Last cast

Sharing’s the new reality, writes Giles Catchpole

ILLUSTRATION: OLLY COPPLESTONE

I WAS PESTERING TROUT DOWN AT THE pond recently when a substantial group of people hoved into view along the sea-wall. I was on the other side of the pond and was therefore only a remote witness to what followed.

There were, I suspect, two families: parents and children; and every family has a dog these days. There were three involved here. Some of the young were on bicycles, others on foot. They were clearly enjoying themselves as I could hear the tones of animated conversation and laughter carried across the water. They paused almost opposite me and began to hurl tennis balls into the lake for the dogs to retrieve. Everybody had a go, each straining to hurl the ball further than the last. The dogs loved it, of course, hurling themselves off the bank with evident enthusiasm. Brave entry is the technical term, isn’t it? They were very brave.