Wednesday, November 19, 2008

MOPS AT DAWN

Most of you know that I love cooking and do not mind how long I spend in the kitchen perfecting some new recipe or adding special touches to an old one. That is, however, the only pleasure I derive from domestic tasks and when it comes to housework I have to admit that it gives me no satisfaction whatsoever to scrub a bath till it sparkles, polish some object till I can see my face in it or sweep my balconies till they are so pristine that you could eat your meals off their tiles. Housework, then, gets done when visitors are due or when things get on my nerves enough and even then, it is likely to be of the “lick and promise” variety. [I talk to my floors, you know, telling them firmly, “That’s all the cleaning you’re having today” lest they get their hopes up.] I’ve got better things to do!

Recently, though, I’ve been unable physically to do even my perfunctory mopping or dusting [the latter activity consisting of dusting till I get bored – about 5 minutes - at which point I spray the Pronto polish around in the hope that its smell will fool people into thinking I’ve been thorough]. I confess I had started to feel guilty about the situation , so my friends found me that rare Italian treasure – a nice, reliable cleaning lady.

Well, there were 2 nice, reliable cleaning ladies on the first occasion, as when Rosa [the “boss” of the pair] asked me if the state of the place warranted her bringing her sister-in-law to help, I had to answer in the affirmative. So along they came, at 8 am one morning [the crack of dawn to me but quite late to them] and they began by inspecting my cleaning equipment. Irma had warned me: “No Italian woman will be able to clean without a Vileda-type mop and bucket” [she meant a bucket with one of those draining contraptions over it] and I should have listened, but I figured that I already had a mop of some sort and 2 buckets, so what was the difference? I soon found out, as both ladies explained at length their need to go into battle armed with not 1, but 2 Vileda mops and a drainer-bucket. Then they cast experienced eyes over my array of cleaning products – floor cleaner, wood cleaner, glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, bleach and hob cleaner – and made a list of about half a dozen more essential items that I didn’t even know you could get. Finally my collection of cloths – all bought on impulse at the supermarket on days of good intentions – was examined and this, at least, passed muster. Linda, who was here, gamely dashed over to the supermarket to buy all the necessities and came back laden with these and a receipt for 33 euros. Now, I will spend 33 euros on a mascara or lipstick without turning a hair but 33 euros on cleaning materials??! Oh, well, there’s a first time for everything!

At last the 2 intrepid ladies started work and my goodness, how they worked, for 6 solid hours, without stopping for a break or even refreshments! I could only look on, stunned, as they worked miracles on floors, balconies, shutters and glass doors, cleaning nooks and crannies that I didn’t realise existed. The floors were mopped over not once, but 6 times, reader and I feared the tiles would crumble from the shock!

Italians believe in damp dusting and I watched – I was going to say “electrified” – as they passed damp cloths over plugged-in electrical appliances, reminding myself that it would be all right as they did this every day. I did, however, draw the line at the idea of a wet cloth going over my books! [I’m not houseproud as you will have gathered but I am fanatical about the state of my books and the order they are kept in.]

At the end of the 6 hours the ladies declared that they would need another whole day to “finish” [(Italian perfectionism] so 2 days later they were back and we went through the whole performance again.

Since then, dear Rosa has agreed to come once a week, for 4 hours and what a marvel she is: The moment she arrives, all windows and doors are flung open, whatever the weather and Simi watches in consternation as her main bed [in the bedroom] secondary bed [here in the study] and floor cushion [in the lounge] are unceremoniously dragged onto the balconies and her toys placed with several thuds on the dining table. Every item of soft furnishing in sight is thrown into the washing machine and then Rosa sets to, ironing, dusting, washing floors – whatever I ask – and what pride she takes in her work! Last week she dusted my 912 ornaments and put them all back precisely in their places and in the bathroom, without being asked, she arranged all my make-up samples in categories. She really does sort me out and I now look forward to “Rosa days”. I have come to regard her as a friend – another bright spot during a difficult period and an Italian treasure, indeed.

16 comments:

Rhi said...

i love your blog. =) and i like that idea of spraying "the Pronto polish around in the hope that its smell will fool people into thinking I’ve been thorough." quite a good idea.

Leslie: said...

