Donkey boiler

This is our water heater - it's stoked morning and evening by one of the garden staff.  When they get it right, the water is lovely, when they get it wrong, it's either too cool, or boiling (and therefore brown as the rust and sediment from the pipes gets boiled off).  Today has been a bit cool - just 24 degrees in the room this evening, so of course the water is not at all hot and we're all desperately wanting hot showers.  A change from when it was cold showers to cool down before bed! 

Little Alex had lots of praise at swimming today for how well he goes under water - it would have been a proud mother moment, had I been watching and not distracted by some other swimmers in the water.  Must pay attention to the child next time we're swimming.