ManicMammy’s Blog

Its that time of the year again and the paddling pools are being brought out into back gardens. Last year I bought a 10ft easy set pool and cover for round about the €100 mark. I figured it looked sturdy and would take plenty of abuse from our darlings! It was big and looked like good fun. 

Alas it was only when I got it home, unpacked and started to try and assemble and fill it with water that I realised my mistake. This pool REALLY requires a totally flat surface to work. If it is placed on any sort of a slope, however small, the pool will not fill properly with water, one side will slope and water will continually spill out and the sides of the pool will not stand. It also needs a smooth surface. It is quite difficult once it starts filling with water to get all the creases out of the base of it.

I was really disappointed. We tried it on the patio, on several places around the garden but to no avail. None of the locations were level enough. In the end, I donated it to my brother in the hope his garden will suit it better.

I know I shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth but this book is dreadful. I received it off my young children as a mother’s day gift and I know its just a novelty book but its awful.

Its packaged to have a similar look to the excellent Boys’ best book which our son loves, but this book just isn’t near that standard.

It’s clichéd, patronising and just not interesting. Full of mundane trivia, “handy” hints, and not funny “humour”.

Definitely one to give a miss.