Butt naked

Sometimes, those things happen in life that makes you say: “One day we will laugh at this…” even though, at that moment when it happens; it is definitely no laughing matter. 

One of those moments was last Sunday, when after a long weekend of moving to our new house, Halloweening and a delicious Sunday brunch, we ended up sitting buck naked in the bath, waiting for the management office to send a repair man.

By Sunday night we were exhausted. We had successfully unpacked most bags and semi-installed ourselves, we had ordered out for dinner, enjoyed our Chinese food (just food here!) on paper plates and successfully put the kids to bed. The huge Jacuzzi was too tempting to be ignored; ahhh, to relieve those sore muscles and to relax for a while before trying to sleep on our rented rock-hard bed.

It all started out well; we did not run out of hot water, nor did icky stuff come out from the air holes when we started the Jacuzzi. It was nice and relaxing, really, but there is a limit how long you can stay and we were ready to get up and get ready for bed. “Let’s turn the bubbles off, dear”, I told my husband and as the nice man that he is, he tried to do just that. And tried again, when it didn’t work, and again. And again. He tried to move, get out of the bath to get a better look at the button but then, of course, we had a geyser in the bath. We managed to fill it up so that he could exit but to no avail. The bubbles would not stop. Next, time for me to try to get out – more water had to get in – and finally we are both out of the water, wandering what to do next.

One of the benefits of living in a compound like this is that you have a 24/7 management office to call, in times of need. And boy, were we in need. A quick phone call to explain the matter and 30 or 40 minutes or so later, a worker  comes in the night on his bicycle.

“Ayoo, bu hao, bu hao” (not good, not good), he repeats to himself and to us as he is trying to pry the button up in order to shut it off. More head shaking follows. Finally he manages to turn it off and then we can’t get the water out. The stopper is stuck as well! More prying, more head shaking, more sharp tools not to be used near the tub normally are used and finally, he manages to pop it out. Ok, we think, that was it. One dip and for sure, the tub will be broken for the entire term of our lease. 

But, to my surprise, and with the help of our excellent realtor Sabrina, a few days later a worker shows up. And after five hours of work, including lifting the whole thing up, prying underneath, rubbing cooking oil on the drain stopper and inviting a worker from the house next door to help; it supposedly works again. I’m not sure we will be brave enough to try it again in the near future but at least we now know who to call and what to do in case we end up in endless bubbles again.