I made a DIY paddling pool on my balcony – it was great but I won’t be able to look the builders in the eye again
FINALLY, Britain is baking and I am determined to make the most of it but living in a flat on the 8th floor means things soon get stuffy.
And while those lucky enough to have a garden can cool down in shop-bought paddling pools, I’m stuck with my small balcony.
My flat is covered in floor-to-ceiling windows, meaning that if it’s even a tiny bit sunny outside, it heats up like a greenhouse.
It’s great in the winter because it means we hardly ever have to put the heating on – in the summer it’s like being in a sauna.
During one of my many stints scrolling mindlessly through TikTok, I spotted a woman cooling off her feet in a plastic box filled with water which she’d placed on her balcony.
A few videos later, I saw a man with his whole body in a wheelie bin that he’d filled to the brim with water from his hosepipe.
“Why don’t I have a go at that?” I thought, desperate for an escape from my boiling apartment.
I began searching through the house for something suitable to use.
Plant pot? Too small. Recycling bin? Too gross.
Finally, I settled on a neon green Ikea box I use to put my shoes in.
I dragged the box out of the cupboard, chucked my Converse and sandals onto the floor and carted the makeshift paddling pool into the kitchen.
After giving it a quick scrub clean, I filled the box up to the top with tap water.
However, I soon realised that I had filled the box up far too much as water sloshed all over my wooden flooring as I carried it out on to my balcony.
How to keep cool in a heatwave
Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS...
Keep out of the heat if you can.
If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter.
Cool yourself down.
Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.
Keep your living space cool.
Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep.
I plonked the box down and then ran inside to put my swimming cossie on, excited to finally be able to cool down.
As I sat myself down into the water, the relief was instant.
Unfortunately, I had also managed to drench the downstairs neighbours‘ balcony with water, but thankfully they weren’t outside so I’m hoping they didn’t notice.
The box turned out to be a lot smaller than I expected and I could only fit my bum in it, with my legs hanging out of the side.
However, it did the job, and made me feel so nice and cool.
I sat in the pool for a bit, relaxing and reading my book, chuffed with my DIY creation.
Then I noticed that the builders working on the flat opposite were all gawking at me, confused as to why a grown woman was sat in a plastic box with her swimming costume on.
Hastily I jumped out of the pool, my face bright red.
I’d definitely use the makeshift pool again….just not when the builders are around.
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