Day 8 of 100, Wednesday, 31st October

Finally a reasonable amount of sleep! I woke up because my hips were painful – and was reminded of my mum. In later years she always got up early because she couldn’t lie on her hips anymore, they got too painful. Funny that I should have inherited that from her – I take more after my dad. Although, since he never reached 50, we’ll never know what lay ahead for him. I’ve got enough ‘conditions’ of my own, as it is ha ha. The back issues from the car accident when that truck hit me (fortunately it wasn’t serious, just a muscle in my back got hurt which doesn’t like getting hurt; so whenever I stress, I now get to enjoy fairly debilitating tension headaches, even migraines). The colon thing – used to be called spastic colon, but I believe the fashionable term is IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Again, I am lucky that I have no serious problems with it – only if I stress. I won’t go into all my feminine issues, just maybe mention that I’m ‘enjoying’ menopause … for the past year or so. So this move is activating the whole collection of ‘conditions’ … fun and games!

I started the day by having an actual breakfast. Before noon! The wind has calmed down and it’s a sunny day so the kitties are enjoying the garden – leaving me in peace, mostly.

I’ve taken care of some admin, during breakfast – yeah, I eat at my desk, not good, I know – paid the rent, paid the garden drum, and cancelled that service. I checked into my credit card account, I had received some sms a while back because there has been no movement on the account. I don’t use my credit card at all – it’s my ‘emergency fund’. I only really dip into that every time I move … there are always costs beyond my income; but the interest is horrendous, so I do my best to avoid using that! Once the move is over, I start paying it off again, then keep it in the black … until the next move. I know, it would make more sense to rather save up for a move than pay off a debt with interest; I’ve been trying to do that over the past year – but my income doesn’t really leave much for saving; and I did buy that furniture not so long ago. I printed out a statement, now I just need to get to a branch to get it stamped (just in case the actual printout isn’t enough) as proof of residence for my drivers’ license.

I’ve taken down the lace curtains in the spare room and in my bedroom – they’re all in the machine, washing.

I went outside to collect more seeds – the Nasturtiums & Cosmos are producing more every day – but the wilted, yellow devastation left after the sudden heatwave followed by the wind, is really depressing. Rose tells me the wind blew at over 100km/h yesterday and toppled one of the cranes in the harbor! That takes some doing!

Anyway, I decided that if I have to look at a dead or dying garden every time I step outside, I’ll just get too depressed, so I took some time to clear out as much of the dead, wilted, yellow leaves and plants as I could. Just a rush-job, pulling just the biggest patches of yellow – no time to really garden. Mewthos liked the idea of mommy’s hands within reach – he kept throwing himself on top of my hands, then rolling around showing his tummy! He is such a loving darling – who can resist? He does, however, tend to get under my feet – quite literally! When I’m walking, he’ll put his paws under my descending foot, or his tail! I have already ‘stepped’ on his paws twice! Not full weight, I’m glad to say – but still. Yet not a squeal out of him! Just looks up at me as if to say ‘Not so hard!’ Eventually I gave in and plonked down on the grass rubbing his tummy till he went away happy! Not far away, mind! Still strolling around where I’m working, waving that confidently high-held tail of his under my nose on several occasions!

Rose also told me, when she arrived earlier, Mewthos was lying quite relaxed in her path – wouldn’t move as the car approached! That is something I seriously worry about! Most people naturally assume that all animals run from approaching cars … Mewthos and Lady Jane, however, don’t. They are so confident and so sure that bad things won’t happen – such naïve, happy, loving darlings! How can I keep them safe?

Well, I didn’t do much in the garden, but the worst of the yellow is gone. Looks a little better.

The curtains are in quite a state! They are torn (thank you, Mip Mips!) and so dirty, that even with a pre-wash they didn’t come clean! I will have to soak them for a while, then wash them again – but not now. I can do that in the new home.

I’m usually quite house-proud and keep my place nice and clean! But here? Where the owner feels that water-stained ceilings are good enough for tenants? Where’s the joy of looking at clean white curtains with growing brown stains across half the ceiling? Here, I confess, I’ve let things get really bad … I mean, who wants to really clean their windows – showing up all the paint on the panes, because they didn’t bother to put masking tapes on the panes when they painted the frames? So, I’ve never really spent much time cleaning here – unlike every other place I’ve lived in! The flat in East London was spotless most of the time! Okay, it was extremely large so I did get help – but the thorough-cleaning when you move in? I did that all by myself! AND maintained it!

