Actually the season began on February 1st. I wasn’t there. I don’t like to see the trees still bare. Nothing much happens until the beginning of April. This is such an exciting time.

It feels like just yesterday that I began fishing here. I had phoned Jean and said I was interested in membership and we made a date for Nedra and me to come and see the water. Jean gave us tea, and the nicest biscuits, and she showed us around the lakes. I joined up then and there. It was if I were destined to become a part of this, that it was already pre-determined.

So much around us is imperfect, but when we come here, the world seems to have turned right. That of course is an illusion, and the reality comes quickly back.

Ashmere got a bench last season, a memorial bench. One of our members died, and his family and friends put down a bench in his honour. What a nice gesture, and they scattered his ashes here. There are lots of ashes here – Jean said there were those of twenty deceased members.