what do you see?

The good news is we were warned. A notice through the door that there would be some kind of maintenance work on the water pipes, over a 3 week period. They would endeavour to keep noise to a minimum but please cooperate (a popular Japanese expression, perhaps better translated as "put up with it!" - see Nana's blog for another example...). More good news: barely any sign of the work for several few days after the advertised start...
The bad news: it started today just after 9 and as we're on the top floor it's like living in some kind of power-tool test rig. The experiment: How many different kinds of drill can we use at once and how deep can we drill into this concrete roof without breaking through into the poor saps' apartment below?
Of course we have our theories about the true nature of the work - undercover asbestos removal; secret replacement of lead-filled water tanks; emergency repairs to weaknesses which threaten the structural integrity of the "mansion" (c.f. "Architect faces charges over falsifying quake-resistant data for 20 condos, hotel").

We're considering living in the bathroom as it seems to offer the most respite from the noise. Tricky to eat your rice though.