Burst Water Mains and Shopping

Well we are still surrounded by snow and a lot of it. More is forecast for tonight and once again we have a weather warning for snow. So a couple of my kiwi friends are asking how it is affecting life for us, so here is a little tale (and also an excuse of way we still have no photos).

Peter and I thought that today would be a good day to go and do some food shopping as a) we were running low and b) it hadn't snowed for a few days so we hoped it would all be OK before the snow comes again. So we are sitting at the dinner table eating breakfast and making a shopping list when we look out the window to see our neighbour (the one who moved) running around his other neighbours knocking on doors looking in a bit of a panic. I (because I am a nosey neighbour) noted he was in trousers and a t shirt and had no shoes on. Thought he looked a bit odd. Then they rushed out spades at the ready and began digging. When I got a look at the front of him, he was soaking. Peter and I left our breakfast and went out to find out what was going on. They had a burst water main inside their house (or perhaps someone elses house, as today was handover day) and it was the wrong side of the internal stop tap. We needed to find the meter and the outside valve. However our road and grass verges are covered in 15cm of snow. So we started digging. Luckily one of the other neighbours helping remembered seeing the water guy reading the meter so we knew where abouts to look (English water meters are not easy to find!) We found something that looked like it could be it, but it was full of water. I couldn't think what it would be but we (as a group decided) that it wasn't it, so the search continued. I decided it would be a good idea to call the water company as I knew they have information on where exactly the water meter is. So after being on hold for forever I finally got through, explained the situation and the lady said she would need to talk to the account holder. He said something along the lines of tell her what she needs to know and leave me out of it. He was too busy trying to stem the vast flow of water in the kitchen, still soaked to the bone. So she described to me where the meter was. Then we followed the directions and it turned out it was the thing we had found in the first place. So we started emptying the chamber to find the valves. Finally we got to a point where we could see them but we could reach them. Even with Peter lying on the ground with his arm and shoulder in the ground. We got a few monkey wrenches and eventually found one long enough to reach it. From inside the house was a scream of joy! Mission done. However we still had one soaked neighbour and one soaked neighbours mother in law. A change of clothes were sourced and we made them a cup of tea. They had been running around in freezing temps (I don't think we got into the positives today) so I hope they don't get sick. What an effort and we felt so sorry for them. They had come back to do some final cleaning and this happened. So snow lesson one, always know where your water meter valve is!

As for daily life, the snow on our road and the fact that it doesn't get gritted means that it is difficult to drive on. Peter's car is a rear wheel drive car and the Nissan needs a couple of new tyres so it has no grip in the snow. We can drive Peter's car but it can't make it up the hill to our house. So we have to park it down the bottom of our road. This isn't and hasn't been a major issue, but today we wanted to do the food shopping. Off we walked, stopping to push a couple of stuck cars on the way and off we went. As it turned out it was the first day the supermarket had opened as they had been clearing the car park, so everyone was shopping it was busy! We came back and then had to walk up the hill with our shopping. Not a real biggie, I know lots of people can't even get to supermarkets with cars so we were lucky in that respect. It does make you appreciate being able to drive up to your house.

As for getting around, the roads (main roads) get gritted and snow ploughed daily or before a big snowfall so driving on those roads are fine. Getting to those roads is interesting. The footpaths are not clear of snow, they are getting well compacted and icy so Peter and I have been going out in our hiking boots every day, they are great in the snow/ice. Tonight we walked up to the Indian for a curry, bit of a mission but after this long everyone is getting used to it a bit.

The other thing that has struck me is how much more pleasant life would be if we talked to random strangers the same way we do when we are in a 'crisis'. You end up having so much more integration with people and there is a real sense of community, all in the same boat and all that. One of my friends started digging out their drive and all of the neighbours came out to help as it is a communal drive. He said after living there for two years it was great to finally meet his neighbours. I agree, it has been great to meet our neighbours, but alas we met the ones that aren't are neighbours anymore.

So where to from here, the snow will take ages to melt, especially all the mini snow mountains that have appeared from digging. Peter has to swap his car on Monday so we are hoping he will be able to get there OK. The Nissan will be serviced on Tuesday and hopefully get some new tyres so I should be able to drive a bit too. I'll probably work at home for the next little while, cause I'm a wimp when it comes to driving in the snow, although I am a LOT better!

So hopefully I'll be able to get out tomorrow and get some pics. I was planning on going today but with the water thing I was a bit tired and they was little daylight left :-(