Une petite inondation

We were back in Troyes yesterday collecting our other framed picture. We took the opportunity of dropping into the covered market there, it’s a beautiful old building, and open every morning seven days a week. It was looking very festive.

Neither of us had got each other a present yet, so we split up and went shopping on our own. The old area of Troyes has lots of smaller unique shops, artisan in style. They are intertwined through the old narrow streets - selling local art, recycled objects, pottery, handmade chocolates, clothing - usually with a number of cafes sprawling onto the pavements, but these are all currently closed, with just the odd one selling takeaway coffee. We both had a successful shopping trip.

We couldn’t be too late in leaving Troyes as we needed to get back for a zoom call with some friends at 8pm, and curfew kicked in then as well. So we left just after 5pm. I did think this could be a bad idea and we’d get caught in lots of traffic, but it was all, remarkably, fine. We were home by about 6pm. We unpacked the car and Brian scurried upstairs to hide my presents from me. I went to the coat cupboard to hang up our coats and grab my slippers. As I put them on ‘squelch’ - I thought urghhh they are soaking wet - then I heard it ttchhhh…. ttcchhhh…. the sound of spraying water…. I called up the stairs “Hun we have a leak, no we have a flood!”. “What! Where!” “Under the stairs” I started to grab the coats and emptied the cupboard so we could see what was happening, Brian went outside and turned the water off. The gate bell rang, who was that, Brian disappeared into the cupboard to survey the situation. I went to see who was at the gate. Two pompiers (fireman) - timely I thought. They were collecting donations for a calendar they produce each year. I got my calendar, gave my donation and wished them happy Christmas. Although I’d have loved to have chatted with them, this was not the time.

I went back to see Brian, “what do you think?” “We need a plumber” . Seven in the evening, this is not going to be easy. I called Lee-Anne, she would know what to do…no answer. I called Christophe…no answer. I tried Lee-Anne again, “Bon soir”, “how are you both?” I didn’t want to just dive in about the flood, but I could see Brian thinking this isn’t the time to be chatting Jo! So I got to the point and shared with her what was happening, it just so happened she was with Christophe and they were also on their way back home from Troyes before curfew started. We tried to identify the issue over the phone but they were only 15 mins from us, so decided it was best to come and have a look.

After some investigation the outcome was not good. One of the valves on the main water supply unit had completely broken. Christophe tried to isolate it, but it needed to be replaced. So after he had made it safe, there was nothing more could be done until the morning. They took some photos to show the gendarmes if they got stopped, as they would not be home by the time the 8pm curfew kicked in.

Quentin would come first thing in the morning to replace it. They had a replacement one in stock so no delay in having to get the part.

For now though we would not have any running water overnight. No time to dwell on that, we had a zoom call to get on to.

It was literally 7.58pm as Brian shut the gate and I opened up the laptop to do our zoom call.

It was great to see how everyone had brought the festive spirit, and we enjoyed two hours of laughs, chatter and merriment.

Friends new and old make such a difference.