Complaints

 So , it is a cold , wintry , windy day and you have been apprised of a perfectionist better half about a flush not working , an inlet pipe leaking and that a "complaint " has been launched and that people from the notoriously inefficient plumbing services are due to arrive midmorning .

Now , I have learnt a great deal about the anatomy and functioning of flushes , commodes , and facilities ever since we moved into this house . 

Something or the other always seems to malfunction . It is tragic ( for the residents and repairers ) , hilarious ( for a third party viewing from the outside ) , and irritating (for all) . 

Two weeks ago , we noticed a continuous stream of water falling from the WC into the commode . So , the plumber was called and the leak stopped . The leak stopped to the extent that the WC stopped filling up adequately . 

A complaint was raised again . Two over enthusiastic and ill informed individuals ( not plumbers ) got to work . They disconnected every possible pipe and reconnected it back again . Now the inlet pipe was leaking and the ball valve was found irrevocably twisted ( See what over enthusiasm does to lives and ball valves ) 

Another complaint has been raised . Ball valve and inlet pipe changed . 

Now the WC is not leaking from the inlet pipe , but into the commode , while refusing to fill up fully . 

Hence back to square one . 

In the meanwhile , we had several other complaints . Seepage on several walls , including the upstairs neighbours , water trickling down from the sides of pipes , seeping into walls , creating fungal patches everywhere . 

The largest patches are in the bedroom , where the severity of winter causes a very real fear of sinus inflammation and fever and malaise . 

In fact , people have been falling sick with alarming regularity . 

So much for a brand new house .