Patio of Discontent

Our top patio (or terrace as a friend insists), the part of our garden that we are least content with. You would think that with it being nearest to the house it would be the first one to be developed. But no it wasn't and it's turned out to be the last.

The top patio, back in the day before the conservatory got built

We've entertained so many ideas on what to do with it and we sort of have made a decision on the layout and what look it will have. But because we have delayed doing anything long term with it more and more ideas have accumulated thoughts have evolved ever since we started planning for it.

Another back in the day photo

Initially we thought of changing it three years ago but the finishing of the pond build then the house renovation took priorities and it got side tracked. Then there was the garden fire on top of that and the subsequent much needed repair of the garden meant making over the top patio was even less of a priority. We thought that in 2014 we would be ready to tackle it but by then we were exhausted by the intense preceding years that we decided not to go ahead and postpone the undertaking on what will really be a huge project (the koi shed we consider a small project). Besides, there was no real need to rush, it's not like it is in a bad state. In fact it's not bad at all. It's a top patio that we inherited when we bought the house and most of it has remained the same ever since. It ain't broke so no rush to fix it. Just not to our full taste that's all. And it's not linked to the scheme of the koi pond area and the conservatory. The top patio has the potential to link and complement the two areas nicely. Going back to 2014, we decided then not to go ahead with any major/permanent makeover and just make the space neat and usable. The paving was alright, the fences were fine.... Until I came home from work to find one of our neighbours attached cheap trellises on their side of the fences on the top patio area. It was to keep their new dog from jumping over the fences which could potentially harm our cats. Good intentions, fair play but... Boy those trellises are UGLY! And they're not even symmetrical which didn't help at all. We we're happy to make do but after seeing those trellises that sense of discontent reared its ugly head again. Sigh! We made a half hearted attempt to make the most of it by hanging random garden accessories on the trellis, at least pass it off as 'quirky' but to no avail. What can be seen cannot lie, at least to us. Back to the present we're not sure if we have the time and/or the energy to do this long overdue makeover so we'll make do for now once again. But those trellises still bugged us, especially me. We can't get rid of it, but we can at least reduce its view for now. Unfortunately they were placed way above the highest point of brick posts and if we put on fence panels to totally cover them it would look silly as they will be above the posts. So we settled with new fence panels that will be at level with the posts and partially obscure those offending trellises. There's is a climber making it's way over one of them already and hopefully in no time both will be colonised and serve as just a green backdrop. The new fence panels may or may not be temporary, depends on what we actually do on the top patio when we eventually get to do that makeover. For now that will do. And for this year I might do something fun on this space albeit non committal and temporary. I'll have fun before we commit. That should stave off and delay the sense of discontent, buy time before it gets too unbearable. And hopefully by then we actually have time and energy again to do it. Mark :-)