Look what fell off the back of a Lorry! - The Demolition Begins

The temperature is currently 18degs and the fish seem to be enjoying the warmth – incidentally the top is covered with Perspex sheets, this allows the light in and also some air circulation whilst keeping the heat in as well.

So, now we start demolishing the existing pond – it’s the beginning of March and it’s COLD!!!! – Colin (my husband) and Mike (my son) start the task of taking the side walls down, well 2 of them so that we can fit in the new pond.   As the pictures show its very time consuming and very messy (lots of clay and water!).   The side wall was the first to go and Mike had great fun using one of Colin’s new toys, a power chisel, taking the blocks out.  Next came the bottom wall and that is where the problems started.  The builders had obviously dumped a load of rubbish prior to adding the minimum amount of top-soil, so we were finding bricks, iron bars etc.  As they got further into the extended part of the pond we thought we had found a Roman Road – but alas it turned out to be nothing more exciting than a load of tarmac that had been buried by the builders.  So that kept them busy for quite a while as it didn’t want to move but eventually they managed to move enough of it to allow the pond to fit.  …..Meanwhile the pond was being constructed in Holland and I was in touch with Matthijs on a regular basis.  Colin and I arranged to go to Holland about 10 days prior to delivery to make sure we knew what would be coming over on the 21st March and so we could check the measurements!

So with our ferry booked and a hotel arranged we feel everything is under control……famous last words!  Our ferry was booked for 10th March from Dover to Calais but on the Wednesday I get a phone call from our agent saying ferries are cancelled from Dover due to industrial action in France – no ferries or Eurostar until 10pm that night.  Ever felt things were against you??  The alternative is ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland – ok not too bad and we will arrive in Holland in the afternoon so this is booked and once again I think things are under control.  So the early morning alarm goes off and its 05:00 – did we want to get up …. NO!!!  Anyway I make sure we have all the directions, mobile phones, sweets, drinks, ferry info and off we set.  The traffic is not too bad on the M25 and we get to Leatherhead quite quickly, it’s just as we are approaching the Leatherhead turnoff that Colin asks if I have the passports – Oh S!$! – that was the one thing I had forgotten!  So a slight detour back to the house, collect the passports and off we go again – arriving at Harwich 45 minutes before the sailing.  Must admit I didn’t really enjoy the crossing (a bit bumpy) but we got to Hook of Holland on time and depart on our magical mystery tour of Holland.  I’m not sure what happened to my map reading skills but we took a detour around Rotterdam but eventually managed to find our way to our hotel.  The Hotel CAMPANILE ZWOLLE – CA, 8021 DB ZWOLLE.  Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it was really good value, very friendly people and the food was excellent….. but the beer was even better!  And we would definitely recommend it to anyone!

After breakfast on the Friday we made our way to Ma-Koi Swimming Jewels in Hattem.  http://www.makoi.nl/.  When we arrived, it was raining – so nothing different from home! – must admit they have a very good shop and we were very impressed, the fish looked healthy and Matthijs and Joyce were very, very hospitable.  In fact it felt like we had known them for some time!  So after coffee and a chat we made our way to the factory where the pond was being built, as it was about 30kilometers from Ma-Koi it gave us the opportunity to see some of the countryside.  The guys at the factory were very helpful and had really got on with the build.  It’s very strange but when you are talking about a 6’ deep pond you don’t get a true perspective until you actually stand along side it and see just how big it is!!…. they were also constructing one that was 8’ deep – now that was big!!

We spent an absolute age at the factory and eventually left to get some lunch back at Ma-Koi.  As I said earlier their hospitality was second to none and we even got to meet one of their existing customers over lunch.  He had some pictures of his pond that they had supplied – his had taken 1 week to install and to get the garden sorted out (but he had the help of a landscape gardener!!)

So by now we have bought a new air pump, new pump for the skimmer (that was being fitted at the factory) and some pipe-work and valves and it’s time to start making tracks for Calais.  I won’t bore you with the details of this journey except to say we managed to stop of for the usual tobacco and booze and we are now on our way home to Berkshire …arriving home just before midnight.