On the evening of 30th we discovered that the ballcock arrangement on our water tank in loft had bitten the dust. So yesterday DP went and got new bits and has attatched them but is left with a leaking joint where the there is an 'olive' on the incoming mains pipe that you screw onto the water tank connection. He has tried TPFE tape and Plumbers Friend gum stuff but despite trying over and over still has a leak that varies on each try fron drip to fine spray to bigger spray. Only other thing would appear to be to remove part of the pipe, put on new olive and solder new pipe on. This is beyond our capabilities and plumber would be difficult to find/extortionate at this time of year. Any other solutions to try? Can we go away and leave water turned off at mains with heating still on? we are meant to be visiting relatives for New Year.