Building a swimming pool in Africa.

[DrWilly]

It gets hot here, a dry heat as a swimming pool sounds like just the thing. We have plenty of space (and contrary to popular option, I do not live at a school nor am I a caretaker). Decided to enquire into the cost of building a small pool. Not a Stumps level pool, but enough for kids and us to jump into on a hot day. Laps not needed.

saw a few companies offering installation at around $10k which is affordable. But of course T&Cs attached, for example digging large roots or boulders will add to the cost or we cannot guarantee our work etc etc. in the end found a bok who will do it in 4-5 weeks at just under $15.

paid a deposit and he was literally around the next day, colour me surprised.

The lads laid out some chalk for possible locations to choose from.



a good mate advised looking at saltwater, less maintenance etc. but they can’t do them here, no guarantee and the little maintenance needed will be forgotten… you get the idea.

[pickel]

I would recommend spending the money on painting that horrid wall. Though the rust stains do pair nicely with the sunset.

[helge]

Massa William needs a dip more than the farmers need irrigation ?

Zambia is currently experiencing a prolonged drought largely as a result of below-average precipitation from the seasonal rains1. The significant rainfall deficit, especially noticeable in Southern and Western provinces, has resulted in decreased agricultural production1. An estimated 2.3 million people in Zambia are on the brink of starvation, threatened by a severe drought caused by dwindling rainfall, which its president Edgar Lungu has explicitly linked to climate change2.

Remember that your T-Bones needs water too

[Stumpy]

Outstanding, a pool build thread. Your kids will enjoy and you can grill near it.

Look forward to the pics. You going to have a deck area around it with a cover to relax?

[Stumpy]

I would recommend spending the money on painting that horrid wall. Though the rust stains do pair nicely with the sunset.

Actually painting cement walls is a waste of money IMHO. They will always need to be washed and repainted. Best solution is plant hedge type shrubs or bushes by them. No wall maintenance and you get a nice green plant look.

[Norton]

Look forward to the pics.

Ditto.

[cyrille]

Actually painting cement walls is a waste of money IMHO. They will always need to be washed and repainted. Best solution is plant hedge type shrubs or bushes by them. No wall maintenance and you get a nice green plant look.

The point is that swimming pools and razor wire just don’t go together.

Your ‘cut price mini me’ would be better off getting one of those ‘Tonka Toy’ atvs, but is he allowed ‘beyond the wire’ unescorted?

[DrWilly]

The point is that swimming pools and razor wire just don’t go together.

Your ‘cut price mini me’ would be better off getting one of those ‘Tonka Toy’ atvs, but is he allowed ‘beyond the wire’ unescorted?

You really do seem hung up on the razor wire. Tell you what, I’ll take a close up photo and you can then carry on about the electric fence above the razor wire. It’s pretty much a fact of life over hear that you get petty crime all over and most houses have high walls, glass shards or razor or barbed wire and electric fences. We also have security guards that do better than Somchai, an armed response team 1 minute away, alarm and panic button, if needed. I’ll do a security thread for you a little later on.

Actually painting cement walls is a waste of money IMHO. They will always need to be washed and repainted. Best solution is plant hedge type shrubs or bushes by them. No wall maintenance and you get a nice green plant look.

That’s a good point, we did render and paint the front fence but the pop ups (best advice ever, thank you) have sprayed a red mud stain all over the bottom of them.

Currently, I offered the kids the chance to paint murals or what not all over the walls but they’ve sadly declined me on that offer, somehow playing on iPads is more interesting. Back in my day I’m sure the gang* and I would have jumped at the chance.


*not a real gang, just. A bunch of kids that everyone hung out with.

Outstanding, a pool build thread. Your kids will enjoy and you can grill near it.

Look forward to the pics. You going to have a deck area around it with a cover to relax?

In the future, right now it will be a small pool (8m x 4m) rectangular. And some pavers around the edges.
My mate around the corner has a lovely set up in a rental, long covered dining area with a pizza over and enough bench space to work and he hosts amazing pizza parties, Italian obviously. He imported a rather nice stainless steel oven for it.

[DrWilly]

Anyway, in a surprising turn of events for Africa, I paid a deposit and the team started the very next day. They dropped off a load of cinder bricks and bags of cement. However, I’m not sure the missus wants a pile of bricks near the front of the house and driveway… she sorted that out the very next day. The owner, one of those old skool Boers grumbled and said it will take longer to build if he has to move the pile of bricks he just wanted to build it fast for us ( estimated 4-5 weeks) but I suggested he could argue with ‘her indoors and he said no chance.

[DrWilly]

Third day they turn up again. Breaking ground and starting the dig. I rather naively assumed they’d bring in a digger or small cat… nope this looks like it will be hand dug all the way. Glad it’s not me. Although to be fair the ground is soft. And Cy a special pic including the razor wife and electric fence, just for you.



The relocated bricks. In the background along the fence.

Anyway, it’s tough work supervising, best to keep my hydration levels up.