I heart Rosa!!!

Send her over right quick, okay?

LOL

Saretta said...

Oh, how I envy you! I have always had a cleaning lady since moving to Italy...my philosophy is the same as yours - cooking, yes, cleaning, no thank you! But, since moving to a larger house with a high mortgage I have not been able to afford help...such a pity!

Dragonstar said...

Rosa sounds wonderful! I think she'd need to bring the whole family here - I have an upstairs, too. For me, housework is something that has to be done - but there's always more important stuff to do.

Sally said...

Would Rosa like to come and stay with me? Oh, the bliss of the Italian cleaning lady. You're a girl after my own heart Welshcakes, in housework as in so much else. As a little note of cheer to those of us not blessed with a Rosa, I'd like to pass on the best advice my mother-in-law ever gave me: 'Just always remember, your house is for you, not you for your house'.

James Higham said...

How's the vacuum cleaner working?

flutterby said...

Lucky you to have Rosa (and such good friends to find her)! I'm with you, I really, really hate cleaning house but have to keep the mess down to a dull roar. "A lick and a promise" is my method too. Does Rosa give lessons? Could she be cloned and sent my way?

Whispering Walls said...

Fantastico!

jmb said...

An Italian treasure indeed. How wonderful that you have discovered her.

So many better things to do than housework. A woman after my own heart Welshcakes.

CherryPie said...

I think I could do with them visiting my house ;-)

Mopsa said...

I know for sure that I will not lie on my deathbed wishing I'd done more cleaning. Nor, after having tried it in the past, putting up with cleaners using noxious chemicals that burned my bum when I got into the scoured bath. It sound like you've found the elbow grease models though - so lucky lucky you!

PinkAcorn said...

Yes, I completely understand your priorities..mine is gardening. I have to tell you short story...Years ago when my husband and I were dating in high school I met his Sicilian grandmother. Nanna was a stickler for cleaning, yes, you could eat off her floors.... and she once told me " everyone good wife has clean windows in her house". I guess that was a clue... of course at sixteen years old I just looked at her with my eyes as round as saucers, scared to death and nodded yes. I later found out her husband nicknamed her "Black Cloud Annie" because she was always upset that "something" was not clean enough.

Unknown said...

Okay that does it, I am going to get a cleaning lady. Cleaning is not my favorite activity but with my back, not only is it a drudge, but it is painful. Even if she just does the floors it would take a load off my mind :-)

BTW, saw a Jamie Oliver in Sicily show the other day. How amazing to see your world, and how different it is to what I expected - I didn't expect so many high-rises, so much traffic.

Now I am not suggesting I envisioned you living in a rural back water but I have enjoyed your conversations on local stores, and home grown produce and "real" people. Somehow that didn't fit with a modern metropolis lol

It wasn't quite a visit but I must admit I was more interested in the scenery than the food (for once) and tried to see if I could see you in a crowd shot lol.

Liz Hinds said...

Omigosh! I feel tired just reading about the work they did! Everyone needs a Rosa! Does she do long distance?

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Rhi. Welcome and thank you. You should try the polish trick! Hi, Leslie. I'll put her on the next flight! Hi, Saretta. This is the first time I've had a regular cleaning lady, in any country. You must miss yours. Hi, dragonstar. I'll tell her! Agree re housework. Hi, Sally. So glad you're with me on this one! That's excellent advice that your mother-in-law gave. Not great, James but Rosa prefers her trusty mop. Hi, flutterby. Yes, I am lucky. I'll find out about the cloning! Ciao, WW. I'm glad you think so! Ciao, jmb. So pleased that you agree. Rosa will be pleased to be in such international demand, cherrypie! Hi, Mopsa. You do make me smile and I know that feeling, too. I think I am very fortunate in Rosa, too. I love that story, pink and there is certainly a lesson in it. Thank you for sharing it here. Hi, mg. I think you should definitely get a cleaning lady. I just couldn't manage on my own any more. A lot of people are surprised at the high rises and amount of traffic here so you are not alone. It's a real island of contrasts. Next time I see anyone fiming, I'll wave in case you're watching!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Ho, Liz. Yes, they are quite exhausting to watch! I'll ask R about long distance!

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