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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I’m being a complete CF and not want to ring into work again!

243 replies

MeteorGarden92 · 20/03/2019 08:38

So I recently dropped to PT hours to accommodate completing my qualification. Work are wonderful and supportive but I know it’s a stretch for them!

Yesterday I get a call at 7am from DP who has written off his car on the way to work. He’s ok but car is not! (Second accident in 3 months but neither his fault- he has a 2 hour commute on bad roads).

Obviously I rang in and swapped my day off!! They were fine about it.

This morning he’s taken my car to work and I’ve come down to an exploded dishwasher poring water down the front of my washing machine (and no doubt over the plugs at the bag which I CANNOT get into) I’m 26 and not the most stressful practical with electrics but pretty sure I can’t go out to work and leave the new water feature going!

Rang DP - no answer as he’s no doubt mid way through an operation right now. (Dr) so don’t expect a response from him in the next hour or two and even if he does respond he’s over an hours drive away!

Rang my mum- can’t come over.

Rang the plumbers who didn’t answer yet.

This is the second time the dishwasher has done this in a month! And our car was sick a few weeks ago and had to be rushed into the vets (again by me as couldn’t reach DP at work!

DP and I are getting married in 12 weeks and he would bend over backwards to help...if I could get hold of him, which I never can as obviously they don’t allow mobiles in operating theatres and he spends 50% plus of his working day there!

He’s on a 13 hour shift today- I just feel like it’s always falls to me, and it’s always going to be my career taking a huge hit! I’m sat here feeling terrible about having to ring work again and honestly could just cry!!

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 20/03/2019 09:33

FFS stop posting on Mumset and turn the electricity off before you get electrocuted. Then switch the water off. Then go to work!

GrandTheftWalrus · 20/03/2019 09:33

I've lived in my flat for just over 4 years and didnt know where the stopcock was! However DP has just told me.

Also dd turned off the switch for the chest freezer and we didnt notice for 2 days until water came out the bottom. The only casualties were bread products. Everything else was still frozen.

So 8hrs at work will be fine OP. However I do doubt you'll be going as it seems you are looking for an excuse not to go.

FriarTuck · 20/03/2019 09:33

Jesus people are arse holes on here sometimes.
This ^^. Sometimes the most practical organised people on the planet will have a bit of a panic when things go wrong, and particularly where they involve water and electricity which can be a bad combination.
Hopefully you've found a helpful neighbour who can help with the stopcock / fusebox situation so you can leave it safe and go to work.
And leave the kitchen door closed so your cat can't be walking little wet pawprints everywhere!

IceRebel · 20/03/2019 09:34

But assume you're on your way to work now anyway?

I'm also hoping the Op has followed the great advice on the thread, and is on her way to work.

flumpybear · 20/03/2019 09:34

Honestly, I think you need to get yourself more clued up on how your home works and what to do when these minor issues happen. Personally I'd turn off dishwasher and stopcock if you have to (can't imagine it'll be lashing water all day but never know I guess) and get to work

Loseitandkeepitlost · 20/03/2019 09:34

I doubt it is affecting the sockets for the reason a pp gave.

A dishwasher will likely have an isolating valve with a blue tap on it which you turn to stop the water or possibly a copper one which you turn with a screwdriver/knife.

It is likely to be under your kitchen sink, look for the water pipe that is leading to your dishwasher and the valve will be on it. If you use the isolating valve, all other water facilities in the house will remain on.

LagunaBubbles · 20/03/2019 09:36

he's in theatre, wouldn't he be a surgeon or consultant, not a doctor?

Surgeons and Consultants are Doctors Confused

LadAlive · 20/03/2019 09:36

I think OP has gone down a Youtube rabbit hole and is currently sitting in her flooded kitchen, with her wellies on, watching cute kittens.

teyem · 20/03/2019 09:38

I think she said she had to be at work for ten and it took half an hour to get there, it might all be dealt with?

Pinkbells · 20/03/2019 09:38

Ditto the switching everything off. The stopcock won't be far from your kitchen taps, and if necessary just turn off all the electrics to the house. I hope anyone reading this thread who doesn't know where these things are will go and familiarise themselves - it's no fun trying to find a stopcock if you get mains pressure water coming into the house (we had that once when the kitchen tap snapped off!)

Persimmonn · 20/03/2019 09:39

I do get it’s important to know these things but equally think ALOT of my age group- despite having good careers/education - don’t know how to do things around the house.

Ffs. Don’t paint everyone with the same brush. How old are you? Late 20’s to mid 30’s? I knew how to turn the electrics off when I was 15. As for the dishwasher, there is a stop cock under the sink that connects the water from the sink taps to the dishwasher. That’s where the water comes from. It’s common sense. I can’t believe there are incompetent people like this in the world. Having a good education doesn’t account for anything if you don’t have common sense.

