The Washing Machine Saga

Rachel:

As some of you may have heard, we bought a washing machine for our apartment. We weren't going to but when we found out that it would cost $4 to wash one load of laundry (only wash, no dry) we decided it would be best to buy our own. I found one on Gumtree (Australian Craigslist) and we bought it. Now for the list of trials and tribulations caused by this machine in order:

1. We had to get it home. The people we bought it from live two blocks down the street from us. I asked around to see if someone had a dolly to help us move it but no one did. So we carried it home. The walk which takes about 4 minutes sans washing machine, took about 30. We had to take about 12 breaks on the way and some old lady who is about Christopher's size helped us because we looked that pathetic.

2. Then we had to figure out how to fit it in our little corner in the bathroom. As illustrated by this photo, 

we tried to place it one way but it didn't go down all the way, as evidenced by the lip of the machine resting on our counter. AND everytime we moved it we had to lift it straight up because as you can see, our toilet-counter proximity does not allow for our machine to be easliy slid into place.

3. We finally got it the right way, despite an incredible mess and numerous muscles strains and bruises. Success...... or so we thought. Then we realized that our wrench wouldn't fit around our taps to remove the previous owners taps that were rusted on.

4. Borrowed a wrench from two people, which didn't work because the bolt was rounded and rusted on.

5. 5 days after we dragged the machine home, we bought a visegrip wrench from Big W (Australia's Wal-Mart). FINALLY got the previous hose off and connected ours! Perfect! Nope.... the hoses were leaking because one of them had a crack in it.

6. Sent Kurtis to the store to buy some sealent. While he was gone, I superglued the crack and by the time he got back I had gotten the machine working. This took 6 days to get going. By this time we had about 5 loads of laundry saved up so we spent the rest of the day doing the wash. I have never been so happy to do laundry in my life.

The End... or is it??

Aussie word of the day: "Bogan" - I look like a bogan in these pictures I think. Its someone who doesn't take care of themselves, someone who drinks all the time, just like a gross person. It's basically someone you don't want to sit next to on the bus.