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Fernlea 2008 Photos & News
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Our
New Outside Swimming Pool
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Fernlea's views are wonderful, it is
lovely sitting out and enjoying them but we have so much rain that this
doesn't happen too often. The heavy rain is also problematic because
the water runs off the lane and down our drive. But I've thought of
a way of enjoying these beautiful vistas as well as using the natural
elements and prevent the pools of rainwater collecting outside the house.
What about enjoying the views whilst sitting in a swimming pool in the
middle of our large front garden, letting the unwanted waters replenish
the pool. Brilliant idea, so I set out to build an outside pool. These
are the step by step details of how this feat was achieved. So if you
ever wanted another reason to come and see Fernlea, here it is. Join
us in taking in the natural beauty seated in our outside swimming pool
immersed in rainwater.
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1. As usual I spent hours, days, weeks, lifetimes, deliberating on how I should go about planning this 8th Wonder of the World. Eventually I took that first step and as usual the initial move proved to be the hardest job, exhausting and relentless, cutting a deep and long trench down from the lane and into our front garden. Without the aid of heavy machinery and a gang of wasters, armed only with a fork and spade, Paulpower roared into gear, and the laborious work of digging for glory had began. This would be the home to a long pipe taking all the rainwater off the lane to be streamed along the pipe and refill the pool. Photo 1 is a view of the pipe and location heading down the slope of the garden, scientifically chosen so as not to need a water pump and spoil the tranquillty of the scene when sitting outside taking in the ambience. |
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2. Another view of the pipe in the opposite direction coming from the lane. I also devised a clever engineering basin and channel to gather the water and direct the water down into the pipe and along its length. By the way the wood at the top of the photo is to prevent Goatie from dipping under the fence and into the lane, which he has done on occasions. 3. Once the pipe had been placed in the trench it then had to be covered over. This photo shows the ground covering the pipe. The spoil was used for another project making a walkway in the back garden making it easier to get our lawn mower in and out of |
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the shed. These projects were being run simultaneously. This whole development wasn't just a a hit and miss attempt but a carefully well- thought out procedure. 4.With the line of the pipe trench covered, it was time to concentrate on digging out the pool's basin. I didn't want to make it too big, just enough room for the both of us. Billy doesn't like water. Unlike his brother, Buster, who used to collect pond weed from one of our neighbour ponds in Rochester. Goatie would certainly not be allowed in, messing up our fun and leaving his fur floating in the water. Also there would be a strict rule of no diving, underwater swimming or doing somersaults. Irene often tries to show off and she can't even do them on dry land! By the way the spoil from the new trench making up the swimming pool area was used to cover the trench as the soil here had been |
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transferred to the back garden as already mentioned. Note the exit aperature for the water to gush out, hopefully giving us an jacuzzi effect. It would also keep the water clean by allowing fresh water in. The pool would be uncovered to help facilitate the cleaning system by the replenishing rainfall. You don't want stagnate water in a swimming pool. Not having the pool covered will be ideal as there are not too many continuous dry days here. Although I wouldn't mind topping it up. every now and then, if we have any decent weather during the summer next year but I honestly can't see that happening. 5.With the rough depth chiselled out, it was time to put in the lining. Unable to find a sea blue plastic lining, to match my eyes, a greyish boring colour was chosen. However this aesthetically combines superbly with the green of the grass, don't you think? Carefully and labouriously the lining was tailored to the contours, giving it a stylish presentation. A |
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light scattering of earth was artistically placed around the pool's perimeters, allowing a rustic appearance, a most important consideration if one is to have an open air swimming pool in such a rural setting. With the same reasoning a rock was strategically placed at the bottom of the pool and NOT to hide a tear in the plastic. 6. The completed pool just waiting to be filled with fresh natural Irish rain and us in our swimming togs. |
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Now, I hope you have enjoyed reading about how I created such a fantastic, effective and problem solving addition to our home in Ireland. Please bear in mind I have used no tiles, harmful solvents, artificial flavourings or E numbers in the creation of this masterpiece. Also I wasn't working from any set plans, just a few lie downs on the ground, many scratches of the head and the only tools used were a spade, fork and a wheel barrow. Finance was an important factor too, costs were kept to the minimum. The only expanse was the pipe as the pool lining was used from Billy's bog. So not only is this concept, enviromentally friendly but very cost effective. I thoroughly enjoyed, as he says aching all over, working on this project and I am sure you would too. So why not give it a go in your back garden, if not come over and use ours but remember NO DIVING or SPLASHING !
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Irene Exposes Her POTATOES |
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Back from the
UK, its 'Harvest Time' here at Fernlea. Finally we have something to
show for all our hard work, sweat and toil. Not forgetting the weeding
and planting in the rain. Finally, we have harvested our first crops
from the vegetable plot. Yes, we have potatoes ! And just to prove it
Irene shows off our first couple of spades full. I agree they're not
the biggest tatties in the world but its
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Fernlea's first
yielding from its fertile soil. And we are mighty proud of them. With
another two sections to dig up, its no more Supermarket bags of potatoes
for a while ! We don't know whether to eat these first examples or to
preserve them for prosperity. I guess we'll eat them eventually and
keep you in suspenders before revealing how tasty or not they are. I
know, life can be a bitch!
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We
are really getting into this 'Country Life', 'living off the land' business
- merrily we go blackberry pickin' off our berry bushes. What fun we
have these days who needs sunshine !
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Irene
even made a homemade 'Blackberry Pie' Well, she stuffed the berries
in the shop pastry and shuffed it in the oven. Well done Irene tasted
lovely
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Billy
(above) instead of his Whiskas gets a bowl
of potatoes - not that happy about it is he?
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(above) Our new arrival, a goat has had a sex change. He is now she and we have named her Biddy. However she still will be a working animal - a Lawn Mower!
(below) Front Garden We regularly have sheep from the opposite farm visit Fernlea and munch away at our grass. We don't mind, saves having to mow it. The first two we called Eric & Ernie
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Goatee
(left), Eric & Ernie with a friend
(middle) Billy in the foreground.
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(above) A lovely pheasant has visited us for over a year now. We've named him Freddie (very original) Billy plays with him, with a game of chase. Billy chases Freddie down the field until he gets too close, then Freddie hops up in the air. Another, Billy game - ' I will stalk you while you eat, i get too close and we'll play chase again' (right) Cows - see you were right they are cows with Knocknarea in the background. (far right) Billy sits in our Back Garden, middle field and the lough in the background |
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WANTED Two rubbish gamblers who know nothing about horses but enjoy wasting their money backing horses they don't finish. Last seen at Galway Races. William Hill |
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