A husband dedicated two years and £35,000 to transform his garden into a tropical paradise for his wife as he was unable to take her on holiday - despite having never gardened before.
Construction worker Chris Lodge, 44, and business owner Sharon Lodge, 45, are so busy with work and caring for their disabled dog Dice, nine, that they have failed to go on holiday for six years.
Knowing how much they'd loved holidaying together, Jason Momoa-lookalike Chris decided in June 2017 to bring that holiday feeling to them by turning their back garden into a tropical Tiki wonderland.
Despite having no experience of gardening whatsoever, Chris threw every free evening and weekend he had over 24 months into the mammoth project - and the results are stunning.
After digging out the lawn, Chris built a beautiful timber, driftwood and rope bridge across the garden which is surrounded by luscious green palm trees and succulents.
The bridge leads to a Tiki hut, which Chris and Sharon call their 'Freaky Tiki', filled with a timber bar built by Chris, tropical trinkets and gorgeous timber engraved bar stools.
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This is the stunning Tiki-inspired garden created by Christopher Lodge at his home in Wollaston, Northamptonshire; complete with themes plants and paraphernalia
After digging out the lawn, Chris built a beautiful timber, driftwood and rope bridge across the garden which is surrounded by luscious green palm trees and succulents
The bridge leads to a Tiki hut, which Chris and Sharon call their 'Freaky Tiki', filled with a timber bar built by Chris, tropical trinkets and gorgeous timber engraved bar stools
Pictured here is the garden shortly after Christopher got to work on his ambitious project transforming it into the tropical paradise it has become
After living in their home for 15 years, Chris finally found the time to build an extension (pictured) two years ago and decided to tackle the garden at the same time
Chris and his wife Sharon (pictured enjoying a drink at the bar) were so busy with work and caring for their disabled dog Dice, nine, that they had failed to go on holiday for six years
Chris (shown left, who has a striking resemblance to Aquaman star Jason Momoa, right) had no gardening experience before the project but now claims to have a passion for it
While it has been no small undertaking with the couple forking out £35,000 on the project, Chris says every penny and hour of hard work has been worth it.
Not only can he, Sharon and boxer dog Dice now wander to the bottom of their garden and 'escape' but the venture has also ignited a passion for gardening in Chris.
Chris, of Wollaston, Northamptonshire, said: 'We used to love our holidays but we have a big business and I work a lot.
'The business suddenly took off and went a bit crazy and we've really been pushing it so we struggle to find the time now. We haven't been able to go on holiday for about six years.
'Our dog also suffers from little seizures now and then so we don't like to leave him. We're both housebound and office-bound.
'So I decided, I would bring the holiday to us so we can enjoy. Now we can go to the bottom of the garden and escape in a tropical paradise.
Christopher's wife Sharon (pictured left) and their boxer dog Dice (right) now wander to the bottom of their garden to 'escape' the outside world, he said
Despite having many different Tiki elements to the garden, there's still a lawn area for the the couple's pet dog to run around on
The incredible bar includes these carved timber bar stools, an optical illusion window and is decorated throughout with exotic trinkets