Ah! Just got confirmation from Garden of Eden. The acknowledged my cancellation, last collection will be 29^th November and with today’s payment, I’m fully paid up (I thought payment is in advance, but wasn’t sure anymore. Good to know for sure). So, that’s one item completed. Yeah, it’s a tiny one, but still.

Well, the spare room is filling up with boxes. Mippies also helps! They brings me papers they finds. Ha Ha! Ziva runs from the sound of the tape roller, though. Mewthos is still fascinated with the fan’s box – he goes straight to it and looks so cute with only his pink nose sticking out from under it!

When I came out, Felix was sitting on the mat outside … waiting for me to fill the bowl with Whiskas! They all have me very well trained, don’t they? Mewthos, however, was running after Shadow – who in turn was running away from him! He just wants lovies! Hugs and cuddles and licks!

I’ve brought some more boxes in from the garage. I’m trying to use them as labelled, put in each box what I wrote on it last time. It helps, because at least I know what fits in those. On the other hand, though, I don’t exactly have space here to keep boxes I’m not using, yet, like the one for the vacuum cleaner. And the spare room is really small, so I need to clear the book shelves before they are boxed in. I’ve cleared most of the shelf in the back corner, but still have some way to go. I had placed all the papers in that shelf, like old birthday cards – that’s where I found that Kindergarten photo.

Well, I’m tired again and it’s my bedtime, so I’m hoping for another night of sleep!

Photos

I still take photos of everything that catches my eye - I just don't have the time to select, crop, edit and upload them into the relevant posts ... so, whenever I do have some time, I'll post all the ones I took so far ...

I came across some old photo's and scanned this one
Rosenmontag 1972, Kindergarten F'groden
I'm the second row, 3rd from the left, red and green clown outfit with the blue hat.

Bliss!

Sibling love!

Felix

Brother and sister
together forever

Lady Jane during one of her attempts to pick an object off my desk
First, she uses her paw to pull it over the corner
Then she picks it up with her mouth
Very dexterous!

This is Romeo in my bedroom!

Yawn!

It looks so adorable when they hold up their tail with their paws
so they can give it a thorough wash!

Mewthos was napping on the sleeper-couch, when Lady Jane
decided he needs a wash

Frankie! Rolling in catnip leftovers!

Mewthos needing a wash again

It is too darling when they sleep with their paw covering their face like that!

I left the whole door visible, to give you an idea
of how high this scratcher pole is!
Put some toilet paper at the top
And Lady Jane is happy!

They've recently started playing with their pink feathered birdie toy again!
When I switch it on, every time they move it, it chirps like a birdie

Mewthos' turn!

Pink feathers! Mewthos is in heaven!

I finally managed to capture this
habit of Mewthos'

Frankie - in his own home, for a change!

Abby, sleeping peacefully!

If you want to give kitties some fun,
put a toy in an empty tissue-box!

Mewthos' turn!
That was 2 days ago - they're still playing with the toy in a box!

Felix, looking at an empty bowl!

Day 7 of 100, Tuesday, 30th October

I did wake up during the night, but not that ‘jerking instantly wide awake’ thing, that had been going on these past couple of nights. I woke up early, but turned over and slept another hour.

I should try my usual bedtime again tonight, or I’ll be out of sync … maybe working at night and sleeping all day is not a bad thing in summer? But no! The kitties are up all day and sleep at night now, plus, I can’t go out during the night so there are some things I can’t do at night. Well, it was just a thought. I can have silly ideas!

Last night I heard some thunder, and I think I heard some rain – good for the wilted garden! My Nasturtiums took a bad beating in the heat! All yellow and wilted. But the wind? It is blowing and blowing and rushing! It’s worse upstairs than in Rose’s flat – she was quite surprised the first time she was here during strong winds!

The kitties don’t like going out in such wind, and Lady Jane is driving me absolutely insane! She needs exercise and play and activity … so every few minutes she tries to take something off my desk to get me to play with her! She is very, very dexterous! She will pull something toward her with her paws until just enough is over the corner for her to grip it with her mouth! All the while her eyes locked on mine to see if I get the message! PLAY! NOW! Ha Ha Ha.

