But would I really enjoy that? Actually I think I'd hate it. I like doing things for myself and organising my own life. I wouldn't want other people butting in and doing things for me.
Apart from anything else they'd probably never do anything exactly the way I wanted it done and I'd have to keep putting them right. Or they'd be hanging around when I wanted a bit of privacy. Or I wouldn't get on with them and there'd be constant friction and annoyance.
How do the Royals put up with all the flunkeys attending to their every need? I suppose they've been waited on for so long they're totally used to it and would be horrified at having to do everything themselves.
I suppose being waited on is generally seen as a sign of luxury, but I'd rather have the luxury of doing things for myself the way I want to do them. Why be constantly beholden to other people for the most basic everyday actions?
For a while in London we took on a cleaner because we were both working full time and found it hard to fit in the housework. I was never comfortable about it though, I always felt we should somehow be managing to do the cleaning ourselves.
But I wouldn't mind a chauffeur to take over the hassle of driving.
Not even most rich people hire servants to do everything for them. They hire them for the boring stuff about which nobody really cares how it's done so long as the results are OK. Driving is one example -- cleaning and vacuuming is another. You've need someone who's trustworthy and doesn't move your stuff around, though.
ReplyDeleteInfidel: Indeed, someone who moves stuff around would be exasperating.
DeleteNick, not for us. We never had waiters .To imagine that employees must clean our home isn't in our way of life . We saw in Africa how some families treated their waiters just a shame. The only thing we are not doing anymore is cleaning the windows , very high . We cannot climb , a bit too dangerous , so we have a good young friend who offered us to do it and of course he is paid and in general I prepare a nice meal and we eat and chst together.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah: It's fair enough to get someone else to do the things you can't manage yourself, like cleaning windows or clearing gutters or pruning trees. That's a nice arrangement for cleaning your high windows.
Delete(We would say servants or domestics rather than waiters, who are only found in restaurants)
Thanks Nick, I learn every day new vocabulary and write the words down to remember. We still manage our garden and Saïd is taking care of the fruit trees (with good results)
DeleteHannah
Hannah: What type of fruit do you have? We don't have any in our garden.
DeleteNick, we have plums, pears , cherries and old varities of wonderful tasty apples. Tarte Tatin twice a month for neighbours and children around. And we have 2 walnut trees but not so much nuts this year .
DeleteHannah
Hannah: Wow, that's very impressive! I love walnuts.
DeleteI am with you, Nick. I don't want anyone going through my house. There may come a time when it becomes necessary, but until then I will manage.
ReplyDeleteSandra: That's my attitude too. I may have a few aches and pains but I can still do my share of the housework.
DeleteI really dislike having any sort of workers in my home, but sometimes it's unavoidable with plumbing/electrical issues or remodeling. I wouldn't mind a chauffeur though!
ReplyDeleteBijoux: I don't mind tradespeople who come in for some simple ten-minute job, but if they come in for a really big job that takes hours or days, I really hate that.
DeleteWe, one again, have a house cleaner. While I love having the place always be clean, I hate having to arrange my schedule around the cleaning. Since our rent includes the cleaning it is hard to justify not having it now that it is hard for us to keep up with it.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: As you say, if cleaning is included in the rent and it's hard to keep up without any outside help....
DeleteKaitlin finally convinced me to hire Merry Maids to clean. It's only about an hour and a half every other Thursday (two people), so it's a good compromise. They're expensive, so it's presumably a well-paid job and a win-win for everyone. One of the joys of being 84.
ReplyDeleteJean: I wouldn't be happy accommodating cleaners for an hour and a half every fortnight, but we may need some outside help eventually.
DeleteI wouldn't mind an assistant to do all of the things like go to DMV to renew my license, do any paperwork for insurance, and paperwork for any government websites that needs to be done or pay the bills each month. lol
ReplyDeleteMary: Yes, I'd love someone to take care of all that sort of admin stuff!
DeleteI have a worker for the finca who drives when I need to go out - eyesight too poor ever to have had a licence - and a cleaner three times a week. Both sometimes exasperate me when something obvious to me is not obvious to them, but on the whole it works.
ReplyDeleteI would hate to have anyone closer though.
Helen: That's quite a lot of outside help. Good that you've got it all so well organised.
DeleteIt's a finca of seven hectares!
DeleteHelen: Ah, I see. I wasn't familiar with the word finca. Not a word we use in the UK. Like an estate?
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DeleteYes, up in the hills in Costa Rica.
We used to have a cleaner. My sister got angry with the first one we had for years, and fired her. After that it was a revolving door of cleaners.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: Why did your sister get so angry with the cleaner?
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