned Dams Project in 2016? Too much publicity whatever. Dunno what happens at the mixed - apart from two hetero lifeguards meeting and marrying there last year. Lovely.

RELATED LOCAL EVENTS

Until mid-August Burgh House has a wonderful exhibition of the bathing ponds through history; includes vintage home photography, articles, books and stills from the film. www.burghhouse.org.u

On June 20th 2019, Daunt Books launch an anthology of women's pond stories by established writers such as Esther Freud, Margaret Drabble & Deborah Moggach. Our review out in the next issue.

June 2019 - 'City Swimmers' (2006) KLPA's film made with Margaret Dickinson will be re-screened at Highgate's 'Fair on the Square' in tandem with 'The Ponds' film. It documents swimmers' protest against The City's then threat to shut all ponds.  www.klpa.uk

Summer 2019, KLPA's material heritage (photos, articles, artwork & letters from Jeremy Corbyn, Glenda Jackson, Roger Deakin et al) will go to The City Of London's Bishopsgate Archive for all to access.

Visitor at Burgh House's 'Bathing Ponds of Hampstead' exhibition 2019

Addendum:

The film does work on several levels albeit bland ones.

The title is: 'Hampstead Heath: 350 hectares of forest and parkland.' Error number 1. Geologically, it is, in fact, ancient heathland with a managed woodland. Since Saxon times until the 1950's it was an agro-industrial landscape. My father, born locally in 1926 was once a Hampstead Councillor. He remembered walking idly amongst the dozy sheep and I'm not referring to his electorate - at least not knowingly!

There were female breasts on display in the film but no male butts for balance - unless one includes out of focus shots in the background at the nude sunbathing area in the men's changing rooms. No mention of gays at the ladies yet there was at the mens - mostly by straight guys, it seemed. That trans joke was idiotic and shouldn't have been included. (N.B. The BBC TV edit did cut it)

Why did no salaried female lifeguards want to be filmed - they know better.

Also, the music was ghastly. This is Camden! We have a reputation.