Another winter casualty

Last week it was car windscreen that fell victim to our harsh winter; yesterday it was the turn of our water pipes. Incredibly, the pipes have frozen. We lost all water in the house mid-morning, including hot water (as the cylinder wouldn't refill after my morning shower). Poor Garry went without a shower. The Met Office was forecasting sub-zero temperatures for another four days so our chances of flowing water were slim. We immediately filled buckets with what water we could drain from the rooftop balancing tank.

However, the Met Office's predictions proved worse than reality and forecast snow failed to materialise. Instead, temperatures rose above zero overnight, unblocking pipes downstairs and filling our hot water cylinder once again. The thaw continues through the day, melting snow and ice across the neighbourhood. Treacherous ice is finally disappearing from pavements and stairways, while the roads return to their regular bitumen black colour.

However, not every pipe is back in operation. This evening we still have no cold water flowing in the upstairs bathroom or into the washing machine. With a little luck, we'll have water tomorrow as the mild thaw is predicted to continue. The Met Office says we'll have a high of 1°C tomorrow, rising to 4°C by Wednesday.