Back down to earth with a pump

The birthday celebrations are definitely over. I’m starting to catch up in the garden…

But today was dominated by the water pump which decided enough was enough, got cranky and noisy, then sighed deeply when I switched it off. The pump is essential to get water from the huge tank into the kitchen and bathroom. Without it there are two gravity fed taps at the other end of the property from which I can access water, neither of which are convenient and neither are attached to the shower.

I’ve not needed a plumber here until now, but on the recommendation of a friend (the ginger cake baker’s husband) I called his go-to plumber and explained the problem. He asked for a couple of photos (this being one of them), then he called me back and said “Yes, I can get you one of those. I’ll be with you in 40 minutes.”

40 minutes later he arrived. An hour after that he’d scrambled around under the bathroom, removed the old (1988 - much older than I’d imagined) pump and replaced it with a brand spanking new one, which looks much the same but which operates in a whisper.

He was a most pleasant plumber. He loved Jeanie (always a big plus). He loved the property (ditto). We talked vegetable-growing and discussed my future plans to build a new kitchen and bathroom. He will definitely be part of my team.

So now I have a reliable local plumber, to add to the reliable electrician, car-mechanic and builder. It is surprisingly comforting.