Yesterday’s blog about housework inspired my Bigsister to send me this
article she wrote for
The Archer, a community newspaper serving East Finchley.
There being nothing remotely interesting in the Facebook archives for 18th
May, I have stolen and reproduced it here entirely without her
permission.
Although as it’s already
appeared in print in a newspaper (and its website) I’m fairly certain I’m ok
vis-Ã -vis plagiarism and copyright.
COMING CLEAN ON HOUSEWORK
By Diana Cormack
A recent report comparing the
various effects coronavirus has had on men and women revealed that women have
borne the brunt of housework during the pandemic. No surprise there then as all previous
articles about housework seem to have told us that anyway. What has surprised me is seeing no mention of
those women who have cut down drastically on what they do about the house since
lockdowns began. I happily to confess to
being one of them, as are many of my friends.
Of course, necessary tasks such
as toilet, bathroom and kitchen cleaning can’t be ignored, but I can now look
at dust gathering on the furniture and let it be. After all, nobody will see it except me and my
husband. In fact, he probably won’t
notice it and, if he did, would never be motivated to remove it so I have
learned to do the same. He does do all
the hoovering however and I have learned not to point out any bits which he may
have missed!
But, with the approach of spring,
will I feel I must join in the annual cleaning fest as our ancestors did before
us? My paternal grandmother did, even
though she took her views on housework to the grave.
Grandma died in 1970 at the age
of 82. Among her effects was a poem which she had kept for many years. I believe she cut it out of the Radio Times
decades before the feminist movement hit the headlines. Although Grandma never expressed them, she
must have secretly shared the writer Mary Knight’s views on housework. This was long before vacuum cleaners, washing
machines and dishwashers were the norm, yet reading it I realise just how much
I take after my grandma!
A PSALM OF HOME LIFE
(For the Other Listeners who find the Household Talks oppressive)
Tell us
not in mournful numbers
How to
keep our houses clean:
When to
leave and seek our slumbers,
How to
fill the hours between.
Life is
real! Life is earnest!
Spotless
homes are not its goal;
Who
dusts, and then to dust returnest,
Leaves no
rest for sole or soul.
Not
enjoyment – surely sorrow
Is their
destined end and way
Who so
plan that each tomorrow
Is the
same as yesterday.
Housework’s
long, and time is fleeting,
Must our
wives, though stout and brave,
Go on
bottling plums and beating
Carpets
to the very grave?
In the
world’s broad field of battle
This
seems a depressing strife.
Be not
like dumb driven cattle!
Get some
pleasure out of life!
🧹🧹🧹
My
reply was to send her this
Plus sa change plus sa meme chose; as my old friend Paula used to say.
From
Facebook archives
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