Just a Peasant Woman

To their credit, the shipping company did offer to send their boys back to finish the job.  Husband declined though as he decided he would rather not have them back in the house, plus he had done the job himself by then anyhow.  Shame, two of them were quite cute (though that could have been a pregnancy thing).  But am very proud of husband for rebuilding the cot all by himself.  Men can be really useful at times.

Unpacking: It’s like Pesach, only much much worse.  I cannot believe how much paper and cardboard is wasted in this process.  It’s probably the most unenvironmental thing I have done (since I flew here, that is), and I think we will have to plant at least 5 trees to make up for it.

Still, at least we are a step closer to moving in to our new home.  Our landlady promised to clean the place (which she didn’t, but we can’t really complain as she did move out early to help us) and although she claims to have painted in the last year, it really needs another coat.  I’m not sure I should be climbing stepladders at this point but I think it’s a case of “if you want it done do it yourself.”  Besides, I have broken all the other pregnancy rules in my book, what’s another one? So far on my list is standing for too long, eating some very non-nutritious food, inhaling cleaning chemicals, bending and vaguely heavy-lifting.  I am pretty sure with my last pregnancy I was spending a lot more time on the sofa, but then again I never reached this stage with my last one.  Judging by my behaviour I presume most women abandon all the rules entirely by their 6th child. 

Cleaning unfortunately takes twice as long when 9 months pregnant.  Whilst squatting on the kitchen floor cleaning the 27th cupboard I decided that if I went into labour, I could just quietly slip into the bathroom, give birth in a bucket, give the baby a rinse, wrap it up and tie it to my back with rags.  Just like the peasant woman in The Good Earth, who gives birth in the rice fields without any fuss.  No need to tell the husband until nightfall, there is work to be done you know.

In the book, the peasant woman is chosen as a wife by Wang because of her big hands.  He decides she would be an excellant wife (translation: Labourer) based on these.  I actually have quite a wide handspan, as wide as the husbands anyway.  Shame, all this time I thought he chose me for my wit and beauty.