And no, this is not research for some scene in a story. This was me, after I discovered that we had no hot water…
…not. I wasn’t smiling at all.
As usual, Murphy’s Law was working overtime in Warrandyte this morning. For starters, it’s been damn cold the last couple of days, cold, rainy and overcast. The worst possible weather for my solar hotwater system.
Me: Not a problem. The instant, gas hot water booster will kick in…any second now…hello?“
Except that the instant, gas hot water booster did not kick in. Went out to check, and I see a cryptic machine message blinking in red on the display. Panic? No, ring the manufacturer.
“Have you tried to reset the system?”
Me: “Um…no. How?”
I now know how to reset the system but…it didn’t work, did it?
“Let me check the plumbers in your area. I’ll get back to you shortly.”
Me: still waiting…
In the meantime, I had to go out so a clean up of some sort was absolutely necessary.
Me: cold shower? Not on your nelly…that water is effing freezing!
Thank god the kettle still works. Boiled up about 2 litres of water. Poured it into a bucket in the shower. Added a bit of cold…and got to work.
In case there are any time and motion experts out there, I can now say with absolute certainty that it is possible to bathe in a bucket. Not pleasant, but doable. Start at the top and finish with the feet.
And on that note, I’ll quit while I’m a head.
Meeks
Authors' favourite books
NANO 2012
September 11th, 2019 at 2:16 am
Bucket bathing is a viable alternative. We don’t have a big hot water heater so we always have to supplement from the stove for a bath. I hope your system gets fixed up soon. 🙂
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September 11th, 2019 at 10:16 am
Thanks, Diana. Plumber coming this afternoon. Fingers crossed. 🙂
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September 10th, 2019 at 11:48 am
Been there, done that, having melted snow for the water beforehand … and not that long ago either.:D Winter of 2015 or 16 … When the power goes out here, everything goes … which is why we have a back-up generator, a kerosene heater, a propane camping stove, etc … be prepared, I say. 🙂 … don’t have to worry about water though, one of the benefits of living on an island in the middle of a lake! 😀
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September 10th, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Gobsmacked. That’s serious preparedness! I spent most of my life living in a nice, safe city where the utilities rarely went wrong. And I never went camping if I could avoid it. Only learning to be less useless-city-girl since moving to Warrandyte.
My hat’s off to you and Mrs Widds.
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September 10th, 2019 at 12:48 pm
Thank’ee kindly. 😀 … we both grew up with the old ‘hauling the water into the house by the bucketload. I guess some things stick. And given these uncertain times, and how fragile the infrastructure we take for granted is, those skills are coming back into their own … not that I EVER want to have to haul water by the bucket, but I know I can if I have to. 🙂
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September 10th, 2019 at 1:33 pm
Still gobsmacked. There is a creek of sorts at the bottom of the hill we’re on but…I huff and puff carrying myself up. Can’t imagine having to lug a full bucket of water as well…
You’re right though, if it’s that or have no water at all…-shudder-
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September 10th, 2019 at 8:49 am
Hope the water heater was fixed! And without too much hassle – not like in the old Flanders and Swan song ‘The Gas Man Cometh’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyeMFSzPgGc
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September 10th, 2019 at 11:39 am
LMAO and ROFL!!! Never heard it before but it’s brilliant. The plumber’s coming tomorrow so I hope you haven’t begun a self-fulfilling prophecy!
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September 10th, 2019 at 3:49 pm
I was brought up on Flanders & Swann – my parents had their records (‘At the drop of a hat’). Brilliant comedy duo who absolutely skewered British 1950s-60s society. Swann was also a very talented serious composer & later collaborated with Tolkien to put some of the Lord of the Rings songs to music, ‘The Road Goes Ever On’.
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September 11th, 2019 at 10:27 am
Wow…I had no idea. I was introduced to the Goons as a teen and fell in love with them, but never heard of Flanders & Swann. They are brilliant. Kind of makes you see the ancestry of later comedians such as Monty Python.
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September 11th, 2019 at 2:01 pm
Yes they were contemporary with the Goons and just as funny – I think aspects of their satire have been lost since because it was so on-point to the issues of 1950s Britain (such as ‘Misalliance’, which lampooned period politics). Their main albums were apparently produced by George Martin – THAT George Martin… Incidentally, I’m also a major Goon fan – this to the point where most of my computers have been named after one or another of them over the years, including T. F. Eccles.
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September 11th, 2019 at 7:42 pm
HIGH FIVE!!!! Can’t say I name my computers after them but I did bring the Offspring up to recognize the Ying Tong Idl I Po song [cannot remember how to spell it though].
