Overstatic

The shower in the Blue Room was proving stiff to turn so we got the plumber out knowing that, this being the Dell House, even what should be a simple job would be minor nightmare.

And indeed it was.  One valve turned off the cold feed.  Eventually, 5 or 6 valves later we managed to reduce the hot water flow to something workable.

Only to find that the bit that was supposed to come out to be lubricated, didn't - and clearly wasn't going to.  Probably not a huge surprise as it may well be 90's vintage, if not earlier.

Attempts to free it now mean we have a small leak on one side and the plumber lined up to replace the lot - including fitting a proper valve to the hot feed. 

Not that we're pessimistic or anything, but we have dug out some spare tiles from the basement...