If we'd known about the consequences of installing a water pump, would we have called the plumber?
Our water supply is delivered by tanker into a depósito - a storage tank a few metres up the hill from our little house. Gravity-fed, the flow of water was painfully slow: it took five minutes just to fill the washing-up bowl in the kitchen.
When we called in Pep the plumber, he suggested that an electric water pump would boost the flow significantly. It sounded the perfect solution, so after a quick trip back to the depot for the necessary parts, he was soon back and at work.
It wasn't long before Pep was demonstrating our new supercharged water flow. As he turned on the outdoor tap, an explosion of cal shot out ahead of the gushing water. Apparently our pipes had been well and truly clogged-up (a common problem on this island, where kidneys and water-dependent appliances also suffer the effects of the cal-laden water).
Satisfied that our water flow could now blast the barnacles off a Sunseeker's bottom, Pep packed his tools into his van, then came to shake hands before leaving.
“Er, what about that electric cable lying across the drive?” asked The Boss, in his best Spanish. The cable had been fed through the shrubs from the new pump on the depósito and across the drive, to the house. When would Pep be back to bury the cable?
“¡Hombre!” declared Pep, shaking his head. He wouldn't be. Digging the four-metre trench was a job for The Boss, but - Pep pointed out - it need only be about 10cm deep. “Whatever you do, don't drive over that cable!” So we'd have to solve the problem of getting our car out of the drive until the trench was dug.
And worse was to come . . .
Copyright Jan Edwards 2008
About Me
- A Finca Life
- Jan's been writing since she was a child, sending off her first novel - entitled 'Jimmy', and written in her best joined-up writing - to a publishing house in London. As she was only 11 at the time, the publishers were kind enough to send her a rejection letter that was at least encouraging. She's still working on her second novel . . . Before moving to Mallorca, Jan spent 16 years as a radio presenter - the last five of which were with BBC local radio. She was also a freelance copywriter and PR. Now living in a rural finca near Manacor with three demanding males (only two of them cats), Jan presents a weekly radio show (Radio One Marratxi 92.9, Sundays 10am-1pm) and writes articles for magazines and newspapers on a freelance basis. Jan enjoys cooking, eating, walking and the Mallorcan countryside. She hates litter, mashed potatoes and any dish containing snails.
Subscribe To
Posts
Comments
No comments:
Post a Comment