Brückentag

I woke up very early this morning to a strange arrangement on my bed: Lady Jane had wriggled herself under the duvet and was sleeping curled up by my feet. Ziva had curled up next to Lady Jane – outside the duvet, though – but on top of my feet! And Mewthos was mipping to be let under the duvet by my face! I’d lift the duvet, he’d crawl under, curl up and needed my hand for reassurance. He wouldn’t lie still for long, and got up and out from under the duvet again – only to mip to be let under it again. This continued until my alarm went off, about twenty minutes after I woke up. Mewthos then went to pick up my glasses – but since he isn’t quite as agile picking things up, he dropped them. He tried to retrieve them, but got side tracked by the alarm – so he jumped back up and picked up my cell phone! Since that is even heavier than my glasses, he dropped that as well – and I picked it up from under a puzzled (and glowing) Mewthos! I put it in my hand, so I could snooze it for a while. Then I turned back to the unusual configuration of cats on my bed – Mewly still mewling for attention, which I give freely.

Eventually I get up and so do the cats. Lady Jane crawls out from under the duvet and shakes herself before yawning luxuriantly, Ziva follows suit with the stretching and yawning. I get up to make coffee – and find a little brown pile on the kitchen floor! As I open the curtains, I find another one! Looks like someone had a runny tummy and didn’t make it to the litter box in time. Twice!

I let Ziva out, and as I’m trying to have my coffee and wake up properly first Lady Jane demands intensive cuddling, followed by Mewthos being even more demanding! Somehow I managed to sip my coffee, have my morning cigarette – with two kitty bums insistently thrust in my face! And then the phone rings – work! So I deal with that and get myself off to work – distracting the mippies with a sachet so I can sneak out. Lady Jane is getting smart, though: She came and watched me leave ... then close the door behind me, leaving my mippies safely indoors.

Ziva came to see me off and I get myself to work. At work, they are still busy loading the container they called me about – forty minutes ago! Apparently the so-called ‘Executive Sales Manager’ sent the wrong type of truck for collection – I could write a whole paragraph about this person’s competence! Lack of, that is! Anyway, they finally managed and we’re now down to only the three containers that will go to East London.

Funny thing, now I’m sort of the site manager – not by title, just: everybody is now asking me what to do, how to do and who needs to come to work on which days. Technically, the electrician should be taking responsibility, since he’s the highest qualified person on site ... but he was the first one to ask me “What now?” With tomorrow being an international public holiday, I won’t be getting any information or answers from anyone today, as management is taking a ‘Brückentag’ (which directly translates as ‘bridging day’ and means taking the day to bridge between public holiday and weekend resulting in a long weekend.) It’s a standard practice in Germany, I believe – in South Africa it is mostly frowned upon, since it would mean closing shop (which some German businesses do).

Back at home, Ziva greets me at the garage – and Romeo is eagerly waiting for the magic door to the food bowls to open! Our gardener did a great job weeding the path. It’s a crap job and he doesn’t like having to do it – but he understands that I can’t use poison. Not with all these cats rolling on the path and then washing (licking) themselves. So, for me, he does it the hard way.

Upstairs, I find numerous brown droplets throughout the bathroom – I guess the rears are still dire? But both mippies come for a load while I happen to be there – and both seem a bit soft but definitely not liquid. So I guess they are fine. I clean the floor provisionally – tomorrow I’ll have to wash both floors. But first, I have to get something for my lunches (Aufschnitt ~ cold meats) and electricity!

Downstairs I follow the Mips around with my camera and got quite a few very typical shots of each one! Mewthos climbed onto the overturned tree trunk – but had some difficulty getting down. So I stood next to him, let him climb onto my shoulder and played ‘elevator’ – bending down so he wouldn’t have far to jump. I guess he knows he shouldn’t jump onto his damaged paw, and does everything he should do to avoid hurting it even worse.

