Ex-pats:Graham Denby has pool trouble in Portugal

Jun 24 2009 by Graham Denby

A mate of mine, Bill, was getting rid of his old inflatable (pool, not woman) and said I could have it to give it a try, hence the specific base size. We hauled it into place, fitted bracing and ties and filled it, gradually, from the borehole water supply.

Some days later it was useable, after dosing for/with flocculent ph, chlorine, and a fair dose of wet vacuuming to remove sediment. It was very big for a surface pool, a bit like a D-day landing craft full of water, and for me, well, too much really.

I was raised in the days of trips to Cambridge Road baths for swimming lessons given, or really shouted at, by er, large white coated women standing on the side of the pool hurling instructions and orders accompanied by a shrill whistle loud enough to make Didier Drogba think twice before giving backchat.

We were also given a huge white flotation board, distressingly reminiscent of a grave headstone, to hold in front of us as we thrashed hard in a, for me downwards, direction.

‘Denby, kick those feet, I can see one on the bottom!’ – So, shut your eyes, I have!

‘Come on, push, breath through your mouth, never mind the water up your nose!’ – Gerraway, it hurts!

You get the idea. After the first season the huge splash-pool was dissembled for the winter and, as a bit of the equipment had become brittle in the sun, it was discarded. We now have a nice, smaller surface splash pool in place, approx 12ft diameter by 2 – 6ft deep, and it’s grand.

Cool when first immersed (instant mumps lads) but fine after 10 seconds of shock, and just lapping up to the chin when sitting, leaving a suitable sipping room for a cold beer after a day in the heat, luverly!

For holiday details contact us at Alcaria.alta@gmail.com