I've come home from work early - a trip to the vets needed to remove a tick from the guinea pig's ear. So while the kids are loading him into a box I stroll down to check on my patch of dirt.
"Strange," I think as I approach it. "Someone's watering it."
Then it dawns on me. The kids are behind me in the guinea- pig run. That's the hosepipe! Someone has left it on and the hose has split with the heat and the pressure and there's water spraying everywhere!
A mad sprint up the garden to turn off the tap and I return to survey the damage. The ground is soaking. Fortunately most of the water has gone onto my veg and my squash and sweetcorn are looking very happy.
But that's not the point.
We're on a water meter.
And I'm not looking forward to getting my next water bill.
The guinea pig's fine though and here he is, back in his run, minus tick :-)