I really hope that I'm not going to tempt fate with this post...
But things could really not get any better than they've been the last few weeks.
Maid # 4 Mary, started 3 weeks ago turns out that she and Maid # 2 Pushpa worked together a couple of years ago and are friends and they really do 'work together'. They are both a pleasure to have have around and are wonderful with the children. One is Hindi and the other Catholic and despite all the warnings we have had that 'mixed religion' staff don't work well together we have no complaints at all especially as it also means that we will not often be without help as they have different holidays. They constantly educate me about customs, traditions and cooking and are interested in our lives back home.
It also turns out that Mary is a bit of a cook and has been so eager to please that she keeps on rustling up the most lovely food. When my family were here she was whipping up pancakes for breakfast, Biryani, Curries, Dahl and much to my nephews delight...Chicken Korma which was hoovered up in no time at all. Her idea of low salt/low fat is a little different to mine but we are trying to counteract that with a lot of salad! This morning she made us Dosai for breakfast...a thick type of pancake made with rice flour, stuffed with spiced (not too much) potato served with a coconut chutney, they were very tasty and went down very well with the boys in the family, a bit heavy for me and Ellie took one bite and asked for a bowl of Coco Pops.
Mary did get a little confused over the clothes washing instructions and it was only when she asked me to get more washing powder armed with an empty box of Calgon tablets that I realised why our clothes hadn't had their normal scent for a while!
Showing posts with label Staff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Staff. Show all posts
Friday, 9 January 2009
Monday, 15 December 2008
Another One Bites The Dust
Maid #1 - Left
Maid #2 - Doing Well
Maid #3 - Sacked on Friday
Maid # 3 was a tough one as she was very good with the children, hygienic, English good and always on time, however she was slow, good at looking busy and pushy, after just days she asked if she could do her family's washing in our machine and after 3 weeks started sounding me out for a loan for her son's schooling! The minute she started Kumar warned us that he had asked around and she had a reputation for being dishonest...we thought we'd give her a go as her last employers (of 3 years) reference was very good. Maid #2 had also voiced her concerns to Kumar as she also knew of her before and was worried that any trouble would reflect on her.
Two weeks in and a friend told me that she had heard something about her from another ex-pat and so we dug a little deeper, turns out that there are convictions for petty theft in the family and when you begin to hear things like this it is terribly hard to trust someone.
As time went on Little Miss Pushy became pushier and I was getting really tired of finding her rooting and sifting through our rubbish, we were told she wouldn't comply with the guards on bag searches and a couple of times I found her in places in the house that she didn't need to be in.
The crunch began when we were getting ready to go to the BBSC Ball and DH discovered his dress shirt studs were missing and then one of the kids advent calendars disappeared, after 4 days of searching high and low and me ranting and asking no-one in particular, 'Where on earth can it be?' It turned up, she found it, behind some books but it was strange how nearly all the doors had been opened and re-closed and I swear I'd already looked in that place!
So, on Friday evening we confronted her and she left, much to the relief of all the staff and also to me....today is a much calmer day :-)
Maid #2 - Doing Well
Maid #3 - Sacked on Friday
Maid # 3 was a tough one as she was very good with the children, hygienic, English good and always on time, however she was slow, good at looking busy and pushy, after just days she asked if she could do her family's washing in our machine and after 3 weeks started sounding me out for a loan for her son's schooling! The minute she started Kumar warned us that he had asked around and she had a reputation for being dishonest...we thought we'd give her a go as her last employers (of 3 years) reference was very good. Maid #2 had also voiced her concerns to Kumar as she also knew of her before and was worried that any trouble would reflect on her.
Two weeks in and a friend told me that she had heard something about her from another ex-pat and so we dug a little deeper, turns out that there are convictions for petty theft in the family and when you begin to hear things like this it is terribly hard to trust someone.
