Firstly, there was the primary NMS (No Maid Syndrome), having been abandoned in sudden by a maid who had worked for 8-9 years, which led to all and sundry having to be self-sufficient, change in lifestyle, altering routines, menial and mental faculties exercised to the peak......one can pretty well figure out the rest.

Thus, this has led to CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) - some irksome pain which affects all your finger joints, leaving your hand numb and without strength to hold a full mug of coffee (how disastrous for a caffeine addict the likes of me is!) , or even a pen to write legibly at the worst of times. Surfing and typing are almost only for minutes, no longer a hobby or pastime but a mere necessity at best. Apparently the cause of this syndrome is "repetitive strain injury" - which can be anything that ranges from typing to wringing the mop (...the maidless affair...) to washing, in which the nerve passing through the tunnel at the wrist is inflamed or injured causing pain throughout the palm and fingers. But thank God, it has greatly recovered and I am much back to normal hand usage owing to medication and the arrival of a new maid.

Nonetheless, this has in turn carved a new syndrome, the secondary NMS (New Maid Sydrome) which syndrome requires the utmost patience, self-talk, screaming into a pillow (or anything living or non-living).......and the like. The final cure for this syndrome is purely ACCEPTANCE (of the capacity and limitations of the one inducing the syndrome) and HOPE (of at least some improvement in time, given time...). Once that is established and constantly refreshed in the mind, then there may yet be that light or rainbow or whatever waiting to be seen :D

Looking on the brighter side, these past months are indeed a blessing for me to realize:

• I have a good family, capable of doing allotted tasks and teamwork;
• The maidlessness had induced in us a sense of self-reliability and self-sufficiency that now we need very little help to live by as we are used to chores which we still do - about 30percent;
• It was indeed a blessing the previous maid who has been around for too long and is obviously going the wrong way, had rid herself from us without that much loss and without us having to feel bad of having to terminate her services;
• The new maid, despite her super-duper slowness, had alleviated much of the menial tasks (at least I need not lift a mop now....) and is fresh (as in innocence and naivete) and relatively pure at heart;
• All the pains (hands and knee) and aches are presently gone - ABSENT! That in itself I find much gratitude for, so a 30 percent input of work is not that bad a bargain, especially to keep me in line for any defection again :d
  

It is good to remind myself of the blessings and good things I have in life - that there are more sufferings on this earth than my own wants which simply pales in comparison =.=


***cheers and peace from ahfun***