Yipee! The weather has started to warm up. In fact I think we might be getting rid of the duvet soon. I couldn't believe how cold it was when I came back from the UK in January. It had got to as low as 6 degrees (and even lower whilst we were away). This is not too cold you might think if you are in a nice centrally heated house, but when you are sitting inside a house that is built to withstand the 'heat' believe me you are chilled to the bone.
When we returned from the UK, Anthony brought with him a toe-curlingly chesty cough. It went on for a good couple of weeks and he was feeling very sorry for himself. Amelie developed an ear infection around the same time. All in all, I think most of the month of January was spend cocooned in the flat trying to keep warm and dry. I managed to do some DIY double glazing using plastic bags from Emirates, and some selotape! We had a couple of electric heaters which were going pretty constantly througout the day.
What made this cold situation worse is that Ray forgot to pack my winter clothes when leaving the UK (managed to bring all his stuff mind you!) so I ended up wearing 10 T shirts and cardigins to try and keep warm. Then as the weather warmed up slightly everything began to feel cold and damp. Then the mold started growing on the walls, ceilings, and on everything in the bathroom. I was really beginning to get fed up as it was only last week that the warm weather returned. This means that instead of it being 10-16 degrees in our bedroom at night, it is more like 18 - 20 degrees.
I need to enjoy this weather now. Blue skies, warm to hot, nice cooling winds and not too much humidity. I am also hoping that I will cope better with the heat of the summer as I will have a gradual acclimatisation this year.
Monday, 28 February 2011
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Nugget 1 Ctd. The Dometic Helper
In my quest for the right domestic helper for our family, I am finding out a few things:
1. They don't know that Hong Kong exists outside of Hong Kong Island, and when they realise where we are they don't want to meet me. I think they think we are all savages in the New Territories and that they will never be able to make it back to meet their friends on their day off!
2. Philippinos have a reputation for being more cheeky albeit more experienced - hence they make sure they get what they are owed - if not a bit more, in terms of money and holiday.
3. Indonesians have a reputation for being less educated, but less trouble too.
4. Many do not want to work for Chinese families as they have a reputation for working them harder! Hence I am going to have to hide Ray in the closet until the contract is signed!
5. If they are having trouble finding a new contract, then there is usually a good reason. The good ones don't need to advertised, they are zapped up through word of mouth before their contract is even finished.
Anyway, I shall plod on and keep looking!
1. They don't know that Hong Kong exists outside of Hong Kong Island, and when they realise where we are they don't want to meet me. I think they think we are all savages in the New Territories and that they will never be able to make it back to meet their friends on their day off!
2. Philippinos have a reputation for being more cheeky albeit more experienced - hence they make sure they get what they are owed - if not a bit more, in terms of money and holiday.
3. Indonesians have a reputation for being less educated, but less trouble too.
4. Many do not want to work for Chinese families as they have a reputation for working them harder! Hence I am going to have to hide Ray in the closet until the contract is signed!
5. If they are having trouble finding a new contract, then there is usually a good reason. The good ones don't need to advertised, they are zapped up through word of mouth before their contract is even finished.
Anyway, I shall plod on and keep looking!
So much to say!
It feels like an absolute age since I have sent an update! I musn't, however, make the mistake of boring the pants off you with too much information. I will try and do it in nuggets, and probably in reverse chronological order!
First nugget...What is on the forefront of my mind at the moment is finding a 'helper'. This is Hong Kong's answer to childcare...and making best use of cheap labour from Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand or Nepal. They generally 'help' you (or simply do) the cooking, cleaning, getting the kids ready, caring for pets, washing cars, gardening or shopping! Sounds great! The downside is that our already cramped living space 750 ft sq (probably the ground floor of an average semi in the UK) will also have to house the helper. Well, we'll just have to see whether the benefits outweigh the downside!
Well in true style, Anthony has interrupted my micro-blog by waking up. I'll leave it at that until another day! x
First nugget...What is on the forefront of my mind at the moment is finding a 'helper'. This is Hong Kong's answer to childcare...and making best use of cheap labour from Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand or Nepal. They generally 'help' you (or simply do) the cooking, cleaning, getting the kids ready, caring for pets, washing cars, gardening or shopping! Sounds great! The downside is that our already cramped living space 750 ft sq (probably the ground floor of an average semi in the UK) will also have to house the helper. Well, we'll just have to see whether the benefits outweigh the downside!
Well in true style, Anthony has interrupted my micro-blog by waking up. I'll leave it at that until another day! x
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