Romeo seems to be in a bad mood today, since he first attacked Mewthos and later attacked Lady Jane! Both times Ziva went for him after his attack! It’s good to see that, no matter what the difficulties they have socializing – with Ziva hissing and swatting at Mips – she will always come to their rescue and defense!

Rose had gone for a short shopping trip and when she came back and had parked her car, the windows were wide open … and Lady Jane went to investigate! She climbed from the roof through the open window and explored the inside of the car! When I opened the door to let her out – Mewthos came to climb inside, instead! It took a bit of persuading to get them both out again!

Upstairs with all three cats, I close the door – but Ziva begs to go out again, so I let her out. After all, it isn’t even dark, yet. She comes home not too late. I give them a sachet – three happy kitties! Not for long, though. So I open a tin of pilchards for them – Mewly is a very hungry kitty! He is almost constantly begging for something from the treat-cupboard. And, at least for now, he isn’t turning his nose up at tin food. He wolves it down like there is a limited supply … only, he doesn’t clean out the bowl. He eats, but not large portions. Well, he is the biggest of my Mips! And it seems he still has quite a lot of growing ahead of him!

Well, I’ve gone through all photos, selected, cropped and re-sized them for uploading! Mippies want attention, so I’ll post and get to my Mippies!

A rare moment of familiarity between Ziva and Mewthos

Lady Jane napping undisturbed

Everything must be sniffed and explored!

A rare sight: Mewthos in a tree!

Look how big he is!

That look let me know he wants to come down
but doesn't want to jump.
So I gave him a dignified solution
Dignity is important to cats :)

Lady Jane in her typical 'watching & thinking' pose

Nine times out of ten when I snap the pic,
Ziva's head is turned away

Looking for different types of fun

Mewthos' favourite activity in the garden:
Digging holes!

Crouched, watching and thinking

Lady Jane above my head in a tree
The white is her paw reaching for the lens

She tried from a different position

The paw is coming to reach for the camera lens again!

Well, the paw didn't solve the puzzle, maybe if I lick the lens?

Mippies went to visit Rose - while Rose was out shopping.
Ziva won't go inside. This is not her territory.

Ziva also loves the tree!

Yay! Ziva may not be looking AT me, but her head is not turned away!
Lucky shot!

Ziva investigating the hole through which Lady Jane disappeared

Hmmm ... I think I'd prefer being driving like this
to being shut in some cat carrier ...

I had opened the car door to let Lady Jane out ...
Instead, Mewthos climbed in!

Open door or no open door - I came in through
the window ...

... the window now is farther away than it was when I came in ...

... yes, this is how I got inside. So this is how I'll go out!

Brother and sister walking off after their adventure in the car!

You're my bestest brother / sister!

Hmmm ... fence ... I can see through it ...

Ah! This is how I can get over it!

I may not be a Jaguar, but I'm a much livelier hood ornament!

Sunday

Up before eight, opened the door so the Mippies could go out and play. Twenty minutes peace and quiet – before Lady Jane started her cuddle-run. She comes running back, meeps at me to get on my shoulder for cuddles. And more and more and again and again.

I have a leisurely morning with no pressing duties. Load the machine, clean out the litter box. And then I give the garden a try – since it’s quite a lovely day, though cold enough to qualify for autumn. I took the clippers and gloves, and gave that section next to the cactus a try. Even though I’m quite a distance from the cactus, I keep picking up thorns. And not making much headway just to tip my mood. So I go back upstairs. Now I’m not sure what I’d like to do today. I should vacuum, but I am NOT in the mood!

I’ve done my accounting, paid the rent, done everything that needs doing today, well I still need to hang up the washing, but that’s a minor job.

