We started out with five checked suitcases and four carry-ons. The carry-ons had one or two changes of clothes for everyone, necessitating a lot of wash-as-you-can on our crazy trip here. The hotel at home just before we left had free laundry. The Washington, DC, hotel had laundry but it cost quite a bit. New York's hotel had no laundry on site but did have a nearby laundromat that we used during Saturday's naptime. Once in the UK, we were reunited with the five checked suitcases and plenty more wardrobe.
Washer, Dryer, Soldier, Spy--LeCarre |
We looked online for local wash and fold places and found a chain that seemed to have reasonable prices. I drove a big suitcase full of our clothes to one of their stores. I waited in line for my turn. At the desk, I explained our needs. The nice lady explained that for eight pounds they could do up to twelve pounds. At first, I thought this was some sort of special, e.g. "Wash 50% extra for the same price!" Even with a zombie mind, I knew that didn't make any sense. Then I figured it--eight pounds cash to get twelve pounds of laundry done. We sorted the laundry into lights and darks and found it would be two loads, so about sixteen pounds.
Then she asked me for my phone number. Our sponsors loaned us a pay-as-you-go cell phone. I couldn't remember the number off the top of my head. It's written on a piece of paper at the apartment, on top of the washer/dryer. So I tried to navigate the phone's menus to find the number. After about five minutes, I gave up and the nice lady said that was all right. She just took my name. I wish she'd asked my address, because I knew that. Or even my email.
Next we negotiated when we could get the laundry back. She said it could be ready some time next week. I was worried about this because the customer in front of me had put her stuff in and was getting them back a full week later. So I asked how early next week. She said Tuesday at 3 p.m. Being Friday afternoon, it seemed to me like a long time to go without but I did not want to find another laundromat or a self-serve place. I agreed, took my receipt and headed home, feeling successful. I put a note in our Google calendar to remind me to pick up the laundry next Tuesday.
So we are back to a little more than the carry-on clothes and have to do another load of necessities in the apartment washer/dryer. As I write, wet clothes are scattered all over the furniture with hopes of being dry by morning. We still have one dress outfit that's clean and dry, so we won't be too shabby for church tomorrow.
When I was in Chile, I finally gave up and hired a cleaning lady just to have someone to wash my clothes, as I was tired of spending my Saturday scrubbing blue jeans in the bathtub. No laundromats and the drop-off service was far out of a Peace Corps volunteer's budget. I will be writing about my laundry/cleaning lady adventures very soon here: http://diaryofagolddigger.blogspot.com/
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