As time went on Little Miss Pushy became pushier and I was getting really tired of finding her rooting and sifting through our rubbish, we were told she wouldn't comply with the guards on bag searches and a couple of times I found her in places in the house that she didn't need to be in.
The crunch began when we were getting ready to go to the BBSC Ball and DH discovered his dress shirt studs were missing and then one of the kids advent calendars disappeared, after 4 days of searching high and low and me ranting and asking no-one in particular, 'Where on earth can it be?' It turned up, she found it, behind some books but it was strange how nearly all the doors had been opened and re-closed and I swear I'd already looked in that place!
So, on Friday evening we confronted her and she left, much to the relief of all the staff and also to me....today is a much calmer day :-)
Friday, 7 November 2008
Maid In India
Excuse the naff title, I'm feeling a little 'naff' myself!
I have mentioned that I had a bad week, well Jayanthi (aka Mary) contributed big time to my woes.
She asked for her salary last Friday, I thought DH must have forgotten pay day, so I shelled out without checking. Big mistake, as it turns out we have actually been paying her in advance, this was so that we could secure her to work for us from another family who were leaving before we arrived in Chennai.
On Monday morning, Pushpa, our second maid was due to start work and I was looking forward to finally getting the house straight this week with 2 staff to help, and she dutifully arrived in good time. I returned from the school run to find Pushpa alone and no Jayanthi. No phonecall, no nothing, so I wait until 10.30am and then try to contact her. No joy. I ask Kumar to call the number we have and he has some sort of luck and gabbles away in Tamil to someone and then informs me that 'Jayanthi, she is sick madam'. Oh OK then fair enough, a phonecall would have been nice though.
Tuesday morning, still no sign, still no phonecall so I ask Kumar to call again 'Still sick madam, going to hospital for blood test', OK fair enough, but please ask her to keep us informed.
Wednesday, still no sign and I'm told that a woman turns up at the gate asking for a job because, 'Jayanthi not coming back'...???? Panic. OMG why not? Are we horrible? Have we treated her badly in some way...she kept telling me how happy she was to work here and how she enjoyed the children - very confused.
Kumar calls again and is told there is a 'big family problem' he immediately places his bet on a new job and doesn't beleive a word of it.
Wednesday evening, DH decides to pay her a visit to see if there has been a misunderstanding or something and the story we get is that she lost her house when the Tsunami hit and the government gave her a house that is 16km away, so she decided to stay with her family in Chennai where the work is, now the government are threatening to repossess the house, which she can't afford to let them do and has to go away to live in the house.
Kumar still doesn't beleive a word of it, 'Madam, she is a widow, 2 children, she has to work, she needs money. She has another job and I will find out where.' OK Kumar, and when you do, let us know becasue she owes us a months salary!
Anyway, that's the jist of it, there were other factors in this including her sister who was not actually able to 'swear on the bible' when asked to confirm that she didn't have another job. Woman at the Gate returning again to chance her luck with more hearsay.
Pushpa has stayed the week. She is very good with the children and loves playing with them, more so than doing the housework, but everything has been so much at sixes and sevens this week I haven't complained - yet.
Postscript - A few hours later, we have it confirmed that she does indeed have a new job. What a palava and a sack full of untruths!
I have mentioned that I had a bad week, well Jayanthi (aka Mary) contributed big time to my woes.
She asked for her salary last Friday, I thought DH must have forgotten pay day, so I shelled out without checking. Big mistake, as it turns out we have actually been paying her in advance, this was so that we could secure her to work for us from another family who were leaving before we arrived in Chennai.
On Monday morning, Pushpa, our second maid was due to start work and I was looking forward to finally getting the house straight this week with 2 staff to help, and she dutifully arrived in good time. I returned from the school run to find Pushpa alone and no Jayanthi. No phonecall, no nothing, so I wait until 10.30am and then try to contact her. No joy. I ask Kumar to call the number we have and he has some sort of luck and gabbles away in Tamil to someone and then informs me that 'Jayanthi, she is sick madam'. Oh OK then fair enough, a phonecall would have been nice though.