Sjoe, I just had a bird flap into the door – spot the cats and flap right back out – both Mippies in tow! Soon after that, Rose calls. She’s off to sit in the garden with her knitting and wondering where I’ll be – I call back that I’ll be by the beds. There isn’t really much to be done, I cleared out all weeds last weekend, so all I can do is pick a couple of wilted leaves here and there. The Nasturtiums are covered in yet another, new type of parasite. I give up! Everything dies in here, even the plants I’ve brought from Pretoria have died. Only two of those are still clinging to life. I have never heard of any single property being so plagued by such a vast variety of parasites! Especially with Rose’s garden unaffected, and the neighbour on the other side also not affected. The current drought is not helping either, I’m sure. I can not even imagine what could be the reason or cause. Sure, I’ve dug up rubbish of all types and materials – but it is almost as if the ground is toxic, where only the hardiest weeds have a chance. Well, I give up. I’ll maintain what is alive, but I’m not putting any soil, fertilizer or compost into that garden anymore. I’m done!

Back upstairs, I’ve re-filled the litter box – under Lady Jane’s supervision. She climbed straight in to dig and test the quality of the sand! I’ve finally hung up the laundry – the bath mat still wiffs of cat widdle! I’ll need to soak that for a while and wash it again! And my roasts are in the frying pan, roasting away happily.

Yum, that turned out absolutely divine! Lamb roast – which I don’t treat myself to very often! Now I should make a plan to put the beef roast away to be heated up for tomorrow’s dinner. I’ve packed my lunch, and now I’m just waiting for Ziva to come sauntering in. Tomorrow I have to go to work again. Sigh.

Mippies get a visitor

I was about to go to bed, when I got side-tracked by my cats. Lady Jane and Mewthos showed no signs of wanting to sleep, so I thought I should make some effort to tire them out a bit. We ended up playing rat-race in the bedroom for over half an hour! Ziva was curled up on the bed, and I got her involved as well. At first, I’d just poke the stick in front of her, letting her paw and bite to catch it – but then Mewthos would join her on the bed – and during the play-time, she didn’t hiss, growl or swat at him! During those times, Lady Jane would watch every move from the ground – and I’d soon bring the stick back down to the carpet for both Mippies to run after. Ziva came down later and also made a few runs after the stick! I got so engrossed in the dynamics between the three – I forgot the time. And ended up going to bed a bit on the late side.

I had some strange dreams this morning. I don’t remember them, but Mewthos featured in some way and something about setting up the next project – oh, and there was a part where my salary was revised based on performance, which hiked it up considerably. A girl can dream, eh? It is still a man’s world. Any job that is traditionally a woman’s job, will never earn well. I could write more than one essay on this subject – but since it’s coming from a woman, it’ll just be put down as ‘ranting, raving’ or some other derogatory label.

Anyway. I got up just before eight – Mewly had already sat on my chest asking ‘when mummy get up? Mippies want to play!’ I let Ziva out, but kept the Mippies in, since I need to get groceries. Mippies want attention, cuddles, play, treats – I couldn’t have my coffee in peace, so I just distracted them with a treat and went off to do the dreaded shopping!

Makro was a disaster. Although, for the first time in two years a Makro employee offered his assistance! I didn’t have to ask him, or find someone, or get those aggressive ‘I’m working, you’re interrupting me. What do you want?’ looks and body-language. He politely came up to me and asked IF I needed assistance! Remarkable!

That was the only positive point, though. The next aisle, I couldn’t get to the shelf because it was blocked with pallets. Blocked off so completely, I would have had to wriggle and squirm to get to the shelf – so I left it. The next aisle, I wanted Tonic Water – and they had only some new ‘Zero Sugar’ Tonic Water – nothing else. In the pet food section, they now have NONE of the Purina. Last time they had only the kitten food, this time they have nothing. They did, however, have a special on Whiskas – so I got 2x 4kg. They also had a special on the Whiskas jelly sachets, so I got 4 boxes @ 12 sachets. At the cigarette counter I had to call for the staff to come from out the back – after having waited a whole minute.  But I also caught a special on margarine – getting 1kg for the same price Spar is selling 500gr.

