To tell you the truth, I'd never given a thought to owning a hot tub but loved the idea of winning one for Valentine's weekend. This is why I decided to enter the competition on Hot Tub Barn's website.
All I had to do was count the number of ducks in the hot tub in the photograph. What I realised, after counting 100-odd, was that the longer I looked at them the more they seemed to reproduce until I was left quite goggle-eyed. It became apparent that it wasn't going to be a walk in the park to win this but, for the sake of romance, I per0severed.
Secretly Excited
I won! I didn't guess the right number mind you, but then, not surprisingly, nor did anyone else, but I was one of the closest. I called my husband, Grant, straight away and he laughed but I think he was secretly quite excited too.
"It became apparent that it wasn't going to be a walk in the park but, for the sake of romance, I persevered."
Anyway my hot tub, a four-person Freeflow Azure was delivered just before Valentine's weekend. When a huge lorry arrived and tried in vain to negotiate my driveway, I quickly realised that my prize might not ever make its way into my life. However, after some worried looks from me and excellent manoeuvres from Dave and William, the delivery team, it was there, on my driveway, all packaged up and ready to be undressed.
An hour or so later, it had been carefully squeezed down the side of the house, set up on the patio, filled with 270 gallons of water and chemically treated. All I had to do now was leave the cover on to keep it nice and cosy and wait for it to heat up to an optimum 38 degrees. About 18 long hours!
Hooked
Well, it was worth the wait. Just let me say that Valentine's Day was a huge success, so huge in fact that we used it the following night too, drank far too much champagne, and spent a shocking amount of time just chatting and cooing up at the stars oblivious to the freezing temperatures setting in around us.
"I was hooked as soon as I stepped down into the ridiculously warm water and let the jets play footsie with my toes."
I think I was hooked as soon as I stepped down into the ridiculously warm water and let the jets play footsie with my toes. It felt decadent to be in my garden on a cold winter's evening, sipping a cool beverage and chatting about the day's events.
Selling It To Myself
I now had to research for reasons to purchase it. Firstly, there's the energy consumption at less than £5 per week for an hour's use per day. Then, it's claimed, that with regular use they can reduce stress, improve circulation and ease aching muscles, and that, for my mind, beats any pill the doctor can prescribe.
It seems they are becoming the ultimate garden accessory as apparently one in ten people now have them. Well, what's good enough for them is good enough for me and after a visit from Glenn today, showing me how to maintain it, mine has become a permanent fixture. Hic hic hooray.