I confess, over the hours, it’s irritated me several times and I shout at her to go away. I’ve eaten some fruit salad I got yesterday, for breakfast. The bread is ready to be heated up … but now it’s past noon. I haven’t planned dinner. So maybe if I have some nice bread, I won’t be hungry tonight. And if I am, I can eat one of the pasta salads.

I called Move-a-Pet, since I haven’t received a quote yet. No, they haven’t forgotten, I’ll get it today. They are actually very friendly and very helpful; not cold business-like. Considering the business they’re in, that’s reassuring.

I spent the morning writing this blog. Now I’m up to date and will be posting ‘live’. The Adult Child tells me this blog is a waste of time, since it isn’t getting any packing done – but my head feels a lot clearer, I can feel my subconscious working properly again, it’s busy with some decisions I’ll need to make today.

Several months ago, I started going through my old clothes and quite ruthlessly packed stuff into a bag for charity. A lot I simply threw away, since it really was in tatters! But now, I’m re-thinking that decision. Well, what’s gone is gone – I can’t afford regrets. But what about the bag I still have, ready to go to charity? A lot of that is also rather tattered – but I’ve been thinking.

One of the methods I use to try and get myself to sleep, is by imagining my next home in the most positive light. Like one night I focused on the garden, if there is nothing yet, where would I start – having learnt from my experience here? So I pictured myself planting a row of peas, and designing a structure I could put together with materials I already have, which they could climb up on. And how I’d first put the seeds in water to see which side is up, ha ha! I planted an entire row of pea seeds in the veggie bed, but only a few actually came up; so I’ve been thinking maybe the ones which didn’t, landed in the ground upside down.

Another image involves sewing. That’s actually something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, already. At one point, I even went so far as to look at sewing machines to get an idea of prices. But that’s as far as I’ve gone … I can sew, though I haven’t done so in many years. I was thinking of starting with something very, very simple. Like a table cloth, or curtains. Or a duvet cover. After all, that’s mostly just turning a corner and sewing the edges. Sewing in a straight line, nothing fancy. Now, sewing machines cost money – although, I’ve been thinking of trying a 2^nd hand one. Then there’s the question of material. I know from the times I went with my mum, that farbics are hard to find. And I’m very fussy when it comes to material. Finding something in a colour or with print that I like and which also is made of a material I like – almost impossible. And material isn’t cheap, either. So, I’ve been thinking, why not use bits of old clothes? It would take some very careful creative thinking – but it’s possible!

I’ve had a good breakfast now, and Romeo has come, sprayed my frayed curtains (Urgh! It stinks!) and has settled on the window sill. Lady Jane has finally calmed down and is napping on the chair. I don’t know where Mewthos and Ziva are – they went out. The wind is still strong and loud! But inside, I finally have peace … If I get up now, they’ll both re-animate!

Right, Romeo’s gone off caterwauling … and I’ll risk animating Lady Jane. Argh! Mewthos is now napping on the next chair, as well!

Just received the Quote from Move-a-Pet. Sigh, it is quite a high amount – even without collection from home, kenneling and delivery to my new home. However, when you look at all that includes, it’s not an unreasonable amount. And it looks like they’ve made it possible for all three to travel in one container, together. If I were to fly them myself, I don’t think I could obtain permission to do that.

Right, I’ve cleared the narrow divider shelf, packed most of the books in it, and moved the shelf to the spare bedroom. Sigh, I’m getting too old to carry furniture and heavy book boxes around! Some good news, though: I was able to use one of the boxes, which had got wet. As long as they’re not tossed around like salad in a bowl, they should be fine.

I’ve let the kitties outside for longer than usual, after all they’ve been inside most of the day. I’m a bit dismayed to see Mewthos come bounding home from outside! He was past the wall, on the street side! Shortly after, Ziva came bounding from the same direction! That’s cause for worry, especially since Mewthos is so accident prone. I’ll have to call them in earlier …

It would be nice to have a place where I can sit outside, like on a terrace out back or somewhere – while they play in the garden. They like to be around me, they would prefer I come outside with them – or else, play with them like I used to when they were babies! Well, in a new home I tend to develop new habits, too – a new life-style. So, who knows?

Good news! I’m quite tired now! It’s my bedtime and I feel my mind at peace and my eyes starting to close … sounds promising! I may have a good night’s sleep!

Day 6 of 100, Monday 29th October

My eyes feel puffy and I feel exhausted, but I drag myself out of bed. Coffee!

