Ruislip Lido

Early this morning we waved off my sister A and brother in law, who were heading  to Heathrow to take their flight back to Australia. 

Later on, C and I  took our mother  to have her hearing  aids checked. 

On our way home we visited Ruislip Lido, (really a reservoir) somewhere we hadn't visited since we were children. The reservoir was originally  created in 1811 as a feeder basin for the  Grand Union Canal.Later in the 1930s it was reopened  as a lido with a beach and facilities for swimming and boating. In 1945  a narrow gauge railway was added. The lido fell into a state of disrepair in the 1970s and 1980s but, eventually in about 2010,  it was subject to a big renewal programme by Hillingdon Council.
Now the lake is managed for wildlife, and although the beach is open,  swimming and boating are no longer allowed. In my blip you can see the "beach"in the distance. There were lots of ducks, swans and coots on the water and swifts flying overhead.
The little railway wasn't operating  today but I am determined to return one weekend to take my Mum on the train as it would allow us to see the full extent of the lake.  She was especially interested to see where she  used to swim as a young person.