October the 5th, the first technically cold swim of the autumn at the ladies pond, though you wouldn’t know it. The sunshine today was so glorious we got to bask in its warm beams in the grassy meadows after. The equinox (mabon) on the 21st sept marked my first year of swimming in the ladies pond through all the seasons, which also coincided with the 100 year anniversary of women being allowed to swim in this space.
I’ve had the privilege of getting to know so many incredible women in this time, who have inadvertently taught me so much about resilience. Before this I really struggled through the winter months, but this year has taught me how to truly appreciate the changing of the seasons. Autumn might be my favourite, though all the time in the woods means I’m getting bashed in the head by falling conkers and acorns a disproportional amount. Also have heard owls on almost every visit in the last fortnight and they just make the most beautiful sounds. You kind of feel it in the chest it’s so incredible!
In April, which was also 16 degrees at the time, over 100 of us did a synchronised swim forming the number 100 and I hadn’t realised but someone made a gorgeous silk banner of it! It’s overlaid with photos of the women who swam here decades before us. Anyway. That day I learned neoprene booties are awesome and I can in fact tread water for 47 mins in 16 degree water without getting hypothermia.
Anyway the drone footage was pretty cool and we ended up in a few of the local papers, it’s felt like a pretty special year to be my first year. As the water does get colder, the little doubts about whether I will make it all year again when the sun stops shining and the ground loses its warmth. But a bigger part of me is very excited about cosy season, giant fleeces and little icicles on the entry ladder and hot tea.
My hands down favourite wildlife moment was in late spring, and I heard a weird squeaking noise from the long grass. Found a little frog and thought he had caught himself in a thorn! Anyway turns out he had caught his foot, in the mouth of a baby snake with eyes much larger than its stomach. Though, I am pretty sure I am successfully befriending crows and the fox has stopped trying to pee on my shoes.
It was a beautiful summer, here’s to autumn!