When our gardener arrives, I give him the bad news. His immediate reaction is concern for me! Going to ‘that bad country’ – to him, Pretoria is another country. In a way, he’s right – it’s so very different, it might as well be another country. Also, they speak a different language there – here it’s Xhosa, there it’s Tswana and Sotho.

Since today will be his last day, I suggest he leave the path – he wanted to clear the weeds off the path – and rather clear the rockery of thorns as much as possible. He had done a lot of prep-work on that last Wednesday, when he worked for the neighbour on the other side of the hedge.

He’s back not long after starting to tell me that a swarm of bees is nesting there. So I suggest he work somewhere else, safely away from the bees.

I try calling my boss. No answer. Eventually he calls back. Yay! He agrees to postpone the big move to end of January! That is a very, very big relief!

Off shopping – on the way, I tell our gardener. He is just as relieved! I’ve been thinking that he can help me prepare my pots, so I can take as many of Rose’s succulents with, when I move. Also, he can maybe make some stakes from the branches he’s been cutting, replacing the one’s I bought for the carnations. But I’ll let him know when, after I’ve had time to think.

Makro has a lot of specials, so I get more than I had planned – filling my boot almost to the point, where it doesn’t close!

At Spar I don’t treat myself to the usual Sushi, but opt for a berry smoothie instead. It’s cheaper, and in today’s heat, I’m glad for the cool drink! I see that I’m lucky that there’s bread today – though they seem to be experimenting with the shape? Why? Anyway, I take tree – that’s three week’s worth of breakfast sorted out. And I’ll be reducing the stock of cold meats I just got! Sigh. This Spar is not really good with meat, so I just pick some minute steaks. I can go to the one down the road for meat.

By the time I’m back home, I’m totally wiped out! It’s a hot day, and with my lack of sleep plus the lack of eating properly? I am so very grateful that our gardener offers to carry everything upstairs! Not only offers, but insists! While he carries it up, I unpack – I don’t have enough space to pack everything away, so I just pack the freezer and the fridge.

It is too hot to pack boxes today, and despite the relief of the extra month, my mind is still spinning in circles. So I start writing. As I write, my mind begins to calm down and clear up. I’m able to think again.

The vet gave me a number for Move-a-Pet, so I give them a call. I go visit Rose to tell her the good news, that I’m here another month (she was out at the time). I also ask for her help to renew my drivers’ license. Since she has just renewed hers, the current process is fresh in her mind – I’ll need proof of residence. Sigh. When they invented this whole ‘proof-of-residence’ RICA thing, every household was getting an electricity bill from the municipality – but another department introduced pre-paid meters at the same time, eliminating electricity bills. So now they accept only bank statements – which are also no longer sent via post; but electronically! Talk about a missing link! Anyway, I’ll have to go to the bank and get a hard-copy statement stamped by the bank.

Back upstairs, I continue writing. The more I write, the better I feel. Like I’m pouring all the chaos out of my head into this blog! Ha Ha, I hope I’m not passing on the stress to anyone who’s reading this!

When our gardener finishes work for the day, I tell him of my plans that he come again in three weeks time to help get everything ready in the garden, for the move. I’ve decided to cancel the drum end of November – the drum I rent from ‘Garden of Eden’, who collect it regularly, removing my garden waste such as weeds, branches, thorns, etc. Rose has decided to take it over from January, but only twice a month. She doesn’t have as much overgrowth in her garden, after all!

The weather is changing, and for tomorrow gale-force winds are predicted. It will be cooler, and a good day for physical work – i.e. packing. So I troop off to the garage to get some boxes, just in case it rains tomorrow. I find that some of the boxes seem to have gotten soaked at one time? Well, I’ll have to sort out which I can use and which I can’t use, tomorrow.

The only thing I ate today has been that thoroughly well-cooked Leberkäse! I’ve been cutting off slices and eating it cold throughout the day. I did get some pasta salads, but I’m not really hungry, so I leave them for another day. I do, however, take out a loaf of bread from the freezer, to bake up tomorrow morning. I had taken out a sausage of cold-meats earlier – but I haven’t even started it.

It’s time to call the Mippies in – Lady Jane and Ziva are already waiting for their treat, only Mewthos is sitting in Rose’s garden. He looks up at me as I stand by the gate – and I see Romeo strolling down the path towards me. I select a sachet and go back to the gate, this time I call Mewthos. Instantly he gets up and comes bounding home … followed by Romeo!