After the meager results at Makro, I had to decide where to now get the rest. Eventually I decided to go to Food Lover’s Market next door to Makro. I decided to pick a few fruits, since they do have a wide variety. When I wanted to get some nuts, and obviously needed some help – the assistant first walked away, then wandered back … and still I had to ask her to please help me! All this while two ‘supervisors’ were standing around discussing rearrangements to the section! They’ve re-arranged the layout of the store – it looks a lot more open, but it’s less efficient. Now, if you want to go through the vegetable section AND their shelves, you end up having to zig zag and back-track. So I gave a large portion of the store a miss. I am happy to say that they finally removed that hanging trolley over the deli counter! But a lot of items in that store have no prices, or the prices displayed don’t match the items in the shelves, and the labels on the deli cold-meats has no dates on them. They don’t keep for very long, so an expiry date is essential. Since they didn’t have dates, I didn’t risk it. The fish looked tempting, but the labels were also a bit dodgy, so I didn’t risk that, either. They’ve also re-arranged the hot food section – and the fresh fruit smoothie / fruit salad counter is almost inaccessible. I took a rye bread – and will see whether it will go green again by tomorrow, or whether I’ll actually get to eat some. The rolls looked fresh – but when I got home, they were already limp, so … yeah. Overall, I see no reason to revise my opinion of the management of that place.

Back at home, Ziva was a bit put out that I let her sit by the front door, and – instead of opening the door for her – I went back to carry another load from the car. After I carried everything inside, I’m not left alone to get my breath back. Lady Jane and Ziva want attention! Sigh. Eventually I opened a sachet for them – and now I finally have a bit of peace to write this! It’s nearly two now, and I’m still trying to get my breakfast – mippies have been driving me insane! Mewly carried my jammie-pants into the lounge while I was out shopping – he likes to have a part of me nearby. Soppy Mewly! You gotta love him!

Ah, and here comes Romeo! Caterwauling up the stairs, greets Lady Jane, now he’s chomp, chomp, chomping in the kitchen. As he’s finishing up, our site manager calls – he’s outside. I had suggested he make a plan to pop in to see the mippies for a last time, before he leaves the country for good. He took me up on the invitation. It was a bit tricky with Romeo on this side – I had to ask him to stand by the window in the lounge, so Romeo could get past him and run out. Mewthos and Lady Jane were very skittish at first – Mewthos hid in the bedroom, Lady Jane stayed outside. But after some time – and with the lure of the rat-race stick – she came in and close enough to play. Mewthos watched from a distance before slowly crawling closer. They wouldn’t let him touch them, but did come closer and played rat-race with him. Ziva was nowhere to be seen, I’m afraid.

Well, that’s the last German gone as well. Now it’s just me and two locals – an electrician and the store-man. But that’s Monday’s worries.

It’s now half past three, and I’m not sure whether I should try to start the dishes. I meant to get all chores done today, but apart from getting the groceries, I haven’t made much head-way. Well, since I’m down to my last cup, I decided to do the dishes – get at least something useful done today. Maybe that’ll make it possible for me to vacuum the lounge tomorrow. It sorely needs it!

Well, dishes done, dinner cooked, Mippies fed, dinner eaten, showered (on my lonesome, for a change – not a single cat came to investigate!) now the only thing left to do is to clean out the litter box and I’m done for the day.

Metro day

Although I woke up reasonably early, I decided to take it easy today. I let the Mips out and they enjoyed themselves – coming up for their regular cuddle sessions. Even Ziva popped in every now and then.

For myself, I indulged in play. I have a city in an online (Facebook) game called Metropolis, which I’ve let slide for … oh, a couple of years now, I think. I started playing in 2007 or 2008. I keep it going with a couple of clicks a day. It’s a very simple game, with no animation, so it doesn’t use much data to play. Like all the old Facebook games, it had limited daily play-time (i.e. only so much you can do every day) but over the years the developers have added additional features. And elaborate High-score lists. The real-money feature involves favour points – but those can also be gained by non-paying players, by visiting and exploring other player’s cities. I use those favour points to ‘buy’ Silver membership (Gold membership requires real money). That membership means I don’t have to pay (game-money) for one of my daily click-activities. I used to keep my membership for a year ahead – but I’ve run so low on favour points, that I’m down to the last month. So I spent the whole of today just exploring and increasing my favour points – oh, and also getting onto another Highscore list. I’ve dropped a couple of places in most of the lists.

