The first thing to do is find out if you have any fish in the pond. If not, pull the pump and drain the pond. Service the pump and make sure it is in working order with the impeller moving freely. Make sure the electric is wired with a GFCI for safety. You don't mention a filter. You should have one. For a small pond you can go DIY or spend $15 or $20 for one. Shovel out the muck and if there are rocks on the bottom, get rid of them.Use caution with the shovel so you don't put a hole in the liner? Is the liner a rigid preform or is it EPDM? Don't use any detergents to clean the pond. It is deadly to most aquatic life. A broom and clean water flushes most gunk out. I would use a quart of Hydrogen Peroxide as a final rinse. Sun light is good, too. Now you can make some choices. Waterfall?Fountain? Plants? Fish? What do you want to do next? Sandy

Often times the foam is a sign of too much decaying organic stuff in the pond. It usually isn't anything dangerous, I believe activated carbon is good for that which you can get at any pet store in the aquarium section. (Any seconds on the carbon, can't remember for sure?) Fish wise keep an eye on them, are they doing it all the time? It could mean a ton of different things, swim bladder infection is the first thing to come to mind. There are lots of treatments for different things, Melafix, Pimafix, salt treatments. Without knowing more you can't diagnose easily. Do they flash (scrape their sides on rocks), or have red behind the gills, any thing else? I'm not a fish expert but thats what my koi guy always asks me. Good Luck.

Planting reeds and or pussy willows (also pretty and a good hider as you wanted) is one of the best ways to filter water. Kind of like a natural brillo pad! LOL Be careful about how much in the way of oils (cooking, detergents, shampoos, soaps etc.) go through with the grey water so you don't get a scum problem that can cut off air flow into the water etc. and besides making it hard for the fish will do alot of damage as to making the pond want to turn into an algea tank. We usually plant several feet of reeds where the pipe ends and then wind and snake the flow throught he reeds before it gets to the holding pond, with the reeds coming on into the pond a ways too. They also provide good shelter for the fish etc. I am sure there are all kinds of filters etc. that you can use, but in general I have not found them necesary. As to size, that is too big a topic for me here, it would depend on depth, soil type, average rainfall, average hottest and coldest and for how long, soil percolation, etc., etc., etc. Sorry but I couldn't help with that part although I am sure that there are others who may be able to help with it. A good county extension agent is a good place to start sometimes BUT be aware that using a gray water system and such is Illegal (no fooling! LOL) in many states and/or areas. I have gotten away with it before because I simply refered to it as 'aquatic gardening' and did not mention nor make it obvious where the water was coming from other than the roof. Hope this helps some. ENJOY!! DD

Rosewitch, England was definitely one of my favorite places I have ever visited. My folks took me there when I was 14, and I remember bits and pieces the Crown jewels, walking amongst the Stonehenge stones (roped off now, vandalism), Stratford upon Avon. Time for me to take my own 14YO. Im trying to think how I can get over there for a whole summer, LOL. Dlynn, I could have worked so much more. I didnt really look at night time stuff and there was loads to do. Greece: cant help you, but shoot Yasou a line, she went a few years ago. LOL Annie! Teresa, well go together. I wanted to explore more cooking and food shops/stores but didnt get to. Terri, here is more a link to Pictures of England, a website pointed out to me by Denise. I started it on Bourton on the Water, where we stayed for a few days. Thanks Sharon, I was actually thinking how can I even come close to posting her quality of travel guides, I dont do the pictures she does LOL. We might have sat at the same table in the Cheshire Cheeses dining room! Sawdust still there, but we didnt make it to the cellar. I missed a lot of the British Museum. It has changed.check out the new atrium. I couldnt keep up with DH and DS16. Afternoons, when I planned museums, I crashed. Next time! Pam, lots of people did more than we did per day! Theater every night, more attractions, I cant imagine. Gina heh heh yeah I need another vacation like a hole in my head. Speaking of whichDH has another week off in August. Nooooooooo! Kathleen, DH says he took an average of 200 pictures a day. Yup. Me, I just buy the post cards or Google the images, same thing (DARFC from the photo bugs here) Cathy, thanks for giving me the War and Peace moniker heh heh. Next time I go with CF friends! LindaC, I know. Im still exhausted. Speaking of the V&A, did you know there was a Dale Chihuly chandelier in the entrance room?