clotheslines

In NZ, a majority of people line-dry their clothing, which is an altogether new concept for me.  Sure, from time to time I would select special items to air dry, and they were often slung across furniture throughout my apartment, but here it is mostly the norm.  I have been clothesline challenged since arriving.  Prior to living in the flat, we shared a small drying rack with other residents at Tranquil Lodge, and it was a good day if you could snag it early on for maximum sunshine.  Now at the flat, there are three clotheslines out back for use for the block of five flats.  Now here's my thing(s) about clotheslines:  (a) you have to make time for drying since you have to consider the weather and time it takes to dry the clothes, (b) I don't like my clothes hanging out there for the whole world to see, (c) I am not nearly tall enough to reach the lines, (d) it is time consuming, (e) on several occasion, my clothes have blown off the line, (f) the clothes dry stiff, and don't have that Downy feel, (g) it just isn't as easy.  But other than that, it's just fine...  ☺
   

So, I am sure you now have an excellent visual of me, laundry basket of wet clothes on hip, wandering out to the clothesline in the back, taking several minutes to arrange the clothespins on the line, standing on tiptoes as I hang everything from skivvies to t-shirts, towels to jeans, across the lines, hoping they don't fall down, blow away, or that I don't run out of clothespins.  It's been quite the adventure, just laundering, but wonderfully humorous.  I've even made the mistake of starting the washing machine early in the morning, anticipating a nice long day to dry the clothes outside, but neglecting to look out the window to see that it's raining.  Which further requires that I create a make-shift clothesline strung across the flat, with a bungee cord Bret brought, and again, scatter items around to dry.  Laundry has proven to be quite the escapade, but adds to the overall experience!