Amateur Plumber

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 The beginning of the week was very windy, and I was still feeling out of sorts with my cold. Both things improved as the week progressed, and Thursday and Friday were lovely sunny days and I started to get some things done.


Our favourite outside tap developed a drip recently, so I assumed a replacement washer was required and that it was something that even I could do. After all, how hard could it be? I discovered that there was size converter on the tap so in order to get it off to find out what size washer was required, I would need two spanners. I only had one. Off to Mitre 10 I went to buy a washer and a spanner. Not knowing quite what size washer I would require, I sought the help of a member of staff and showed him a photo of the tap. He thought it looked like a 15mm (which it was) but said a packet of washers was around $6, and a new tap would only be $9.80. He suggested that this would be a better solution because to access the washer in the tap could result in sufficient damage to the tap that is would need re-threading and it just wasn’t worth the cost. Therefore, I purchased a new tap, and for some reason felt this meant I no longer needed a second spanner. Wrong. As soon as I got home and tried to take the old tap off, I realised I still needed the second spanner. Back to Mitre 10. Spanner purchased. Back home, got the tap off, yippee, and instantly realised the new tap I had purchased had the wrong fitting - male, and I needed female. It was nearly time to collect Nicky from the Aramoho Community Library, so my next trip to Mitre 10 wasn’t until the following day. Tap changed for one with a female fitting, $2 extra paid as these are obviously much rarer. Got home, fitted new new tap and bingo - no drips. Very pleased inexperienced plumber enjoyed a mug of coffee. The cutting of the grass went much more smoothly.


Nicky has spent much of the week sewing a quillow for the 7 month old daughter of Kat and Israel who will be visiting us soon. It is looking brilliant even though there is still more to do. She has also attended all her usual commitments, along with doing gardening and laundry. We didn’t quiz this week as I still had some of my cold symptoms and thought I might still be infectious. The team came 7th out of 8.


We have been really enjoying the blossom in our back garden, and have been both pleased and surprised that the wind hasn’t removed it. It has developed well during the week:



I was well enough to return to work on the paddle steamer this weekend. Yesterday was quite wet towards the end which we were expecting, due to the forecast and the pink dawn:



The heavy rain in the afternoon induced me to start a jigsaw, which we have been continuing with today. The weather has been dry today and mild for the time of year. Nicky collected me from the Waimarie wharf after church, and we have had a quiet afternoon.


Daylight saving started this weekend, so we are looking forward to lighter evenings, as well as beans on toast with a side of bacon for tea!


Take care, Rick and Nicky.

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