Friday, April 26, 2013

Flooded

Last Monday began a very important phase of the cottage renovation: the old drywalls of the kitchen and the dining-room were removed to put some isolation underneath. So far so good. Nobody likes the hassle that is renovation but I was actullay excited as until this wasn't done I couldn't plan the kitchen.


Lundi dernier, un nouvelle phase de travaux a commencé au cottage. Isoler les murs de la cuisine et de la salle-à-manger. Personne n'aime les travaux, mais moi, j'étais plutôt contente puisque cette étape est nécessaire avant de faire la cuisine.

The rooms were just looking ugly and isolation is not really blog-worthy: the plumber was working and didn't need my assistance since there was nothing done that day involving any decoration.


Ce mercredi le plombier devait refaire le branchement d'eau complètement délirant de la cuisine. Juste au cas où, j'ai rempli la baignoire d'eau avant qu'il commence. Il s'est ouvertement moqué de moi!

Though, as always when someone is working on the plumbing in the house, I filled the bath with water, just in case... The plumber really made fun of me, but I shrugged and headed to the side garden to take some pictures in order to have something to post about.


Half an hour later, I saw the plumber running through the garden, yelling "how do you stop the water in your house?", not worried, still weeding for some more pictures,  I yelled back: "Just turn the big blue tap at the bottom of the wall!", I turned back to my strawberry bushes and at that exact moment, my brain registered that the plumber had that big blue tap in his HAND.

Kitchen during renovation... still with its blue tap!
Je suis ensuite allée m'occuper du jardin pensant prendre des photos pour le blog. Un peu plus tard, je vois mon plombier courir à travers le jardin hurlant: "Où est ce que l'on coupe l'eau?", je crie à mon tour "Tournez la vanne bleue en bas du mur" et je retourne à mes fraisiers. C'est à cet instant que mon cerveau enregistre que ce que j'ai vu dans la main du plombier, c'est la fameuse vanne bleue!

I rushed to the house, shrieked "get the furniture out of the house" as the water was quickly going up. There was already an inch of it in the kitchen and it was progressing towards the dining-room and living-room. It was clear the plumber wouldn't be able to do anything. I called the water services and they sent someone to stop the water in the street, but it took them 20 minutes and by then I had more than an inch of water in the whole house.


J'ai couru jusqu'à la maison, il y avait déjà bien 2 centimètres d'eau dans la cuisine, se dirigeant rapidement vers la salle-à-manger et le salon. J'ai hurlé d'une voix tellement aiguë qu'elle en était surnaturelle "Sortez les meubles" et quand j'ai compris qu'on n'avait aucun moyen de couper l'eau, j'ai appelé la compagnie des eaux... Ils sont venus en urgence couper l'eau, mais le temps qu'ils arrivent, j'avais 5 centimètres dans toute la maison.

My neighbour came and helped me getting all we could out of the house while the carpenter and plumber tried to put all the big things like fridge, washing machine and buffet on wood pieces in order to save them.


Ma charmante voisine est venue filer un bon coup de main pour sortir meubles, petits appareils ménagers pendant que le menuisier et le plombier mettaient tout ce qu'ils pouvaient sur des cales. Moment surréel.

It was already a relief when water stopped rising, but it was clear there was more than I could deal with (mopping was just ridiculous) and I called the firemen who very nicely offered their help.

Right when they were finishing their job, they told me to take pictures for the insurance... So all the pictures were taken when the water was almost all gone... I know, I'm a very bad blogger for not taking pictures at every stage of the process... But I was kind of busy, trying to save my house!


Il était clair cependant que je ne pourrai jamais éponger 5 centimètres d'eau sur la surface du rez-de-chaussée. Je me suis donc décidée à appeler les pompiers qui sont venus prêter main forte à ma pauvre serpillère avec un super aspirateur à eau. Les photos ont été prises quand les pompiers avaient presque fini leur travail et que l'un d'eux m'a soudain dit: "Prenez des photos pour l'assurance". Je n'ai évidemment pas de photo du moment où il y avait plein d'eau car là, je sauvais ce que je pouvais! 

A few things I learnt that day:
1) Always fill your bathtub when having plumbing work done. The running water wasn't put back before the next day, but it was not so bad because I had plenty of water and I felt like Cosette getting water in my bucket every time I needed some.
2) Firemen are really sexy (what it doesn't hurt to see the good stuff in a crisis).
3) It's amazing what adrenaline can make you do. I never thought I would be able to get as many things out of the house so quickly while phoning to the town water service and the fire department.
4) Men can't think very far. When most of the water was removed, it began drizzling and they put everything back in the house, apparently forgetting that I was supposed to live there.
This is what my darling living-room looked like when everybody left.


