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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be really upset by people's lack of help

57 replies

noodlesoupz · 22/08/2017 22:23

We've just discovered, at 9pm at night, that we can't use our bathroom. We have a leak and water is pissing down into the kitchen (through the electrics even) and we basically have nowhere to go

We've asked my stepsister, my friends and DH's family are in Italy. DM is actually staying with us because her house is having work done so that isn't an option

everyone we've asked (with enough, and no DC's either) has made some excuse, including my stepsister who turned one of us away because she is having a party tomorrow

I just can't cope with this, its been one thing after another recently and nobody will help. AIBU to expect people to help in a situation such as this? We never ask for anything

OP posts:

GetOutOfMYGarden · 22/08/2017 23:49

OP how many people would you be bringing into their home? Can't help but think that'd be a factor.

Out2pasture · 22/08/2017 23:53

lots of good hints on here. OP have you got things sorted out a bit?
the garbage bag over the toilet is very good as is filling buckets and flushing that way.

GreenTulips · 22/08/2017 23:54

That's a good idea with the carrier bag!

We recently had similar - neighbour let us use the loo and shower (DD off to a party)

New bathroom has isolators on each tap/loo/sink so we will have water in future - ask about this being included in any work

Belindaboom · 22/08/2017 23:54

Op it sounds awful. So many cries of "just turn off the water" "just turn off the electricity".

Your landlord does not have a few days to either fix this or put you up somewhere - they need to fix it first thing in the morning or find a hotel for you. Buckets sound like the only option (i know 😩) till morning then I'd be getting on to them and showering etc at friends/families/neigbbours

Lucyandpoppy · 22/08/2017 23:56

If you can afford it just get a hotel. I flooded my bathroom recently and just got a premier inn which was 2 hours away by train (to where my mum lives) and me and DD slept there.

Alternatively, you'll be okay without electrics for a day or two surely? You won't need lights as its light outside, can charge phones/laptops in a cafe (most vistas have sockets) or friends house and can eat out (or just buy pre made sandwiches etc if on a budget) for using toilet and shower go to a friends/family house, gym/swimming, public toilets or cafe toilets. If you were desperate could wee and not flush. I've gone without a bathroom for several weeks with a tiny baby (turns out bath water was draining into the foundations!) it is do-able, especially if you drive

Lucyandpoppy · 22/08/2017 23:57

*costas

Original poster

noodlesoupz · 23/08/2017 00:01

@GetOutOfMYGarden we didn't ask more than one person to take one of us, iyswim. Theres me, dh and DM but she's made her own arrangements just for one night

I had a day of really important work stuff to do tomorrow and I've had to cancel A) because we can't shower and B) I have to stay home to sort this mess out

We'll have to make do. Thanks for the more practical suggestions :) I think I'm upset by it mainly because I would genuinely bend over backwards to help and have done in the past for less reasons than this

even if a neighbour came knocking who I didn't know well I'd still let them shower/use the loo at the very least. I expected more from stepsister who is two mins down road, has three free bedrooms and two bathrooms, but is having a party tomorrow so "doesn't want the hassle"

OP posts:

HelenaDove · 23/08/2017 00:01

Hope your landlord sorts this for you in the next few hours

HelenaDove · 23/08/2017 00:03

Well remember this next time your stepsister wants a favour OP.

Belindaboom · 23/08/2017 00:04

for goodness sake, no electricity or water for a few days will be fine. Go to a cafe?!

Some people baffle me on here.

Belindaboom · 23/08/2017 00:04

And your stepsister sounds crap.

for you.

GardenGeek · 23/08/2017 00:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HelenaDove · 23/08/2017 00:09

And ignorance is what baffles me.

No electricity for a few days is not fine for everyone. People cant afford to lose fridges of food People need to store certain meds in the fridge and charge things like powered electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Perfecttimes · 23/08/2017 00:11

For now you will just have to pee in the garden- its dark - no one will see you

IHeartDodo · 23/08/2017 00:15

When my boiler broke I just went swimming every day and showered there!
My work has showers too actually, as part of the "encouraging people to cycle" thing - though nobody told me that until afterwards!

Lucyandpoppy · 23/08/2017 00:18

Helena - obviously there are certain situations where electricity is needed, but those exclusions don't apply to everyone and as OP didn't mention it in her posts I'm assuming it doesn't to her

Lucyandpoppy · 23/08/2017 00:20

So in reply to specifically the OP's situation, from what she has has told us, she can do without electricity for a couple of days (or until it's fixed, which will hopefully be tomorrow!)

sandgrown · 23/08/2017 00:22

Can you get one of the box things people use at festivals for number twos and just have a wee in the garden/drain. Go to a gym/pool for a shower Use hand sanitiser. Landlord has to sort this out asap. He/ she may have domestic emergency insurance.

Out2pasture · 23/08/2017 00:22

our community pool has free showers, I chatted to the gal at the desk and she said they are frequently used and that lots of people have work done on their bathrooms and need to use the shower. work place had showers as well.
avoid using the fridge if the power is off and add in a cheap bag of ice that you can pick up at the gas station or grocery store it will keep everything cold enough for a short period.

DoveOfPiss · 23/08/2017 00:28

In the floods of 2007 we had no water for 3 weeks and no electricity for 5 days and also a flooded ground floor of our house. I had a 3 month old baby, a 2 and a 4 yo. Luckily we had a portable gas camping thing so could boil pans of bottled water for tea and to cool for the kids to drink.
You're only talking about a night. Your landlord will have to put you in a hotel tomorrow if it can't be fixed. If you can't bring yourself to use the loo, like a PP said, wee in the garden (or a bucket).

PringlesInMyPants · 23/08/2017 00:29

Justaboy · 23/08/2017 00:46

In WW2 my nan had a bombed pile of bricks for a home with 3 children and absent hubby but somehow she managed!

melj1213 · 23/08/2017 01:32

TBH at 9pm in my house DD would have been in bed so rather than disturb her I'd have just turned off the stopcock and the electrics, got out the camping lanterns (or lit a few candles) and had an early night with a book and dealt with it all in the morning.

I mean really once you're in bed you don't need either the water or the electricity at all, so fill a few bottles with water for drinking , fill the bath/sink with water for washing/chucking down the loo etc, turn the water off, have an emergency bucket just in case and then head to bed.

I'm sure your step sister wouldn't mind if you'd asked to nip over there to have a quick shower in the morning (long before her party!) and then you could get the issue sorted out with your landlord and then go out for the day and look into booking into a hotel if it wasn't going to be fixed before the end the day.

IgnoreMeEveryOtherReindeerDoes · 23/08/2017 01:50

I would be pissed with landlord as there are 24/7 electricians and plumers even in no mans land where I am.

I learnt when I've had fire, flood and even blue light to A&E allfuckers Ive helped jumped hoops to help shy away and only family that live 100s miles away are they to help (I'm usually a Marta) so I refrain from overing those near my doormat mug services

Justaboy · 23/08/2017 13:47

24/7 plumbers in my experience are expensive, very!, and don't do that good a job. seems here theres been some longer term neglect i expect.

However do learn where the stop tap is for the main water supply to the house and usually there are others that turn of the Hot water separately in case that's leaking.

And yes water in the electrics isn't good and more often than not if it's a property that's been wired or rewired it will have a safety RCB trip that will if water is affecting the electrically will turn off in most all cases anyway.

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