tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post6378400797136716985..comments2023-05-02T12:33:58.182+01:00Comments on Perpetually In Transit: Oh joy, Oh rapture!Perpetuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-36574334171719488072013-03-15T12:40:14.574+00:002013-03-15T12:40:14.574+00:00How wise. I must admit that this condition never o...How wise. I must admit that this condition never occurred to us, probably because we hare so used to living with a septic tank. At least in France our fosse is new.<br /><br />I'm with you all the way on the subject of modern comedy which is why I often turn to YouTube to see what I'm missing. DH and I also love listen to the repeats of the old radio favourites on Radio 4 Extra. Such fun!Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-72617293203183416532013-03-15T11:44:57.541+00:002013-03-15T11:44:57.541+00:00A house that was already connected to the drains w...A house that was already connected to the drains was one of our main priorities when we were looking for one.....how glad I am !!<br /><br />And oh how I miss the two Ronnies, and so many more of the old comedy shows. The stuff that goes for comedy these days is just awful - unwatchable. If I want to see people sniping at each other with an f in every other word, I'll just get the bus into town.......Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09726164724131916224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-35352410684211757952013-03-13T11:59:39.335+00:002013-03-13T11:59:39.335+00:00Nice of you to drop in, Maria. Yes, the budgets in...Nice of you to drop in, Maria. Yes, the budgets in these programmes always seem to be enormous by most people's standards, as are the houses they are shown.<br /><br />I suppose my working life has been a bit out of the ordinary. Certainly when I first started work in the library I could never have guessed what I would go on to do. :-) Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-66394036374007623362013-03-13T11:39:45.162+00:002013-03-13T11:39:45.162+00:00Just visiting from Maa's (Sue) blog. Yes here ...Just visiting from Maa's (Sue) blog. Yes here in Australia we get UK programs such as 'Escape to the Country'...but the people depicted always seem to have unlimited money to spend! I read your profile and my goodness what an interesting working life you've had. :-)Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12594244181463706442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-41658966656642657812013-03-11T19:05:40.363+00:002013-03-11T19:05:40.363+00:00It's the same the world over in rural areas. :...It's the same the world over in rural areas. :-) We get the occasional horse and rider here, but I've yet to see a horse and buggy. Don't talk to me about manure spreaders! Yesterday, on the way home from church, I had to reverse a LONG way up a single-track road to find a place where the most enormous tractor with muck-spreader could actually get past me. Sigh.... <br /><br />Thank goodness for the Two Ronnies for light relief. :-)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-14226369844460029302013-03-11T18:49:47.971+00:002013-03-11T18:49:47.971+00:00Oh, how true. Here in the Midwest, the pleasures ...Oh, how true. Here in the Midwest, the pleasures of the countryside come with slow-moving "honeypots" (manure spreaders) or Amish in horse and buggy!<br /><br />Was only recently introduced to the Two Ronnies. :-) Love it.<br /><br />PearlPearlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05261369905176088917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-75845860457379430672013-03-11T11:30:47.988+00:002013-03-11T11:30:47.988+00:00Thanks for the kind offer, but it's not a prob...Thanks for the kind offer, but it's not a problem in the short-term, as the system has a couple of small cisterns on the way to the main tank which act as holding tanks until we can deal with the blocked pipe. The blockage has probably been there for ages, but it wasn't until the smaller cisterns couldn't cope any longer that we knew there was a problem and had to track it down. All in a day's work here in the depths of the countryside....... :-)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-33288334953255192272013-03-10T20:12:58.779+00:002013-03-10T20:12:58.779+00:00Obviously the old adage is true - 'If you want...Obviously the old adage is true - 'If you want a job done properly, do it yourself'! How ever are you managing? My mind is boggling wildly!! Offer of help in any form (including coming over here for any necessities like laundry etc) still applies.<br />Love from us both.Helvanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-4017261552635213592013-03-10T16:48:17.702+00:002013-03-10T16:48:17.702+00:00Ouch, well problems are just as bad a septic tank ...Ouch, well problems are just as bad a septic tank problems in their way, and I don't envy you, Spindrift. Been there, done that, on many occasions in the more distant past (including the running dry in summer)until we finally had a new well sunk which has never let us down except when one small section of pipe needed replacing, which wasn't difficult. Mind you, not having mains water up here, we really need that well to function reliably.