Maid's gone

The Day Before
Where's Mum?


Day 1 - Tuesday
Maid can't stay
Decision was very clear last night from Mum's outburst that maid had to go. While my plan was for her to leave at the end of the month after the kids' SA2 (and thus give me some time to find a new maid), I realised that I couldn't wait till then. The maid clearly heard what Mum said last night. She was very quiet after the outburst last night and again this morning, going about her work with extra diligence and some sniffles. I guessed she knew. I was also afraid, in a sense, 'cos she might be mentally unstable with handling what Mum accused her of, whether it was true or not, only Mum and maid both know. I wasn't keen on leaving kids alone with the maid, especially Tiff 'cos she's younger. So I cancelled my meetings and stayed on. I finally told her about 11 in the morning when Tiff was having lunch that she had to go. She cried, of course. I told her, she had to pack and that the agent would come pick her up at 1.30pm. In the meantime, I called various agencies half-heartedly. I was in a daze too.

Day 2 - Wednesday
Buying the kick-scooter
ATM out of order.

Found the maid


Day 3 - Thursday
Chinese Tuition

Rushing to the maid agency

Dinner
After I fetched the kids from school, I brought them to Crazy Angmor to eat western food. Decided to give them a treat for having to eat out every meal and to thank them for being so understanding and helping me out with household chores without being asked. Toby had juicy cheese burger with mashed potato (4.90), Tiff had fish and chips (6.50) and I had chicken chop with mashed potato and poke egg (5.90); total 17.30. They enjoyed the meal even though the burger was very peppery. I think next time we'll order 2 meals and share since we couldn't finish the food. Happily fed, kids scooted back on both scooters. The new one is very nice since the wheels lit with blue and red lights when moving.

Day 4 - Friday
Sis to the rescue
Had to be in office this afternoon and had a call at 11am. What this meant was that I had to arrange for Toby to stay back and I had to find a way out for Tiffy's lunch. Sis offered to pick Toby up from school as she was on half-day but I asked Toby if he would take a bus from school to the bus-stop outside Sis' place and her maid would come out and fetch him after picking up Ash. He happily agreed. For lunch, Tiff and I went at 10.30 to the coffeeshop opposite to buy lunch back to eat. We took 10mins to get there, running part of the way. Chose ready-cooked food (just pick and pack) and we went back, arriving less than 5mins before the call started. Tiff ate lunch while I had the call. I ate a few mouthfuls while putting the call on speaker mode. After the call ended about 12.05, we rushed to prepare for school (bringing laundry in, close windows, change, pack etc). Brought Tiff to school and reminded her to be at the front porch so that Toby can find her when Sis+BIL come to pick them up this evening. Thereafter they'll be with Sis till she sends them back about 9pm. I gave Tiff a set of house keys since I would still be at cell.

Day 6 - Saturday
The trap
I was very upset when I discovered it. Balanced on the little kerb at the bathroom door and leaning against the door. Why did she have to do this?

Day 7 - Sunday
Will Mum cook dinner?
I was wondering about this from few days back. Would she sulk and refuse? There are so many conflicting thoughts going through my head till Sis messaged me on Saturday morning before she flew off. Imagine, Sis is flying off to work on Saturday and still thinking of us so early in the morning. Anyway, BIL came with 3 nieces and maid for chicken porridge. During this dinner, Mum claimed she cooked "douya" and not "bean sprouts". Anyone care to explain the difference to me? This is even more mind-boggling than "ownership" vs "responsibility".

Day 9 - Monday
Need to be in the office in the afternoon
I thought this would be another day of rushing about with a call 10-1030 and 11-12, meaning we had a 30min window to rush out to buy lunch like last week. Thank God the 11am call was postponed and we didn't have to rush. It started to rain heavily though and it was so cold that Tiffy brought the Rafflesia cape. We walked out in the rain to go for lunch at 1120 and had Char Siew rice at the Butter-chair coffeeshop. Since Mum's birthday is on Thursday, we went over to Prima Deli and placed an order for a blueberry cake. 500g, $22 before UOB credit card 10% discount. I like discounts. Tiffy chose a rainbow and choc rice bun ($1.20) for recess making the total $21 which is still lesser than the original $22. We walked to the back gate and met a little girl Fahar who didn't have an umbrella. Amused her with the '1 Pear'. Tiffy walked off talking to her new friend and I went to work. Slept on the bus. Thank God for long journeys when I can sleep on the bus.

Almost late
I arrived early for the 2-5pm meeting. Had a brief discussion with HH and we went for the meeting. What was supposed to be a short meeting, ended at 5.24 and me rushing to pack up and catch the next 506. 506 comes at 15min intervals and the peak had just started. With traffic building up, I might not be able to reach school in time to pick up kids at 6.35pm. Though there was no rain, the average speed was like 50km/h on the PIE, typical peak hour. I was worried but so tired that I fell asleep and woke up a few stops before school (thank God!). Checked phone and realised that I was early, yeah! Alighted from the bus at 6.28pm, knitted for a few minutes before they came out. I'd planned to leave office earlier so that I could bring the kick-scooters but, well, plans are plans. Kids wanted to go to 'Crazy Angmor' but I had a 7.30pm call. We went for prawn noodles instead - kids having the normal and me having the fried tanghoon with prawns. Lady there was so amused by the kids' ordering of food, especially with Tiffy. We shared a Kickapoo so total cost of dinner $3x3 + $1.20 = $10.20. We got home by 7.25pm for the call.

Day 10 - Tuesday
Agent confirmed last night that the maid would be coming on Wed night. Somehow, I'm no estatic about as I thought I'd be. To me, it's a whole new set of problems. Would the maid be able to cope? Did she lie about her abilities? Will I be able to trust her? Will Mum chase this maid away too? I know I should lay all these at the foot of the cross. Especially so, since I'm not able to do anything about it. But I'm human, I worry.

Day 11 - Wednesday
Sis to the rescue again


Praying that maid will be fine
This is the day when the maid's expected to arrive. After 8pm, the agent said.