Drains · Monday May 14, 2007 by Abbie
Ram slept in today a bit. As the Dxh was coming today for respite day at 10, we didn’t read very much. Ram was still in his getting up routine when Dxh arrived, so he got to see how difficult it is to keep things moving. Ram had to sit and tell us all about various things with both of us constantly reminding him of what he was supposed to be doing.
I had to go into town for some caustic soda as the kitchen drain was blocked. The last time I had to unblock the kitchen drain was seven years ago, and ask it is so well used with me cooking from scratch every day, I think that is pretty good going.
Even though I wanted to leave as soon as Dxh got here by the time I had got Ram his breakfast and said goodbye it was 11. In the ironmongers I plopped down two bottles of caustic soda and a pair of extra long rubber gloves. He gave me the look that said ‘I bet I know what you are doing.’ So I started chatting to him and said that I bet he didn’t! I told him all about how we make our own soap out of caustic soda and oil or fat! I even went into the detail of how soap was discovered.
This is on of the hazards of home education. You don’t just make something, you turn it into an educational opportunity and find out as much about it as you can! The man (he was elderly and only standing in for the usual owner) was absolutely amazed! He said it just goes to show you are never too old to learn!
When I got back it was time for lunch and my nap. I decided to do the drains afterwards. I had fully planned to do it myself, but both my boys decided to help! We opened up both the drain covers, found which area the blockage was in, got the rods (they double for chimney sweeping) and gave a little push which sorted it out really quickly, then put down the caustic soda mixture to clean it all out. Ram was fascinated and did as much as he could to help while holding his nose!
I consider watching how to unblock drains very educational. If a child is at school from early on until late in after school clubs, they will not see as much of this everyday life that a home educated child will. And which is more important when you grow up and become a home owner: unblocking drains or doing SATS papers!
After we cleaned everything up, Dxh and Ram went onto playing with the ball on the trampoline while I worked on the DLA form. It took me one and a half hours to print off and paste my notes onto the pages. I now just have to wait for a couple of people to write their supporting letters and it will be ready to go.
Once again there was too much on TV for Monday night. But luckily the hard disc recorder is a little more empty with all the watching that we did yesterday. I am sure as usual it will take all week to catch up with the programmes we record from tonight.