Well, like I said, I haven’t actually ‘played’ this game in a couple of years – only kept it going and active. It’s actually quite relaxing to go through city by city, re-acquainting myself with my neighbours. The Metropolis-Facebook Group is also a great bunch of people – numerous fellow player have become actual Facebook friends. And sadly, over the years, quite a lot of fellow players have passed away. They’re the nicest bunch of game-friends you could wish for – not a bunch that just whines about the developers, like so many game groups.

Well, that was my day. I haven’t bothered to even get dressed today. Maybe tomorrow.

What a week!

I had a really good night, and woke up with the first sound of my alarm! The second sound was Mewthos wanting cuddle time. I had a leisurely cup of coffee while explaining to Ziva that it is still too dark for her to go out ... sigh, she doesn’t understand that. When it was lighter, I let her out – and shortly afterwards it started dripping great big blobs! Ziva came back inside, rushed to the food bowl, but then insisted on going out again – despite the rain. The Mippies can’t understand why I’m saying that horrible word again and again: “Work!” Surely I can’t be going to that place all day again? Well, I had to distract them with another sachet so I could sneak out.

The Terror was sitting in Ziva’s ‘seeing mommy off’ spot – I found Ziva crouched in the corner under a bush. After I had sent The Terror home, Ziva came out to see me off.

Traffic was a nightmare, that short stretch on John Tallant was bumper to bumper, and a lot of the drivers showed their worst side.

At work, I had to wait for the guys to finish putting the office back together, then put the furniture back, before I could even try to switch on the PC. No worries, though, I expected that. And there is nothing urgent to be done today. After the stress and chaos of this week, I really don’t have the energy to try and tackle anything major today!

I’m happy to report that nothing major occurred today, and I am looking forward to a relaxing afternoon cuddling and playing with mippies.

Back at home I’m a bit worried that Ziva isn’t greeting me – but the mystery is soon cleared up, when I see poor Ziva cornered by The Terror. As I chase The Terror off, she jumps on poor Abby who was innocently napping on the grass in the sun. Poor thing runs off home to Rose – her garden no longer safe, it’s raining cats in her garden!

Romeo is so hungry, he runs past me up the stairs and sits waiting for me to open the door! I try to get him to stick to the kitten kibbles, but – after cleaning out the wet food bowls – he insists on the adult kibble!

I go for a sit on the stairs to chat with Rose. Romeo now walks past me without fear, even lets me pet him when he comes past. I just put my hand out and he bumps his head into it, then arches his back to use my hand to stroke his back.

Our chat is interrupted by a few more Terror incidents which have me running up and down so much that, I comment to Rose “Who needs gym when you have kittens?” At one point I hear some birds screeching … followed by what sounds like a cat in distress? I go to investigate, and I am almost sure it’s the birds making that sound!? I see Lady Jane stalking a bird, I hear to sound – and it’s definitely not Lady Jane, nor Mewthos – and when the bird flies off, the sound stops. I ask Rose about it and she reckons it is possible. Strange!

Well, I’m quite tired, Ziva is home, mippies are feigning sleep, so I think I’ll try an early night.

Living dangerously!

I had some very queer dreams this morning, something about reporting to a tyrant and living in squalor while my whole life is on hold because a document wasn’t processed on time. Notice the real-life elements which crept into my dream there?

Quick cup of coffee, with Mips watching in dismay as they hear me say ‘I have to go to work today’ again. They want cuddles and reassurance that I still love them, and I want to get going ... naturally, I compromise. I had to distract them with a sachet, though, so I could sneak out. Ziva came to see me off, as she always likes to do. For a long time I didn’t recognise her showing up when I’m leaving as her seeing me off – now that I know, it no longer worries me. On the contrary, it’s such a sweet gesture, I appreciate it.

