Six weeks ago, I had an idea.
The perfect Christmas gift for the entire family, one that would last beyond the excitement of Christmas Day and provide endless hours of fun and cool summer relief.
So the pool project seed was planted and with a little prior preparation, a few phone calls and of course a little bit of cash it has now become a reality!
After some a lot of research on the internet, I ordered an above ground pool through Troy at Pool Werx in Rockhampton. A week after ordering, Rob collected the whole kit and caboodle, wrapped in shrink wrap and packed on a pallet ……. in the cattle truck.
Fine builder’s sand arrived for the base and at this point the kids’ curiosity rose.
I delayed the announcement by telling them it was for my new hedge. Of course, they believed me.
When telling them about the real reason for Daddy digging out the lawn and explaining that this was the only Christmas gift that they would be receiving, Lachlan piped up and said, “Doesn’t matter, this will be awesome, something I’ve only dreamt of and never mind about Christmas, Santa will still come!”
I’m sure there is one in every family …….
The whole project has had hearty participation and also provided lots of distraction as it has been constructed three metres from the schoolroom door.
I know Andrew has shared the pictorial progress to his classmates via the webcam during Elluminate lessons.
It rose above the ground quite quickly. When telling my Dad about our new toy, he was curious about what held it together. I couldn’t give him an educated, engineering type response. I guess he’ll see on Christmas Day.
Tess arrived home on her Summer holiday mid installation. She postponed saddling her horse to assist with laying out the pool liner.
With the liner in place and the poly pipe run from the Spring fed water well, the anticipation built.
Water ran in and we all ran to grab our bathers ….. 36 hours later we had successfully pumped 88000 litres. With the whole Year 5 Maths class up to date on our pool progress, of course there was a teaching opportunity around calculating volume!
Maths lesson is complete. We’ve now graduated to the Chemistry of balancing pool water.
The lessons aren’t making a lot of sense yet …
We’ve all dipped our toes in a few times.
Amazing how much work you can get done with the lure of a swim.
“Kids, saddle your horse and walk those cattle away and then you can have a swim!”
“Andrew, mow some lawn and then you can have a swim”
“Get the milker in Lachlan, and then you can have a swim”
“Hamish, feed the chooks, and then you can have a swim”
“Water the pigs Adelaide, and then you can have a swim”
“Eliza, feed the chickens and then you can have a swim!”
It’s working a treat……
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