I can’t deny him a treat, my heart is so heavy with what I have no choice but to do him – abandon him, in a way – I can’t just turn ugly on him overnight. He deserves so much better! Poor darling! Fortunately he leaves without much fuss … though he clearly would prefer to stay. Awwww … my heart just hurts to see the look on his face!

These past couple of days I’ve gone to bed at my usual time, but haven’t been able to sleep – so I decide to try something different today. I keep writing this blog, playing that game, chatting with fellows, until I feel my eyes want to close … then I go to bed.

Still not falling asleep right away … but soon enough.

Day 5 of 100, Sunday, 28th October

Another bad night followed by yet another early morning. I’m starting to seriously feel tense and stressed. With all the physical side-effects my body creates … the back injuries from past car accidents are giving me tension headaches, and my colon is going into overdrive – especially since I’m not really eating much; and what I eat is not really helpful.

If only I could sleep! I’ve tried meditating, I’ve tried kittie-cuddling, I’ve tried avoiding stimulants (i.e. less coffee! but unfortunately, I’m smoking more …). I get to sleep okay, but wake up soon afterwards! And not the ‘mind-half-asleep stumble to the bathroom’ wake-up, but instant wide-awake, mind at full speed going off on tangents! And then I struggle again to go to sleep. I’m physically exhausted, low on energy, but as tense as … well, something that’s very tense.

This can’t go on, if I don’t find a way to break this cycle, I will get sick – and I can’t afford to! Time! There just isn’t enough time! And with every day that goes by, the pressure rises – and, although I’ve got things done, it’s not enough. It feels like I’m running in circles, going nowhere fast! I feel guilty every time I sit down, every minute I’m not packing, every minute I ‘waste’ on non-move-related tasks – including the unavoidable household chores, like dishes, cooking, eating.

That’s my Adult Child characteristics! I’m guessing at what normal people would do in my situation, but I have no real basis for deciding what normal really is. Adult Children also have difficulty following a project through from beginning to end – and I’m now faced with a project I MUST follow through to the end. That scares the bejeebers out of me! Adult children judge themselves without mercy – well, I’m not perfect, normal people are perfect … and I’m not meeting my own insane expectations … only, I have forgotten that my expectations are insane. Adult Children alo overreact to changes over which they have no control … that pretty much sums up the past 5 days, doesn’t it?

So. Time to admit that I’m powerless and my attempts to control the uncontrollable are not only driving me insane, but making my life unmanageable. Back to the program, remember what you learned? I don’t have to manage my life, that’s not my job! Hand over the control-freak, let go … and trust that absolutely nothing will happen to me, that together, with a power greater than myself, I can not handle! I have 13 years experience and memories to draw on – it’s no longer a matter of ‘blind faith’ or unfounded trust. Every time I ‘let go and let God’, the perfect solution popped into my head! All I have to do is open the communication-line – clear my head of all the junk; then take it one step at a time, one day at a time.

Right. Now I’m beginning to grasp that handing over my tasks in the fellowships is NOT something I should feel guilty about. I’ve put a lot of time and effort into building a community, rather than whipping players to meet targets – even though it is indeed ‘just a game’, there are real people behind the Avatars. They deserve the ability to continue – and not to be just dropped. It’s bad enough when fellows do that – just quit playing without a word. But I’ve taken on leadership of two fellowships – and if I just quit, I’m dropping some 30-40 people! People I’ve come to know and care for – and who, in turn, also care about me!

So. I also have a volunteer plus back-up for the newcomer fellowship. To carry on helping new players find their feet and grow – then join the big fellowship. Both have joined the Rising Stars Fellowship, but only recently. They haven’t had the chance to get to know the fellowship – so on Sunday, I wrote extensive bios on each of the players. What I know about them, and especially what I’ve discussed with each of the older ones with respect to a) the spreadsheet feature and b) moving to the big fellowship.

With that done, my mind is beginning to calm a little and I turn my attention back to the whole move thing.

My biggest concerns are: 1) how to transport the cats, 2) time! Two months is simply not enough time! 3) Year End is the worst possible time to not just travel but also, there are business’ I’ll need – maybe labour? Carpet cleaners. And what if something unexpected comes up – I’ll have no options to make a plan!

