Well, I consider *this* as good news, too...

[wiseheart]

Das große Frühjahrsputz aka big Spring cleaning is done and survived. Our cleaning ladies came today for the last time, and the whole thing lasted unreasonably long. Of course, the cleaning of windows was included, and they aren't getting any younger, either, but seven hours truly are beyond reason, IMO. Especially as we can't do anything while they are at it because they manage to be in every single room at the same time and besides, we had to put everything on top of the tables and cupboards and my desk and so on, so that they could finish in those mere seven hours.

I hate standing around, doing nothing. Granted, I went to the grocer's while they were at it (twice) and dusted all the bookshelves in both my bedroom and the study, and as soon as they finished one room, Mum and I both started putting things back to their original places, but there was still a lot of wasted time in-between. Sitting down (or rather lying down and putting up my bad and aching legs) was out of the question because a) there was no room for it, my bed being the only free surface where we temporarily parked everything that would have been in the way elsewhere and b) it would have made me uncomfortable to rest while others were working. So I was standing around a lot on aforementioned swollen and aching legs and tried to be useful - or at least pretend.

Mum is very sad that they won't be coming anymore; I... not so much. Granted, they did a good job and took off us a lot of labour, but the whole situation always made me uncomfortable. We'll have other help eventually, Mum has already taken steps in that direction, but I must ruefully admit that I feel just a tiny bit relieved. Which won't be the case, should we not find help soon enough, so that I'd have to do all the work myself, but at the moment... yeah, I know I'm weird.

Comments

[meathiel]

Hmmm ... I don't think 7 hours is all that long for a thorough spring clean, though. Just a bit awkward when you're at home and have to arrange your life around them!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Which was my problem exactly, every time. My day was shot to he'll anyway, so I could have as well doing the whole thing. (Except the window cleaning which would require climbing onto a ladder.) And on my own I could do it in several turns, one or two rooms a time. In a 53-square-metres Plattenbauwohnung (including balcony) there simply isn't enough space for several people doing anything useful at the same time.

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

Wow! I had a cleaner years ago, to help keep the shared areas of my shared house reasonable, I couldn't imagine getting them to clean for 7 hours!
Are the curtains sorted?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

They are, thank God! We only do this marathon twice a year, but it is bloody exhausting, even with help.

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

Wow, when you say spring cleaning you really mean it! I can understand needing help with large windows, luckily we don't have high ceilings or windows in this house. When we did before, my husband had a squeegee (sp) on an extension pole, which made the cleaning possible. As to having the ladies in your house for 7 hours, that would drive me nuts. I, too, am uncomfortable having someone in my house doing work, whether I can do the work myself or not. I end up either driving them crazy by non-stop talking or following them around asking if I can be of help, or else trying to find things to do to stay busy. Then I feel guilty relief once they have left. Unfortunately, I really need someone to work in the outside yard, as DH (dear husband) has let it sadly fall behind. The flower beds need weeding and all the plants need to be pruned. Yard maintenance is very expensive here, so I will have to do it myself. We've had so much rain lately that I must wait until the yard dries out. Luckily, it seems we've had our last bit of cold weather, so I will enjoy being out doors in the warmth of the sun. This yard though is very large, so it will be quite the undertaking.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the gargantuan work!

[akane42me.livejournal.com]

Yikes, that is true Spring Cleaning. I have been making a list of what needs to be done around here, and I think it will take me a year to do it all.
Every shelf, drawer, cupboard, and closet needs to be emptied and sorted through. And washed. And the windows. Many, many windows.
I'm doing the windows first. If it ever warms up.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that you have such lousy weather.