YAY! Big Cleanup Completed!

I've been putting off doing a big cleanup of all our stuff here in Palembang for quite awhile. This house is very spacious but it has very little storage space so, I really need to either get rid of some things or send them back to Ipoh with my mother when she leaves. I finally started on it on Monday. Things got dusty, I got grouchy and tired, and that in turn probably set off a few of Aaron's whining episodes (which makes me all the more grouchy). Hence, the two day blogging break.

I've trimmed down to the bare essentials now. Especially in the clothes department. When we first moved here to Palembang, I really didn't know what to expect. I didn't know much of Indonesia at all and had the impression that it was a conservative place. After all, it is the nation with the largest Muslim population in the world.

The bulk of the clothes that I initially brought here were shirts with sleeves, long pants and calf length skirts. Everything that I disliked wearing when I was in Malaysia. Don't ask me why I even own them.

Needless to say, it was hotter than hot when we arrived here. The temperature has reversed since then but in February of 2007, Palembang was a hotter place than Ipoh. We arrived on a Saturday and on the Sunday, we went to Mass and I wore a proper shirt and longish skirt.....and nearly fainted from the heat. After a few days in Palembang, I was back to my shorts and sleeveless t-shirts. Its actually quite acceptable to dress this way and I've noticed that more and more people are wearing shorts over the past two years. The Muslim girls are of course more conservative but while they don't show much skin, many of them dress in extremely tight fitting clothes - skinny jeans and snug t-shirts.

Actually, the Muslim women here seem to be much more practical with their clothes. When they are at home, or in their own neighborhood, I've often seen them in sleeveless dresses. I don't think this happens very often at all in Malaysia. (Remember the dress code at the state library?)

So, if you're planning to visit Palembang, you don't need to get all covered up. But don't go to the extreme of spaghetti straps or hot pants (no, I haven't tried that), you'll get too many unwanted stares. The staring here seems to cause extra discomfort...maybe because they stare openly and for longer periods of time and there is often some leering involved.

Favourite Tops Needed

I have a uniform when it comes to my pyjamas. They are these three identical t-shirts that I just rotate through from night to night. I got them for free about 20 years ago when my mother bought some hair products.

They may be my favorite night time wear but last week, Aaron was genuinely upset when he noticed the row of holes along the middle section. I don't understand why but it bothered him so much that my clothes were 'broken'. He wouldn't go to bed until I changed. Last night, I happened to pick out the same shirt again, he saw them and insisted that I HAD to change before he went to bed. I'm still trying to understand why he reacts this way to the holes.

I don't know whether its just the age of all my favorite pieces of clothing or something to do with the way we do laundry here but I've noticed that many of my regulars are starting to wear out.

Ever since we moved to Palembang, I rarely need to dress up to go anywhere. Heck, I don't even need to dress 'going out casual'. Its just a tank top and shorts every day. So, I've fallen into a habit of wearing the same 3 favorite tops, 2 backups so I don't wear the same 3 too often and a pool of about 8 pairs of shorts.

Its not as if I don't have any other tops but I just like those few. I have tens of others that I've only worn a few times and even some with the tags still on but they just don't have that same worn feeling to them.

Well, the 'worn' feeling is fast turning into 'worn out' because they are starting to fray. I think its partly to do with the water here and also maybe the long hours that we leave the clothes out in the strong sun.

I need to appoint some new favorites soon so I can get them worn in.

What shall I wear?

Previously it was just a matter of what would look good and what was comfortable. Now, on top of that, I have to think about what will be convenient and safe. Convenient to feed Aaron discreetly in public. Safe from his constantly itchy fingers AND teeth. He just fidgets with all my clothes and if there is anything hanging off them, he tried to take a bite!

Non breastfeeders often think that a button down blouse is the easiest. I really haven't found that to be the case at all. If you undo the buttons from the bottom....you need to undo 4 out of 6 to get enough access. If you undo from the top, you're completely exposed, especially when the baby opens the shirt up more than is required. And have you tried doing up buttons while holding a baby?

So then, why not throw something over your shoulder? Like a scarf? That works when the baby is younger than 4 or 5 months. After that, he needs a view with his meal!

So what will it be? T-shirts or blouses that aren't too fitting normally work well. They can't be too long because its hard to yank up all that shirt and keep it off the baby's face. I also like those nursing tank tops that unclip at each shoulder strap.

For tomorrow, I'll be using a combination of the T-shirt and the nursing tank top. Its cold on those night flights and I don't want to be exposing my abdomen so this will be the perfect combination. Lift the short shirt up, undo the top of the tank and I'll have full access with complete coverage!

Did you really want to know all that? Perhaps not...but its the type of thing that I spend ages thinking about.