Handing over

I woke up nice and early this morning, and even took a few photos of the sunrise. While I had my first morning coffee, fears, stress and worries flooded my brain until I could barely think straight. There is so much that I want to do, and such a lot that I need to get done – like the whole, onerous passport nightmare. And then there’s the financial fears: How will I cope with another move? And then, there are new activities I need to try – and since it’s a ‘need’, I balk. Childish, I know. So, what?

Well, it’s all getting too much for me, and I’m turning into a bundle of stress – shouting at my Mips for wanting attention when I’m busy … yeah, not who I want to be, or how I want to live. So, how do I solve this dilemma? Well, that’s where I’m one of the lucky ones: I’m an alcoholic! I know of a simple twelve step program that will solve all my problems. I know it works, because I’ve worked it – only, I’ve been slacking off for a while. That’s why stress and worry and fear are filling the gaps I should be filling with faith. Faith in what? I still don’t know. I just know that it’s not faith in some benevolent father in heaven – that image doesn’t work for me. It’s not natural. Anyway, I don’t want to debate beliefs here. We each have to find our own.

In between trying to write this, Mewthos is driving me up the wall! Our gardener is working for Rose today, so the Mips feel their playground invaded – and seem to think that it’s my place to provide their entertainment. Lady Jane keeps running into the bedroom for wand-play – only: they have pulled every last feather off their wands, and don’t want to play with featherless wands. Mewthos just wants my full-time attention – I must play, play, play with him. Where are those aloof cats that only want a lap to sleep on, occasionally? None like that in this place!

I took a stroll through the garden, it’s lovely and warm in the sun! The carnations seem to be doing well, the Spekboom are looking alive, and so I strolled up to the Cactus and Hibiscus. It’s looking much better on the right side, where I’ve already cleared out the Tecoma; though it would be good if it could be cleared further up as well, leaving just a row by the fence. I can’t clamber around there, I’m just not light enough on my feet anymore – I’ll ask our gardener to do that, next time he comes to me. And we need to do the same on the left side – give the Hibiscus room to grow.

Then I sat on the stairs for a bit, soaking up some sun warmth. Mewthos flopped around, enjoying my company.

Back upstairs, I cleaned out the bird cage – poor birdie! Then I scooped the litter box and topped it up with a new bag of sand – which received only lukewarm appreciation from Lady Jane. She went in, scratched around a bit and stalked off!

Then I started tackling that Home Affairs Form – what a nightmare! My father apparently never had a birth certificate, my mum’s? I have no clue where that would be – well, my guess would be, since it was needed for her death certificate that it was handed to Standard Wank, who handled her estate. And they were such a callous and incompetent pack to have to deal with … let me stop that train of thought before it turns really ugly! Anyway, when I’ve got everything I need, I’ll be sure not to take any original documentation to Home Affairs – only certified copies.

When I had had enough of that particular task, I had just gone to the bathroom, when my phone rang! That is such a rare occurrence – it warrants special mention! Even though it was work-related. One of the local guys went to site, on request from one of the Germans, and he got cornered by the client about removing the containers. He agreed to go in on Wednesday to make final preparations, as requested by the client – he needs me to a) print the lists and b) sign his time sheet. He’ll pop round on Wednesday. No problem.

Then I went and took the rubbish downstairs and asked our gardener to take it outside – that way, I can avoid walking outside the garden and don’t have to shut the Mips inside. They follow me everywhere! Remember Lady Jane’s habit of hopping on my back whenever I’m bent over? Well, last night, Mewthos took a stroll across my chest while I was in the bath! They literally walk all over me!

Outside, I saw some Spekboom cuttings on the table – our gardener had trimmed one of Rose’s Spekboom and she’d asked him to put the cuttings aside for me. So I went and planted them as well! Oh, in case you don’t know what Spekboom is, the horticultural name is Portulacaria Afra. It’s also known as Pork Bush or Elephant’s Food, and it’s indigenous to the Eastern Cape. It’s hailed as a wonder plant, because it reduces even more carbon dioxide from our atmosphere than any other tree. On a hectare by hectare comparison it is ten times more effective than the rain forest. That’s not why I’ve decided to plant them, although it’s a nice bonus. My reason is quite simple: they are easy to grow, Rose has an ample supply of cuttings for me, and they are hardy enough to survive where nothing else thrives. Oh, and they’re pretty!

I feel much, much better than I did this morning – better than I have in quite a while. Handing over works for me, I just have to keep it up, and not take it back.

I even found time to start clearing out my hard drive! After that fiasco with all those photos I took of my hoard before I got rid of it (loosing all those photos!) I seem to have got a bit paranoid – I have several copies of too many photos in a variety of folders! Time to get rid of all those duplicates and organize them properly. I also came across those precious few photos I have of my Mynx. Awww, I do miss him. Still.

Well, I’ve heated up leftovers for dinner – I do tend to cook once for a few days. Cooking when hungry leads to too large quantities! And then I’ll have a nice hot bath before I go to bed.