Oh yes - the experience of unblocking a drain in the height of summer - it all started with the sink in the kitchen being really difficult - I used the plunger, poured some washing powder down it, plunger again - then this evening I gave up and took off the trap and proddled with the reamer. The blockage was round the corner in the conservatory by then.

So I reassembled the trap and tried the plunger again - still no joy so I gave up and washed my kilt.

Went to remove the kilt from the washing machine, and there is water on the floor and in the conservatory sink despite it not being used. The blockage had reached the point where the washing machine drain is fitted into the pipework. I find the reamer and poke, there is much gurgling and glooping, the head of water vanishes away, the sink clears.

Joy - I return to the kitchen and run some water into the sink. It drains away for about a minute and then it starts to fill up again. I use the plunger. The kitchen sink empties but the sink in the conservatory fills up, and there is some really smelly stuff on the floor this time.

I ream the drain behind the washing machine again. Slurping sounds emanate, the sink empties, I run the taps and clear the floor and then try the kitchen sink again - this time it looks like the drain is clear, wonderful. I put the second kilt of the day into the washing machine, add most of the rest of my clothes, wrap self in length of tartan cloth and make a cup of tea. Contemplate several days of washing up accumulated due to lack of free draining sink.

Decide to do the washing up tomorrow, put feet up and drink tea, contemplate the kilts and various home made garments hanging in the conservatory and consider how much easier it is to be grovelling around under sinks, behind washing machines and down drains wearing a kilt.

Also consider that the last two kilts washed were those I made from the heavy poly cotton winter weight duvet we had until I wanted a couple of kilts to take on holiday this coming Friday, and that it will be of some satisfaction to iron them, press in the pleats and place them on hangers to put in the van ready for anything that might happen.

The duvet was torn into six large strips and two small waistband ones, and has made two reverse Kingussie kilts each with 7 yards of material. One has 22 pleats and the other - I think it has 26 or 28, as dictated by the pattern of stripes. The strips were joined using the sewing machine, but the rest was sewn by hand over a period of a couple of weeks.

Now it is one am, and I think I have earned a hot shower and a good nights sleep.


Anne the Pleater :ootd: