Day 14 – Hungry & Homeless. Please help.

Number of Cockroach Sightings:  0 (after the brutal murder of a large one yesterday, we think the others have got the message)

Number of generic bugs sighted in kitchen: About 5

Number of burekas consumed: Lost count.  About 7… maybe???

I am addicted to burekas.  No really, it’s time I went public about my problem.  It’s far too hot to cook during the day and they are cheap, filling and satisfyingly salty.  Every pregnant woman’s dream.  I need to stop though or I will actually turn into one.  I am also craving cuppa soups (really dangerous in the land of Osem and kosher Knorr), bissli and if it were up to me we would be sitting in cafes drinking Limonana all day.  I love that stuff.  There is nothing as refreshing.  Perhaps will send husband out now in search for one.  10:35pm isn’t too late is it? During my last pregnancy he stashed salt and vinegar crisps in various secret locations around the house so that if I sent him out to the shops at 11pm he was prepared.  Unfortunately for him, he is not so organised this time round.

It looks as if we are doomed to be homeless for a long while yet.  After a very stressful week we are still no further with the flat we set our sights on.  My father warned me of the Israeli aversion to documents and general “Ze Klum” (it’s nothing) attitude, but heck who really listens to their parents anyway? Turns out he was right though.  I did think it a little strange that our estate agents showed us a house, then seemed genuinely surprised when we wanted to buy it.  As it turns out, a lot of olim waste their time looking at houses they have no intention of buying, then eventually settle on a rental found through a website.  What bugs me is that I specifically informed them that I was keen to buy now, we are in a hurry, and I only want to look at available properties.  One look at my growing girth would explain that one.  But no, the estate agent shows us a property that already has an offer (ok so we got rid of them) and for which they can supply no paperwork!! Now I have never bought a property here, but surely, if you take on an estate agent, it’s their job to source this stuff???  Otherwise what on earth are we paying them for?

Bottom line is, these people expect us to sign on the dotted line and hand over our hard earned money for some property with essential missing documents.  Is it us, or is that a huge risk? What one earth are these people hiding? Do they want us to buy it only to discover it’s actually built on a graveyard full of pissed off Arabs who think we are on their land? (Now there’s a film just waiting to be made…)

So at this rate, my next kid will be born into the life of a gypsy.  And we don’t even own a car let alone a caravan.

Went back to morrocan mishpachton today to check out the digs again.  I thought if I try going at a different time perhaps I could catch her out? Nope, she seems genuinely good.  All the mums who came to collect their kids confirm she is great.  Slight problem with her giving Jojo too many biscuits (I shall have to talk to her about that) but then it was getting close to dinner time so I couldn’t really deny him.  Once again she tried to convince me of how I will need a break after I have baby No.2, and of the wonders of sending a child to daycare, how they need the company and stimulation.  As it happens I am strongly opinionated on that one and she would never ever convince me but I nodded along, as everyone knows one doesnt not argue with Moroccan women.  I also didn’t get very far negotiating a price with her, I want a discount as he will only be going half week or half days (I don’t want Jojo doing a full week, 7 – 4, that’s more intense than full time education!) but these people don’t give an inch.  There is a reason they have money.  They don’t negotiate.

Hopefully she wont fill the place and will give me a slight discount if I hold out for a bit.   But I can’t let Jojo go fulltime.  To my mind, he is still little.  And as you can see, he is really helpful with the laundry.  I’m not sure what I would do without him.