Crap, Metachat ate my post. Which I assure you was properly "more insided". And now it won't let me post it as a comment either. I suppose there's been a word limit imposed at some point?

Anyway, in brief, I had another burst pipe event at my house today (it happened previously in March 2007), and the basement apartment flooded. Much bailing ensued. I got an entirely unwelcome view of plumber butt and a big bill. Fortunately none of my tenant's belongings were damaged and she wasn't terribly put out. I hope my insurance company comes through.

I'm just relieved it wasn't your "Swan Song". ʕ•‿•ʔ

Ugh, sorry to hear this. I was flooded out by the upstairs neighbour at Christmas a few years ago. The mess, ah God, the mess...

BTW, Orange Swan, I was thinking the other day about the dish you bought on eBay for you mum a while ago. What did she say when you gave it to her?

Oh, that neighbour from hell of yours? Awful, Senyar!

My mother was very pleased to get the replacement gravy underplate. I said to her, "It's like magic, isn't it, to have a perfect set again?", and she agreed, although she did comment that, "You want to get the dishes when I'm gone, so you really did this for you, didn't you?"

My mother basically does not understand the whole concept of being a gracious recipient of gifts. One time she asked for a bedside lamp, and my sister gave her a lovely pair of stained glass lamps. My mother's response? "I only wanted one." Followed by, some time later, "I saw them in the store. You spent too much on them."

Boy that sucks! (Both, but the water is worse). Hugs