And we hit, quite literally, our first problem. When staking out the pool dimensions the fellas managed to puncture one of the pop ups feeder and water started leaking everywhere. Here we go, this will days weeks and months to fit. They’ll probably blame the pop up installer guys, drain my bore etc etc.

Nope, the owner calls his plumber who turns up in 10 minutes, turns off the water mains, takes a look at the damage, they decide that be use the pipe is on the edge of the pool that they don’t need to cut it out but can allow it to abut the concrete edge. He decides what bore the pipe is, the owner pulls out a wad of money, peels off one or two notes, instructs his plumber to buy a fitting, and it’s all done.



This level of efficiency has not been my experience so far on the continent. But happy with it all, albeit we’re only in day 3.

[DrWilly]

Bolt surveying the work thus far. That little concrete thing is going, I thought it was a failed fish pond but my missus discovered a previous owner had built it as a bird bath, but it doesn’t hold water so it fails as a bird bath or a fish pond.



He barks a lot and the workers are all frightened of him, because he is large, black and even his eyes are dark.

[pickel]

Living the Victorian dream.

[DrWilly]

Living the Victorian dream.

Oh boy, another but hurt poster wanting to carrying on arguing from other threads in the forum.

Look, it’s not my fault your unacknowledged white privilege has gotten you this far but no further, perhaps meritocracy has caught up with you. But don’t go spoiling this thread because of your guilt and hurt. I suggest finding a white saviour acknowledgment group to meet with weekly instead and deep dive into your complex feelings and ancestry.

[pickel]

It was a joke, Willard. Hence the smiley.

And as far as the "unacknowledged white privilege" accusations go, just remember that it's you having black men dig a hole in your back yard, in Africa, surrounded by razor wire and an electric fence to keep out black men, in Africa.

Privileged as fuck, you be.

[DrWilly]

It was a joke, Willard. Hence the smiley.

And as far as the "unacknowledged white privilege" accusations go, just remember that it's you having black men dig a hole in your back yard, in Africa, surrounded by razor wire and an electric fence to keep out black men, in Africa.

Privileged as fuck, you be.

The reason I enjoyed a G&T or two while they worked. I’m making sure I acknowledge my privilege. Besides, I’m giving them a decent job. Spread the largess, I always say.










P.S. the wire will also keep out the poor, oppressed straight white men too.

[MarilynMonroe]

Pickel you sound like a real piece of shit. You are both privileged to be a white male in this society no matter how you slice it.

Looks like a great idea to have a pool in hot Africa. I didn't realize you had moved there.
I'm sure the kids will enjoy!

[Mendip]

I'm just curious... $15k (US I assume) seems like a lot to invest in a rented property (I also assume), although less so if long term. It'll be great for the kids so I guess you've weighed it all up, and you have a big plot that a pool will fit with in nicely.

I wish my tenants would build a pool for me, although I guess there's limited call for one in the UK!

[pickel]

Pickel you sound like a real piece of shit.

And you're just a naive indoctrinated idealist with a penchant for African cock. So I've heard.

[DrWilly]

A pool in the UK? That’d would get less use than tits on a bull. Three days a year, if lucky? What about your place in Perth, that’d make far more sense.

[Mendip]

^ The place in Perth is an apartment in a complex with a pool... and a gym.

I sometimes wonder why I didn't stay there, although seven dogs would be a bit of a squeeze.

[DrWilly]

You probably wouldn’t have a Leo & ya dong habit either.

[Seekingasylum]

Outstanding, a pool build thread. Your kids will enjoy and you can grill near it.

Christ, the Seppo dream.

[taxexile]

there is a water shortage in africa, and you are going to build a swimming pool to spalsh around in?

whats wrong with the local river?

are you some sort of colonial overlord? or do you just want to show off to your hero stumpy.


if you just want something for the kids to splash around in, no laps etc. whats wrong with this. no digging, no maintenance, no polluting trucks, no bricks, no mess, no broken water pipes, no $15000 ( they must have seen you coming, ), just £69.99 from e bay.







you know it makes sense.

[Joe 90]

Tbf I would just take them to one of the local international hotels in Lusaks for a dip.

Some poolside drinks and eye candy thrown into the deal also.

Then again, looks like KW is in for the long haul, so why not be comfortable.

Are you getting a slide for the pool and them floating lilos with a drinks holder??

[david44]

The bigger picture the pool is a mere ruse.

Looking at the quantity survey for the avairy and the Rhodes scholar AI Lernin Center!

Oh yes

100 desks, typewriters and poxfree monkey flunkeys.

we will finaly learn if mynah birds, lorakeets, great crested barbill, the Arnstrong's Eagle and parrots can dictate shakepeare to a room full of simians giving enough opportunity.

The Rector Dr Umbongolongohillysillybilly said

"We are blessed to have recruited a real Saint, an expert on Thai and Indonesian birds he likes a single wet warble, some time Toucan hits the spot and while not on his resume / cv is believed to enjoy a Cockatoo"