Tinkle tinkle……………

Maggie got me up at 5.45 desperate to go out, and did an almighty big wee, even though we’d walked her last thing and she’d performed as normal.
Still, we went back to bed and slept for a couple of hours which was nice.

I woke up to the tinkling of bells. Our doorbell is one of these loud Westminster chimes and accessible even when the gate is locked as it’s on the post, so a gentle ‘tinkle tinkle’ wasn’t us.
However, a knuckle rap on the front door was, so a bit unsteady as I was still half asleep, I got up and yelled ‘Coming’ in the front door direction as I went to get the keys and Hubby was pulling on some clothes.
(Maggie slept on…………….. some guard dog, bless her).

Yesterday, our neighbour asked us if we were having problems again with our drainage. We haven’t been, but it would appear they have, so we suggested they ring the water board.

It’s a times like this we miss the boat. Not because of house maintenance, but the community spirit. If anyone had any problem with their boat, regardless of what type it was from a canoe to a huge wide beam, there was always someone willing to offer a hand, or a cup of tea, as they fixed it.

Hubby lifted the drain cover, and there was a puddle of water where it shouldn’t be.
The Laurel and Hardy sketch followed as counting to 60, the idea was that both sides would flush the loo at the same time. He was a full 15 seconds behind us.
This happened twice, so we gave up on that idea and Hubby got the hose out. The water wasn’t draining away properly, so there was a blockage somewhere.
We felt the call should come from them this time as we have shared drainage though the access point is in our drive and we didn’t have an issue.
We got a blank stare, and then ‘What’s the number and what do I do?’
Anyway, he did report it, then gave us the reference number saying someone would be out in the next 24 hours.
And he thought that was it.
Together he and Hubby were able to ascertain the blockage was between our access point and the next one along which is actually at the bottom of his garden. Flushing of loo (ours) and nothing came out that end, so this message was relayed, by me, to the water board under the relevant job number. It was confirmed someone would be with us within 24 hours, but if the drain was really backing up, to call them back.
We went to bed just before 11, our neighbours already tucked up having said they didn’t like the idea of someone banging on the door in the middle of the night for drain access.

So, a very nice young man arrived around 8.25 this morning and getting no response from next door, came to us. Kettle was put on, he had white coffee, no sugar, and he set to work.
Still no joy from next door so I rang them.
‘He woke us up! We’re not washed or dressed!’
‘Neither are we, but he’s here.’
‘What do you want me to do?’

I said that coming out would be nice, especially as the guy needed to gain access to the second drain in his garden.
The lad got the rods and his power hose out and cleared the blockage.
He said that further investigation was required as this is the second time it had happened in a month. There was still no sight, sound or sign of our neighbour.

All done and dusted with the necessary paperwork raised within half an hour. Everything will be sent next door as they raised the job, but our names are also on file because of the access point in our drive.
I sent a text message to our neighbour, then contacted the water board to say their guy had been and what was happening. I thanked them for getting someone to us so quickly, and the lady on the other end was pleased that we had taken the trouble to do that.

At 10am, we heard the gates open and our neighbours have gone out.
It wouldn’t have taken two minutes to stick their head round the door (which is open as it’s such a glorious day) and say thanks.

We have a name for this kind of attitude: Speeding Truck Syndrome.
There’s a speeding truck coming, please lift me out of the way.