I am really craving some peace and quiet in my own home but am not likely to get that any time soon with the demo team arriving this morning to re-tile the downstairs bathroom which looked like a grubby public toilet in Brixton.
When I wake up the Driver is here to take DP to work, next up the Rubbish man arrives then it's the Ironing man coming to collect the clothes, the electrician, the carpenter and on and on it goes all day and just when I think I might get some quite time; in comes the Cook and her "sister" (but really cousin) who cleans the floors. It really does feel like Waterloo Station around here. I reckon Western women are pretty amazing to do the work of at least half a dozen people in India.
But this week I have realised it is pointless to complain about such trivial things especially as family and friends come to terms with the devastation of the Christchurch earthquake. Thankfully they are all safe but other's not so lucky. It is heart breaking to think of what some families are going through right now : (
Funny little things that made me laugh & highlights of the week:
- Only in India can you reverse down main streets, back into roundabouts (circles) and double park outside a shop that you fancy popping into. It's like we own the road or something.
- I love how the washing dries in 3 minutes compared to 3 days in London
- Most big shops have so many shop assistants its kinda ridiculous as they all stand around gossiping or each doing a small part of a simple job that makes buying anything a long and painful process.
- On the other hand shopping in smaller local shops can be a bit embarrassing as assistants jump the counter to come and assist and as much as I try and inconspicuously wait in the queue they serve me first and make everyone else wait - I would be so annoyed at me if I was the other shoppers!
- I brought an ultra colourful Indian bed sheet to wrap up my daily ironing in at the recommendation of the Cook. The man counts the items then ties it up into a colourful parcel. Its is delivered back the next day for 2.5 INR per item. So 5 shirts is 15p compared to 10 quid in London.
- I find Indian's can be quite brutally honest... the Cook was looking at some of our photos and when she saw one of me holding Izzie at 4 weeks old she said "you are very fat" ha made me laugh out loud!
- I asked the cook to make a spicy spaghetti bolognaise. She tasted it and nearly threw up cause it wasn't salty enough. In her interview she told me she cooked pasta for the previous Swiss family - I now know it was the Maggie all in one packet variety - note to self next time ask more in-depth questions.
- I wanted to walk Izzie in the buggy when I was out shopping in Powai so she could have a nap before Playgroup. I didn't know the way to the Nature's Basket shop so the Driver drove ahead slowly so I could follow - I guess you had to be there but I felt like such a princess.
- The dishwasher finally got installed after 10 days of false starts but later that evening a pipe starting leaking and we had to shut the water off until the next afternoon - back to washing dishes in the bathroom sink!
- The toddler pool at the "Club House" is also a giant pigeon bath ... I wonder should I really be bothering to put swim nappies on Izzie when the whole pool is already a cesspit. Anyway have decided to avoid it altogether after reading about the many diseases we could catch...eeeewhhhhhh
- DP had to get weighed for his medical. They did not have enough weight on the scales to measure him so they had to run off and find some heavy objects to get an accurate reading. Apparently he needs to either lose 40kg or grow 19 inches - not sure that is going to happen any time soon with all this good Indian food.
- I went out and brought a load of different brooms, mops and products in preparation for the Cleaner starting this week. She however is not impressed and prefers to squat down and hand wash the floor with a rag. She requested a traditional Indian coconut broom for 50p.
- So finally after the Dishwasher was actually installed the man gave me a "lesson" on how to work it. I couldn't help giggling as he was earnestly explaining how the glasses go here and the plates here and this is where the detergent goes. The Cook and Cleaner are scared of the dishwasher and think it's a waste of time.
- Izzie has high jacked my laptop to watch CBeebies via Expat Shield http://expatshield.com/. I am reduced to typing on the iPhone. 2 year olds!!!
- Everything is a bit wonky in our apartment - the tradesmen have tried their hardest I am sure but some of the curtains are 6 inches off the floor and some are not, the electrical sockets & coat hooks are all screwif and the mosquito nets are there for decoration only.
- Tata Sky was installed this week and I watched TV last night for the first time in about 6 weeks
- Izzie is toilet training at the moment - it's so cute to see her trundle off to the loo and thank god for tiled floors in India when she forgets.
- DP was speaking to someone in a local call centre the other night and they asked him to speak English and he said "but I am" and they said no speak English with an Indian accent.
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