Gone fishin’

It was grey and miserable on Friday when I walked round the boating pond, but that was not putting off those keen fishermen who, finally released from lock down a few weeks ago, have scarcely been able to get near the pond for the hordes of un-socially distanced families and people ‘working from home’.  So the grey chill of Friday suited them a treat and they were out in force.

Fishing in the boating pond in one of the mysteries of Hampstead Heath. I have now been walking around the boating pond for over 40 years and I have never – not even once – seen anyone catch anything. Not even an old boot. But there they are, fully kitted up with their overnight tents and not just one rod, but three. I am not sure whether they do actually stay overnight but each little tent has a camp bed and usually a primus stove. I didn’t want to poke my camera too intrusively into their tents as I walked by but you can see that they are well set up.

(If you want to see the video you will need to click onto the blog as the email notification does not include the video.)

I did actually think that these two might have caught something at the end of this little clip – but no….

So maybe the fishing bit is actually irrelevant – just an excuse to sit by the pond on your own or with a friend, with a can of lager – or not – and contemplate the world. And what’s wrong with that?

My daily blog now has an Instagram account! WalksonHampsteadHeath – the idea being to widen the circle of people who might enjoy a daily ramble across the heath. Please follow us and pass on the news!!

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