LS 6 4 6 Thursday

Power came on around six, then went off again quarter past. Huge area affected! Good news, one of my neighbours is finally making an effort to report! Well, I had just packed away my lunch ... so I hauled out the gas bottle to heat up dinner. Power came back at quarter past seven. I was quite relieved, as I had been looking forward to a hot bath!

First thing I did, when I got home - after feeding the ferals, of course - was to fit the recharging light bulb in my bedroom! Awesome! When the power went off, the light stayed on! I had a look at where to place the long one, the strip. The trouble is, that the charger chord is very, very short. I can't place it where I can't easily access the charge port, and I can't place it too far from a power source. Under the counter, which would be ideal, won't work. I wouldn't be able to plug in the charger - without some serious contortion. But I can stick it to the skirting. You know that 'decorative' overhang at the front. I'll need to deep clean that first, though - planning to do that this weekend.

Then there are the set of three motion sensor round lights. Again: awesome! They come with a magnet imbedded in the base, plus a magnet to tape to a wall or wherever - plus: they have a hole at the back, so you can hang it like a picture, on any nail in any wall! Now there are hordes of nails in the walls throughout my house, from previous residents. I've hung the first one in the passage opposite the bathroom door. Awesome! When I got up during the night, I could see Mini under my feet - and neither tripped, nor accidentally kicked her! Though I wear fluffy slippers, so there's no danger of injuring her.

I'm now shutting Sybil into the bedroom area when I get home. I don't have the patience to play 'catch' with her every evening, if she gets out. I haven't seen Vimes this week - but the missing females have turned up again. My neighbour's cat is the biggest problem, though. Every evening he comes into my garden to fight! Every. Single. Evening! Last night he attacked Mewthos - his poor nose was all bloody last night. I had to clean and cream his little nosey. I haven't found any other injuries ... yet.

I've had to go out with the water gun several times this week - the neighbour's cat goes for Smeagol, Mewthos, and Vimes. Smeagol and Mewthos now band together against him - last night, when Mewthos was attacked, Smeagol came to his defense. Although the two are still not besties, they do now tolerate each other and don't fight. Smeagol has calmed down considerably since his snip! He's even picking up weight!

This morning was the reverse of yesterday morning. Instead of having missed the 'power on' period, this morning I woke up early and had to wait for the power to come on, so I could make my coffee.

At work, I took a break to get my groceries. No celery. But I got everything else. And some extra - milk and sunflower oil were on special.

Load shedding tonight from eight to midnight. 4 hours. At least I should have power when I get home today. During the night again from four to six.

No time to watch an episode tonight ... sigh ...

Update from Eskom, forecasting low to no load shedding over the weekend. Their forecast is about as reliable as the weather!

Last night I left my charger in my lunch bag ... I had to charge with one of the cables from the lights. Fortunately, these days, these things are completely standard and interchangeable. Anyway, put the charger in my coat pocket today. Who knows, maybe I have internet, and can watch something on YouTube? Like the news, he he. Yeah, lately, I'm keeping an eye on what's happening - almost to the point of obsession.

Just saw a letter written by our provincial shadow minister of finance that municipalities need government support to cope with load shedding - they're overrunning on every budget to keep up with service delivery; running generators, etc ... just to keep up! Our government doesn't care ... as they said in one episode of the Daily Friend: it's baffling how utterly apathetic the ANC, even though their survival is under threat! You'd think that self-interest would motivate some action ... nope!

They operate like tribal chiefs: once a chief is in power, he can do whatever he likes - he's untouchable! Zuma thinks like that, too. No responsibility. No accountability.

Anyway. Time to publish ...

Dark 1 hr LS 6 4 6 Wednesday

I got out of bed too late this morning ... after six, so I had no power to make my coffee. I added instant coffee and milk to my mug, boiled water at work.

Both my deliveries have arrived! Nice! I need to buy electricity tomorrow - even with load shedding as extreme as it is at the moment, I'm below my comfort-threshold. I don't like to have to watch the meter.

This weekend I'm going to make my curry! I just need to figure out how long it needs to cook. It'll make some space in the chest freezer - I'll take out all stewing lamb. I'm just going to buy more potatoes. Maybe carrots, too. And celery. I like celery! I don't need to go to the butchery. I think I have enough food for the ferals, I don't need meat and I have enough cheese.

The potato soup is a hit, though! I love it! A bit thick, so I add a bit of water, when I heat it up, but on the whole: yum!

