Rubber Dub Dub

Rubber, Dub, Dub, two men finally delivered my tub.....

I arrived at post at the end of October, approximately two and a half months ago and since my arrival the washing machine and dryer that the Mission provided for my use was OUT OF SERVICE and according to the technician that made several attempts to repair and locate parts for this ancient machine, the damn thing was unserviceable. That was all I needed to hear to be honest, because even though I am no technician, from just looking at the machine, one knew that getting it in working order was certainly going to be a TALL Order. And even though I will be the first to admit that these Nigerians are pretty skillful with their hands, repairing that appliance would have gone down in the miracle books right under bringing the dead back to life.

So the machine and dryer was written off as unserviceable, lets get a new one. But now I am informed that approval has to be sought from Headquarters. And I wonder, wasn't the mission informed by headquarters two months prior to my arrival that I was on my way to Abuja??? In addition to which, the machine looked as though it had not been touched since the last person who resided in my apartment left, several months ago. Was there no thought into the process of acquiring appliances for my arrival?

Okay, so approval for the purchase was sought and the wait begun. In the meantime I have NO WASHING MACHINE or dryer.... So another plus of living on top the shop is that you can easily borrow from or have access to appliances of your colleagues, because they are just a stone throw away.

Approval finally arrived at the end of December and we rush out and made our selection and eventual purchase of a washer and dryer combo for my apartment, and I breathe a sign of relief, because finally things are starting to take shape in the apartment.

The grand and long awaited machine was delivered yesterday and boy was I excited, because finally I can wash in the privacy of my own apartment and do not have to inconvenience anyone at the residence. But on its arrival we encounted a slight problem with getting the machine into its designated space. It was a TIGHT FIT..... Real Tight.... To be honest it almost did not fit and they begun to explore other options to locate the machine. But to be honest, yesterday was not one of my better days, so I was in no mood for a machine that could not fit, or a group of persons walking through and through my apartment asking questions or my opinion on anything. At that time I simply did not have an opinion and really did not want to be bothered. So the delivery guys gave up and the machine was left at the front entrance.

A few hours later however, two gentleman arrived to install my oversized machine and dryer combo and they were determined to make it fit. One of them wiped out his measuring tape, measured the machine, measured the doorframe and exclaimed, "of course this can fit".... And that it did. A few minutes later, after much pushing and shoving and reangling of the machine, it was in the door and sitting where it belonged. A Lusty Round of Applause to these two gentlemen, because they have just accomplished what the delivery man a few hours before, had deemed as Impossible..... So another round of Applause to them.

So now that its inside, is time to install. Because a machine is no use if there is no electrical and plumbing installation. So they begin the installation process and I begin to relax. But two minutes into the relaxation I hear the question, "do you have the vent for the dryer???" My response, "what vent, isn't that included?" "No ma'am that is not included, you have to purchase the vent separately." My response, "that don't make sense, it should be included, but okay we will have to get one." Because in the back of my mind the objective is to be able to wash at my convenience first thing on Saturday morning, so the vent will be purchase. The men go back to doing their thing and I go back to relax.

Two seconds later I hear, "Do you have the plug???" Now to be honest, things was going good until I heard this......

My response, "WHAT THE HELL YOU MEAN?"

He repeats, "the PLUG"?????

I ask, "What PLUG?????"

Him "The Plug for the Machine"

Me "The Machine does not come with a PLUG?????"

Him "No M'am, smaller machines come with plugs, ones this size does not....""""

Anyone that knows me well, will know that at that point I walked off, because this country has done it again. Things never cease to amaze me in this place.... Nothing is done in the conventional manner, NOTHING I say..... This incident reminded me of my recent visit to a store named Bedmate. I went there in search of an imported mattress, only to find out that they sold beds ONLY..... The reason I stressed on the word only is because you had to purchase the mattress elsewhere. You could understand that!!!!! When I was informed of this the next question in mind was, where was Mattressmate located? But I knew better than to ask. To me it made no sense to sell a bed without providing the buyer with the option to purchase a mattress. In the same light, it made no sense for a store to sell an electronic appliance without a plug. And to make matters worst at no point was I informed that the said appliance was sold minus plug and it would have been in my best interest to purchase one at the same time. Did they think I manufacture plugs in my spare time????????????? STEUPS

I walk back in the direction of the installation men and ask, "how the hell can they sell machines without plugs, that makes no damn sense." He responded with a smile. So now we have oversized machine, in its correct place, however no vent for the dryer and more important, no plug. At this point, I simply enquired as to whether there were any other parts missing and at the same time, begin to open the doors to see whether the parts inside were included. Because I was not in the mood for any further surprises. Thankfully everything else was in place. So we made arrangements for the vent and plug to be purchased, so that the installation could be completed by the end of the day. Because I was determined to start washing within the confines of my own apartment.

At the end of the evening all ended well, as the machine and dryer combo was successfully installed and today I can report that it was put to the test and passed. They are both working quite well.

In true form to the ole saying, "when the Lord cannot come he sends a man"..... In this instance he sent two and boy did they work a miracle, to which I am eternally grateful....