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I am not going to get into what's happened to me the last two years, because they were both directly or indirectly linked to it being Valentines Day, but this....

So at 5:20 my flatmate discovers her radiator is broken. All of us went out tonight - me to a gig and the other two to their respective boyfs, so I called the landlord, got a plumber's phone number, and called him. He had gone to the doctors and left his mobile at home, so I left Nikki's mobile number so he could phone her and arraneg a time to come over (her bloke lives close). So then we shut off the radiator valves, left a bucket under the leak and went out.

I leave the gig early 'coz I'm tired, and when I get home at 10.30, the first thing I notice is a puddle outside the shop beneath us spreading from a damp streak down from my bedroom window (I'm directly below Nikki). Turns out plumber the hasn't come (coming over tomorrow), and half my ceiling is dripping wet. As in I can't sleep in my own bed tonight dripping wet. (Lucky my computer's on this side of the room). The radiator has been spewing out water and the rate of a medium level tap for 4 hours.

I called the plumber - no answer. I call 3 24hour emergency plumbers - EMERGENCY PLUMBERS MY ARSE! Following a panicked phone call to my Dad, I've now turned the stopcock off and am now waiting for the water tank to empty, constantly emptying the bucket.

Lucky the 4th flatmate is at her parents this weekend, so I have somwhere to sleep.


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

This sounds like a Job for.... DUCKTAPE! Man...


I've been in this sitatuion before, Did trying patch weilds never occure to you? It would have slow things down quite abit

Whoa, that's sucks big time, innerbrat. *hugs* I certainly hope your weekend is MUCH better!

Why the hell didn't the Landlord tell you to close the stopcock? And what possessed you to leave a leak unattended (if the Plumber was at the doctors then what made you think he would even be available that night - people visit them for a reason ), take a look at the radiator and then look at your bucket, I'm betting that unless you have a fuck-off big bucket, the radiator has a noticably larger volume. At the least you should have asked Nikki's friend to come round to keep an eye on it.
Sorry, but it looks like this is down to you being more interested in getting to the concert than thinking about the problems of the leak.

Rob Wilson wrote:Why the hell didn't the Landlord tell you to close the stopcock?

Or the plumbers? Got me.

--snipped stuff about me being stupid --

You're absolutely right, of course (although if it wasn't my job and somehting I'd committed to do, I wouldnt' have gone)

But this is the FIRST EVER time I've had a leak! I don't know squat about plumbing - I had to have someone talk me through even FINDING the stopcock. It's not as if you get 'this is how houses work' lessons at school. The only things I know about radiators is they're hot and the valves make them hotter. You really think that I thought the plumber wouldn't at least suggest we get an emergency call out if he was unavailable? That he would actually leave us with a radiator spewing out water at the rate it was without giving us further advice? I really really don't need people telling me what I should have done in the state I'm in now.

innerbrat wrote:I am not going to get into what's happened to me the last two years, because they were both directly or indirectly linked to it being Valentines Day, but this....

So at 5:20 my flatmate discovers her radiator is broken. All of us went out tonight - me to a gig and the other two to their respective boyfs, so I called the landlord, got a plumber's phone number, and called him. He had gone to the doctors and left his mobile at home, so I left Nikki's mobile number so he could phone her and arraneg a time to come over (her bloke lives close). So then we shut off the radiator valves, left a bucket under the leak and went out.

I leave the gig early 'coz I'm tired, and when I get home at 10.30, the first thing I notice is a puddle outside the shop beneath us spreading from a damp streak down from my bedroom window (I'm directly below Nikki). Turns out plumber the hasn't come (coming over tomorrow), and half my ceiling is dripping wet. As in I can't sleep in my own bed tonight dripping wet. (Lucky my computer's on this side of the room). The radiator has been spewing out water and the rate of a medium level tap for 4 hours.

I called the plumber - no answer. I call 3 24hour emergency plumbers - EMERGENCY PLUMBERS MY ARSE! Following a panicked phone call to my Dad, I've now turned the stopcock off and am now waiting for the water tank to empty, constantly emptying the bucket.

Lucky the 4th flatmate is at her parents this weekend, so I have somwhere to sleep.


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

Sorry ... I feel for you.

innerbrat wrote:

Rob Wilson wrote:Why the hell didn't the Landlord tell you to close the stopcock?

Or the plumbers? Got me.

