Later...

I managed to empty the hall cupboard in stages although I did find it a bit much.

Then I had a look at the tank, but couldn't get really near it.

So, I phoned The Best Sister in the World and asked for help.

She duly arrived shortly after and filled the header tank using (I lost count of how many) 500ml bottles of water.

After she had finished, she then put everything back in the cupboard - suitcases, bags, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, coats, fleeces, raincoat and so on.

It is now really neat and tidy.

She is just magic.

Oh no!

What next?

Got up this morning to have a shower as usual and took a quick look in my tank cupboard (tank as in hot water, not as in armoured).

What did I see?

Nothing.

This is bad news as there should be two green lights shining away to indicate the tank is working.

And the job is quite heavy, what with having to move so much stuff out of the way...

I think I shall take it stage by stage.

Pifflebunk......

......and any other sweary words you can think of that would not cause offense.

After elder son and grandson departed for home, I started unpacking, taking my time over it. Then I poured a G&T and r.e.l.a.x.e.d After that I peeled a potato , and was surprised to note that the water was only warm.

Had a look at the hot water tank and both green lights were out, which meant that the header tank was empty.

So I unloaded the shelf which sits above the tank (and holds 2 suitcases, a backpack, a large picnick bag and several shopping bags.

Then I filled the header tank using 10 refills of my smaller watering can.

Then I put everything back and sat down to what I felt was a well earned second G&T.

Now dinner is on the go.

At least the tank is working and I am getting hot water!

errrm

Not just the working man.

All the flats in this building were fitted with an electric hot water boiler which has a header tank of the non-self-refilling variety (a bit stupid you might think for a retirement complex, but that's builders for you.) So as I was having a shower this morning, the water ran cold - well, not quite cold, but certainly less than warm.

I went into the hall cupboard and, lo, both green lights on the tank were out indicating that the header tank was empty.

I have, of course, had a large shelf installed above the tank - well you have to store suitcases and the like somewhere, so first I had to empty the shelf, then I had to prop the front of the shelf up with a (cube) box of paper handkies. Then I had to fill the header tank. I used 1.5 litre water bottles, and lost count of how many I had to use - about 10 I think, but maybe more.

Then I had to lower the shelf and put everything back.

In a way it was lucky the plumber did not come in the morning.......