I was looking forward to a little sleep-in this morning before I began the 1000 things I still need to do, but shortly after my beautiful good-morning from my kids as they tip-toed away, closing the door, I started listening to a noise.
Kind of a rumble, but not a truck, or a plane, or a helicopter.
I lay there and listened. I even thought, "It better not be that fucking water pipe – again"
About a minute later the girls came in….
"Mum, the water pipe has burst again"
Fuckeddy-fuck.
Two years ago, it was a slow leak that rendered my backyard unusable for months. Sydney Water denied responsibility as they couldn't see a leak from the pipe on the street. Sure enough, though, about 3 months into it while I was in Europe, that pipe on the road outside my house was found to be bubbling up. Bastards still denied it was them. It drowned some of my plants, and really, we couldn't use the yard for months.
Backtrack to the same time another two years before and the very same pipe burst and flooded my entire house! I had to move out while they dried it out. Lots of damage, and Sydney Water had to pay for it.
At least when the girls came in this morning I immediately knew what to do.
As the floodwater just was reaching the edge of my balcony (which leads to the doors where it all pours into my house) I called the local fire brigade first, then Sydney Water. Then, by a very fortunate series of events and timing, the inside of my house was saved – this time.
First, the girls ran around the house getting everything off the floor and pushing towels against the bottom of doorways. Evan was out on the road with blocks of wood trying to stem the flow. The firies showed up, while one helped me push water away from the doors, the others dug a trench on the street to stem more. Then, luckily, Sydney water was only around the corner, so we didn't wait long for them to turn the mains off – 4 years ago, we waited an hour for them to come and turn it off.
Makes me wonder a couple of things… Why can't other emergency services, such as fire, be equipped to turn off the water supply in emergencies? And why, when that same bloody pipe has burst 3 times in the last 6 years on me, and according to my neighbours, 4 times prior to my living here, can't Sydney Water replace the damn thing???
Fuckeddy fuckers.
So now, I have to try to check off the 1000 things, but without a shower, or brushing my teeth – eeeeew. And I guess those 3 loads of washing will have to wait too.
But at least my house is not a pool.
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