Making a simple sprinkler
Last Thursday, I stopped at the Total Filling Station that is located opposite the National College of Information Technology along the Chipembere Highway in Blantyre for some transaction and this week’s idea came to the fore.
A man fixed a horse-pipe to a tap on the lawn in front of the filling station, then he fixed an empty 500 millilitre packet of milk to the horse pipe.
Then, while holding the empty packet of milk, the man gently opened the tap and let the water to inflate the empty packet, then he closed it again.
Then, he produced an elastic rubber band from a tyre tube and carefully but firmly tied it round the spot where he wrapped the packet of milk connected to the horse-pipe. He opened the tap once again to observe if there was a leakage on the connection.
Satisfied that there was none, he closed the tap. Then he produced some sharp object from his breast pocket. I must admit that I did not see what it was because from the distance it was not easy to see clearly. I, however, assume that it was a one-inch nail which he used to create a few holes on the inflated empty packet of milk.
He went back to the tap, gently opened it and observed. He closed the tap and punched a few more holes on the milk packet. He returned to the tap and, this time, he looked satisfied. The empty plastic packet of milk had been transformed into a sprinkler. The water was moving out of the tiny holes in strong jets giving the lawn the required sprinkle that maintain the lovely green.
I loved the joy on his face and the confidence of his step when he walked away to wait for the time to move the sprinkler to another spot. I loved the sight because it fitted in my DIY calling.
I wished I could talk to him and shake his skilled hand, unfortunately, my time was up and I was supposed to proceed to my destination. This piece is a tribute to that gardener whose name I do not know, neither does he know mine. He gave me a practical DIY lesson in less than five minutes.
It is my sincere hope that you will remember that if you want it perfectly done, you will do it yourself. n