--snipped stuff about me being stupid --

WOAH right there. I never said you were stupid! i said the water damage was largely your fault for still going out, rather than staying in to watch over the leak. I realise i was blunt, but I figured you'd expect honesty from me rather than hollow platitudes.

innerbrat wrote: You're absolutely right, of course (although if it wasn't my job and somehting I'd committed to do, I wouldnt' have gone)

The work would have made an allowance I'd have thought, as dealing with leaks is a universal problem. We all go through them at some point, and your employer should know you can't leave them unattended (if you couldn't find someone to watch the flat for you.

innerbrat wrote: But this is the FIRST EVER time I've had a leak! I don't know squat about plumbing - I had to have someone talk me through even FINDING the stopcock. It's not as if you get 'this is how houses work' lessons at school. The only things I know about radiators is they're hot and the valves make them hotter. You really think that I thought the plumber wouldn't at least suggest we get an emergency call out if he was unavailable? That he would actually leave us with a radiator spewing out water at the rate it was without giving us further advice? I really really don't need people telling me what I should have done in the state I'm in now.

Everyone has a first time. So relax, your landlords insurance should cover the property damage, and as you informed him of the leak he should have been there in person to make sure his property was dealt with properly. How do you know the plumber has even heard your message yet? For all you know he went to the doctor for acute stomach pain and right now is having an appendectomy? Or he went in with a headache and right now is fast asleep at home with a body full of painkillers? You can't point the finger at him.

Your best course is to just put it down to experience (bet you never leave a leak unattended again ) and move on. We've all had bad leaks that have caused damage, yes it's a major headache, but you get over it, trust me.

Rob Wilson wrote:

innerbrat wrote:

Rob Wilson wrote:Why the hell didn't the Landlord tell you to close the stopcock?

Or the plumbers? Got me.

--snipped stuff about me being stupid --

WOAH right there. I never said you were stupid! i said the water damage was largely your fault for still going out, rather than staying in to watch over the leak. I realise i was blunt, but I figured you'd expect honesty from me rather than hollow platitudes.

No, but I was. Your honesty is really appreciated, thanks, Rob.
But I need a hug as well...

Rob wrote: Everyone has a first time. So relax, your landlords insurance should cover the property damage, and as you informed him of the leak he should have been there in person to make sure his property was dealt with properly.

He's sort of in Florida right now, so it's understandable...

How do you know the plumber has even heard your message yet? For all you know he went to the doctor for acute stomach pain and right now is having an appendectomy? Or he went in with a headache and right now is fast asleep at home with a body full of painkillers? You can't point the finger at him.

*raises hands, backs away - no finger - except (and I realise I didn't say this) he did phone Nikki and say he's coming over tomorrow.

Rob wrote: Your best course is to just put it down to experience (bet you never leave a leak unattended again ) and move on. We've all had bad leaks that have caused damage, yes it's a major headache, but you get over it, trust me.

I've got over worse. But his is really bad timing. I have to get up tomorrow and work on my dissertation, and it's one thing after another right now...

innerbrat wrote: No, but I was. Your honesty is really appreciated, thanks, Rob.
But I need a hug as well...

Oh come here you *hugs Debi*. I hope Rob understands this.

innerbrat wrote:

Rob wrote: Everyone has a first time. So relax, your landlords insurance should cover the property damage, and as you informed him of the leak he should have been there in person to make sure his property was dealt with properly.

He's sort of in Florida right now, so it's understandable...

Ahh.

innerbrat wrote:*raises hands, backs away - no finger - except (and I realise I didn't say this) he did phone Nikki and say he's coming over tomorrow.

He did what!!? Did he say to shut off the stopcock? Did he give ANY reason for not coming right round?

innerbrat wrote:

Rob wrote: Your best course is to just put it down to experience (bet you never leave a leak unattended again ) and move on. We've all had bad leaks that have caused damage, yes it's a major headache, but you get over it, trust me.

I've got over worse. But his is really bad timing. I have to get up tomorrow and work on my dissertation, and it's one thing after another right now...

Don't let it get you down. There's nothing you can do about this plumbing thing, so forget that as best you can and get some sleep ready for the morning.

On a different note, when you put in that quote bit, you have to put the name in " " for the code to recognise it. And on that pearl of widom, I'll let you get the good nights sleep you need and deserve.

Rob Wilson wrote: Oh come here you *hugs Debi*. I hope Rob understands this.

He'll give me his own in an hour when he gets here.

Rob wrote:

innerbrat wrote:*raises hands, backs away - no finger - except (and I realise I didn't say this) he did phone Nikki and say he's coming over tomorrow.

He did what!!? Did he say to shut off the stopcock? Did he give ANY reason for not coming right round?

Don't know, wasn't there. I'll ask him tomorrow

Rob wrote: On a different note, when you put in that quote bit, you have to put the name in " " for the code to recognise it. And on that pearl of widom, I'll let you get the good nights sleep you need and deserve.

