It has been
almost 3 weeks ago now that a landslide hit our compound and 2 days ago we
finally could enter the backroom again. As expected there was a lot of damage.
The grill was rusted and when the workers tried to get it out it collapsed. Not
one of the plastic containers came out undamaged and all we could do was throw
them out. The wooden cabinet crumbled down and the water pipe to the tap was
completely gone. One of the first things I did was opening the washing machine.
Inside it looked like it was waiting to run; all clean and dry. Amidst of all
the mess that at least looked hopeful! Believe me when I say that one simply
needs those little signs of hope. Bummer after bummer after bummer is not exacting
motivating and there are moments that you want to throw the towel in the ring
as the old Dutch adagio goes, meaning you’d like to give up. Then again; giving
up just isn’t an option. I have to admit though that sometimes I cry silently.
It would not be good to show my friend and housemate who also try hard to live
on in the mess.
Back to the
backroom! The guys had taken out the 40 cms of mud and all the rocks. What was
left was a muddy and slippery floor. For a while, I tried to sweep it with a
firm broom but it soon turned out to be an impossible task. What I needed was a
hose to flush the mud out. Another problem because the guys are using it all
day and I definitely want them to go on. In the evening hours my friend,
housemate and I could work together. After arriving home my friend talked to
the contractor and came back to me telling that the guys were going to clean
the next day. The contractor himself would then open up the washing machine to
clean it –if needed- and to have the inside exposed to the air so it could dry
up. That really sounded like a plan. After the guys would have been finished I
could then clean the walls and small stuff like the table, a pair of shoes, etc.
Also, I had some clothes that were taken out already and after rinsing them several times –I forgot counting but it took me many times before the water was
not brown anymore- I put them in a pale filled with clear water and detergent
to soak. One nice T-shirt had dark spots and as hard as I tried, I could not
get them out. A minor inconvenience of course. Worse was the refrigerator that
needed a new compressor because it had been moved.
 |
| Cleaned stuff on the kitchen table . |
By now the
backroom is cleaned and so is the washing machine. They placed it in the
kitchen up against the counter. Not very convenient as I found out too late.
Since all the good chairs and the sofa are upstairs I can only sit on a chair
of the dining table and after more than weeks my back hurts so I could not move
the washing machine. Nor could I cook. I had been cleaning some of the tools
earlier and they were spread out on a cloth on the table to get dry. The good
news I guess is that it seems the washing machine is not damaged and I do hope
that once it is dry it will run like before. Bit by bit everything will be
better in the end.
Love the ones you’re with and be
loved in return.
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