The biggest I have undertaken is my pool. It was an interesting path and I was happy with the result.

Step one. Dig a big hole.

Then once the hole was dug…dig a bit more.

The next step was to make it level and put in a slab for the pool to sit on.

Drainage, retaining walls, and with the correct ‘type 1’ gravel and a slab of concrete.

Now the pool can be bolted together and assembled. A detailed booklet was provided and I followed each step slowly.

After a while the pool started to take shape. Water was next! And then the start of the decking. Decking was a new DIY too; but I watched our other deck built so I just did the same for this.

Then the deck and the surrounding aspects. including some lights. Which I had done by someone much smarter than me.

Job done.

Cost of doing it myself: one squashed finger and a swimming pool which is used like a treadmill.

I manifested it before lockdown and refused to pay for it’s assembly. So did it myself. What could go wrong? A very helpful swimming parent with loads of swimming children , helped, a lot, so it was a win win. Now my commute is very short. Which is nice, because I hate commuting. And I like swimming. Win win again.

I can use it all year round in Scotland because the water is heated.