I'm just looking at our load shedding schedule ... it's depressing! This afternoon from two till six again, then ten to two tomorrow morning, two hours later again from four to six! 4 hours off, 2 hours on, 2 hours off. Then there's a 2 hour outage from noon to two, and another 4 hours from eight to midnight.

I just sneaked a bar of chocolate from my delivery ... munch, chomp, lick!

I also sent a scathing message to my ex tenant - calling him a liar and a thief! What else do you call someone who moves out with your property, and doesn't bring it back? Let's see ... but if he doesn't make good, I'm okay with that. I've written it, my money and him off.

And with this power outage plus change of system - my personal plans have all fallen behind. I don't have time to update my budget, I don't have time to do my tax returns ... I rushed through my shopping ... 

I want time off this weekend. Time to just loaf around, or watch whatever ... well, if I have power, of course ... but no big 'to do' list. I tried that last weekend, but too much ended up on Sunday's list ... and then I had that horrid headache on Sunday. All I really want is not to have a huge 'must' list on Sunday ... 

Well, ten to five ... better publish ...

LS 6 4 6 Tuesday

Not a good night, to start with ... I had taken only coffee to work yesterday, so I ended up drinking coffee late afternoon ... as a result, I couldn't get to sleep. 

I got two vouchers with my last Takealot delivery - R100 each. Unfortunately, valid only this week. Well, I figured, I can get next month's delivery now - and save R200. Only ... 1 voucher per order. Sigh ... well, I got one box of chocolates and another bag of litter, which is still extraordinarily cheap today! Half of what I ordered last week has since gone up. 

I recently had a chat with a friend, and my night toilet light came up in the conversation. Sadly, it has stopped working - no, not just the batteries. Well, it was cheap, so I'm still happy with the purchase. But it got me thinking ... so I'm now looking for rechargeable, motion-sensor lights. I've decided to try one of these new rechargeable light bulbs - they work like standard light bulbs, fit in standard fittings, just stay on - albeit dimmer - when the power goes off. When the power is on, they recharge, if the light is turned on.

Unfortunately, they're all the round bulbs - not yet available in the stick-like form. I don't think they'll fit where the light bulb actually fits horizontal. I'm taking one for the bedroom. And I'm taking another one - with motion sensor - for either bathroom (if it can fit) or passage / alcove. You don't want a motion sensor light bulb in your bedroom, when you have 5 cats! They'll turn your bedroom into a disco every night!

Those are relatively cheap. But now I'm looking at full lights, not just bulbs. I'm thinking of sticking something under the cupboards, over the counter, in the kitchen. Right, second order placed, voucher used, let's see how these lights work! Both deliveries should arrive tomorrow.

Load shedding this afternoon from two till six. 4 Hours! Again from ten to midnight, and tomorrow morning from six to eight. Again.

Anyway. With this being pressed for time writing, I forgot to mention that I was able to pick up and cuddle Vimes this weekend! He's slowly warming up to me! I'm hoping I'll be able to take him to the vet without a trap ... in June. Soon. His sister is an absolute cuddle bug!

Well, five to five ... time to publish ...

LS 5 4 6 Monday

Not a good day, one of the worst, ever.

Aaand load shedding up to Stage 6 tonight (instead of the planned Stage 5) ... it's twenty to five, better publish ... 

LS 5 2 5 Sunday

Not a good day for me, personally. I woke up with a headache - and I can't shake it. I've had liquid, I've had breakfast, noggin still in pain.

I've got the bread going, next comes the chicken hearts. Sigh ...

I've decided to do the potatoes WITH the shin, in one go, rather than separately.

Sigh ... change of plan, I'm afraid. I chopped the potatoes, added the celery and carrots ... and the pot was full! No space for the meat! So ... turned on the pressure cooker, and I'll be doing the meat after that's done.

Not doing well. Head is not happy. I even just fell asleep - and didn't have the energy to even close the front door gate. Seems like it was just a short nap, though. Potatoes are done, just waiting for the pressure to release - in the meantime, I'm frying the chicken hearts. I have to wash dishes in between ... because the potato soup needs to go into the bowl, where the raw chicken hearts are now.

Sigh ... way, WAY too much potato soup! I'm going to have to bag and freeze it ... not that I feel up to it. I also need to mince and freeze the chicken hearts ... powering through a massive headache, just so I can go to work? Not sane!

Aaand load shedding going up a Stage tonight. Instead of the planned Stage 4, we'll enjoy Stage 5! Not that it affects our schedule - thank goodness!

Almost three, and the potato soup is finalised. Three bags in the freezer. I still have to stew the shin, mince the hearts, pack them ... wash the dishes ... one hour is not enough time, not the way I'm feeling!

