No Pool this Summer

We got our first above ground pool (that wasn't a paddle pool) the Summer we lived in Western Australia.  We had it in our yard, which had only one (locked) gate that whole Summer without incident.  We put it up again in Junee, again, no problem even though our yard was way more accessible there.  When we moved here we got a new one, a bigger one, and initially had it in the exercise yard and then moved it to under the stables.
When we had the property inspection last week the real estate mumbled something about the pool (it's taken down now but she must have seen it from the house next door or from the back lane) and wondered about council regulations, re fencing.  I told her I'd looked it up and found that rural areas were a bit more relaxed and as long as we had locks on all our perimeter gates it was okay.  The bitch rang the council and sent us a letter basically saying that unless we put up a "pool fence with a self closing gate" we couldn't have the pool up this Summer.  What a social conscience.  If she was so concerned why not do this last Summer when the pool was actually up and filled?  And what ever happened to personal responsibility?  To get into our yard a small, non swimming child would have to scale a six foot fence or gate, or know how to pick a lock.  Then they would have to somehow clamber over the side of the pool, which I have trouble doing without the ladder.  We always have the ladder disabled when we're not using the pool.  If my children, when they were small, ran out into the street and got hit by a car, whose fault would that be?  Mine, for not supervising them properly.  Are they going to fence off cars to prevent a tragedy?  I personally know of a family who lost a toddler because someone hadn't shut the pool gate properly and he got out while his mother was taking a nap.  She blamed  herself.  Of course.
After all the problems with the drains here, that they just keep putting (expensive) bandaids on, and the hot water system breaking down again yesterday so we had to practically beg for an electrician to come out I'm sick of this place.  We're thinking about advertising for a farm house out of town somewhere.  The next door neighbour's dog barks incessantly, because they're never there and when they are don't seem to give a toss.  They have a poor cockatoo right up in the back corner of their large yard who screeches, and imitates sounds of all kinds, this is less annoying, I just feel sorry for the poor thing.  I would love a place like where Em's mentor lives, way out in the country, no close neighbours, no pool police.  Although Julie said yesterday when I was telling her about the pool problem that the council nazis were sniffing around there as well last Summer.  Still a place in the country would be nice where we could have some chickens and other livestock perhaps.
Josh got his half yearly report yesterday and while he was disappointed, I was very pleased with his progress given that they were out of school for four months last year, then he started a new school in the very last term of year six, and has had some difficulties socially since starting high school this year.  He is a bright boy, and has natural ability and just needs to really focus and apply himself more.  We talked about this and I told him how proud I am of him and how I will help him in any way I can to make sure he does really well next semester.  His PE result made me see red.  I have to wonder about some PDHD teachers.  Do they really think it's a proper subject?  Will prospective employers really give a shit about this subject results in the future?  This idiot called Josh "lazy" and that was just uncalled for.  Do they even look at the child as an individual and understand why they are how they are?  Josh was delayed in his gross motor skills.  He didn't walk till he was nearly two.  He has always been very advanced though in every other way.  He was never taught how to play sport at school, and when he tried, he was ridiculed.  Country schools seem to think all kids are born with some kind of natural in built sporting ability.  I am not sporty, Phill is never around to teach them, and my three youngest have just never been interested.  Kate had a similar report when she was at Junee High, which resulted in me writing her bimbo PE teacher the now legendary "Church of the Latter Day Cricket Hating People" letter, which, after she had belittled Kate for her inability to throw a cricket ball straight, led me to claim, tongue in cheek, that doing this was against our religion.  I also pointed out that when Kate was a barrister her clients wouldn't really care if she could throw a ball straight or not. I will never forget the phone call from her that followed this letter.  She thought I was serious.  This is the twit who would come to school in hotpants and midriff tops with suggestive slogans on them.  Whilst teaching teenage boys with raging hormones.  Pity we can't give teachers "helpful" reports.
I've been awake since 3.30 am again.  Josh is in my bed so I couldn't do my usual routine of turning on the light and reading/surfing/watching tv so I'm out here in the lounge room, the fire has gone out and there is no wood left so I have the gas heater and the fan heater on.  It doesn't seem quite as cold this morning as it has been.
I took Julie a little present yesterday when I picked up Em.  I was going to get her flowers as a thank you but decided on some wind chimes instead and wrote a little thank you card to say how much we appreciated what she's done for Emily this term.  She was really touched.  We've decided that as a final thank you once the programme has come to an end that we're going to make up a hamper of a nice bottle of wine and some home made goodies, she loves sweets so I'll make my almond fudge, ginger rocky road, some shortbread, lemon butter and maybe some mint jelly and other stuff.  This wonderful and talented woman is taking a whole day out of her working life, once a week to mentor and encourage my child, and the difference it's made to Emily even after this short time, is amazing.  She has a confidence and a focus and a belief in her abilities that wasn't there before.  Julie seems to be genuinely fond of Emily and said she enjoys the time they spend together and that the day just flies by.  Emily told me that they confide in each other, and that she trusts her and admires her so much.  I remarked that it was great that she had an adult to talk to about things in a way that she might not want to talk to me about.  A different perspective is always good.
I am struggling with negativity lately.  I do not like that side of me but I have come to see that it's something I can totally control with just a shift in attitude. Is it helpful to tell ourselves that things could be worse?  It seems to help me when things are difficult.  I need to look outside myself more and see the bigger picture.