<br /><br />As soon as this spell of wintry weather is past we know just what to do to complete the repair and it shouldn't prove too difficult. We actually called a local firm in last week and all he did was to crack the pipe without shifting the blockage, so we'll finish the job ourselves. :-)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-91206690645736066212013-03-10T15:07:34.847+00:002013-03-10T15:07:34.847+00:00How I feel for you, Perpetua! I hope the problem i...How I feel for you, Perpetua! I hope the problem is now resolved. In our experience of similar blockages, they seem to require clearing in the dark, involving wrapping up warm and juggling torches and drain rods and trying not to fall down or lose vital tools down the various manholes! And last week our well supply stopped, so we spent several days emptying and digging out the well (farmer left the lid off - in the sheep field - aaarrrggghhh!)and then replacing the ball valve and entry pipe into the holding tank! Fortunately we do also have mains water for indoor use, but that was only installed after several years of running out of water altogether in the summer, and the grim experience of the result of a buzzard chasing a rat under the lid of the old well.......<br /><br />Country living!! Oh yessss!<br /><br />Spindrift51Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-19068181911001454332013-03-09T16:49:06.085+00:002013-03-09T16:49:06.085+00:00The inspectors are having a terrible time trying t...The inspectors are having a terrible time trying to get all the inspections done. Apparently the initial ones should all have been done by last year at the latest (ours was in 2009), but of course, being France, the goalposts keep moving. :-) I shouldn't worry - a fosse installed in 2000 will look state-of-the-art compared to most of what they're finding.<br /><br />I wouldn't like to guess what's caused the blockage with us, except that it's unlike to be false teeth. :-)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-61055972704238168542013-03-09T16:03:00.116+00:002013-03-09T16:03:00.116+00:00SPANK - so appropriate - have not managed to visit...SPANK - so appropriate - have not managed to visit us yet in France, due, no doubt to the number of doughty pensioners who won't let them on their property in the surrounding communes.<br />Once they do no doubt our fosse...installed in the then norms in 2000...will be found to be defective.<br /><br />We had the fosse cleared at a previous house and the operative came to show us the cause of the problem...a mighty set of false teeth that looked as though they would fit a carthorse.Helen devrieshttp://asurfeitofpalfreys.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-38997608766073267862013-03-09T11:02:22.989+00:002013-03-09T11:02:22.989+00:00I hope you never have occasion to find out. :-)I hope you never have occasion to find out. :-)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-5250076928951468342013-03-09T07:34:29.136+00:002013-03-09T07:34:29.136+00:00I'm intrigued by the idea of a Dynarod Service...I'm intrigued by the idea of a Dynarod Service. Sometimes I think I could use such. But I'm not sure, and I don't want you to tell me.Murr Brewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03422638986410813520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-21612927808395049152013-03-08T11:01:59.175+00:002013-03-08T11:01:59.175+00:00It could well have been just a hole in the ground ...It could well have been just a hole in the ground which was all our French house had when we bought it. Installing a septic tank was the first big job in the renovation process. We have a well there too, but it was capped when mains water came.<br /><br />To be fair to our septic tank here, this is the first time in 40 years it's given us problems, so we can't grumble too much. I would find it much more frustrating to have the kind of recurrent problems you've described on your blog and I admire your perseverance.<br /><br />There used to be an ironmonger's in the nearby market town just like this, even to the men in brown coats and the plethora of drawers and cardboard boxes. We never had to ask them for Os though. :-)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-33729182811976766232013-03-08T10:55:06.202+00:002013-03-08T10:55:06.202+00:00Thanks, Ricky. How nice to have a second Saint'...Thanks, Ricky. How nice to have a second Saint's Day to go with my pseudonym, which is now starting to feel like a real second name. :-)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-50942914347224134182013-03-08T10:52:26.595+00:002013-03-08T10:52:26.595+00:00Absolutely. Looking at the number of big stones wh...Absolutely. Looking at the number of big stones which were dug out, it would have been a huge job even for two strong blokes. The pipe runs under the track which leads into the field and the stones were there to protect it from the weight of tractors.