My favourite Goon was always Bluebottle. “I feel a proper fool…” 😀 😀 Oh..and Moriarty…;)
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September 10th, 2019 at 8:44 am
Ah, and here I was, lauding your plumbing skills in your last post…..~sigh~
I have lead a sheltered life too. Aside from camping days, my only experience of not having hot water was after the Longford gas explosion. Remember when the gas plant exploded, tragically killing a couple of workers, and we were out of gas for a fortnight? No cold showers for me either, so I bathed in a bucket.
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September 10th, 2019 at 11:42 am
I know. Fate has a nasty sense of humour. And yes, I remember the Longford incident. Was it really only two weeks? Felt like forever. We’d just moved into our first house and had gas everything – cooking, hotwater and heating. Plus a toddler. Luckily my Mum had an electric hotwater system so we commuted backwards and forwards to her house. Went out and bought two of those electric hotplates so I could at least cook something. -shudder-
I honestly don’t think I would make a ‘survivalist’.
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September 10th, 2019 at 4:36 am
Love the photo! Hope your water heater reset went A-OK… We’ve bathed with buckets before and heat water on wood stove when the power is out. It’s no fun! ❤ xo
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September 10th, 2019 at 11:50 am
Plumber’s coming tomorrow coz the part had to be sent down from Sydney. Just hope it doesn’t cost the earth.
Anne reminded me of a time when we [in Melbourne] were without gas for 2 weeks. We visited my mother rather regularly during that time as she had hotwater heated by electricity!
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September 9th, 2019 at 10:49 pm
You should do comedy! Hilarious even as I was feeling empathy.
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September 10th, 2019 at 11:55 am
Aaah. Thanks, but I only manage to be funny when I’m not really trying. -sigh-
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September 9th, 2019 at 7:04 pm
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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September 9th, 2019 at 8:01 pm
Thank you! -hugs-
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September 10th, 2019 at 7:40 am
Mental picture too funny… lucky we can’t see ourselves in such situations. Have had to do same thing during camping and power outages… we have a generous width shallow round tub that makes it a little easier, and doubles as a washing/wash tub.
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September 10th, 2019 at 11:47 am
So glad you commented! Was going to check in with you today re the fires in NSW and QLD. Are you and the GO safe?
Oh and yes, I intend to search out a bigger bucket in case of any future emergencies!
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September 10th, 2019 at 2:38 pm
No fires near us, thank you for asking. It’s been a bit windy and dusty but no ash.
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September 11th, 2019 at 10:27 am
I’m so glad. Stay safe!!
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September 9th, 2019 at 7:03 pm
You are so innovative, takes me back to the good/bad old days!
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September 9th, 2019 at 8:02 pm
lol – yeah, it felt a bit like that. We take so much technology for granted, until it breaks.
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September 9th, 2019 at 8:20 pm
By the way, I had no idea the two of your were sisters! And writers have no use-by-date. Go ladies! I’m right behind you. 🙂
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September 10th, 2019 at 4:50 am
Good to know!
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September 10th, 2019 at 11:48 am
-grin- we’re like a good wine, we improve with age. 😀
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September 10th, 2019 at 8:03 pm
I like to think so…
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September 11th, 2019 at 10:25 am
🙂
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September 9th, 2019 at 6:39 pm
I can’t believe you’ve not had to do this before – what a sheltered life, fotl. We lived in a caravan for about 6 months when I was 13. (it was that or a homeless shelter) It was one of my most unpleasant experiences, but on the upside, one of the few places I’ve not been burgled. Anyway, the bath didn’t work, so for the whole time we all had to sink wash. I’m very proficient 😉
My little brother, obviously wasn’t!
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September 9th, 2019 at 8:05 pm
Our first few months in Australia were pretty grim, but I’m sure the camp had bathroom facilities. Then we lived in houses with outdoor loos, but again we had bathrooms. I simply can’t imagine having to bathe in a bucket for 6 months. You’re right, I have had a sheltered life! Making up for lost time now? lol
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September 9th, 2019 at 8:15 pm
Perhaps your mum made it seem normal whilst you were in the camp – given what we hear now about immigration into Australia, I’m surprised that you had conditions that were remotely humane, to be honest. x
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September 9th, 2019 at 8:30 pm
In 1957 we were sent to a place called Bonegilla. I remember a one room family unit with a tin roof. So basic I’m sure 19th century shearers would have been quite at home there. I guess it was normal for the times, but Mum cried every night for a year. The facilities on Nauru and Manus are better, but they’re still awful, esp. for kids. I still find it hard to believe so many Australians ‘approve’. 😦
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September 9th, 2019 at 6:10 pm
Like Cagedunn, I’ve had a bucket shower, in my case in the mountains of Nepal! One bucket of warm water and one small jug to pour the water of myself when soaped. Seemed fantastic, although that might have been because it was my first proper wash in over two weeks…
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September 9th, 2019 at 8:06 pm
Two /weeks/???? Oh my…yes, I imagine even a bucket would be a luxury after so long. Were you trekking out in the bush or something?