Tuesday morning, still no sign, still no phonecall so I ask Kumar to call again 'Still sick madam, going to hospital for blood test', OK fair enough, but please ask her to keep us informed.
Wednesday, still no sign and I'm told that a woman turns up at the gate asking for a job because, 'Jayanthi not coming back'...???? Panic. OMG why not? Are we horrible? Have we treated her badly in some way...she kept telling me how happy she was to work here and how she enjoyed the children - very confused.
Kumar calls again and is told there is a 'big family problem' he immediately places his bet on a new job and doesn't beleive a word of it.
Wednesday evening, DH decides to pay her a visit to see if there has been a misunderstanding or something and the story we get is that she lost her house when the Tsunami hit and the government gave her a house that is 16km away, so she decided to stay with her family in Chennai where the work is, now the government are threatening to repossess the house, which she can't afford to let them do and has to go away to live in the house.
Kumar still doesn't beleive a word of it, 'Madam, she is a widow, 2 children, she has to work, she needs money. She has another job and I will find out where.' OK Kumar, and when you do, let us know becasue she owes us a months salary!
Anyway, that's the jist of it, there were other factors in this including her sister who was not actually able to 'swear on the bible' when asked to confirm that she didn't have another job. Woman at the Gate returning again to chance her luck with more hearsay.
Pushpa has stayed the week. She is very good with the children and loves playing with them, more so than doing the housework, but everything has been so much at sixes and sevens this week I haven't complained - yet.
Postscript - A few hours later, we have it confirmed that she does indeed have a new job. What a palava and a sack full of untruths!
Monday, 6 October 2008
Monday Already!
Well last week flew by and before I knew it the weekend was upon us. Most problems at the house have been ironed out now, to be replaced by others in time I'm sure but we'll just have to wait and see what crops up.
Our drivers, Kumar (mine) and Murasoli (DH's) are worth their weight and have been fantastic both at driving and sorting some of the issues that arise, as Kumar told me this evening, he is not just a driver and anything we need he will sort out for us...OK Kumar, fine by me!
Jayanthi (aka Mary) is also great, fab with the kids and gets on with things even before I have to say anything. Granted we're still not in the house and things will run much differently when we are but from what she has demonstrated so far, I think we'll be OK.
Saturday was spent curtain and blind choosing and ordering, most will be fitted later this week so at least we'll sleep OK. Am waiting to do the downstairs until our furniture arrives in the sea shipment in a few weeks time.
Saturday evening DH went.....OUT FOR DINNER!!! Woo hoo!! Jayanthi babysat and we enjoyed good food and a panoramic rooftop view of Chennai here..
http://www.raintreehotels.com/
Check out the Above Sea Level Restaurant!
On Sunday DH and I were eaten alive by mosi's while looking at furniture. Moral of the story...wear repellent at ALL times.
Our drivers, Kumar (mine) and Murasoli (DH's) are worth their weight and have been fantastic both at driving and sorting some of the issues that arise, as Kumar told me this evening, he is not just a driver and anything we need he will sort out for us...OK Kumar, fine by me!
Jayanthi (aka Mary) is also great, fab with the kids and gets on with things even before I have to say anything. Granted we're still not in the house and things will run much differently when we are but from what she has demonstrated so far, I think we'll be OK.
Saturday was spent curtain and blind choosing and ordering, most will be fitted later this week so at least we'll sleep OK. Am waiting to do the downstairs until our furniture arrives in the sea shipment in a few weeks time.
Saturday evening DH went.....OUT FOR DINNER!!! Woo hoo!! Jayanthi babysat and we enjoyed good food and a panoramic rooftop view of Chennai here..
http://www.raintreehotels.com/
Check out the Above Sea Level Restaurant!
On Sunday DH and I were eaten alive by mosi's while looking at furniture. Moral of the story...wear repellent at ALL times.
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