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-75047525097784482722013-03-07T20:43:08.512+00:002013-03-07T20:43:08.512+00:00Dur! Wot You Like? Next time, eh?Dur! Wot You Like? Next time, eh?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13702475308562601190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-79305254191719977122013-03-07T11:06:14.118+00:002013-03-07T11:06:14.118+00:00One of the places we nearly bought had pozo propri...One of the places we nearly bought had pozo proprio (own water) and pozo negro (black water) - not sure if it was a septic tank or just a literal black hole in the ground. One of the many reasons for not buying it.<br /><br />But unlike you, our country village finca - touch wood - doesn't seem to have drainage issues. Unlike our city flat. Still, have drain rods, will persevere and placate the Env health officer.<br /><br /><br />Got to love old hardware stores and men in brown coats. I thought I had got it on the Os. I was thinking of O rings though, so being too clever there :D roughseasinthemedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362795583263821176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-28384401009964040602013-03-07T10:43:28.999+00:002013-03-07T10:43:28.999+00:00I forgot to add my best wishes for 'Saint'...I forgot to add my best wishes for 'Saint's Day' as today the Church of England calendar commemorates 'Perpetua, Felicity & their Companions'.chaplain.czhttp://www.rickyyates.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-1979109728320718342013-03-07T10:32:12.761+00:002013-03-07T10:32:12.761+00:00Yes, you were luckier than a fellow-blogger who ha...Yes, you were luckier than a fellow-blogger who has just moved into a country rectory with a septic tank. At least the centres of our bigger villages were on the mains, but the St Fergus problem must have been a headache for you.<br /><br />I must have watched this sketch countless times and like you I always laugh because it's so very well-observed and beautifully written and acted. A true classic.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-17644125810727963732013-03-07T10:15:34.122+00:002013-03-07T10:15:34.122+00:00Exactly, Ayak. The houses are all impossibly tidy ...Exactly, Ayak. The houses are all impossibly tidy and sparkling with not a glimpse of country clutter and mess, like the chainsaw on the shoe-stand by the kitchen door, waiting for DH to go out and cut wood. :-)<br /><br />Poor you, at least we don't have to empty our own septic tank when it needs it and I'm very grateful for that after the past couple of days. The Two Ronnies have been an excellent distraction. :-)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-83271212051390926372013-03-07T10:07:55.730+00:002013-03-07T10:07:55.730+00:00After over 15 years of country living, I know both...After over 15 years of country living, I know both the up & down sides of doing so. But at least we did have mains drainage so no septic tank problems. However, I do remember as a trustee of St. Fergus, having an expensive problem with the septic tank there. <br /><br />The 'Two Ronnies' are wonderful and 'fork handles/four candles' has almost become synonymous in English for saying one thing & it being heard as something else. Watching the clip again, still brings a laugh even though I know what's coming!chaplain.czhttp://www.rickyyates.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-34216916365037997032013-03-07T07:48:15.701+00:002013-03-07T07:48:15.701+00:00The only property programme that's a little mo...The only property programme that's a little more realistic is Homes under the Hammer, the rest are much like the blurb you get from estate agents.<br /><br />I am pretty sure when our septic tank is due for cleaning, it will be a DIY job, so not looking forward to that. I sympathise with you!<br /><br />Love that Two Ronnies sketch xxxAyakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903896106779269050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-59872513441554511082013-03-06T23:35:10.898+00:002013-03-06T23:35:10.898+00:00The septic tank and its drain are now well on the ...The septic tank and its drain are now well on the way to recovery, Dee, as are my muscles, thanks. <br /><br />I'm glad you enjoyed the Two Ronnies so much and I'm sure you'll find a lot more of their classic sketches on YouTube. British television has produced some wonderful comedians over the years, quite often in double acts like this, and their work is still very much loved and remembered over here, though it's not usually well-known elsewhere. Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.com