Washday Blues

Weeks if not months of fighting with the washing machine finally got to me at the weekend. Started search on internet for a replacement. Not sure how old ours is as it's secondhand and we have had it for at least 5 years. It's a basic model prior to all the Eco Green knobs and buttons, no LED display, no display to show how much longer etc etc.

However this morning thought I should give it one last chance, collected up the tool box and set about taking it to pieces. After about two hours had the problem sorted - washining machine kidney stones or thats what it seemed to be (afterall I have enough personal experience). The water inlet valve was full of tiny particles of stones etc. Took the opportunity to take all the bits and pieces of the water and soap dispenser apart and clean. Put back together (I have to yet sort out why I have two screws left over) started it up and it started and ran for at least 10 minutes without problems.

So packed up the dogs and set off to Ottobeuren with a trailer full of broken glass panes which we inherited when we bought the place which over 50 years ago was a garden nursery with loads of greenhouses. When they were demolished in the 70s much of the glass was seemingly simply buried on the property. From time to time we discover  these and probably now with a digger, will find more. Luckily the recycling center in Ottobeuren will take 100 liters of building material, larger quantities have to be taken to the central depot, a much longer drive.

Then the dog walk, a wonderful calm sunny day even if a bit cool. Flash was on excellent form as he has been over most of the weekend. Seldom nowadays he is faster than me but it was a joy to see his bouncy trot, the odd canter and tail up high wagging from side to side.

Photo is of a waterfall on the walk. On researching for a new washing machine it's interesting to see the development to save energy and water. Seemingly machines hardly use any water yet the real power of getting clothing clean lies in the water. The authorities for sewage have been having problems for years with the ever falling amount of waste water from households - the pipes are not getting cleaned properly. We of course are very lucky to have ample water. By pure chance there was a documentary this evening about Nestle incbit about their large share of the US bottled water market which includes trucking water from Mexico. Showed a village there that had sold it's water rights, was no longer allowed to bore a new well for it's own use, the old well having dried up as Nestle pumps it's billions of liters selling it at 1000 times the cost of tap water. MissWinterFinch recently confirmed this practice a while ago saying she had heard that water in her US supermarkets was coming from places like India! This practice will soon cause the next flood of migrants!

Back home to the wonderful site of the washing machine silent and showing the red light to say it was finished and ready to be hung out. So pleased I loaded it again. May have been the power of imagination but Felt to me that the washing had a much softer feel.

One of the reasons for going to Ottobeuren was to get some roof drains from the local small DIY store. Sadly though they dpnt have any roof drains let alone the size/brand (Marley of course) I need to lengthen the existing one on the garage (which used to be a greenhouse and is 15 meters long) so that it can fill up our newly obtained IBC rain water container for the garden and animals.

So with no drains to fit, pottered about before taking the dogs for a sunset walk. Will try to get the drain bits tomorrow before the forecasted rain arrives tomorrow afternoon.. .