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September 9th, 2019 at 9:28 pm
Trekking around a lot of very big mountains.
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September 10th, 2019 at 11:56 am
Ah, that makes sense then. -reaches for a clothes peg-
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September 9th, 2019 at 2:45 pm
I’ve always thought that running water, especially hot running water, is the real sign of “civilization.” Hope you get it fixed soon!
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September 9th, 2019 at 8:08 pm
lol – I used to think it was books! Now I’m with you. Hot running water is a necessity. 🙂
Apparently a part has to come down from Sydney. It may arrive by Wednesday…. Thinking seriously about buying a ‘hip bath’!
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September 10th, 2019 at 10:44 am
Let’s hope we never have to choose between books and hot running water!
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September 10th, 2019 at 11:35 am
Amen. 😦 That’s what I would call a doomsday scenario.
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September 9th, 2019 at 12:40 pm
When I lived in Rye (Mornington Peninsular), it was a bucket shower (which was collected from the rainwater tank). I learned to soap up first, and rinse off under the bucket. And having a kettle is a wonderful thing when having to wash like this!
Since that time, I’ve learned I’m willing to live without a lot of things, but a bath (of any size I can sit in) and a method of water heating – absolute necessity!
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September 9th, 2019 at 1:37 pm
-grin- I have to admit I thought about the Japanese idea of bathing as I got myself clean. They soap up first too, rinse off and only then hop into the heated bath.
I built my house without a single bathtub, mainly because I hated cleaning them so much. Today is the first time in 14 years that I have regretted that decision!
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September 9th, 2019 at 2:23 pm
I always liked a bath so I could clean the dogs, the kids, and then lie in hot water of my own choosing. And I come from a childhood of no water to spare, so a bath always felt like a bit of luxury. Because it it.
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September 9th, 2019 at 8:11 pm
-giggles- please tell me you didn’t all share the same bathwater…in that order???
Growing up we had a shower over the bathtub and never actually used the tub on its own. So it never occurred to me to insist on one. I guess I’ll just have to celebrate all the water savings. 🙂
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September 9th, 2019 at 8:16 pm
Well, sometimes all the kids at once; whether they shared with the dogs? Who knows? I one of them did like to share with her favourite chook.
And our bath had an outlet to the grey-water swirler, which fed into the worms, which fed into the fruit trees. No waste. It’s too much of a habit for me to break. These days, I get someone else to bucket it out if I can’t get the hose to suction it out properly.
And I have shared a bath with a snake – not on purpose – and a cat, who happened to think I’d like the snake to play with.
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September 9th, 2019 at 8:25 pm
If you could see my face! I’m staring at your comment in horror. Bath? Snake? What!?!
I am with on the grey water though. Sink and shower plumbed to a greywater tank that empties onto the grass outside my office. I can direct it to the fruit trees at need but I try to keep the area around the house as ‘moist’ as possible.
Horrible news out of QLD and NSW.
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September 9th, 2019 at 9:21 pm
Yeah, horrible. I hate fire these days, the sight, sound, smell of it. Ash Wednesday is still too recent. I was in Panton Hills at the time.
The snake? That cat liked to bring me gifts, but I generally don’t panic. the snake’s usually more scared of being eaten, and I used to catch some for milking (yes, a long time ago in a far away land – or so it seems).
At least the cat didn’t kill them, just dropped them on my lap or pillow or, in that case, in my tub.
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September 10th, 2019 at 11:59 am
I remember Ash Wednesday too, but I was safe in very suburban Melbourne at the time. I’ve been to Panton Hill since moving to Warrandyte, and I’m incapable of going out there during the fire season.
My cat has brought me bunnies and quite a few mice, but nothing that slithered. Thank god.
My respect for your courage has just gone up about 10 notches. Terrified of snakes. 😦
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September 9th, 2019 at 11:52 am
Yikes. I’ve been there. One house we lived in when I was still living at home had a well that ran dry in summer. We had to get buckets from the neighbour. Not fun at all. I hope your plumber gets it fixed pronto.
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September 9th, 2019 at 11:58 am
Gah, that’s even worse. At least we have water, even if it’s cold. Thanks, fingers and toes all crossed.
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September 9th, 2019 at 11:51 am
Good going.
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September 9th, 2019 at 11:59 am
lol – thank you. My life has revolved around plumbing lately. Hope it stops soon. 😀
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