shade or lack thereof

i've been asking my son to repair the shade cloth out the back for ever.  he's patched it at times.  he tries.  i asked my friend's gardener to come and have a look at it.  it looked like a crazy person had put bits of shadecloth at random places including several different colours all joined together with cable ties.  so i helped kevin take it all down and moved everything to the side of the house.  it looks dreadful.  he's going to do it in stages apparently.  i might get rid of the fish pond too.  as you know i saw a rat on the back gate recently.  i put baits down but haven't seen any dead bodies or live ones come to think of it.  the first baits disappeared but the others i put out are still there.  i feel quite exposed now.  there is nothing between me and the back gate or the shed.  it's not good.  kevin put a piece of shadecloth over some plants and i cover the fish pond when the sun is out with yet more shadecloth.  i wonder if it will ever be finished and look presentable.