Day 298: Smelly-Watergate

No, not the penultimate volume in an encyclopaedia, but the suspicious mystery of the smelly water. We were discussing at work the other day how adding 'gate' to something now indicates a scandal (usually of political significance) featuring the 'something' in question. It's madness really - after all Nixon didn't resign the presidency over some water. Nevertheless, New York State politics has Troopergate and in the UK we've had Camillagate and Cheriegate. We may try, but they do it much better here, the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal gained the terms: Monicagate, Lewinskygate, Sexgate, Zippergate, and more wonderfully - Tailgate and even Fornigate. More recently a politician inspired Shot in the Face Gate.

If only some politician could be discovered to be embezzling funds in beautifying his backyard, or carrying out money laundering through a series of local drinking establishments we could finally have Gardengate and Five-bar-gate and be done with it.

The picture was taken by one of the children with Exile #3's camera - things do look different from down there! This afternoon, I went to collect a bookcase (Exile #2 is currently filling it) after dropping off Exile #3 at her (also 5 year old) boyfriend's house - as far as I can work out they had a good play date, but he may be in trouble for getting her there under false pretences. Here is the note we have had stuck to our fridge for the last week or so:

Dear ------, I am having a Hallowe'en party. I am going to have Thomas rides. You will have a surprise. It will be under a sheet.

Hmmm...level-crossing-gate maybe.

Oh yes - our water smells - sort of chlorinated. We're using the filter jug. It's a scandal. Possibly.