5/03/2011

How’s my maid doing?

I went for a little retreat over the long weekend and had a little problem keeping up with the happenings at home. The 100 page tabloid was on everything except news from paradise. At most there would be a little snippet of news that is not even 1/8 of a page long. And getting on line was a big struggle. The hotel did not have a business centre. Finally found a cybercafé and everyone was playing computer games. The kids must be wondering what this uncle was doing there. Managed a few posts before wringing my hands as the machine was crawling. Before I left, my maid promised to be good. She said she would change her ways and do everything to please me. I was back late last night and found things a little confusing. On one hand the maid was still talking about wanting to do things that I like. I have been telling the maids for so long, so many times, that she should do things that I have wanted her to do. She was either stubborn or just too much of herself, perhaps communication problems were in the way as well. She had been doing everything her way for so many years, at my expense of course. And believe me, she thought she was doing hell of a great job. But at the price that I am paying, I don’t think I am getting value for money. Lately she has been very flirtatious as well, fooling around with foreigners with no regards to how I fit in. In fact she had been callous in many things, at times very sloppy too. Keeping her is already a very expensive thing to do. And she insisted that I must have the best of everything, for my interests, and this has rammed up my household bill skyhigh. Everything she spent on must be the best, and she had burnt a big hole in my pocket. Wondering if she knew what she has been doing. I have refrained from firing her all these years. The maid agencies have called to offer better and cheaper maids, maids that are willing to do my bidding and really take care of my interests. Of course the old maid is still doing it, but at a very high cost, and bad attitude. Now I am seriously thinking of changing the maid. And surprise, the maid appears to be listening. All the things that I told her and ignored by her in the past, she is saying it voluntarily, like wanting to cut down my expenses, taking good care of me, and not talking back. Is it because she is sensing that things have changed and her time is coming to an end? This change of attitude is most welcome, and sounds pleasing. My concern is if it is real. What if she goes back on her words and goes on bossing around in the house again if I extend her contract? There are signs that she will still be the same pain in the arse if she can get her ways. She is still throwing tantrums now and then, and even threatening that the new maid will mess up the house. She has no kind words for the new maids. She still claims that she is the best, indispensable. I was telling myself, shit, with the amount I am paying, I can get 3 or 4 maids to serve me. Why should I continue to engage and to let her think that she is the only one available and no one else can do the job better. She must be thinking that I am daft. I still have a few days to consider whether to dump her or not. Think it is time. The leopard will not change its spots. And the agencies are offering a long list of willing and eager to please maids. Better to go for the change. After all no venture no gain. Can’t be worst, and there are good choices now.

8 comments:

Wally Buffet said...

Since this current maid of yours is so cocky suggests you change her and pack her back to the boondocks.

But be forewarned though. The new maid will do as she is told and will pander to all your idiosyncratic ways but as time goes by, you'll find her as sloppy and cocky as the old maid.

Like Matilah always says. Making do without maids is best. Save money too.

Hehe.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Hi Wally,

It is true that new broom sweeps clean. So at least we will get a new broom and a cleaner place for a few years. And can always change again is they don't live up to spec.

Anyway, this election is not going to be a major change, but a breaching the damn to provide more alternative voices and preparing for a more balance political system.

Cannot allow mafias to run around thinking that they own the place and can threaten you with all kinds of things. A gradual change and shift of power is good.

Having the same shit is not going to be healthy. It is more like diarhoea nowadays.

Anonymous said...

Aiyo, Redbean, your current maid can behave that way id not their fault. It is your fault because you did not have a good contract with her. You may like to know that our distance friend has a very good contract with his maid that only allow the maid to serve 2 terms to stop all the abuse and bad behaviours. Yet, his maid has recently messed up his finance. So, good contract is very important and it should not allow the maid to change to her advantage each time you renew her. Once you allow her to change the contract, there is almost no way you can reverse it. So, you have to live with her until the term ends. Good luck.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Silly me for allowing the maid to change the contract at will. Must not allow that to happen anymore.

Anonymous said...

There are few scenarios that Singaporeans must understand in this GE2011:

1. More voices but no change - To have less than 1/3 opposition seats in parliament will not change anything already done, e.g. cost of living, FTs, property prices, etc except that opposition MPs can make more noises and suggestions that PAP in majority may not listen. There is also a risk that PAP back in power will find ways to suppress all oppositions so that there will not be any chance of voting like in this GE2011.

2. Partial change - To have more than 1/3 and less than 2/3 opposition seats will be likely to change some already done as above but will not change the Constitution that allows GRC, NMP, NCMP, and election boundary redrawing. PAP will still be in power or sharing power with oppositions. This will be harder for PAP in power to diminish the oppositions.

3. Complete change - To have more than 2/3 opposition seats means the alternative party will be the government and PAP the opposition. This can change everything including the Constitution. However, Singaporeans must make sure the elected government rewrites the Constitution to abolish those ill clauses and introduce check and balance clause. Also, to ensure Constitution is not allowed to change without referendum. Otherwise, the next non-PAP government may have the chance to abuse the Constitution as well.

Basically, this GE2011 is not about local town upgrading, FTs, or cost of living, etc. It is about whether Singaporeans would like to take back the political power and have a say on the future of Singapore. Once the people take back the power, they can then have a say on how to run this country and all those policies and problems will be solved to their preference.

Singaporeans must vote wisely on 7 May to decide what they want in the future.

Anonymous said...

The maid is badly spoilt by the master.
Lucky the maid never forced the master to sleep together, but some employers do sleep with maids.

Anonymous said...

The maid is badly spoilt by the master, too much sayang.
Lucky the maid never forced the master to sleep together, but some employers do sleep with maids.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

There are good maids and bad maids.