Our Chinese washing machine is old. Well, not old in people years but in washing machine years she is geriatric. It's an old model with a few buttons and trays that have seen better days. The other curious thing is that the machine doesn't have a setting for a warm or hot water wash. Effectively we wash clothes in temperatures equaling to the outside air heating or cooling the water pipes. The only possible variable is the time: you can set it from three hours to thirty minutes. And while the clothes don't get remarkably clean with either cycle (and hence our wardrobes have changed into various shades of gray) at least they smell clean.

While serving us faithfully for almost three years, our machine, "Bessie" has been making an increasing amount of sounds. Creaking, squealing, rumbling. Last time my parents visited, my mom was surprised it was still working based on the ominous chorus coming from the balcony (all wash machines are kept on outside balconies for space).
 
So in anticipation of my parents impending Spring visit, I decided that it was time to get old Bessie fixed. To speed the decision, Bessie's spin cycle ripped a curtain and tore one of my t-shirts into shreds. Not sure if that was her plea for help or to be put out of her misery.
 
We first contacted the landlord to ask her if she wanted to get Bessie fixed or replaced. "Ask how much to fix" was her reply. Our ayi called the wash machine company for a repair guy who came in two days later to quote 900RMB (about $130). "Fine, fix it" said the landlord, "Fine" we told the ayi and she called the company to schedule a time.
 
Except that it took five days for the needed parts to be ordered. And another five for them to arrive to the repair shop. When the guy finally showed up at our doorsteps, he was there to take Bessie away, not to fix her onsite. "No way" I cried, thinking that if I’ve learned one thing during the last three years, it was never to let go of something you needed because you will not see it again. So the repair guy left sans Bessie.
 
A stalemate ensued. The company was not going to fix the machine unless they took it to their shop. I was not about to let go of Bessie and be without a "sort-of working" washing machine for an indefinite period of time. Tempers flared (mine) and more phone calls were placed (ayi to company).
 
Their proposed solution? Not to fix the machine at all. The manager of the repair shop called our ayi and explained that they really didn't see what the big deal was because the machine actually didn't NEED fixing since it wasn't COMPLETELY broken.
 
"It still works so why fix it?".
"But it doesn't work well. It is going to break soon. Visitors are coming. It's very inconvenient".
"If we fix it now, it will only break again later and then you will have to get it fixed again".
 
I got desperate. David tried to talk some sense into me. Company held strong. So I conceded. If the only way to get the machine repaired was to take it away, then do it. There is a Laundromat down the road that our ayi could take the clothes for five days (IF it was just five days) and the end result would be a machine that washed (well, again sort of), not ripped clothes.
 
Two hefty men came the following day and carried our aging Bessie away. It has now been five days and we have assurances that someone is going to bring Bessie back this afternoon, fixed. Not a moment too soon either: my parents arrive tomorrow morning. It's a bit down to the wire but if Bessie shows up in the next 12 hours, truly repaired, we are still on schedule.
 
Stay tuned.