Wow, I slept
really well and woke up without pain! Okay, so I really struggled to get to
sleep and, as a result, woke up quite late, but I feel good! So I’ll keep that
going with a morning breakfast. Of course, I’ll have to give Ziva a treat – and
Mewthos is such a glutton, he’ll want one, too! Lady Jane is not so keen on
treats – she prefers to munch on Whiskas.
Great! Zive munches her treat, then goes out for a
snack – she brings in a mousebird! Still alive! Sigh … so I run after her, she
rushes straight for the bathroom, under the towel rack. I have quite a time
getting her to release her prey – she growls at me, but eventually lets go. So
off I go, bird in hand, into the spare room. Get the birdcage off the top of
the shelf, where I had put it – good thing I decided to keep it at hand! Clear
the cage, bird in cage, off to kitchen to clean the food & water trays,
fill with water, fill pipette, back to bird. Try to give bird some water
through pipette into beak – bird craps on me. Ha Ha! I can only hope that no
wing or leg is broken but I can’t tell, yet. The poor thing’s heart is racing
and it’s just huddling on the floor of the cage! And I have three Mippies
sitting excitedly outside the door! Ai, ai, ai!
I just got a message from a local friend, asking me to
mail his CV. I met him the day I moved in, he was one of the guys I hired to
help offload the truck – and he was the only one actually working! We’ve stayed
in touch, I helped him write his CV and scanned his qualifications – so,
anytime he applies for a job, I simply e-mail his CV & Qualifications. I
sent his CV and left him a message saying that I could use his help – maybe I
can hire him to help with the heavy boxes. He has offered his help – free of charge
– in return for my assistance throughout the years; but a days hard work in
exchange for the occasional 5 minutes it takes me to send his CV isn’t fair, in
my opinion.
I should be surprised that he struggles so much to
find permanent employment – he is intelligent, qualified, and a very hard
worker. Plus, he’s black. And yet, despite making every effort, he is
struggling. Why? Because he is an honest, law-abiding citizen! And that is what
is wrong with our government: After 24 years of running this country – people
like him should not be struggling anymore! It’s not like he’s looking for a
hand-out, he wants to work! Instead, we’re giving more and more jobs to China!
I could launch into a rant and go on for pages and pages …
Instead, I get up and check on the bird. Good news: it
seems perfectly fine, fluttering around the cage, holding on to the bars! Note
to self: mousebirds will cling to the cage and projectile-crap outside! So,
next time, place a layer of newspaper on the floor around the cage. Trying to
release it is a bit of a mission since I can’t reach the window in the spare
bedroom anymore – stacked up boxes in front of it. So, I figure my bedroom
window will do – only: Mips are playing in my bedroom! Getting them out, one by
one, is not easy ha ha ha! But, I manage, then open the window, place the
birdcage at the window and open the cage door … the bird immediately flies out
and off! Phew! That’s one problem solved!
When I go through to the bedroom to finish packing the
shoes – the plastic has flattened nicely by now – I see why the Mips were in my
bedroom: They had caught a grasshopper and brought it to my bedroom to play!
Well, it kept Mewthos amused while I finished packing that box. I stored it in
the bedroom, next to the bed, where the shoes had been anyway.
That’s one of the ideas I came up with while tossing
and turning last night, that I would store some of the ‘need soon’ boxes in my
bedroom. Like the spices I packed yesterday.
Ah! Romeo is here for his daily visit. I’ve mostly
ignored him since I learned I’d be moving. Not chased him out or anything, just
giving him little or no attention. Rose is trying to give him the attention he
needs, but without much success, so far. However, my lack of attention has
resulted in Romeo re-doubling his spraying activities! Poor Rose’s porch is
covered! I still brush him now and then, and today he is at least cleaning up
after the Mippies – he enjoys the chicken and gravy mine have left behind!
I just heard Rose coming home, so I went out for our daily
chat – but the wind is so icy, I couldn’t stay long! We just updated each other
on our day so far and I fled back inside. The wind isn’t strong, but so cold –
I should have put on a jersey!
Rose also informed me that we won’t have water
tomorrow, the whole day! Supposedly they are working on the pipes. On a
Saturday. From morning till late afternoon. And if that’s the schedule, it’ll
probably take even longer. Sigh. I’ve filled 5 liter into bottles, and I must
remember to leave my bath water so I can use it the flush the toilet. Good
thing I did laundry today, I must just remember to do the dishes today as well.
I packed all the non-essential toiletries, there
wasn’t really all that much in the shelves. Mostly what I’d brought when I
moved in, and then only spare for what I use regularly. I never really
developed any indoor routines, like an equivalent to Spa treatments. I never
even bothered with nail polish – nothing. Same with the kitchen, I never really
did much more than basic food provision – no baking, no pizzas, no extravagant
meals. I spent every spare minute in the garden. If the garden wasn’t possible,
I would go online.
Two reasons for that: 1) who wants to do ‘beauty’ in a
room where the ceiling is covered in brown stains? 2) there really isn’t enough
room to spread out. Any ‘hobby’ I start, I would have to either finish or pack
away. I made a few attempts, but never really felt enthusiastic. And the
kitchen is also not ideal – by my standards. It’s much bigger than the one in
Pretoria North, but I don’t have enough work-space. Maybe I’m spoiled by the
kitchen in East London – that one was massive! But even the one in the
1-bedroom flat in … oh, was it Gezina? Well, the one before East London – that
also had more work surface.
Well, I’ve been thinking about kitchen space … one of
my trying-to-fall-asleep musings. The
table I bought was supposed to be a kitchen/dining table, but I soon realized
that the surface was too soft to work on it. Depending on space availability, I
might either get another one for the kitchen, or replace the one I have with a
more solid one. There are myriad 2nd hand stores in Pretoria, in
time, I should be able to find one that not only suits my purpose, but I can
afford as well.
Well, my friend replied and he’ll come around on
Monday. That should help get the bulk of the heavy stuff packed. I just have to
keep in mind that I still have to live here for three months, too! Ha Ha! But
that will free me to do some things like visit Earl & Lizzie, backup my
data, and finish the self-scratcher stand I was busy with when I got the news.
And taking the lot of them for their booster shots and getting their
measurements, etc.
I had my pork chop for dinner tonight, it was
delicious! I’ve taken a bath – and since no mippies joined me (lately, they don’t
come into the bathroom anymore) I showed both Lady Jane & Mewthos that the
water is still in the bath. Don’t want either of them falling in there –
especially Mewthos! I’ve washed the dishes, so everything is done and I can
relax for the night. Well, not much relaxing, it’s past eight. Past nine
already now. So, I better post this and get ready for bed.
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