Apropos for Valentine's Day.
You may recall that ironing is one of my least favourite things to do (along with cleaning bathrooms). However it's one of those tasks that needs to get done. Farmstay pillow cases, top sheets and edges of duvet covers all get ironed. We have standards to uphold here at Struan Farm!
But these high standards mean that the pile, and thus my ironing backlog, can accumulate quickly with guest comings and goings. So this season John announced he would iron his own shirts to help me. All of his business and business casual shirts require ironing, and he heads north pretty much every week for meetings. Let's face it, those "no iron" tags are really just a marketing ploy, except for those special people out there content to cruise through life being rumpled.
On my last quick trip north I uncovered quite the ironing pile in the guest room of John's bachelor flat. John has realised how tedious and time consuming ironing is. And so I returned home to Piopio with 15+ shirts to add to my pile. A visiting sister did him the favour of ironing a few more a week or so later. But this weekend he arrived back in Piopio with another ten shirts. Thankfully, the forecast was for rain.
Ironing John's shirts is a labour of love, just because. Please don't think I'm one of those "domestic goddesses," trying to pump up her own and other women's self-esteem about having to do the crap jobs. Like taking a used toothbrush to the grouting around the bottom of the shower or cleaning out the drain. There are just those things in life that we don't like to do but that still need to get done, by someone. Ironing is one of those things.
The truly good news is that labours of love are a two-way street in our house. I get my breakfast and coffee made for me. Sometimes the dishwasher is unloaded in the mornings, the compost taken outside, and interference attempted in the laundry room. I draw the line at the latter! Labours of love, just because.
Totally agree. I iron his shirts cos I love him! Hate ironing and am very grateful I don't have to iron his work gear!!!!
Reminds me - there's a nice little pile waiting for me on the ironing board tucked away in the linen cupboard. Out of sight, out of mind!
Posted by: Jen Yates | 02/14/2018 at 08:52 AM