Yes, thank you, I know how it works. I did it properly earlier in the post, didn't I?
I can't go to bed yet - the tank isn't drained (replacing bowls), but you have a nice night *hugs*

Let this be a lesson to you IB
Next time, Duck-Tape anything that looks even vaugly hazordous!

All we have is Scotch tape.

And it didn't work.

Oh, and bondage tape, but that doesn't work if it's wet.

Mr Bean wrote:Let this be a lesson to you IB
Next time, Duck-Tape anything that looks even vaugly hazordous!

Is there anything that duct tape can't fix? Too bad they don't show SW and ST types using those on-screen.... Oh well, maybe the SW universe hasn't invented the stuff...

innerbrat wrote:

Rob wrote: On a different note, when you put in that quote bit, you have to put the name in " " for the code to recognise it. And on that pearl of widom, I'll let you get the good nights sleep you need and deserve.

Yes, thank you, I know how it works. I did it properly earlier in the post, didn't I?

Take a look at the post I was replying to it has

rob wrote: ----

, I corrected it in my reply. the whole note thing gave e lead in to a silly ending after all the serious stuff that's all.

innerbrat wrote:I can't go to bed yet - the tank isn't drained (replacing bowls), but you have a nice night *hugs*

Cheers. Hope you get that dissertation sorted (if not, tell them i said it was ok, they'll let it pass. )

jegs2 wrote:

Mr Bean wrote:Let this be a lesson to you IB
Next time, Duck-Tape anything that looks even vaugly hazordous!

Is there anything that duct tape can't fix?

A warp core?

innerbrat wrote: I can't go to bed yet - the tank isn't drained (replacing bowls), but you have a nice night *hugs*

Damn how th hell did I miss that earlier. Debi, if you've closed the stopcock for the hot and cold water (check with your landlord as to whether there is one for both or a one each) then all you have to do is go into the Bathroom and run the Bath and sink taps at full to drain your tanks in about 5 seconds, it'll also help pull the water through the system. Leave a bowl under the leak but after about 3 minutes there should not be anything left in the system. Sorry i should have posted this first.

Rob Wilson wrote:

innerbrat wrote: I can't go to bed yet - the tank isn't drained (replacing bowls), but you have a nice night *hugs*

Damn how th hell did I miss that earlier. Debi, if you've closed the stopcock for the hot and cold water (check with your landlord as to whether there is one for both or a one each) then all you have to do is go into the Bathroom and run the Bath and sink taps at full to drain your tanks in about 5 seconds, it'll also help pull the water through the system. Leave a bowl under the leak but after about 3 minutes there should not be anything left in the system. Sorry i should have posted this first.

Nope, done all that. The bath tap is now just dripping, and the radiator's down to a trickle now. But it has been going for the last hour / hour and a half.

I also notice you never wondered how i knew never to leave a leak unattended, so to enlighten you - and give you a chuckle - we now go back, bakc in time to the medieval year 1997 *wibbly, wobbly vision, wibbly, wobbly vision*

23:00 Rob looks up at small, dark spot on the kitchen ceiling, "Hmmm, ah fuck it, nothing that can't wait till the morning."
06:30 Rob opens kitchen door and looks around "Should it be raining in my kitchen?"

*wibbly, wobbly vision, wibbly, wobbly vision*

And I had no excuse but sheer laziness , like I said nearly everyone learns the hard way.

All we have is Scotch tape.

And it didn't work.

Give me your address, I'll ship you one of the crates I keep in the Bunker, The avarage crate contains enough to compltly coat your avarage two story house


No one should be without, Food, Shelter, And Duck-tape

innerbrat wrote:
Nope, done all that. The bath tap is now just dripping, and the radiator's down to a trickle now. But it has been going for the last hour / hour and a half.

you haven't closed the stopcock all the way if the taps are still dripping. They can be a bugger like that, if you can't get it to close any further then get Rob to have a go. Don't try to force it to hard as you can strip the threads, but you need to try and close it, otherwise that drip from the leak will never end.

jegs2 wrote:

Mr Bean wrote:Let this be a lesson to you IB
Next time, Duck-Tape anything that looks even vaugly hazordous!

Is there anything that duct tape can't fix?

No way. I saw my grandfather duct tape a severed finger back on before having me drive him to the hospital. By god,he could move that finger! Not very much, and he was in a lot of pain after moving it a bit, but it held for a good 15 minutes.

Bondage tape?

*hugs Debi* Poor dear...

Well, Cutie, that's what you get in the UK.

*ducks and hides, waiting for Debi's slap to the face*

Duct tape, plastic sheeting and aluminum foil...the three foundations of our civilization!

*kisses IB's cheek* Babydoll, I'm so sorry you had such a shitty day. Was the concert good, anyway? *half smile*

at this rate I'm gonna run outta cookies.

*runs to bake some more*