At work, first thing: call to remind about the work permit I need. Today! Site manager comes in grinning and hands me the permit! Yay! So, I call the crew to come around noon – we’ll get to work taking the containers apart.

I shoot off the next mail, requesting a pass to remove the empty container – as soon as I have that pass, I can set that in motion. Our own crew is starting to take the container apart – and also removing the stairway up to the office! It’s now down to bare essentials, stairs are left, one side still has a handrail – but otherwise it is wide open! Dangerously open! We’re not meeting safety requirements on this in between phase, for sure – lets just hope nobody sees this!

I have a special relationship with heights – if I look down from any height, I feel myself falling forward. So this wide-open platform and stairway are ... exciting. And not in a fun way!

Follow-up on the gate pass – no reply. Follow up on the rigging crew – ‘I was waiting for you to call to give me the go-ahead’ ... Huh? I gave you the go-ahead this morning! We agreed you’d be here by noon. Yeah, I didn’t say that ... I was told the truck is on it’s way, and he’ll check where they are and let me know right away. That was half an hour ago. So far, no truck and no ‘right away’ return call.

We’re now sitting, twiddling our thumbs, waiting for them to show up. Once they do, we can remove the stairway completely and get the containers on the ground. Then our crew will have to put them back together again – I, on the other hand, will be useless (no office, no PC, no electricity) so I’ll be going home early today.

I’ll have to stop at Spar to get some cat food, since – with the extra mouth I call Romeo to feed – we’ve practically run out of the adult cat food. I still have 1 ½ bags of kitten food, though. And with Friday a public holiday, I better get some groceries. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but I do know I won’t want to have to go shopping after work tomorrow.

Right, it’s an hour later, and I’m following up everything – once again. I’m told the truck should be here any minute now, and the gate pass for the empty container will be ready in a few minutes. Sent of mail to ask the company to collect tomorrow. Hopefully I will have a reply before they have to cut the electricity so they can move the office.

Living dangerously indeed!

Well, by one the crew showed up to move the office and by half past, I was on my merry way. I stopped at Spar for groceries, so I should be fine till Saturday. Back at home, Ziva welcomed me – but today I had a shopping bag in each hand, so no chance for tummy rubs along the way.

I was still busy unpacking when my phone rang: Problem! Apparently, when they tried to close up the containers, they realized that the sub-contractor, where we had stored them all this time, had brought only one panel. Sigh. Also, they lost some sort of clamps. Double sigh. Can’t rely on anyone to do anything right the first time – always have to check everything, then either get it done right, or do it yourself.

And we’re getting pressure from our Head Office asking “how on earth can this simple job take such a long time? What do you do all day?” Erm … half the day I’m following up on promises made – but never kept (just never, ever, ever point out that this means their word is worthless!) and the other half I have to re-instruct and supervise to make sure that what finally does get done gets done right. Try to explain that to anyone who has not experienced this – and good luck to you!

I had just resolved the one crisis, when the phone rings again. I had set my e-mail to auto-reply that we’re relocating the office & I should be back online tomorrow morning, giving my cell no for emergencies. The call was regarding the Carnet container they collected yesterday – the agent needs a letter of authority. I explained that I am not authorized to issue one and they need to contact the Head of the Export Department in Germany. So she asks me to e-mail her the contact details! Sigh. Which part of ‘relocating office, not online’ is so difficult to understand? Well, I told her that whichever e-mail she had gotten my contact details from, the Head of Export was CC’d, so she already has the contact details.

Poor Mippies! Mommy is home but not paying any attention to her adorable, loving Mippies! Romeo had rushed past me three times already for a good chomp, and my Mippies went out to explore the garden. Ziva also went outside, seeing she’s not getting any of the deserved attention from me. Sigh again.

