New nest

Frou felt like Cinderella last night.

No, I didn't get left behind for a ball nor did I fit into any glass slippers. However, I did get down on all fours to scrub the floor - like a medieval-time servant girl. That's right, with an old-fashion hand brush. I was perspiring like a monkey and my hair was stuck like plaster on my forehead as I dragged a bucket of diluted bleach around on my knees.

According to Dailytoe's instructions, I have to rinse out the bleach by mopping the floor after the manual scrubbing. So I got up, reach for the mop and started doing the "Dunk, Wring & Swing" routine. Dunk, wring, swing. Dunk, wring, swing. Dunk, wring, swing

Once I'm done with all that, I peeled off my latex gloves and reached for the phone. I sent a text message to Dailytoe: "You bluff me."

Yes, it was Dailytoe (who also live in an old dump) who told me that the best way to clean mosaic tiles is to get down and dirty with it. The way she describes to me how she clean hers, has always given me the illusion that it is…...well, delightful! The way she goes about cleaning in the dead of the night (i.e. after clubbing) or wee hours in the morning when she can't sleep - I actually thought cleaning is sorta fun.

It is SO not. But anyhow, my new place, albeit old, is starting to look quite fine.

All throughout my 'suitcase life,' I have always chose to live in spanking new and slightly modern apartments; those that comes with funny-shaped pools, mirrored lifts and fat Indian guards waving merrily to me when I drive by. This new place, however, is far from what I am used to.

It is a rather quaint place, tucked away from the rest of the world, and completely surrounded by "lush greenery”. By that, I mean my car is parked on grass under trees, plants littering the walkway and I swear, there is a mini ’botanical garden' in my balcony complete with a pot of Venus Flytraps! Even when I am walking around the house, I get poked by ferns.

But outside this slightly archaic compound, modern conveniences are available a stone throw away. There are a wide range of restaurants nearby, bars, grocery stores, pet grooming, massage parlors and what else have you not. Best of all, the neighborhood Starbucks is opened till 1am everyday!

It is gonna be interesting staying here. But first of all, I'm gonna hire myself a bona fide Cinderella.