A Fair Division of Labour…

...after a two year absence, that intrepid traveller, James, and his sister are back.  The pandemic has caused them to make, some changes, but they are finally planning a trip to France...

My brother James has gone all posh.  He's actually sold our large frame tent and bought a caravan.  I can't quite recall the lengthy discussion where I agreed to this proposition, but he's done it anyway.  So here I am, the reluctant part-owner of a bright and shiny caravan.  Not that it is new, of course.  No.  James never buys anything new, well apart from his underpants, which he insists must come from that clothing shop on every High Street.  It's something to do with the fit apparently.

Anyway, we now have this house on wheels, which he says I will have to look after and maintain just like I do our shared house.  So, I thought I ought to have a look at the thing.  Just as I was about get inside he presented me with a substantial manual.

'Read that,' he said.  'You'll find everything you need to know in there'.

I wasn't impressed.  In fact, I thought how odd it was that everyone needs a manual to do the washing up and ironing these days.  Well, I had a look inside the caravan and didn't see anything in there for which a guidebook was required.  I tried the seating and it was quite comfy although the particular shade of purple used for the upholstery was not really to my taste.  But there we are.  Whilst I was sitting there I opened the book and started working through it.  I was even less impressed when I got to the last page.  I wandered back to the house.

'James,' I said.  'I think you are under a misnomer about your shed on wheels.'

'How so?'  He asked as he gazed at me over the top of his spectacles.

'There is nothing in this guide that even remotely resembles what I do here at home,' I said.  I started at page one and gradually worked my through.

'Hitching up, towing, arriving, pitching, fetching water, cleaning and emptying the toilet, erecting the awning. No.'  I said.  'That's all Outside Technical.  That's your domain.'

'I see,' said James.  He opened his mouth to say something else but I didn't stop to breathe.

'Barbecuing, un-hitching, taking the awning down, clearing the pitch ready to leave and packing all external items.  Outside Technical.'

I paused expecting some sort of a response.  As nothing was forthcoming I continued.

'The water heating system, the heater, the appliances inside and so on all fall under the heading of Inside Technical.  Also your domain.'

Having made my views clear about the stuff in the book, I thought I also ought to remind James of some of the other duties that fall into his domain regardless of where we are.

'Washing up after meals, drying the pots and putting them away, rubbish collection and disposal.  Inside Domestic,' I said.  'Your domain just as it always has been,' I said.

'So, are you planning on doing anything whilst we're in France?'

'Of course, James,' I said.  'I will still cook, but I will also take on the new, and dual roles of Inside and Outside Management now we have the caravan,' I said.

A fair division of labour, I think...