Incoming!

The garden hasn’t quite been right, as you know we did huge amounts of work, but it just needed something… something to give it a bit of sparkle, a bit of glamour. We feel like we have created a party house, but it needs a party garden to go with it.  We planned it out a long time ago, but as with all things now, deliveries take a lot longer than they used to and this one was coming from the party capital of the world, Las Vegas.

We started with a gazebo, something to dangle fairy lights over and add a bit of height to the twinkle, our fabulous neighbours were there to help. There was a bit of chuckle brothers (to me, to you), a few giggles and the odd expletive about it all, but up it went, ready for the main event. 

We've had a windy few days, so anxiety was high as the big day arrived, but fear not, someone was on our side and the wind dropped. The beast of a crane parked on the drive and we were good to go.

There were moments it looked huge, moments it looked small, moments of will it fit? And moments of relief as it settled perfectly in its new home. Not a fish pond, not a hot tub, but a swim spa!

It’s a combination of a swimming pool, jacuzzi, and if you heat it enough (we don’t), a hot tub. It is fabulous! Ian has always wanted a swimming pool, he loves swimming, and although I am not as great a swimmer as I was before by metal arm and leg adjustments(!), I love it too. We talked for a long time about having a pool, digging it out and building it ourselves, but in the end this was a much better option. We plan to swim every day we possibly can, it will help with fitness and ease the ever present aches and pains of ageing.

As it swung over the house the neighbours were out in force across the street with others joining us in the garden, and although sadly leaving too soon to have a go, it was fabulous to have my childhood  (notice I did not say old!) friend Rachel staying too.

We bought it from a local family firm who all came along to help with the install and show us how to care for it. Nigel, our neighbour, was an electrician in a former job, so he connected it up to the cables Ian had wired in months ago. We’d been waiting so long it had been hard to picture it being in position, but it looks great.

We had to wait a few days to fill her, treat the water and heat her, but I got the very first swim in my lunch break from work. It was amazing!

We have jets at one end to swim against and a swim belt that holds you up and stops you moving forwards. It feels slightly different to swimming in a pool, a bit more like open water swimming and it’s really hard work! We’ve had 3 days of swimming now and we can already feel the difference. We can swim for a little longer each day, can feel the benefit of the exercise and generally feel better… well worth the wait! 

 

However, in the evening, she transforms from a pool to a sparking water feature! When we found her she was already on order from the manufacturer, so we got whatever features had been added to the standard model, we would never have ordered the lights, but they are stunning. 

We  were also given some lovely warm robes and slippers as delivery was delayed so long and on a cold windy night, they certainly help as you get out.

At the opposite end to the swim jets we have a jacuzzi with really powerful jets and another few seats without jets but lovely to sit in just to relax. We know how incredibly fortunate we are, and we are loving every moment. Our garden now has its glamour and sparkle…. Now all we need is the party!