I’ve decided to call my boss and ask him to postpone – hopefully till end of February, but at least to the end of January! He’s a great problem solver, so he will ask why – and he will suggest solutions to anything; and remain firm on the date. BUT: The end of year shutdown … he’s also realistic and he know that, no matter how good you plan, things can go wrong and you will need to make a plan. Having no options available, really can’t be solved. Also, he does care about my well-being … and I haven’t been able to sleep since he told me. He is definitely not unreasonable, just very, very good at being firm. And I’m not a good negotiator.

What’s the best time to call him? Well, first, I need to have solid points firmly in my mind, so I don’t babble. Although I know he doesn’t mind, I don’t like to call him on weekends. So, I will call on Monday.

Right. Next. Cats. I start looking online, the first sites that pop up are airline sites – with practically all the same guidelines; and the standard requirements set by the SPCA. I look at the cost of flying them … and it’s about the same as flying myself. That is, all three cats will cost about the same as one ticket for a person. BUT: I will have to take Ziva for her booster shots – she’s due in December. Mewthos and Lady Jane are due in January, but they may insist that they get their shots before they fly, like they should be ‘immune’ for at least some time. Like you can’t travel on a passport that’ll expire on the date you plan to return, they expect it to be valid at least 6 weeks or 3 months past the date. I hadn’t planned on boosting their vaccinations – it’s so expensive! And I never took Mynx for annual booster shots, nor has Rose taken any of hers, ever!

I decide to start by asking our vet! I write down some questions, so I don’t forget – and list what I want to buy (1x 4kg food, some sachets and as many catnip shakers as they have!).

Our gardener will work for me on Monday. I’ll have to tell him the bad news: That this is his last day working for me. I hate to deprive him of his income – especially so shortly before Christmas! But I really can’t afford to waste any money, now – I will need every penny I can hold on to!

Right. Next. I do need some groceries, even though I’m not really eating! I’ve started clearing out what’s in the freezer – I’ve taken out the Leberkäse for tonight. I decide to go to Makro, get a fair stock of packing tape and I’ll have to go soon, anyway, as I’m running out of cigarettes. I start writing a list of what I’ll need … and then I think “Why not stock up? Save yourself the time of going again next month?” Well, I can’t really afford to do 2 months stock on one month’s salary, so I decide to stock up gradually … get 1 ½ months now, and another 1 ½ month after pay-day; that will save my having to go during the Christmas madness.

When I finished the list, I re-write it in the order I’ll encounter items in the store. I also decide to look at prices for a new Induction cooker plate – since mine is starting to act up.

After Makro, I’ll come back via Sunridge Spar and get some fresh groceries, like pasta salads, fruit & veg, meat.

Right. It’s a plan. One day at a time. Off to bed, and hope I can sleep, for a change.

As I’m leaning over the oven, to switch off the kitchen light, I feel the heat – and remember: I had put the Leberkäse in the oven for dinner … hours ago! Oh gosh! Well, I forgot to have dinner, yet again. I switch off the oven, the light and go to bed.

Tossing and turning. Sit up and meditate. Tossing and turning. Cuddle kitties. Tossing and turning … then … sleep.

Awake! What time is it? Oh dang, 2 in the morning. Why am I wide awake, again? Try to get back to sleep …

Day 4 of 100, Saturday, 27th October

Still no good night’s sleep. Still waking up early. I’m starting to get ratty, short-tempered … and taking that out on the kitties, chasing them away to go play outside and leave me alone. That’s a very bad thing considering what’s coming!

Time! I need time! And I need a functioning mind so I can think, plan then action that plan! It’s no use springing into action … what action? Just pack? Sounds simple, but since I don’t know where I’m going, I need to pack meeting all eventualities!

Some things I use rarely, and some more frequently. But space is also an issue with packing – you want to fill each box as much as possible. So, if I know I will move to a place for at least a year, I know that I’ll be unpacking more boxes – which means that I can mix frequently used items with less frequently used items to fill gaps in the boxes. But if I’m not going to be unpacking those, until after yet another move – then I’ll have to leave gaps … which in turn means I’ll need more boxes!

And with my mind in panic turmoil and lack of sleep – I just can’t think straight! I’m also not eating properly. There just isn’t enough time! And with the move scheduled at the worst possible time of the year, I’m facing additional challenges! Challenges I have never, ever had before – so I have no experience to draw on!

