Today is the 7th day we have had no hot water! The solar hot water system we put in just over 4 years ago stopped working, and when we got the plumber out he discovered the stainless steel tank had corroded and was leaking. This meant that we needed a replacement ceramic tank -which is now the standard- and that was a warranty job from the manufacturer.
Time passed.
Our washing machine and dishwasher can create their own hot water if we need them to, so we could get most of our household cleaning done with just a kettle full of hot water and a squirt of dishwashing liquid.
Showering was not so easy! DD cleverly worked out that a kettle full of hot water, when added in little bits to a jug full of cold water -just enough to warm the water- could be used to wash the hair when you are standing in the shower -pouring over your head and thus approximating the effect of a shower but with much less water. One whole kettle full equals about 6 jugs of water! Effective in a way, but we all miss the showers we used to have.
Today a big truck turned up with a HIAB facility to lift the new tank over the roof and into place.
HOORAY! They say that a period of deprivation like this can increase our happiness many times over -I am sure that the next few weeks of hot showers will be very much appreciated!
In the meantime DH is getting into the swing of his new non-paid work routines. He got a bit of a cold and a cough, so wasn't able to go with me to a wonderful WA Symphony Orchestra concert - we bought seats in the choir, which is behind the orchestra- they are cheaper seats -and this is the view as the hall filled up!
The music was absolutely wonderful!
DH was well enough however to come to the May Day march down at the Fremantle Esplanade. May Day is a big commemoration for the union movement. This one was also the centenary of the Fremantle Wharf Crisis of 1919 in which a unionist named Tom Edwards was killed by police during a riot during an industrial dispute.
We marched with the AMWU!
I also handed out 'how to vote cards' at Joondalup this weekend for the 'change the rules' campaign.
One of my mother's day gifts was a pair of ceramic hanging pots with some pelargoniums to hang at the front door. I used the occasion to re-arrange the pot display there - this is quite a good place for pots where I can monitor their progress. DH is doing very well with his orchids -one has sent out another big spike of flowers -you can see it on the right of the photo -and there are two more on the way. Some of these plants get to be indoor plants from time to time -and the indoor plants need to come out here to have a spell in the fresh air and shade/sunshine as they require.
I also got Bonnie Hunter's new book "String Frenzy" and some fabulous new fabric along with a cute little pincushion elephant for Mother's day along with a video call with the grandchildren!
By the way, I have added a couple of recipes to the page From My Kitchen- a marinaded eggplant recipe and a very yummy kaffir lime treatment for cashews. I found these recipes 'somewhere'- probably in one of the books I have been reading from the library. I often bring home recipe books because there is often one or more recipes which strike me as interesting. Check them out!
2 comments:
did you go with another solar hot water system? there's nothing like free hot water from the sun; sounds like the previous tenants didn't get the right tank for the area; i paid extra for mine 15yrs ago for frost, hard/mineral water with a ceramic tank & it will shower 5 adults comfortably; the water is hard on the joins & pressure release valve which have to be replaced every couple of years or so.
love your potted corner, looks refreshing
wonderful post
thanx for sharing
Thanks @Selina Yes, we are still using the solar system. Apparently the stainless steel tanks were OK here in Perth until we started using so much desalinated water! Anyway the thing is fixed now.
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