The Pool Shed

In early 2004 I was ill.  Again.  Since having had ME in the late 80s, I hadn't ever really recovered and here I was in bed with yet more unexplained symptoms and aching muscles.  The trouble was, this time it was sort of my own fault... I had decided, in my infinite wisdom, that getting fitter would be good and had decided on swimming.  I have always loved swimming and I didn't fancy a gym membership (too much like hard work) or aerobics (everyone ends up the same shape) or cycling (Welsh hills too, er, hilly).  But every time I went swimming, I got ill through the bugs in the pools.  I'd tried ever more exclusive (and expensive) health clubs and then the last straw came when I approached one previously ok pool at a health club locally and asked how often they cleaned their pool.  They asked why I wanted to know and when I explained they instantly banned me from the premises on the basis that I could get ill and sue them.... triffic.  

So here I was again, off work, feeling rubbish and very sorry for myself.  In a fit of pique I typed into Google 'build swimming pool' and got loads of sites for building swimming pools.  Damned clever thing, Google.  And an odd little advert with a little man swimming in a little pool against a current.  Stupid idea.  So I went back to bed.  Whilst staring at the ceiling I began to think about the little man in the little pool and it didn't seem so stupid... I clicked on the little man and investigated.  By the end of the day I'd decided to definitely have one, where it was going to go, what sort of shed to put it in, and that the bank could pay for it.  Sorted!  

Guy and I were a team, but not yet living together and he was a vital part of the process. We test swam a pool near to home, applied for planning permission for our shed, and away we went!  Well, actually, not that quickly because planning took eight weeks to come through, by which time I had chewed all my fingernails off...  But then we got going!