I had sent out a mail to both Fellowships after my boss left, to let them know I’d have less time – the response was awesome! Several fellows in the older FS volunteered to take over any task, to free my time! My first instinct was to keep control – ha ha! I also thought that I should try to maintain something steady in my life – one major life-change I can avoid. But, in my current state of mind, I’ve found myself getting frustrated with the time ‘wasted’ on a game … and I also found myself starting to make mistakes. And then I thought that it would be good to see both fellowships carry on and continue to grow – without my full attention! At first I meant to see how it goes, then maybe hand over some things when time became an issue … but why wait? And why wait till it’s a problem? Why not free myself now – and maybe avoid the problem?

So, on Saturday, I wrote a handbook on the most complex daily task: A complex spreadsheet which affects both fellowships. It needs to continue, since a daily update needs to be sent out. It’s a very popular feature, which I introduced – though I didn’t invent or design it! I started with a template I found on one of the game-related websites; but it’s now populated with the data of nearly 30 players from both fellowships! It takes me up to half an hour every day – so that would free up a LOT of time for me!

After some discussion, we decided who would take over and who would be ‘backup’; so I’ll take them both through the process, in their own time, until they can take over. It took me a week of intensive research and study to figure out just how the spreadsheet works – it’s really very complex, though simple to use. I feel more confident using something when I understand how it works. Then I introduced it to the fellowship and spent another week populating the spreadsheet with the data they sent me. And then it went ‘live’. I made mistakes, I developed a system to avoid more mistakes … so I wrote quite an elaborate ‘manual’. I’ve sent both the spreadsheet and the manual to both fellows … now I’m waiting for them to start asking questions. I’ve created a mail-thread for the three of us to discuss it.

That was what I achieved on Saturday.

Day 3 of 100, Friday, 26th October

Another night without much sleep, another early morning.

No water.

My other neighbour calls, he has a water tank and offered that we (Rose and I) could help ourselves to water from his tank! He would leave his gate open, so we could walk in. His wife was held up at gunpoint in that house a year ago, so I suggest he rather lock the gate – I could climb over the fence at the back between our properties, and I would get Rose’s water that way for her as well – he readily agreed.

Rose was already outside with a container – I asked if she was in a hurry, she said ‘no’ so we arranged I’d come down after I’ve had some coffee.

Off we went with our two water bottles, me climbing up the rockery towards the fence – only to realise that the fence is too high for me to climb over! I had seen our gardener do it, and it had looked easy enough … but I just couldn’t! So we called our neighbour and asked if he could ask his domestic to come to the fence; we’d hand her our containers and she could fill them up for us. He did, and we went home with at least some water!

I tried calling the number again for an update, but after 3 minutes on hold, I hung up. Rose has a landline – the call is free of charge from a landline – so she called to find out what was happening. After 5 minutes on hold she was told ‘Dey woking on the pipes, dat why you have no water!’ Sigh … very helpful!

Rose was going to be out most of the day, so she asked that I message her when the water is back on. By 9 I heard my toilet cistern filling up. I tried the taps, but there was just air. I tried again an hour later, and this time there was actual water. Brown, of course, but water! So I messaged Rose.

When I was sure the water wouldn’t be shut off again, I started to washing machine – to wash the curtains. And then I got to work in the spare bedroom. I packed several boxes, and started arranging them so that the books are at the bottom and the lighter stuff on top. I’ve made quite some progress … but looking around, there is so much still to do, I start to panic again! Two months to not only get everything packed, but also everything else organized?

I started a list, writing down what I need to organize, so I can start researching how.

Cat hotel

Carpet cleaning

Cancel garden drum

Cancel gardener

Give notice to rental agency

Pet Travelers / Movers

Drivers License

Visit Earl

Visit Lizzie

Video Ocean

Vet

…

…

So then I started a new list, with the details for one item: The cats!

Starting point: Vet. Ask her about the effect of the climate change on them, the parasites up there, about travelling … Stock up on Catnip Shakers (can’t get them anywhere else! And that’s their favourite)

I looked online into pet flights, and every airline posts the SPCA requirements, so I should go to SPCA to find out details.

Try Pet Movers, get some quotes, and get some airline quotes – but, end of the year? That’s be the expensive season!

Then, research what best to do in the new home. How long should I keep them shut indoors? Should I get a leash? With a harness or a collar?

My mind is just spinning – all the things I need to find out and then arrange. All for the last week of the year? I’m beginning to panic … fear is setting in … just how on earth will I manage?