June 14th, 2008
Ducks and Drains
A few months ago two ducks were swimming past my kitchen window. Not because we live by a river (I wish) but because our newly gravelled drive had flooded. Last week the post woman couldn’t deliver the mail and I had to paddle to my car to get to work. Perhaps the most poignant part of these events is that we had to build stepping stones from the back door, across the drive to the garden, so that the cats could get out. They used them very carefully!
I have many interests, but the one subject that switches me off is drains. My lack of interest is even part of a family joke. Of course I appreciate that without drains I couldn’t have baths, showers, use a washing machine, etc and I accept that they are a wonderful invention, but I do feel that drains should work in life’s background, like the virus checker does on my computer.
On Tuesday the two men came along to sort out the problems with the driveway flooding. My husband went off to work and left me to it. You have to show an interest when people are working so hard to help you, so I peered down black holes, watched rod after rod being shoved down, discussed which way the water was flowing and even followed the dye that was added to the water to make it all clearer. I learned about the diameter of drains, the need for the fall, the difference between house and land drains and so much more. The end result was that nothing could be done with the existing network of drains and a large drain (9 inch diameter) had to be planted right across the front garden to get rid of the water. It had to be 9 inch to collect water from a 4 inch pipe and a 6 inch pipe (apparently).
I was proud that I had listened and (mainly) understood the many discussions, even though I would have preferred to do almost anything else. The new drain has now been installed and I am looking forward to the next downpour. Will it work or will the ducks be back?
This episode just made me think, what things do other people really not want to do and doesn’t it all make life richer?
