One, Two or Three?

I’m incredibly relieved that Lucas’ diarrhea has FINALLY stopped and he could continue his morning milk today. Both of us falling sick so badly has made me rethink my Motherly role – I’m going to cook porridge (xi fan) for his breakfast!

Sigh, it’s better than grumbling about the nutrition-less dumpling (man tou), cookies and buns he gets at school. I’m just devastated at seeing him so skinny now after just a month of fattening up in Malaysia

Anyway, allow me to think out loud about a problem I have – I’m alone most of the time that blogging helps me think straight. I’d like to settle the problem of the maid soon because I want a sense of stability in the home ASAP too. I just wonder WHICH is the best option?

ONE…While this lady was back in her hometown celebrating the Spring Festival, with no indication of WHEN she’ll be back, I engaged a new lady from the agency. She’s from Hunan and she was pleasant, organized and efficient.

I simply LOVED the way she made the beds, cleaned the bathroom, swept the floor and also did the laundry in 3 hours. She only didn’t know how to do ironing. However, she told me that she’s not interested to be tied to a home (aww, shucks) or clean bathrooms!

But she said her cousin (tang jie) is a part-time cleaner who WILL do all types of housework and lives nearby. I agreed to meet her and according to her telephone report, I seemed like a “nice” (hao) employer.

She comes in the mornings of Mon and afternoons on Wed and Fri, which is slightly inconvenient…

Unfortunately, this Hunan 2 lady can only sweep, wash and hang clothes, cut vegetables and clean the kitchen well. She is BAD at washing bathrooms, ironing clothes, folding clothes (leaves them in a higgledy-piggledy heap before she rushes off) or general housekeeping.

Also, I’m worried about her telling me how she frequently leaves the homes she’s NOT HAPPY with even those who treat her well! Anytime she doesn’t know how to respond to them, she’ll just pack up and leave ai-yi-yi-yi.

Although Hubby thinks I should just try another one, I wonder if I could train her to clean better and iron better? But then, what about her bolt-and-run tendencies???

I sure wish her cousin would take on the job as she’s PERFECT.

TWO…The old maid called me up and informed me that she’s back. She’s interested to help me again although it’d be an odd arrangement i.e. afternoons only on Tues and Sat and mornings only on Thurs.

We were having dinner when she called so I told her I’d call her tomorrow. When I did call her, she sounded like she’s playing hard to get and making all sorts of excuses that I’m confused – does she want to work for me…or not?

I’ve asked a friend to talk to her (as I was getting nowhere with my Chinese). She’s an ideal maid that Hubby said it’s worth having her help now even though she can’t extend her hours if I become pregnant.

However, she has a tendency to tell me about what goes on in the other houses AND moan that her husband thinks it’s not worth her time working at my place.

THREE…On a whim today, I visited the maintenance office and enquired if they had any part-time maids around. The lady in charge told me she could get one of the cleaners to call me.

One of them called me this afternoon and sounded quite enthuasiastic BUT she does not know how to iron. I’m meeting her tomorrow and if she seems OK, I’d try her out and teach her how to iron.

If you ask me, I’d prefer if THREE works out because she’s got a stable job working at our apartment – it’s extra income for her, she won’t bolt-and-run and if anything happens, the maintenance office can help us track her down.

Also, I don’t really like having strangers “trying” out our apartment especially with Lucas around. We really don’t know what people are up to nowadays, right?

Well…let’s hope SOMETHING works out by tomorrow or I’ll have to hunt for another lady next week…

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