At home

I went to bed over an hour later than usual, so it was nearer eight when I woke up this morning. Opened the door and Ziva happily went off on her merry way – I saw her crouched under her favourite spekboom just now.

I’ve brought the branches our gardener had cut off, back inside. I put them in the courtyard for now. Just a pity they don’t stand in any climbable position for my Mips. I’ll have to give some thought what to build with them. It’s a beautiful sunny day, and since it’s autumn, it’s not too hot either.

Oh, and it turns out I did have a spare bulb for the bedside lamp after all! So that’s done. And I’ve caught up with my accounting – the receipts were piling up again, and I want to keep an eye on my spending. So far, it’s looking good this month – I’ll be adding to my savings, if I don’t indulge. I am considering getting another mobile phone – one that can Whatsapp. They offer some really cheap at Cell C. And that won’t put a big dent into my budget – I’d still be adding to my savings by the end of the month. But I will need some help setting it up – so I’ll need to have time for the tech support at the store. So I better wait with that till the site is done and I’m on ‘between-projects-leave’. I have a couple of purchases planned – like some more bras, since I know East London has no lingerie store. I also need a new pair of shoes, still. And if I could find some decent legwear – that would be great! Oh, and I want to give those two cat-stores a try, I’d really like to buy one of those kibble-puzzles – to see exactly what they are. Maybe I can even find some solid cat furniture. But that will need careful thinking. And I want to get a one- or two-seater couch or lounge-chair – so that all four of us can sit together to look out the window, or read a book, or watch a movie. East London also has a very limited number of furniture stores – mostly they cater for either scruffy-second hand or exclusive beyond my means. Not much in between.

Huh? What was that about now? I just got a call from MTN (cellphone service provider) ‘offering’ to save me the enourmous sum of R1 per month for being a loyal customer … only, my current agreement includes airtime and sms’s, and he wants to change the agreement to exclude monthly sms’s! When I re-stated his ‘offer’ in those terms, he insisted “No, ma’m, I’m offering you a monthly saving – you’ll still get your airtime”. He also asked me to give him my e-mail address to send me the new agreement, the more I tried to let him know, that I see through his non-offer the more patronizing he became. When I asked him to please stop patronizing me, he became exasperated – trying to make me see that I don’t understand what a great saving he’s offering me! For the R12 I would be saving in a year, I could just about buy one chocolate (Bounty, etc)! I then asked why I must change my agreement and he got patronizing again, saying “If you want to continue to pay the higher price, you can do that.” The way he talked, it almost sounded as if he really believed his offer was profitable! I wonder if he really believes that? Anyway, I was able to keep my current agreement. Seriously, what the f…?

Spent about half an hour in the garden, the sun is too hot to stay any longer! The amount of grass that has invaded my flower beds in the short time since I last cleaned them is incredible! The Cosmos and Nasturtiums are doing well, for the most part. Both these plants grow new, bigger leaves as they grow – and then start ‘wilting’ the smaller, lower leaves. The process takes time, though – so I’m helping them grow, but trimming off their lower leaves at the stem, so ALL the water they get goes to the green, photosynthesizing leaves. Some of the smaller plants have wilted completely – that’s the drought.  Both Mips come to see what I’m doing, come to walk over me and head-butt me lovingly while I work in the garden. Then they go off to pursue some insect just as happily – but never too far.

When I go upstairs to get out of the sun for a bit, Lady Jane demands another cuddle session. She loves having me home all day for cuddles!

I saw that the stretch by the cactus was in the shade, so I decided to carry on clearing where I had left off on Sunday. I trimmed the tree that is growing close to the cactus, trimmed the cactus a bit and the hibiscus – I don’t know who thought it a good idea to plant hibiscus and those trees almost on top of that ancient cactus? I also cleared the Tecoma completely around the foot of the cactus, claiming back lawn space and giving the cactus some room to breathe and grow. There are a couple of mini-cacti trying to grow there, so I’ve cleared everything around them. Now they can grow. As I’m sitting on the stool, bent over to cut on the ground, Mewthos keeps jumping on my back for a stroll! He did that several times – each time very carefully keeping his claws in check. Lady Jane also tried to jump on my back – but she opted for the spider-style – you know, like splat on the wall? That did not work out so well!

It’s looking good, though, even if I say so myself. Well, Rose agrees, so there! Now I’m trying to remove those itty bitty little thorns from my hands. Even though I work with thick gloves, and try to stay clear of the cactus – I still get a lot of those thorns in my hands. I’ve made quite a pile, our gardener can place that all into the drum when he comes on Monday. Or maybe I’ll do it myself over the weekend.

I just got invited to a braai (BBQ), they’ve just made the fire, it should be ready in another hour or so. I’m wondering whether I should make another turn in the garden or whether I should go now? Mewly is twirling the blankie, Lady Jane is napping on the chair next to me. If I go out now, they’ll go out … and burn off even more energy. Yeah, I think I’ll make another turn outside, he he.

Another forty-five minutes – this time with the lopper, lopping off big chunks of Tecoma. Only problem with that is, it makes a large pile of waste in a short time. I can only have a drum and three bags removed per week. Our gardener doesn’t understand that they charge extra, when he puts more bags with the drum – he doesn’t do that very often, mostly he puts extra bags for the municipality to collect, but I’ve got three extra bags charged to my account. It goes back a while, since I don’t check the statements regularly and they haven’t said anything in their mail. So next payment, I’ll add that.

Well, the Mippies have had an active day! Running around in the garden, jumping on mommy’s back for a walk, chasing insects, visiting Rose. They seem nice and tired out for today – napping in their usual spots: Mewthos on the chair next to me, Lady Jane on the box behind me. Romeo is here for his dinner, so I should have no problem getting away just now.

The braai was great fun – once I got the youngsters to put on some real music, he he he. The food was excellent and very well done! Not too rare, and fortunately not overdone in the least! I don’t like when meat stays too long on the fire, so I was very happy with our chef! Oh, and I’ll be on my own at work tomorrow. Sigh.

Back at home, I hadn’t put the lights on, when I left, so I had to find my key by the light in the garage before starting the long walk in the dark to the front door. Mewthos decided to rush outside, even though I had said “No!” – I had to grab him by his tail and pull him back … as gently as I could, though. Ziva is nowhere to be seen. I called as I walked along the garden, and I’m opening the door every now and then to call her – so far, no luck. Sigh. I don’t know what my poor little girl must have thought when she came to the door and found it closed, no lights on inside or out and no mommy opening the door for her. My poor little girl. I’m sure she’ll come in tomorrow morning, though – I’ll have to make it up to her somehow.

She’s home! I just saw Mewthos trying to stick his nose under the door – Ziva was outside, and came running in very happily! I am so relieved! I gave them a jelly treat and all three are licking happily!

Mewthos is also somewhat out of sorts, needing almost continuous reassurance, cuddles, belly rubs and cuddles. He also carried my night top into the passage and must have been twirling with it while I was away. Lady Jane, on the other hand, decided to try and remove the plastic holder inside the toilet for the flush-cleaner. I don’t know what she’s thinking. She also took a teabag out of the sink and dropped it in front of the waste bin in the kitchen. At least, I think that was her.

Well, with everybody home safe and sound, I can go to bed. I will have to pack my lunch tomorrow morning. It’s late, so I guess I’ll wake up late as well. Sigh.