It’s too cold for real comfort outside, even this early – but Rose braved the weather and brought her chair for a chat. And a blanket to wrap herself in. We didn’t chat for too long, though. The wind was quite chilly and it was rather humid – almost clammy. We watched the Mips exploring and enjoying themselves. Lady Jane is eager to be a grown-up, she tried to jump onto Rose’s car since Ziva was sitting on the roof – but she isn’t quite strong enough, yet. She got surprisingly far, though! She also gave us a couple of laughs when she jumped onto my back while I was bent forward picking seeds!

Back upstairs, the phone rings again. No problem, though – this time! Just the company asking whether I’m happy with their service today. I didn’t say “thanks for giving me half a nervous breakdown by a) delaying the simple data sending, which meant I had to hope that the next person will NOT delay at all and b) lying to me about the availability of the equipment, leaving me to fear that unless everything goes right tomorrow, I’m screwed! If he hadn’t done both, I wouldn’t have had that stress yesterday afternoon, and wouldn’t have had to write to the project manager – hoping he could be my Plan B – plus, I could have gone home on time yesterday. And let’s not forget the uneasy night worrying what else will go wrong. But it was five in the evening (it gets dark early now) and I just wanted to eat. So I just said everything’s fine and thanks.

I had treated myself to a Sushi take-away. It was fine from the Spar last time, so I was willing to risk it again. This time I selected a full meal. Unfortunately the Wasabi had gotten on some of the Sushi – I don’t mind it so much, as my insides react unfavourably to it. I was half way through my meal when our gardener showed up – just to be sure it’s okay for him to come work on Monday. I told him that I’d be at work, but he is welcome, if he wants to. The choice is his.

Still trying to enjoy dinner when the phone rings again. Another problem on site. They want to lock the container, and the key is locked in my desk. Sigh. Well, there’s nothing valuable in THAT container, so they’ll risk leaving it unlocked. All the valuable stuff is in the other half, to which the site manager has a key. They’ll re-connect the electricity tomorrow and we can get everything working again. The nightmare part of the job is over – so we can take our time. Someone apparently came out and brought some of those clamps they needed. So let us hope that was the last call for the day.

I finally finished my meal – having to discourage curious Mips from trying some as well. So I sit down and spend some play time with my Mippies. They play only halfheartedly with the flying fish (well, it doesn’t fly – it’s a wand toy, I make it fly). But they get immediately excited with I pull out one of the simple sticks I used to play rat-race when they were tiny. I used to have four little mippies running after the stick! Lady Jane always took a short cut across my lap – digging her nails into my thigh when she’d leap off to go after the stick. She hasn’t lost that habit. And with the two of them now being three times the size the four of them were then – it’s a little tricky.

Ziva came in early again, making sad eyes at me and mewing to please be let out again. I go and fuss over her for a while. Again and again. Eventually I give up and give her some nippies. Of course, Mewthos and Lady Jane want their share as well. Now she’s retreated into the bedroom again.

I took a bath – under close Mip supervision. Even Ziva came to see whether it’s true – I really put my whole body under water, voluntarily! She settled down under the towel rack until Mewthos tried to advance. She left in a huff.

After the bath, Lady Jane demanded an intensive shoulder-sitting cuddle session. Now, they’ve all curled up in their separate spots: Ziva on the chair next to me, Lady Jane on the box behind me and Mewthos in the other chair. Well, with the worst of the work behind me, I shouldn’t have nightmares tonight!

Hectic Tuesday

I got a bit caught up in a new Quest on my online game and went to bed a bit later than planned. As a result, I woke up a bit later than planned. I had some trouble with attention-seeking Mips while I’m trying to gulp down some coffee and get ready for work. Mewthos in particular, keeps chewing the USB stick to get my attention. I had to distract them with a jelly sachet so I could sneak out to go to work.

At work things are immediately hectic. A flood of e-mails has come in regarding ... everything. Project management expects the labour-intensive job will be done BEFORE they get around to placing an actual purchase order (i.e. guarantee to pay). I get lucky, the company is willing to do that, so now I need the data to get them access to do the job – preferably tomorrow.

