Sagging laboriously (springcleaning not being my strong point) under newly-laundered curtains and tablecloths and bedsheets; clomping up and down hollow-sounding ladders to fetch massive platters and pots and vases out of high cabinets; wrestling statuary and book shelves out of the way and sweeping behind instead of around them; hammering nails into walls (paintings in storage since the house renovation coming back onto walls); spreading out enough washed cutlery to feed a garrison in the backyard (‘the sun will dry them’). And other sorts of hustling and bustling and household things that a determined mother requires before the Chinese New Year is upon us.

Also at one point finding the Minz-Father striving manfully with the artificial potted orchids (with a small cloth.)

Minz-Father: Now that you have short hair you don’t use your hairdryer anymore right?
Me: Nope, why?
Fr: Does it have a cold air setting?
Me [suspicious; the father is quite bald]: What are you going to do with it?
Fr: I’m going to use it to blow the dust off the flowers.
Me: Do you think you might just possibly be taking spring cleaning a little far?

Anyway after the exertions of today I shall be sorely disappointed if none of our CNY guests climbs a six foot ladder just to run a finger along the top of our cabinets and shelvesf and commend us for keeping a clean house.