Quelques petits trucs que j'ai appris ce jour-là:
1) Toujours remplir la baignoire d'eau quand on fait du travail de plomberie. La compagnie des eaux ne m'a remis l'eau courante que le lendemain après-midi, et j'ai vécu sur ma réserve.
2) Les pompiers sont drôlement sexy (ça ne fait pas de mal en situation de crise).
3) C'est incroyable ce qu'une poussée d'adrénaline peut vous aider à accomplir. Jamais je n'aurais cru être capable de sortir tant de trucs de la maison en si peu de temps.
4) Les hommes ne pensent pas toujours très loin. Quand l'eau a été aspiré, ils m'ont remis tous les meubles dans n'importe quel ordre à l'intérieur, oubliant visiblement que j'habitais là!

See you soon, hopefully for better news!

A bientôt, avec de meilleures nouvelles, je l'espère!

PS: I've been officially named "Unluckiest person" for renovation... But I'd like to officially thank all people from Water Company to Firemen and neighbours who did their best to help me!

I'm sharing my adventures with:

                                  

37 comments:

  1. Décidemment, tu n'as pas de chance avec tes travaux ! Mais tu as un moral d'acier ! Lorsque tout sera bien beau on va se faire une super fête pour célébrer ça !

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  2. Quelle aventure !!! Désolée mais j'ai bien rigolé . Par contre je suis étonnée qu"il n'y ait pas de vanne au niveau du compteur .
    Alors , depuis , tu as les pieds au sec ???
    J'attends la suite de tes aventures avec impatience .
    Bises & bon week end . Babette

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    1. Eh, bien, si il y avait une vanne au niveau du compteur, celle qui était restée dans la main du plombier! C'était encore un raccordement à l'ancienne avec aucun robinet extérieur. Depuis, ils m'ont fait un raccordement tout neuf, avec un robinet d'arrêt à l'intérieur et un à l'extérieur, tout ça payé par l'assurance du plombier... J'avais hésité à le faire-faire avant, mais c'était un peu cher... Ben, c'est fait!
      Pour la suite des aventures, j'espère sincèrement que cela sera plus ennuyeux et moins aventureux!!!
      Magali

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  3. How awful. Thank goodness for firemen....I do agree with your comment. Each year before Christmas one used to arrive on our doorstep with the calendar. We always gave a donation. The men who came were always the tall young handsome ones, in uniform!
    Hope all now will go well with the renovations.

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  4. I just groaned when I read this post! What a horrid situation, but so smart of you to think of filling the tub when plumbers are going to be working on the plumbing. Now I will always do that too! In fact, I will probably do that when we're having a big storm, for often the power goes out and then we can't get water.

    Hope the good fairies come in the night and clean it all up for you and finish the renovation...now wouldn't THAT be nice! At least things can only get better, right??

    Thanks for stopping in this morning. Lovely to have you visit. :-)

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  5. Thank good you have tiles and not wood floors, and solid stone walls! do you have any drywalls or is it all rendering? Make sure to put in a building/ heat fan to dry it out properly. I really like the way you wrote this piece. An ominous headline, then a couple of serene pics and then the CHAOS. That is very unlucky, but was it not just a little bit pleasure in that adrenaline rush? I secretly enjoy disaster... I like being put to the test!

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    1. I was never happier with my flooring choice than that day! Most of the drywalls were removed when this happen... Only those in the living-room were left, but fortunately, it's where the water stayed not very long at all, so they seem to be ok, the baseboard will be changed, though. The plumber lent me a big noisy thing that helps drying the stone walls and floor. I really wasn't happy with the whole experience, but I do take pleasure in the idea that I was able to cope!
      Thabks for stopping by!

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  6. Et dire que ton plombier s'est moqué de toi avec ta baignoire pleine d'eau! La suite des aventures mais pas des mésaventures....
    Emmanuelle

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    Replies
    1. Comme quoi, on n'est jamais trop prudent, lundi, je re-remplis la baignoire!!! Merci de ta visite.

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  7. Oh, non non non!!!!!! We've had tons of flooding in Illinois due to excessive rainfall, but not due to the PLUMBER!!! I'm so sorry! Well, at least I can congratulate you on having the yummy firemen in your house. I guess all was not lost. :) Happy cleaning...ugh...

    -andi

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  8. The things we women will do to get a good looking fireman to come to our rescue. :-)
    All kidding aside, glad you were able to get a lot of help. And how dare the plumber give you look about filling up the bath tub. That was a very smart move on your part. The plumber sure did have to eat his words didn't he?
    I hope everything else goes smoothly for you from here on out. Bless you heart.

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  9. Oh my goodness. What a disaster. How upsetting! But you made the best of it! I hope the insurance covers the damage. Maybe even the contractor's insurance covers this depending on how things work in France. That's so interesting that the fireman helped vacumn it up. Here we would have to call a specialist to do that.

