THE job of being a housewife never ends and for Bissondi Anand of Unity Backdam, East Coast Demerara, the day goes on with never-ending tasks of cooking, cleaning and doing whatever is necessary to keep a clean and happy home.

The 56-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that life is quiet and full of hard work in the small community, but even as is, it is rewarding because they have to keep at it to earn.

Her husband is a farmer, and they also rear chickens, ducks and goats plus, they have three pets, a dog, a parrot and a cat, who pretty much is always with Anand like a shadow.

The mother of three related that the day starts very early and usually ends whenever the work is done and it is time for bed.

Anand added that Unity Backdam is a very peaceful and quiet place to settle and the people especially those living at the rear of the village, are all related by blood and her two sons live in the same community.

“There is nothing to be afraid of here and we have no thieves so it is very safe and we don’t have to lock up nothing,” she said.

Anand stated that her husband does the farming on a full-time basis, that is, every day and they would sell the produce to wholesale buyers since they do not go to markets to sell.

She is from the other side of the village, that is, David Rose Housing Scheme and her spouse, Roopram Goordial, is a native of Unity Backdam, so she settled there after marriage.

On that day, when the team visited, it was Easter Monday, and she had already finished cooking and was waiting to assist her husband in tying some vegetables before going for an outing at Unity Beach.

Anand explained that they hardly go anywhere and only venture out when necessary to get supplies.

She is the grandmother of five and her only daughter resides abroad while her sons live a few houses away.

Anand keeps a nice clean home and her surroundings are equally tidy. She has a lovely home with three hammocks to relax and adequate tables and chairs to recline a bit after a long day of hard work.

Their farm is behind their house and they have a bit of yard space which is utilised for other plants and flowers.

Outside there is a wooden bench by some trees which is used for sitting in the afternoon to watch the happenings and of course the sunset.

“I like it here and it is quite a clam place to reside and my pet, the three-year-old Susie is everywhere with me so when I finish picking the flowers to go upstairs to the altar to pray, to do my daily devotion and if I don’t see her, I would say ‘you coming?’ and she would appear out of nowhere and go with me by the altar to pray and it is a routine we develop over time,” Anand said.

Renuka Narine, the stay-at-home wife and mother
Further up the road, is the home of Renuka Narine, who married and started living in Unity Backdam. She is the mother of two.

The 30-year-old reported that she was busy in the kitchen preparing food to take to Unity Beach that day to spend Easter Monday with the family, a custom they have over the years.

Narine added that she is originally from Enterprise, also on the East Coast Demerara. Following marriage, 11 years ago, she settled in the village, a place she has grown to love; the quietness appeals to her.

The meal was cook-up-rice with Bar-B-Que chicken and some beverages.

“I would visit Enterprise, my home village and after some time I would feel homesick and want to return to Unity Backdam for the quiet stillness of the place and it is so calming not being awakened from your deep sleep by noise form engines and all sorts of machines like in other villages,” she said.