November 04-5, 2016
Settling in for the long winter includes much anticipated things like doing nothing, consumption of bon bons, reading in front of the fireplace, not withstanding, the fireplace has been stuffed with insulation to save heating costs. We did manage to get some Halloween candy on sale after the great event, but have not sat down to eat it. Dinner last night a sleeve of crackers. As per usual life here at the bnb never reposes.
A Syrian family arrived here in the big little city once again. They were part of the original five hundred strong to hit the big little city in February. They then felt they needed to be with part of their family. That part was in Vancouver. OFF they went. Then back they came. I was approached by my Syrian friends across the street, two days before they were to arrive, if I could accommodate a family of six for free for a week. I knew this was not a great idea.
I called a church group in three volleys of calls back and forth to the church committee members none of whom I knew. To ask if they could borrow their apt for a week. The committee were waiting for their refugee family, that had not arrived as yet. No they could not accommodate them for a short period as they think theirs were to arrive soon, but did not know when. I was given suggestions of approaching rental proprieties.
I was told by the settlement agency after back and forth telephoning the agency was not prepared to pay for their stay with me, even deeply discounted, but family would. The family airfare paid for by a refugee who has done very well. I knew the family was on the equivalent of social assistance and would later learn the agency had revoked their rental subsidy. It appeared the agency did not really want to help as they family, and were annoyed. The family had it seemed, used up all their allotment of help the first time round. Thus provoked went up the ladder, networking being a forte, telephone calls, eloquent if I do say so myself, angry emails to the members of parliament, both federal and provincial. In my nativity and stupidity I told them, my friends, the aide agency, the member of parliaments, two days not weeks. This only pressured the family btw already vibrating in anxiety.
Let me mention that I had other guests arriving that night too. I made a management decision, and UP they the Americans, Two NO to Trumps, went when they arrived, an hour early to the great upstairs. The Loft, complete with huge jetted bath tub at a shared bathroom price. Bonus, my somewhat memory kicked in, as I remembered to turn on the hot water and finished cleaning the room as that chore was not completed. I had laid down in the middle of it, ailing as a dog. The dog btw way is fine in an old dog way, chasing crows on our last sojourn down by the river. We are continuing in our benign neglect of her. I continue to bark, cough, puff and nosily exhale, with the result being, I have not, I am melancholic to report, been to boot camp or I would really would perish. I just feel like I should be. But as per usual I digress. The two NO Trumps got to meet the two year old, who came down ate breakfast. He displayed proper use of his serviette, without help either. The baby after finishing breakfast went back to bed.
Last February the governments and therefore the aid agency, accommodated my new to Canada neighbors, and the other four hundred and ninety four of them, up in a motel for two weeks and a ritzy Hotel for another two weeks, before they had to look for permanent accommodation. I understand that the member of Parliaments Mps, they are getting paid, aides to Mps, they get paid, and the politicians they get paid, the staff at the multicultural association, they that are overworked, and probably underpaid, the hotels for months got paid. MOI? Not so much. I got to host the family here for two days without remuneration. Lets not talk about the energy expenditure on my part, or the cost of energy to heat this fossil of a house. Food? I got to provide that too, For breakfast the little girl asked for “food!”. I asked “what kind of food?” her response ” chocolate.”
The children, ages 2-4-6-9, young ones, roared thru the house at top speed, leaving no decoration or night light intact, recreation upheaval, regardless of nationality a child vocabulary. The two year old, part monkey, managed I discovered, to twist the knob, that was within his reach on my toaster oven, distorted it at such an angle, the toast indicator is useless. I used pliers this morning, on a kitchen appliance that worked just the day before. The computer was pulled over. A closed door is not an indicator of having to stop. In its wake chaos and confusion. I had plugged everything back in, going as far as to call my repair computer guy to come and fix it. He was is out a bad flu bug. The Syrians across the street 16 year old whiz kid, pushed the button and it sprang to life, of course. I was on the phone with the aid to the federal member of parliament when this happened.
The potential & energy of the children is discernible. The little girl will be a doctor and the second son an engineer with luck. The family upon their return here to the big little city had a total of 7 bags. They had no toys but the coloured pencils and paper I gave them. Entertainment for day for the children & I included: making applesauce, THE OLDEST DECREEING IT “BABY FOOD”, (well trained they continued to eat it as I gave them the stink eye) walking with Lucy Golden retriever extraordinaire, who were all won over by her as she allowed them to give her cookies. We planted tulips, we hope. Continued out of doors with raking, gathering and sweeping the back patio. Because it was the second T day of the week, fetching the recycling to the end of the drive.
One room remains closed, as I gather up my energy and because of the angering pungent, odors. The children arriving in a desperate need of baths. I saw nary a toothbrush. The husband smoked constantly and heavily, sebaceous from stress. All the boys but the dad, plunked in warm water. Hair washed and blower dried, using my hair brush, which went thru the dishwasher, for the little girl. They are not big on socks or slippers, wearing shoes thru out the house. Several loads of clothes a day in hot water and a second day of the same routine children and apparel.
The aid agency found three apt in a short period of time, perhaps prodded by an aid of the minster a polite inquirer about the plan. Put into motion by you know who. They met the objective of two days. OFF they left in a flurry of friends.
Lucy and I left to tend to dirty everything. Three rooms to be cleaned down to the floor, pillows, sheets, towels, duvets & mattress covers to be disinfected and cleaned, floors to be washed, the bathroom hosed and wiped. I was informed by the same said aid I will and I am not likely to be reimbursed for my time which is considerable, nor will I receive compensation for their stay of any sort. I will get my rewards in heaven.
OFF I go. I asked for compensation for dry cleaning HA. Thus, I overloaded my washer with a duvet cover that is 100% cotton and is hanging on the line in 3 degree sunny weather so as not to shrink it. In protest the washer leaked. ( I am about to) Sending me into spasms of worry, to find out thru a second and third load that I had done what I thought.
I opened the windows, turning down the heat, dug out the disinfectant. I cleaned the furniture. I vacuumed under the beds and by doing this discovered an open tube of crazy glue. I rushed downstairs with it to repair the weather stripping on the front door, just how fortuitous was that I ask you. I discovered they had borrowed without asking my phone charger and it proximate to the open and used tube crazy glue. I thought they had forgotten theirs but discovered when I went to charge mine it was not there. I found my mouth guard, but cannot find my house and car keys. The monkey was at it again.
I have to say late in the afternoon, I have given up and am yearning for a nap. I made soup and supped on it to keep my spirit UP. Energy has a way of leaving even the heart-ist of souls.
Most people have never learned that one of the main aims in life is to enjoy it. Samuel Butler, Moi and Lucy P