Abbey Park - An Introduction

When I ventured to the park with my Dad, the rowing boats held the biggest attraction. Dad would row us out to the little island in the middle of the lake. It was always forbidden territory and the only way to reach it was by boat, but you were not allowed to leave the boat and step onto it's sacred shores! That would come later, when I was older, more daring and under my brother's influence of course!

I so wanted to be able to row a boat like my Dad could. The little kids you see would hire the paddle boats, simple things and lots of fun, but not much of a challenge. I had to row like an adult and row I would! I still to this day cannot recall how many steadfast circles my Dad endured, but eventually I lost the curve and it was 'straight ahead Captain!' It was something learned and never forgotten.

The Aviary was an attraction that has since grown into a mini zoo. In my youth it solely featured birds, both domestic and foreign. We would try and tempt the Peacock into spreading his tail, coax the parrot to reply to our 'hello' (that's all the poor thing heard), and then we would move onto the Mynah bird. The Mynah bird was special. He didn't have particularly attractive features and his feathered coat was an even shade of black, but boy could he talk! Everything and anything that bird could say, and probably a few words he shouldn't have too!

As I grew older, it was almost as if the park grew with me. The attractions changed, or should I say, I changed. Despite the changes within myself, Abbey Park adapted itself to me, and although I now visited with my friends rather than my Dad, and irrespective of it's familiarity, it never became mundane and it always managed to retain my interest.

The entire park was ideal for 'hide and seek' or 'hares & hounds.' The old ruins were great for breaking legs on, the bridge was great for getting thrown off of and the trees bore excellent rope swings!! Then the flowers! Roses, Tulips, and Daffodils of every shade and colour. My Mum particularly liked them when we took them home for her. I don't think she really fully appreciated what we went through though. Those thorns were extremely sharp, especially when you fell on one

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