Yesterday about 5:30 pm I was curled up on my bed reading when an almighty wind blew up, followed by torrential rain. Poor Philip had just got off the bus a few doors down the street and was soaked. He burst into my bedroom, exclaiming that all was awash. I'd been so engrossed in my book it hadn't entered my silly head that water might be lapping round the bed as had happened once before in a dreadful storm.
The problem is my granny flat is very low - too low - to the ground and the paved path outside slopes towards the building, instead of away from it. There are several drains along the wall, but when there is an absolute torrent of rain in a few minutes, they can't cope, so the water flows into my bedroom and bathroom.
Philip put a hose into one of the drains to siphon some water downhill on the other side of the pool and we both then scooped bucketsful of water and threw it over the side fence. The whole downpour was over in about 10 minutes, but caused a huge problem. We had to move a chest of drawers into the bathroom and put all the drawers on the bed, and put blocks under the piano. Once we've had a new drain put in we won't put carpet down again, but tiles. For the moment we'll do nothing, as the carpet, in spite of two drenchings, is reasonable (and Muffy likes to eat lizards and vomit on it).
At 6 am this morning Philip hired the industrial blower in the photo and we left it on all day. (Last time he got two, and left them both on for four days and nights.) During the day I spent a long time sweeping leaves and bark from the deck, and scooping stuff out of the pool. It was all very stressful and exhausting.
Unfortunately we're told to expect more summer storms.
10:30 pm Oh no, another downpour. Philip, Manami and I bailed out and were successful this time. No water came inside. Plumber will be called in the morning.
The problem is my granny flat is very low - too low - to the ground and the paved path outside slopes towards the building, instead of away from it. There are several drains along the wall, but when there is an absolute torrent of rain in a few minutes, they can't cope, so the water flows into my bedroom and bathroom.
Philip put a hose into one of the drains to siphon some water downhill on the other side of the pool and we both then scooped bucketsful of water and threw it over the side fence. The whole downpour was over in about 10 minutes, but caused a huge problem. We had to move a chest of drawers into the bathroom and put all the drawers on the bed, and put blocks under the piano. Once we've had a new drain put in we won't put carpet down again, but tiles. For the moment we'll do nothing, as the carpet, in spite of two drenchings, is reasonable (and Muffy likes to eat lizards and vomit on it).
At 6 am this morning Philip hired the industrial blower in the photo and we left it on all day. (Last time he got two, and left them both on for four days and nights.) During the day I spent a long time sweeping leaves and bark from the deck, and scooping stuff out of the pool. It was all very stressful and exhausting.
Unfortunately we're told to expect more summer storms.
10:30 pm Oh no, another downpour. Philip, Manami and I bailed out and were successful this time. No water came inside. Plumber will be called in the morning.
1 comment:
Well what a catastrophy you would have thought the builders (planners) would have been aware that water runs downhill!
I heard on the news that you were 'enjoying' very high temperatures but nobody mentioned deluges.
I have just thought of a good idea bring the sunshine inside for an hour or so - sorted. xx
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