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Of alphabetical storms and drainpipes
Feb. 22nd, 2022 07:26 pmOn Wednesday night we had Storm Dudley, which rampaged around the rooftops. On Thursday morning I looked out of my study (the middle bedroom), to see that the drainpipe that leads down from the gutter at the top of the roof had come loose. Around 15 feet or so was swaying merrily in the breeze. The top half of the pipe had ripped away from its moorings and was threatening to come down on some unsuspecting person or piece of property. So in between trying to work, Thursday was spent ringing the insurers and various building firms. The responses were basically: "No", "It would be easier if you got somebody else" and "Not without scaffolding (and I'm busy for the next six weeks)".
On Friday morning in desperation I rang our plumber, who said it wasn't his sort of thing (which I had kind of expected), but had I tried a specialist guttering company, as they would have all the ladders? I didn't know there were such things, but I now perceive that guttering comes under "roofing" and not "builders" at all. Who knew? On the first try I found some roofers who said they were in Girton but could come by in half an hour. Two men with a ladder took down the pipe so it is now safe, and promised to come back next week to fix it back properly. Apparently it had been screwed in without washers, and in the storm the screws had ripped clean through the screw holes.
On Friday afternoon Storm Eunice hit, on Saturday we drove round the M25 to see my mother for a couple of days, during which we stayed in for Storm Franklin. I feel we have now done the storm thing, and would like to have no new letters for a while. M suggested that if it didn't stop soon we would need another alphabet. "How about the Greek one?" I suggested. I expect it will be coming free shortly, after the next few Covid variants.
On Friday morning in desperation I rang our plumber, who said it wasn't his sort of thing (which I had kind of expected), but had I tried a specialist guttering company, as they would have all the ladders? I didn't know there were such things, but I now perceive that guttering comes under "roofing" and not "builders" at all. Who knew? On the first try I found some roofers who said they were in Girton but could come by in half an hour. Two men with a ladder took down the pipe so it is now safe, and promised to come back next week to fix it back properly. Apparently it had been screwed in without washers, and in the storm the screws had ripped clean through the screw holes.
On Friday afternoon Storm Eunice hit, on Saturday we drove round the M25 to see my mother for a couple of days, during which we stayed in for Storm Franklin. I feel we have now done the storm thing, and would like to have no new letters for a while. M suggested that if it didn't stop soon we would need another alphabet. "How about the Greek one?" I suggested. I expect it will be coming free shortly, after the next few Covid variants.
