Working 9 to 5...

...or more like 7am to 2am as the case may be for OH.

In the last few months OH has seen an influx of work. This has resulted him going from one project to another, with hardly a moment in between to sit down and have a cup of fondue tea and a palmier. As a result with my 8 to 6 hours I have had a lot more time than he has, and accordingly have taken up the mantle of hausfrau (Actually I've always been more of the hausfrau given my tendency to neuroticism in wanting things done just the way I like them, but that's another discussion).

So, with crunch time at work due to start now and me pulling longer hours than normal, I got home a few days ago to prepare for a casual evening in with some friends coming over for a preliminary wine and cheese session before the main event on Saturday. As I got changed, I threw my shirt and vest to the floor onto what constituted the pile of whites and then realised in horror that I hadn't done any of the laundry I was supposed to do, and as a result we were about 6 days behind. This would normally not be a problem, but it meant that I was now out of undershirts and I only had 4 shirts left until the weekend. (These are the shirts that you buy on a whim, and wear them once and decide that they will be back-up shirts since there is something minutely wrong with them but you can't pinpoint at that moment.)

At that moment I decided as per the earlier post on getting a cleaner, something had to be done then and there. 4 phonecalls later I had appointments for 2 different cleaners to come round and be interviewed for the position of cleaner/housekeeper. So far I have interviewed one cleaner that has come on recommendation from a friend, but have my reservations about her.

I may be unfair in judging a book by its cover, but I have a feeling that although it will start off well, this lady might prove to be problematic in the future. Little things like her saying that she'll do 'special things' like 'clean the windows' and 'polish the floors' only when we are away on holiday has already elicited a raised eyebrow from me. The other thing is when I mentioned that I would only require her fortnightly for 4-5 hours to do a thorough clean and the ironing, she came back saying that she required weekly work, and not fortnightly. So far I have struck a bargain with her, that she should come once a week but for 2.5 hours instead.

The thing is, I have been introduced to this potential cleaner through a friend, and because of the sob story she has told me (being let go from a contract because the family that she currently covers 5 hours per week for is being transfered to the US) I feel bad in being cold and turning her away at the door with a 'Don't call me, I'll call you' exchange. As a result I have agreed for her to come for a trial run next Saturday. I really am a big softie at heart.

In the meantime I will fret and wring my hands in despair over the knowledge that I may be getting myself worked up into a state over something that may be unnecessary. I also have to interview another cleaner on Monday coming, and will give them a trial run as well. The problem is, how long do I leave the place between trial cleanings? Its already been 3 weeks since we last donned some Marigolds and taken a vaccuum cleaner to the nooks and crannies, and while it is not a tip, I may be unfairly influenced by the amount of dust that will be cleared in the most immediate cleaning.

So, having had this post turn into a bit of a directionless rant about my inability to say no/sack a cleaner, I am tempted to pick up the phone and speak to my mother. However I am terrified that she will berate me for not having trained me as a true tai-tai and to have learnt from her how to dismiss staff with a sideways glance and flick of her freshly manicured talons.

I will update on this, but in the meantime I need to practise my stare for Housekeeping 201...