Guard dogs!

 

Guard dogs!

We had some workmen here a few days ago, draining and servicing the pool. It’s something that has to be done every five years.

Roxy had a field day ‘seeing them off,’ except that all her noise was ineffective! She stood at the patio door, tail wagging furiously, barking her head off, longing to go out and make their acquaintance. There should not be strangers in her garden, she knew, and yet she would have loved to get to know them. Gilbert’s a very quiet dog and stood behind her, less sure, and learning from her that sometimes it’s good to bark.

The men, of course, took absolutely no notice.

It was all done and dusted in a couple of hours. There followed several hours of refilling, so it was a late night for us as we waited . . . and waited.

It took three years of intermittent thinking and discussing before we decided to go ahead and install an endless pool. The idea was planted because Barry’s knees were in such a parlous state that he was told to stop his life-long cross-country running, and advised to take water-based exercise. That is not an easy thing to do in a public pool, even one attached to a spa. ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ and their ilk object to their watery environment being used by people trying to exercise, or even those attempting to swim.

Construction was commenced in 2009, the same year I started this blog. Anyone interested in the Endless Saga of the Endless Pool should type ‘endless pool’ in the ‘search this blog’ bar.

Eve, Elliot and Louis, now 24, 26 and 22

 It has been a delight to see the grandchildren enjoying the pool. Callum, now twenty-seven, often asks if he can use it when he visits.

Frankie, now 12

I am looking forward to getting out there again for some gentle swimming and shall be nagging Barry to get out there and get on with it. He’s easier to live with when he’s well exercised, (like a thoroughbred horse! Maybe not!) and he’s had a year of not doing very much – not his fault, of course.

I need him to keep fit, as I’ve no idea what to do with the pool, other than swim in it. I’m sure there are people I could call on . . .