    I remember when our kitchen was in that state. When we moved in we had the plumbers out to fix everything. When they were done we hooked up the washer. Oh my. It was a good thing we were home. The water starting shooting out into the kitchen the water quickly was in the dining area. I dumped all the towels onto the floor because it was headed toward the music room rug. Then I ran out to the sleeping porch to open the washing machine, but the water kept shooting into the kitchen. My spouse said the plumbers forgot to close off something. He got it closed, and the water starting squirting into the sleeping porch. There was a sewer blockage. So until all the water was out of the system it squirted on the porch. What a mess, not as bad as yours because some of it was still in boxes and we have one of those vacuums that suck up water. Then the plumbers had to be called back to unblock. Did you see my post on negative pressure the other day? Watch for that too, though that can happen to anyone, even new construction. I empathize with your situation, but I admire your ingenuity and quick thinking.

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  10. So sorry to hear about this horrible flood! I hope everything is fixed now so that will not ever happen again. Poor you! I hope you have some stress free days ahead. Patty/BC

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    1. Well, it's getting better: I have running water now, though no hot water!
      Thanks for your visit.

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  11. Oh dear, what a mess. Even in the midst of disaster, you seem to be an optimist! I hope it is all cleaned up very soon. Renovations are not for the faint hearted!

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  12. I'm visiting via Kathy's Spot on Cedar Pond. As I write, our bathroom is being renovated, and while there have been 'adventures with water', none as big as yours!

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  13. Et bien, les travaux avancent, avec leurs péripéties certes, mais ils laissent ensuite des souvenirs!

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    1. Oui, si tout arrive à sécher sans encombre, cela fera peut-être même un beau souvenir!

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  14. Oh my, Magali--I am so sorry to hear about the water leak and flood--so not fun. We had a washing machine that flooded part of our basement a few years ago, and what a mess just to clean up from that. So glad that the firemen were able to help, and I wish you the best for the rest of your renovation. Your flower pictures are lovely--it looks to be a lovely spring in your part of the world!

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  15. OMG, such lady! The worst is water problems, but you were so lucky to have the fire men give you a big hand! We went through lots of ugly stuff when we renovated our kitchen, but now, after more than 2 years, we're soo happy! We need to do our master bath one of these days!!!!! Thank you for your kind visit. My grands are going home today, so I'm sorry if I took a little longer commenting you. Can't wait to see the finished product!
    FABBY

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  16. First off...thank you for posting the cookie recipe.
    But, OMG Magali that is a crazy story. Poor you. Okay, I am with you...thank goodness for cute fireman....bonus, always good to have a bonus!!! But, really the plumber floods the house??
    Keep your spirits up Magali and keep the fireman on stand by. :)

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  17. What a shock it must have been but it sounds as if you coped admirably! Hope all is dried out now and that the plumber doesn't create any more problems for you.
    Thanks for visiting Normandy this weekend.

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  18. Oh no Magali, what a mess. SO sorry this happened to you. On the plus side, firemen are definitely cute, and your garden is starting to look very pretty for the spring. xo Laura

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  19. Dear God Magali - unbelievable!!!
    And here I was complaining about my week!
    Not fun I know - how awful for you - ( BUT you have a gorgeous garden my friend - maybe you should bring your bed out there until the reno's are done :)
    XOX

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  20. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    Kram Meta

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  22. Oh Magali - I am so sorry for your experience! I hope better days and times are ahead!

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  23. BLESS YOUR HEART!!! Oh my, so sorry that happened! I must say that when reading what you've "learnt" I couldn't stop laughing...so funny and great you have a sense of humor through it all! It will be worth it in the end :)
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  24. Oh No! So sorry to hear that, and so glad you were smart enough to fill the tub! What a great sport you are. Thank you for sharing this at Rustic Restorations Weekend.

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  25. Magali, I am so sorry this happened! Hopefully the worse is over and you can get back to your remodel. Best of luck.
    xx,
    Sherry

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  26. OH NO! This is a terrible thing that happened but something that can be fixed! I am so happy you were able to get so many of your things out of the house. Nice you had a distraction (firemen) too. Nice of the firemen to help you. Hope all goes well as you start the clean-up stage of the accident. Thinking of you..........

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  27. Are you serious? I must say that I admire your attitude. Your 'a few things I learnt that day' made me smile.
    Farmhouse hugs,
    Cindy

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  28. Oh no Magali, what a terrible experience! Thank goodness you were able to get most of your furniture out of the house. I did laugh that you even had time to admire the firemen. I hope the insurance covers everything, and a little extra. Take care, Ann

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  29. Oh my sweetie, what a disaster! Love that you can keep a sense of humor and notice that the firemen were sexy amongst all of that commotion. Some things are worth taking time to notice, right? lol! Smart idea to fill the tub. I hope nothing was ruined and that the insurance pays well.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  30. Oh my goodness!! What an unlucky turn of events! I'm so glad that you were able to save your furniture and that everyone came to help you so nicely. Whew!!! ~Angela~

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