Household help came back

Finally, my household help came back yesterday, Jan 6, 2010.
Her promised return date is Dec 27, 2010. Before coming back, I did not hear from her until January 3 and she said she is returning on January 5.

Well, when she did not come back last January 5 but she texted at around 6pm and she said she is on her way to Tagaytay. She is coming from Quezon which is just i believe 3-5 hours from Manila.
So when I called her up at 8am in the morning, she told me she is still on the trip! Imagine, 14 hours on being on the road. She gave me inconsistent and unconfident answer saying they had to wait for somebody or something like that. When she came home, she said that the bus they road always breaks down...I really do not buy it BUT since I need her to watch for my daughter while we are out, I just let it pass.

Again, it is still better than having no household help at all.
I hate the way she has this hold over us, so I am thinking of hiring a second maid...except of course that would be an added expense since not only in terms of salary but another mouth to feed.... :(

Anyway, now, since we were without a maid for a few weeks, I am just glad that we have her back again.