June 21, 2019. Western Head, Noca Scotia. The Basement Drain.

One thing leads to another. A month ago or more, a downspout came off the house. Walt called George to put it back which he did. But the week before I arrived and before the downspout was installed, , three days of torrential rain fell. All the water ended up in my cellar. Three feet of water was in the cellar. Walt got someone with a pump and the water was removed. The heating man came to check the furnace and much to his surprise it was fine so all was well when I arrived. The house was warm and cosy. Many many years ago a drain was put in the cellar. It was probably put in almost 125 years ago. It was a pipe leading to a French drain filled with rocks and stones. The drain was still working, but very slowly. Over the years, the silt and sand fills in the holes around the rocks so the water stops flowing. Since I arrived, the excavating company dug up the old drain. They also had to remove a section of the deck in order to dig right to the old house foundations. They installed a long 6 inch pipe running almost to the shore. They filled it in and replaced the deck back into place. Now we all hope I am set for the next one hundred years. I was impressed. The men worked for one and a half days using one digger and three men. They were efficient and competent. Even they were surprised when the whole thing went together so well. The issue with the cellar drain is over. Now I must pay the bill.