27.01.2025 I am drained!

 ~o~

  Monday 27th 37F/3C. Overcast. Heavy rain forecast for mid morning.

 Up at 6.30. 

7.45. The drainage contractors have arrived. They suggest they fit a P-trap in 110mm at the foot of the 1.2m long, vertical section in the kitchen floor. Which is what I drilled for and fitted last week.  This will save having a P-trap indoors. Making for a neater job. With only a 32mm standpipe exiting into a flush 110-50-32mm reducer at floor level. It has just started raining hard as promised. The black fitting is the P-trap.

 9.30 67F/19C in the room. Job done. A careful and competent pair of lads. They have back-filled the trench and smoothed it over. The rain eased off and I have been watching them work. So have become rather cold. The stove went out but soon responded to some beech chips and flakes.

 Now all I need is the plumber to finish it off. I have made a hole in the dividing wall to the bathroom. 15mm Pex pipe through the wall. To an elbow and isolating ball valve with one way, stop valve. Not connected to the water supply of course because that would be illegal. I planned on having a T into the toilet's water supply pipe. Which is just the other side of the wall at floor level. I'll see what the plumber says. I called and they are coming first thing tomorrow morning. Excellent!

 10.30 It is getting windy. To save some expense for labour. I have been left with the job of backfilling. Around the top of the pipe in the kitchen with sand. I am already on my third bucket full. I was advised to add water at intervals. To wash it down evenly around the buried pipes under the floor. I did wonder why they left me with a whole barrow full. The sand is damp but still disappearing into a bottomless pit! Dry sand would flow better but I don't have any choice in this matter. 

 11.00 Still at it! I am using a screwdriver. To clear the crack of sand with each filling swipe. I sense the space around the pipe is more full than it was. It is no fun kneeling in a dark corner. Scraping away at a crescent shaped gap only 10mm wide x perhaps 50mm. Four buckets and endless handfuls vanish into nowhere.

 13.45 Still poking sand down beside the pipe at intervals. The main gap seems full until I pour water around the edges. The next gap is tiny but seems inexhaustible in its capacity. I need to shop. So I'll take a break.

 15.50 45F/7C. Heavy overcast and windy. Back from a ride to the shops. I risked a 10km ride despite the often threatening sky. There was a downpour mid morning. Brighter periods in between. The saddle felt too low. Returned well laden. 

 Still working sand around the pipe.

 For dinner I made fish fingers and chips. No pictures.

 21.30 A fierce hailstorm lasted for ten minutes.

 

 

 ~o~