While I’m frantically trying to get that all set up, the truck driver, who is here to collect the Carnet Container, calls me – Security won’t grant him access, claiming they don’t know anything about a container collection (they were here to inspect and seal that container yesterday!). And just to add another bit of fun: the truck company hadn’t bothered to let the driver know WHERE inside the factory, we are! I had specifically attached a map with directions – but the dimwits behind their desks never care to pass such relevant information on to their drivers. At least they did have the sense to give the driver my cell no! If I were to contact the clerk to complain about their lack of communication they will seriously blame the driver!

To add a bit more fun to the already suddenly hectic day: Tomorrow will be a nation-wide strike! And one never knows, whether strikes will remain peaceful or get violent. Will it be safe to come to work tomorrow? Can the truck get from PE to Uitenhage unmolested?

First, though, I need that data I asked for. So: Call again, follow up.

Then I finalise the Health & Safety file and hand it in to the client.

An hour later: call to follow up again to get the data I absolutely need NOW.

It is getting so late, I’m beginning to fear that this job won’t get done this week anymore – but: From next week onward, I’m on my own on site! With the strike tomorrow, the equipment unavailable on Thursday, Friday a public holiday – I’m getting seriously worried. So I write to project management (together with the site manager) asking if the site manager can postpone his flight home – trying to keep myself a safety net!

By three I have had no response from anyone. No data to get access for the crew. Nothing from project management. So I pack up and walk towards the gate. Halfway to the gate, the site manager calls to let me know replies have come in – so I turn around and go back to work.

The reason, the project manager replied so quickly is obvious: His answer – “Tough sh.t!” Oh, and he spiced it up with a couple of digs – threatening to send me a real fathead for support! He knows me too well – and he knows what I’m capable of. He knows very well that I will find a way to avoid having that fathead coming back! Good management or good manipulator? A bit of both, I’d say. But then again, he is a cat owner, he he.

The second mail was the data I needed – with no apology for the five hour delay! Unfortunately, it’s too late to get access documentation for the crew. So I call them, the admin answers. I explain the situation – get no apology for the five hour delay in sending me the simple data I needed – but I’m now told the equipment is available on Thursday. What the &%$§? Why did you a) tell me this morning that it is NOT available on Thursday and then b) delay sending me the data until it’s too late?

Anyway, I’m promised the access first thing tomorrow morning and the crew with equipment available tomorrow – they’ll wait for my call (when I have their access), and IF they can’t do the job tomorrow, they’ll do it Thursday.

Why, oh why is it so impossible for anyone to meet requirements – when I already go out of my way to not only spell them out, but even make it simple for them to do so (as in, do half the job for them already)? Why must I, the paying client, go five extra miles to meet the purchased and agreed upon requirements? It is frustrating and exasperating!

Well, if all goes well, I’ll only be left with the four containers ready to go, which I’ll have to get done by myself. Sigh.

Back at home after an extra long day – both Ziva and Romeo welcomed me! Not together, though, Ziva gave Romeo a piece of her mind. I’m HER human, he better know that, ha ha. As it was late, the Mips did not get much play time in the garden. It was also too late for my neighbour to sit outside – it was rather nippy. And I am too exhausted – having spent the day rushing from crisis to crisis like a cat on a hot tin roof! The rushing may not have been physical, but believe me when I tell you mental exhaustion is actually worse than physical exhaustion! I’ve experienced both – having worked night shift, having done physical work ... in my life I have done a vast variety of jobs and work!

Fortunately dinner was just a matter of re-heating yesterday’s experiment (and I enjoyed it very much!). Quick shower, some play and cuddle time with my cats – Ziva kindly came in early tonight, so I could shower and go to bed early. She wasn’t happy that I wouldn’t let her out again – but eventually settled down to her fate.

I better get a good night’s sleep, tomorrow will probably be another hectic day.