I had to climb a ladder because Drains, and now my knee hurts.
You just have to explain that one.
Suspicious patch of damp mossy soil alongside the boundary fence, in an otherwise arid wasteland of a cyclist's garden. "Hmm," says I, digging experimentally with a bit of slate "something must be keeping that wet."
I fetch a ladder in order to peer over the fence, where a gutter downpipe (unlikely, given the lack of rain), upstairs soil pipe, and miscellaneous kitchen drains are known to be present. The gully collecting the rain non-water and 35mm drains is immediately adjacent to the fence, but looks normal. As do the relevant inspection covers further down the neighbours' garden. However a ~0.5m diameter damp patch on the concrete surrounds the soil pipe.
I photograph the evidence for the benefit of Agencies and Landlords, who are - according to the Law Of Sod - only likely to turn up to investigate 20 minutes after the rains arrive.
In doing so I notice a smaller damp patch around our own soil pipe. Fearing the worst (ie. a manhole full of backed-up shite) I summon barakta and instruct her to go upstairs, run the sink and flush the bog. Water trickles forth from the point where the bathroom sink/bath drain joins the soil pipe, flows down the outside of the pipe, and contributes to the puddle. I extend the ladder to investigate, and succeed in solving the problem by shoving the grommet thingy back in properly and straightening the pipe a bit. (I assume it's worked loose as a result of either ice expansion, or neighbours' builder incompetence.)
In descending the ladder, I step awkwardly onto the non-level ground, precipitating a minor flare-up of owmeknee.
We'll see what does and doesn't dry up over the next day or two, but I suspect the outstanding issue is Somebody Else's Problem.