Quarter to four, I don't know how, but I managed to get everything done. Still need to pack some of the shin - with sauce - in the freezer ... once they're done. Also need to wash the pressure cooker.  Make my lunch, re-fill the kibble pots, clean the litter boxes ... etc. etc. I'm so sick and tired of this load shedding! It sucks! I really don't want to still do chores after six! I want to relax!

Well, publishing now ... 

LS 5 3 5 Saturday

Crappy day. On the whole, that is. I got up quite early, loaded the washing machine, turned on the geyser ... load shedding at eight, so, if I want breakfast, I have to cook it now - not when I'm hungry, now. Which I did - the now usual panlet.

I had unpacked the rest of the deliveries yesterday afternoon, but the power went off before I could vacuum pack the flour.

So, I had to do that this morning.

I also spent some time in the garden, yesterday. I cut down a lot of that bush right outside my lounge. I cleared enough space to place one of my new solar lights. It's beautiful! It really looks like a flaming torch - the light is orange, but flickering, which gives it a real flame effect! Of course I can only enjoy the sight, during load shedding - once the power comes on, the floodlight out back comes on. But that's exactly what I got it for! Something beautiful to look at during load shedding!

This morning, I managed to fill the sinks before the power went off. Washed the dishes. Hung up the laundry. And then I changed the sheets. All of them. Loaded everything in the machine, as soon as the power came on, I turned on the machine. It takes 6 hours to wash and dry ... I have power for only 6 hours. It goes off again at four this afternoon.

Then I took my new mop for a spin! In my bedroom! I moved everything outside, that I could, swept the floor, then mopped. I used about 5 or six buckets of water! Dip the mop, wring out the water, wipe the floor, dip the mop ... I can still see the bottom of the bucket, so: repeat. Second time: bottom no longer visible, so ... fresh water! My bedroom is only 9 square meter! Standard 3 x 3! Just shows you how much dust comes in, eh?

Well, then I decided to remove the friggin nail polish off the tiles! I can't get it off the wall, and I can't get it out of the grouting, but at least I can scrape it off the tiles! Yes, I've tried acetone (nail polish remover) ... yes, it helps, but I really don't feel up to soaking every splat and dabbing it up. It's really thick!

What you can't see, is the arc going all the way up to where the cable holder is, in the skirting. I think someone tried painting over it, there.

Internet is being difficult, again. It took nearly half an hour to upload the above photo - I'll try to upload the 'after' photo now ...

An hour later ... when I can't even write my blog, THAT is when this load shedding seriously gets to me! I mean, it uses minimal data ... I don't need a strong signal ... yet I can't even get what little I need!

Well, I've swept the house ... but I haven't fried the chicken hearts, nor minced them, nor packed them. I haven't made potato soup. I haven't made the stew. All that, I will have to do tomorrow. On top of baking a loaf of bread ... 

Ten to four ... so ... time to publish - let's hope I can! Load shedding only 2 hours - yeah, that's what we've been reduced to! Grateful when the power is off for 'ONLY' 2 hours! Really, this blows!

Anyway, as I said, better publish. Load shedding again from midnight till four and tomorrow only four to six. At least I'll have the freedom to do what I want, when I want tomorrow ... just have to make sure I get EVERYTHING done ... Sigh ...

LS 5 4 5 Friday

It made a nice change to have load shedding end at six rather than start. Instead of rushing to get everything done before the power goes off, I dawdled until the power came on.

I carried all the boxes inside, unpacked some of them - not all. Obviously, first I fed the ferals - Smeagol wasn't there when I gave them their evening treat. Sorry, boy, you missed out!

When the power came on, I heated dinner, I had taken the left over spaghetti Bolognese out of the freezer the night before. Then I cleaned the litter boxes. I turned on the PC to watch a couple of episodes ... that's pretty much all.

This morning I got up before six, enjoyed coffee, mippies, and I'm trying to come up with a solution to the dilemma at work.

I've been agonising over next week's food for two days now ... I think I am going to settle on potato soup with meat. I'll make a potato soup, then cook some meat, and just heat the two in one pot every evening. It's quarter past nine, I'll just go get my groceries ...

Nice! Margarine was on special, so I got two tubs. I use about 1 tub = 1kg per month for my lunch at work. I also got celery, and that's about it at Spar. At the butchery, I got shin, chicken hearts and cheese. I'll make the potato soup, and then the shin - separately.

I think I'll just publish now, as we're enjoying 4 hours of load shedding this afternoon ... from four until eight tonight!