Future plans

I had one heck of a night! After I’d posted the blog last night, I went to run my bath, looked in on the kittens ... uh oh! No mother! She must have snuck out hours ago, since the front door has been closed. Why didn’t she put up her usual complaint when she found the door closed? Sigh! I bathed. No mother. I tried calling her, I went outside – all the way to the road: No Silver. I checked on the Mini’s – they’re warm, their bed is warm and they’re sleeping. I can’t. I have no choice but to leave my front door open! I try, but there is no way I can sleep. Eleven comes and goes – no Silver. Midnight – no Silver. Now it’s one in the morning, I’m still awake – and still no Silver! Throughout the night I get up to check on the kittens – they’re warm and sleeping. Half past one Silver finally returns! And I can lock my front door and go to sleep – finally! Thursday will be a tough day, with this lack of sleep!

One thing this incident made quite clear for me: Silver is more feral than domestic. I don’t see her ever becoming a happy indoor cat! I still have some hope, that once she’s spayed, that may change – like Shadow. This morning she tried to leave again – hanging around the front door, complaining that it’s closed. Not gonna happen! I quickly sneaked out while she was busy with her brood!

At work, I got hold of my boss yesterday. The expired petrol card was an oversight – he apologised and will send a valid one asap. And he’ll refund any receipts I present. I also asked about the increase: “Oh? Yes, I received a new Purchase Order for you, but thought it was for the same rate.” Sigh! Communication is not a strength at my company! So it will trickle through to me ... soon.

It sounds like I will need it, too! There was a meeting held at work today discussing our future – how much longer this project will take and who will go when where next. Basically, the plan is that everybody be in Pretoria mid-January next year; until about June, when East London should start. Of course, I’m not included in the plan – I’m not important enough for such high-level consideration, he he.  So far, on all past projects, I was always the last one to leave – someone has to switch off the lights and close the door. So, I suppose that I will go straight from here to East London. IF we get the project! And if I’m very lucky, I’ll get an actual break between packing, moving and unpacking! Sigh, I guess from now on, on rainy weekends I may as well start packing again. What a depressing thought!

Moving on (pun intended): I stumbled across a paper I wrote a few years ago, it was really strange since I can’t recognise myself – the style is unfamiliar. Ok, so it’s a technical paper. It’s very good, though. I remember writing it and I also remember my fame of mind at the time – I was frantic! I’ve always done my best writing during emotional turmoil, whether in anger, depression or desperation. Whereas this blog is more of a soliloquy – I have no specific audience in mind, I have no particular point to make. I’m just writing for the fun of it.

That is also my stumbling block with the additional writings – the one’s I hope will generate income: I’m not in emotional turmoil, so I can’t use my past writing experience as a standard or basis. Yet at the same time, this blog is no basis either – since I’m loosing readers, rather than gaining. Which is okay for this blog. It’s a bit like a race – there is no point starting to run until you know the route! So for now, I’ve started writing (warming up exercises) but my main focus is still on planning the route.

Back at home, I had barely opened the front door when Silver came streaking out like a silver streak of lightning! That was four hours ago and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of her since! The only cat who’s come to look in on the kittens has been the neighbour’s tom. Whereas yesterday he carefully explored, today he came striding in purposefully! Since I don’t know how he might react to the kittens, I get up and tiptoe after him – as soon as he sees me looking at him, he runs straight back outside.

It’s not the kittens he’s interested though, I’m guessing it’s the cat food right outside their nest. Although why he’s attracted to food for lactating queens – or what he’ll do with the increase in lactose it advertises to promote – is anyone’s guess!

I’d better get in the bath – I’m freezing, since I’ve had to keep the front door open all evening! Just the mallet-width though, but still. Luckily the nest is in the bedroom which is warmer than the lounge. I don’t have a hot water bottle, electric blanket or heater – that’s where the hot bath and feather duvet come in. The Mini’s are cuddling on a fleece blanket on top of the feather duvets – which will keep them warm for a long time. But I guess I should look for a hot water bottle this weekend, just in case.