All a bit dark
No, I am not talking about a blackout or anything, but today’s photos. I thought as the sterna saga continues, you might like some images of what’s going on. So far, not a lot, but I did get a shot of the entrance to our water tank (the sterna, or cistern, beneath the house). You can’t see much, but you might see why anyone is reluctant to go down and investigate. Before we get to that dark and damp experience, here’s yesterday’s sunrise.
That’s about as pretty as today’s few shots are going to get.
As for the progress on the water situation… It rained on Monday, so we had loads of free water pouring into the sterna from the roof. While this was going on, we were able to have showers and save some rainwater in a few buckets in case we need them later. After the downpour, there was a decent level in the tank, but most of that was gone within an hour, leaving us enough at the bottom to use for washing up and the like. The leak seems to be somewhere at a level above the top of the pump, so I am not too worried about sediment being dragged into the machine and ruining it, and it’s one of those pumps where if there is no water to pump, it shuts itself off, so the pump itself shouldn’t suffer damage. It’s down there somewhere…
On Monday, our landlord came across to see how we were doing and check we were okay for the day and told us that his workman would be arriving after work that afternoon. Two guys appeared around half-three with the landlord, took a look at the sterna entrance and discussed options. This was all in a mix of Greek, Symiaka and Albanian, but I followed the thread as I knew what the context was. In the end, it was decided that they would bring a temporary tank to go on the bathroom roof and, I assume, plumb it in so we can use that as our sterna until they do the deed down the hole. Something they are reluctant to do now as it’s a big job (we wouldn’t be able to use the workhouse for some time because a wall and possibly floor need to be knocked through or something), the weather is unpredictable, and it’s winter, so that will have to wait until summer. As long as we have the tank, we don’t mind, but it did sound like a bit of an excuse to me. I waited in for the evening as they were due back with the tank and equipment after five, but thanks to a thunderstorm, they didn’t arrive.
It’s Tuesday morning as I write and no sign of them yet, but we still have some water in the sterna, so it’s not a worry. I will have to wait around until they get here – which could be any time – and deliver the thing and set it all up. Meanwhile, Neil is covering our godparent duties up at the boys’ house while mum is away, and I’m missing out on the fun. But there’s no choice, not until we are back online with water and can fill up the new tank. Hopefully, this morning, as you read.
Get ready for the next thrilling instalment of ‘The House that Leaked Water’, a remake of the 1971 cult horror classic, ‘The House that Dripped Blood’, four shorts in one film written by Robert Bloch, a bit of a long way from his novel Psycho, but there you go. And here I go to wait around for a plastic tank.
