IT WAS a simple plan but the results would have been brilliant, providing a little oasis of cool in sizzling Swansea on the hottest weekend of the year — in theory at least.
Many people coming up with the same cunning plan to purchase a paddling pool to beat temperatures that touched 30 degrees, for what seems like the first time for years, were left high and dry.
Stores across the Swansea Bay region had sold out of paddling pools from the tot-sized three ring my first fun pool to 10 foot round frame pools capable of rescuing a stranded dolphin if need be.
It was a disappointment for young and old alike as the landlocked who could not make it to the coast were left to swelter.
Clydach resident John Thomas, aged 46, said: "My plan was to buy a paddling pool, chuck it in the back garden, fill it with water, grab some beers and just chill-out but it would have been easier if I had set out to meet the royal baby.
"They were sold out everywhere I went. Tellingly, in Argos all the catalogues were left open on the paddling pool pages, everyone had come up with the same idea.
"To make it worse when I decided to have a few drinks instead to drown my sorrows all the supermarkets were out of ready made ice."
It was the same further west with Paul Lewis saying: "I went to Parc Trostre in Llanelli to buy a paddling pool but couldn't get one for love nor money, they were sold out everywhere."
Parents took to Facebook to express their disappointment and to enlist help searching for the fabled last remaining paddling pool.
Paddling
Meanwhile, those able to get down to Blackpill Lido were in paddling paradise and enjoyed the added bonus of having a fish-eyed view of the magnificent Wales Air Show which took place above.
A spokesman for the council-run attraction said: "Blackpill Lido is probably one of the most visited destinations on the route thanks to the fact that it's a perfect location for children and their families to play.
"At the weekend it was a great place to be because youngsters had the chance to keep cool and splash around in the water while their parents could enjoy some of the best views available of the Wales National Air Show."
Steve Redmore, manger of Aberafan Shopping Centre, said: "We have seen a lot of paddling pools being carried past and little children running behind them. If they had their way they would have filled them up right there and then in the centre.
Barbecues are another item to be flying off the shelves, anything related to the sun has gone into short supply.
"I can't wait to get home and get in the pool myself."
The good news for those who managed to snap up paddling pools or fans of sunny weather in general, the forecast for the rest of this week shows that temperatures should remain in their mid 20's and the sun should be widely seen above South West Wales.
Spokeswoman for Argos and Homebase confirmed their stores had seen a run on paddling pools over the last few days.
See a five day weather forecast for Swansea PADDLING POOLS LIVE: Have you found a shop that sells paddling pools or anything else that's in short supply - like electric fans? Or, are you a shop that sells these items. If either is the case - please post a comment below and let everyone else know.