In the midst of chaos...

 

As I sit on my grandson's bed, I am surrounded by the sound of vacuum cleaners and other sounds of housework.

I know what you're thinking: Cleaning services are for the rich!

   A few months ago, when I went to visit my mom at her new home, the local retirement village, I saw a business listed on the Bolt page as Maid2Mop. I took note of it and thought that I would call them to get a quote - very mindful of the fact that other cleaning services charged the earth. 

    It turns out they are based at the retirement village itself and are MUCH more affordable than any of the others in town. I had to save a bit for the initial cleaning fee, but they will henceforth clean my place for the equivalent of R140 per month. So this is a gift from HaShem, because I can no longer bend or stretch or do any of the usual body movements that housework necessitates. 

    When they arrived just before lunch, we had just finished an online Selichot and Shacharit service, and I took myself off to the local coffee shop to give them a chance to get things going without tripping over me.

    Unfortunately for me, the coffee shop only opens at 4pm these days, which left me with no other option but to go and sit in the pub/bar next door! The lady at the door welcomed me and said they could help me with a Kalua coffee!

    "Aah," I said, "It's a little bit too early for that!"

    Sitting down with my book on the history of the Jews in Vienna before the 2nd World War, I thought a plate of chips and a soft drink would be fine to order. Turns out the chips, which cost R45, came with a sauce, which also cost R45! But at least I could choose the sauce!

    So, after returning my phone for further repairs, I spent about 2 hours reading about the awful way the Jewish people had been treated by the powers that were in Vienna, Austria and Germany. It is heart-shattering that any human being can treat any other human being in such evil ways. It truly defies logic or understanding.

    Eventually, the bench became too hard for my tuchus, so I drained my Grapetizer and went to pay the bill, thinking that by now surely the cleaners would have done most of the work. Well, I've been home for about an hour now, and they are still very busy. I have arranged to delay Mincha prayers by half an hour this afternoon - I surely hope they are done by then!

    I thank the Father for His many blessings over my life. I love that line in the Shacharit prayers that says: "Every day He burdens us with His blessings" - As Yeshua said: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."

    I recently told my landlord that there was something going on with the ceiling in my lounge. So yesterday, he sent a couple of workmen to attend to the matter. They cleaned all the gungy stuff that had seeped through the edges of my ceiling from the roof outside, repainted my entire ceiling and sealed the edges with silicone. I now have a brand-new lounge ceiling. Looks lovely!

    Well, looks like they're putting the finishing touches to their work so I will shortly be moving to my desk in the living area.

May the Attributes of the Father fill your day!