What a STINK!

[Workingman]

A neighbour called to say the drain at the back was blocked and was causing a pong. It is the drain I share with the downstairs flat for our washing machine outlets and kitchen sinks.

I have one of those wires for clearing U-bends etc. so tried that, but it only went in a few cm before getting stuck, so I thought to try the old school method.

Off came my top and in went my arm. I pulled out handful after handful of leaves in various states of rotting, then I grabbed a hold of something very squashy - oooh! I had all on to keep my breakfast down, but I already had a hold so just kept going.

What I eventually freed up - to a whoosh of water draining away - was a lovely pink Little Miss ball with loads of characters: Little Miss Sparkle, Sunshine, Curious....

Trouble was I stank to high heaven. I scrubbed and scrubbed my arm to no effect. I took two showers with loads of coal tar soap and shower gel, but I could still smell the drain. I put everything I had been wearing in for a hot wash, but the smell was still there.....

I eventually realised that the "smell" was psychological. It was not real it was just a memory of me sticking my arm in a drain full of stagnant water.

I won't be doing that again for a while.

[Kaz]

I'll be sitting upwind of you on Tuesday

[manxie]

when that happens it is the hairs in your nose trap the odour so when you wash you can still smell it all you had to do was clean your nose the same way as you did the sewer hehehehe

Manxie xx

[Workingman]

What? Stick my arm up there almost to the shoulder. You're kidding me.

[miasmum]

Oh I do love a drain Workingman. I could work quite happily at DynoRod

[cromwell]

Blimey. that's a job I wouldn't have fancied! Well done WM.