It started off as any other day, but at around 11h00 I got the phone call informing me there was water gushing out of my roof and into my neighbours back courtyard.
To which i could only respond, “Oh Right.”
I could feel all the blood draining from my face, as the thought runs through my head; “this is the last thing I need right now! Why do these things happen at the worse possible time… my sense of humour isn’t in need of a test right now… It might just fail.”
Cue Clark Kent, a mad panic phone call telling him to get to the house and turn off the water and to check for damage. Clark Kent arrives to find that my neighbour, the Kind Chiro, has found the water mains and turn it off and there seems to be no damage on the inside. Ah, I breathe a sigh of relief, it could have been worse.
Now for my next miracle I will perform the impossible task of getting the plumbing contractor to inspect the damage and diagnose the problem and offer a sound speedy solution… Yeah right.
As it turns out Monday’s are full of plumbing emergencies and they can only come and assess the problem on Tuesday at 13h00. So I take a deep breathe and agree to Tuesday’s appointment, knowing at least I have somewhere else I can stay for the night.
Now please keep in mind that work is manic crazy at the moment with my Creative Director having gone on Maternity leave and fulfilling her other roll as SuperMom. I am flying solo in the office for the next two issues of the magazine and have more work than one could even imagine. So not a great time to have admin issues of my own right now. But we have to roll with the punches.
Tuesday morning, I call twice to confirm the appointment for 13h00 with the plumber and they assure me they will be there. Guess what! They never showed, somehow I am not surprised. When I call to find out where they are, I am told an emergency came up and they are not sure when they can get through to me. Well I consider my situation to be an emergency and I would like them to keep their commitments. I tell myself to remain calm as I count to ten in my head, because I realise I cannot do anything about it. We agree for them to call me when they are ready to come through even if that means after 18h00 that evening... So to cut a long story short, my whole cylinder has blown and needs to be replaced. Bugger!
Ok so what is the next step, as I have no running water to speak of and need this sorted out like, yesterday.
“Well we need to order the new geyser and parts and and and and…” all I’m hearing is bla bla bla,… we can only do it on Saturday and it takes 5 to 6 hours…
WHAT! You mean I have to wait another four days for water, eish, well at least I have somewhere else to stay in the meantime but what an inconvenience.
The appointment is set for Saturday at 10h00, by 10h30 I’m annoyed, I mean seriously I can’t even have a cup of coffee! After a few phone calls the plumbers arrive just after 11h00 and begin the banging, sawing, moving and shaking. Eventually just over five hours later, I have running water, hot and cold, I also have a damaged ceiling, which they tell me they will come back and fix next week.
Hooray I begin to celebrate, but alas it was in all too good to be true.
A little after 19h00 we hear it, and Clark Kent watches the smile and colour leave my face and immediately volunteers to check it out. Yes I have boiling hot water coming out of my roof, which would put Victoria Falls to shame.
Off with the water mains, off with the geyser mains and onto the phone.
Thunder: “Um, hi there you installed my brand new geyser today which isn’t working, I still have Victoria falls gushing out my roof”
Plumber: “But it’s all new parts”
Thunder: “So you keep saying, I’m still not caring as I once again have no water and want it fixed”
Plumber: “But everything is new”
Thunder: “Like is said, not caring, when can expect you to come fix it”
Plumber: “I can come out in the morning”\
Thunder: “Well the time is 19h45, I’ll expect you here just after 20h00, Thanks”
Plumber: “Um, well…”
Thunder: “I’ve put up with this for six days, I’ve had enough, you will come out now and fix it.”
Plumber: “ Um, ok”
So they arrive and give me some story about faulty factory parts, which I don’t care for I’m not a plumber and know nothing about valves, pipes, cylinders and thermostats, I just want running water that is hot and cold. So eventually at about 21h30 all seemed to be in working order. But I fear this is not the end of the geyser saga or the Plumber.
~Just Breathe and count to ten~
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