Wednesday 6 May 2009

Sometimes You Need to be a Wally

Anyone remember those ads on TV in the 1980's or 90's about being a 'Wally with Water'? I'm about to catapult that little idea right out of our house. Only regarding one issue...not the rest. I'm not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. We'll still insist on 4 minute showers, should I ever be so lucky as to be successful! I'm the only one who manages that. Miss Mischief tries really hard. The rest think that rule is for the rest of Australia and they're not included. We'll still advise the kids to turn the taps off while brushing their teeth. We'll adhere to the laws about watering the garden.

We will NOT be using the half flush on the kid's toilet ANY MORE. In fact, I'm going out the caravan to find the gaffer tape to tape over the half flush button.

Now before all the greenie...oops, environmentalists kick up a stink (pun intended), I have very good reason. Dh had just spent the morning sloshing about in the bathroom, toilet & laundry with water coming up from every plughole available because someone blocked up the toilet with too much loo paper. The half flush doesn't provide enough push to get everything moving sufficiently. This has been a continually ongoing problem in this house. It has to do with the fall of the pipes from the toilet to the septic tank. The gradient is not quite right. Gravity just isn't able to do what it is really meant to and I'm sick and tired of having to deal with yucky stuff. More importantly, Dh is sick of having to deal with yucky stuff and I hate having to wash the towels required! We've also had to get plumbers in from time to time to clear blockages. There will also be a notice on the wall above the toilet paper with Toilet Paper Rules. Who'd have thought you'd need those?!

* * * * * * * * * *

Hopping off my little soap box now...I was very excited on Monday morning when I was in the office at school, to discover that one of the students who left last year (from Miss Sunshine's class) has returned. We had many, many kids leave the school last year, but he was the one I have grieved over and prayed about the most because I knew deep in my heart that he would find it difficult to leave us and go where his parents were sending him. I've lived what he has now lived and I know how hard it is.

So I hugged him to death and told him how glad I was that he was back for good. And then I watched as every adult who saw him and knew who he was hugged him too and also expressed their joy at having him back with us. It is truly a pleasure to have him in class. He's one of those natural leaders. At his young age he possesses a maturity and wisdom that is rare amongst his peers. He has a very personal and deeply held faith that sets him apart from other kids. He respects other people, just because people deserve to be respected for who they are ~ kids and adults alike. As much as I know he is relieved to be back in a place where he is known, loved and free to be who he truly is, the rest of the children in his class will be blessed by him too. Just because that's who he is.

And I have a tear in my eye every time I think of all he has endured and so grateful that he has parents who were willing to admit they got it wrong this time.

8 comments:

Jodie said...

Oh yes, I too was so happy to hear he was back. He is such a sweetie, someone very special!!

The Vintage Rose said...

Some of the newer half flushes only deliver 3 litres, whereas the old style toilet had 11 litres to flush with

Tracy said...

I notice he has fallen right back in where he left off Jodie ~ teasing and bantering with the kids in the class.

VR I don't think it would matter how many litres, given our pipes. We just need the flush to go for a bit longer.

Left-Handed Housewife said...

I've never heard of a half-flush option, but after this post, I'll never be tempted by it, should it ever come my way.

Wnoderful news about your student. I bet he felt great to have such a warm reception upon his return!

frances

Tracy said...

You don't have half flush buttons there Frances? Really? Wow. We've had that feature for years and years here. Now though, with the drought, I don't think you can buy them without.

I think the half flush was invented here, come to think of it.

Tracy said...

You don't have half flush buttons there Frances? Really? Wow. We've had that feature for years and years here. Now though, with the drought, I don't think you can buy them without.

I think the half flush was invented here, come to think of it.

The Tin House said...

Tracy, your toilet story made me laugh. Would you believe we've torn out our 5 year old toilet to replace with one that costs about 4times as much for a similar reason.

Not to be too indelicate (it's hard not to be)...but the s-bend in our loo just wasn't coping with the load being placed on it...or in it. (laughing again)

The new loo will have a 3litre half flush and a 6 litre full flush. Mostly the boys pee outside so it's really only for those other trips the extra water will be used. Anyway...ours is rain water, so we're the loo'sers if we use too much.

Happy Mothers Day dear girl. Lisa x

Tracy said...

Lisa I am heartened to hear I'm not the only one with such trouble!

Happy Mother's Day to you too :)