AbriaFern · 20/03/2019 09:41

I’m not sure where specifically the water would be turned off either in the house, though I know the general area as I can figure out where the piped appliances area and where the pipes are leading.

But I do know that fucking around on mumsnet looking for strangers to justify my decision not to go to work isn’t going to turn my water off.

You’re one of those I’m sooo sorry I’m letting everyone down at work everything is just aaaaalways going wrong for poor ickle me drama llamas.

We’ve all met one Hmm

PurpleFlower1983 · 20/03/2019 09:42

Life lesson here OP - you should always know how to turn the electricity and water off in case of emergency!

Check if you have home emergency cover with either of your bank accounts, they will send someone fairly quickly.

As others have said - losing a freezer full of food is not as bad as getting electrocuted. Water and electricity do not mix! (Stating the obvious but I feel it’s needed!)

OftenHangry · 20/03/2019 09:43

The sockets shouldn't be behind integrated appliances anyway, unless they're spurred above the worktop they shouldn't but we had them like this when we bought. Looks like no one originally planned on appliances being there.

Smelborp · 20/03/2019 09:44

Find a neighbour - they should be able to help if they have similar layouts.

Your food will be fine if you don’t open the freezer. Could a neighbour also take the meds?

Good luck!

DPotter · 20/03/2019 09:46

Hopefully by now you'll have sorted this out and be on your way to work.

As a PP mentioned earlier - if you're married to / living with somone like a medic (or armed forces etc) you will have to be able to sort this type of thing by yourself (long hours / unable to leave work early), and if my experience is anything to go by, that includes medical emergencies as well.

Wherever we have lived I have found an 'odd job man' - some one who can sort out straightforward maintenance stuff quickly. Another alternative is a home care type contract offered by many of the utility companies; we have one with British Gas.

NorthEndGal · 20/03/2019 09:50

I hope you have got the power off, and water off, without too much more trouble
Is there a way work would let you come in some extra shifts to make up for missing so much?
Maybe volunteer to take the shitty shifts ?

Widowodiw · 20/03/2019 09:52

This really was quite poor. If you genuinely didn’t know what you were doing just ask a neighbour for help. Or google. It’s quite poor too that you sound pissed that your going to have to sort these kinds of things- what do you think all of us that live on our own have to do. We get up and he just deal with it even when we don’t know how to deal with it.

doIreallyneedto · 20/03/2019 09:53

@MeteorGarden92 - And our car was sick a few weeks ago and had to be rushed into the vets

See, that's obviously part of the problem. You haven't figured out which experts to use for what. I'd have taken the car to the mechanic......

(Sorry, I'll get my coatGrin)

whifflesqueak · 20/03/2019 10:03

persimmonn op is 26.

I am irked at the use of her age to explain away her ineptitude.

Gives millennial a bad name.

I’m the op’s age and I, and everyone I know, would have googled if in doubt.

Omzlas · 20/03/2019 10:09

YABU

Turn off the stopcock and go to work (if you haven't already). You're taking the piss if you miss a day of work for a non-issue which is easily resolved.

You knew your OH was a Dr when you bought this house, you need to learn to deal with small issues like this. I know it might not seem small but it really is.

cherrryontop · 20/03/2019 10:13

There are some self righteous people on this post.

Nobody knows how understanding the OPs employer is or what kind of relationship they have when it comes to unexpected absence.

If I had water pissing out all over the place I would be reluctant to just switch everything off and skip off to work. Who wants to come home and have to start from scratch dealing with the cleanup and arranging repairs and potentially having to sort out gone off food. A good employer would understand this, and a good employee would do everything they could and get to work as soon as they have done all they can. It's give and take.

That food in the fridge freezer might well be very important; not everyone can afford to refill at a moments notice.

Everyone has a first time they need to deal with a household emergency/breakdown and the OP was only asking for help and advice.

No need for all the shitty comments!

Hope you have managed to sort it one way or another OP.

MrMeeseekscando · 20/03/2019 10:16

Reminds me of when I was 23 and came home to my idiot boyfriend saying "I think we have a gas leak" having just let me turn on light switches etc.
I asked what he had done about it. Twat hadn't even turned the gas off and opened the windows.
I even asked why he didn't call his mum to ask for advice if he was that unsure.
People need to take more responsibility for themselves.
I walked in, turned off the gas, opened the windows and called (at the time) transco to check out the leak. I had never been shown this stuff. I made it my business as a functioning adult to know how to operate my home.
Seriously, once you've sorted this get yourself some sort of household manual. Or just check out how to turn off your utilities in an emergency. Not just for your sake.

femfemlicious · 20/03/2019 10:18

How can the dish washer be pouring water on the front of the washing machine...strange

MadSweeney · 20/03/2019 10:24

Too late for this time, but look into having a surestop button fitted.
It connects to the pipework and is a pretty simple, obvious button which you then press to stop the water flow.
This should be a simple fit for your plumber.

To think I’m being a complete CF and not want to ring into work again!