I wanted a bed that was simple yet spacious enough that I can do some stretching or some light cardio exercises the moment I wake up to energise myself for the battle ahead. Cause I do believe that it is not how expensive or big it is, but how comfortable to the user it is. I wanted a bed that can carry with me my burdens, my struggles. Can push me out when I feel not getting up.
Having been to sleep on a roll up bed for 3 years from my first workplace here in Hong Kong where as if, I am renting it per hour and no time to lazed around for a while, and having been to lay down in a hanging coffin like bed for 3 months in my second employer, where underneath it, is a washing machine that sometimes when my employer wanted to rock my cradle and sang me a lullaby as I sleep, they’ll washed clothes in the middle of the night. But being in this kind of sleeping arrangements for helpers is not quite surprising at all given the small spaces or areas or flat of majority household in Hong Kong compared to other countries. Some may even have worst arrangements than what I’ve experienced I think, especially if a crooked heart is involved. This is one of the major dilemma of helpers in this country, their sleeping arrangements.
For now in my current workplace, I was given the chance to have my own bed and room, yes bed and room because some may have a bed but don’t have a room or vice versa, but the problem is when time for me to park after a day with mop and detol and the stove, I have to climb the stairway to heaven before my bed. It is a typical economy bed to maximize the small space of the room. It is a meter away from the ceiling that every time I wake up and sit, I ended up hitting my head on the ceiling. And don’t forget the audible noise in the upper flat when they pull their chair or drop something in the middle of the night or during the wee hours even if it is the smallest thing it sounds like it is directly hitting you. The bed is like a hanging skeleton with high four long legs that is supporting it. Below or under it, is an open space left for my supposed study table and ironing board.
Upon considering the restless nights, I managed to plan to minimize my discomfort. I took the cabinet they gave me to put some of my things and laid it under my bed where my study table supposed to be, to become a base of the foam. Then I put all my energy and strength to bring down my heavy foam and laid over the cabinet. And Gotcha! My new bed is almost done. It looks like a double decker bed and I’m on the lower deck. Then I took my small book shelf and put it near my bed where I can reach it without getting off my bed. After that, a small foldable table is put behind my headboard that is ready to serve when I needed.
Now, though I have a small room, I have a simple yet comfortable bed that I wanted. I can do some stretching without worrying of knocking my head to the ceiling anymore. I can read and watch some movies comfortably as well. The bonus is that, I can see the overview of the ocean and the Stonecutter bridge with it’s dazzling light during the night through my window while i laid on my bed, and it is the first thing to see when I opened my eyes in the morning. I can watch the beautiful sunset too. I love my new bed coz it comforts me enough during this pandemic that most of the time I cannot go out during my rest days.