Day 78 of 100, Wednesday 9th January

I woke around six again, and – also again – alone in my bed! No mips anywhere! I think it may have something to do with the fact that I no longer toss and turn, but tend to fall asleep fairly quickly now.

I’ve changed my habits a bit, I now make an effort to wind down my brain in the evenings. From about eight onward, I no longer do anything that requires concentrations – I no longer plan tomorrow’s schedule, I don’t start anything in the game which requires attention; instead, I step away from the PC, sit in my armchair and focus on the show I’m watching. At the moment I’m watching the original Doctor Who series, which is purely entertainment. And when I am feeling sleepy enough, I go to bed – and fall asleep fairly quickly.

I refuse to think about the move, or what’s going to happen, or list everything I still need to do … when my mind tries to wander off track, I focus on the entertainment. My efforts are paying off, I fall asleep quite quickly and wake up nice and early. But they key is still a planned schedule preparing for the move – and getting my rear into gear to meet the schedule. That’s the only way my brain doesn’t go into worry-overdrive.

I didn’t sleep too well last night, though. I woke up several times soaking wet from the heat! I also had a rather strange dream, in which I somehow added a dog to my family! I wonder where that came from! Ha Ha, just imagine how my mippies would like that!

I should be able to get a good bit of packing done today, since the weather has turned – yet again. Temperatures have dropped from over 30°C yesterday to just under 25°C today. It’s overcast and drizzling, occasionally raining. Mippies went out, but every time it drizzles, they come inside.

Right, the last shelf in the lounge is almost empty now, just the 7” singles, the record player, the desk trays and a few Lever Arch files to go.

Record player: check. 7” Singles: check. Lever Arch files: check. So now it’s only the desk trays to be packed, and that’ll be the lounge done. Well, there are still cat toys and the table, but those are small matters. And last, of course, the printer, the PC and the last items still in and on my desk.

Outside, the clouds are dispersing and the sun is coming out – the temperature has also climbed to 28°C again and with the earlier drizzles it’s unpleasantly humid.

Rose arrived and I showed her the progress on her basket – she’s quite pleased with it (I’m glad!). While we were chatting, Mewthos brought his one-legged pet grasshopper again. I think I should start marking them, so I can tell whether they keep bringing back the same ones I keep sneaking out into the garden!

Back upstairs I decided that I should make an effort to eat, although I wasn’t hungry or in the mood for food. I mixed some mustard, mayo, paprika and lemon juice and chopped some chives and celery – and added the whole lot to the shredded chicken. Once I started eating, my body decided to keep going – apparently I was hungry, after all! Ha Ha!

Don’t ask me where I found the energy, but I managed to pack the last of the lounge away. It’s now looking as naked as the kitchen! I somehow also managed to pick up the box with the LPs (which is awfully heavy!) and put it in the shelf, off the floor – so that one day, when I have the energy, I can vacuum the carpet! I also packed away some of the cats toys – there’s far fewer obstacles in the lounge now!

After this major achievement, I decided to visit Rose. I called, but there was no reply; at first I thought she might be taking a nap, but then I realized the time, and remembered that she’d be up the road feeding the dogs. It was a lovely day – overcast, but not cold, so I started cleaning the path. Not quite thorough weeding, just pulling up the greens, without too much regard for the roots. I figured I’d like the path to be nice and clear in the few weeks I’m still here. There was a lot of grass coming up, and I could feel some of them had already burrowed across the entire path, so – with some rain – it won’t be long before that path is covered again.

As I had hoped, Rose saw me when she came back and she opened for me. I took some photos of her oldest spekboom, which had started flowering today! It’s the one right opposite my window, the one Ziva used to lie under hoping to catch some pigeons! I got some lovely photos of the flowers – they are really tiny!

Then I visited Rose – with Lady Jane in tow! Ha Ha, she loves to go visiting with me! At one point she stretched out on one of Rose’s cupboards in front of the ornaments! It was just too cute! Eventually she lay down on the window sill – when Frankie arrived, he was not too sure what to make of this youngster making herself at home in HIS home! But he settled on Rose’s lap and tolerated her. When she left, HE went onto the window sill, just to establish himself! Rose says that he normally never sits there! Ha Ha! They are such characters!

As I was getting ready to leave, I realized that my keys were missing – I guessed that they must have fallen out of my pocket while I was cleaning the path. We went to look, and right enough: there they were, on the lawn! Rose supervised my watering today, with Mewthos not too far away. The Vieruurtjie corner had its first flower today, and the lily next to the tap was also in bloom. She looked at all the pots and with her experienced eye assured me they all seemed to be doing well enough.

Quarter to eight, Mewthos and Lady Jane come strolling in, so I give them their treat – but Romeo comes into the kitchen as well, and Lady Jane runs out! When I try to call her, Romeo answers. I’m now spraying him with water to get him to leave – he is keeping my girls away! I can’t have that! I feel so very sorry for the poor old man with the heart of gold – but I have to put my ladies first!

Ten to eight, when I open the door, Ziva comes running in – straight to her bowl! I call Janey, but she’s not even taking a message! I can still hear Roameow in the garden – I hope he’s got the message. He did get a treat earlier.

Ten past eight, still no Lady Jane! I go into the bedroom – fortunately Mewthos and Ziva follow me, so I can easily shut them in. Off I go, down the stairs – I think I see Janey on the path towards Rose’s gate, but the the chest doesn’t seem white enough. It’s already dark, so telling one cat from the other is almost impossible! Turns out it wasn’t Janey. Jane is playing happily in Rose’s front garden. As I call her, she turns and chases some insect she just spotted! Nothing induces her to come to me, until I tap on the table. That has her curious enough to come through the fence … but she runs past me up to the path. Every time I get close, she dashes off, leading me a merry chase around the garden! Eventually she relents, mips and sits by my feet – I can pick her up and carry her through the garden, down the path, up the stairs and into the bedroom.

Quarter past eight I’ve finally got them all inside! Mewthos and Ziva had their dose of CalmEze – I don’t know whether Janey had any custard. I’m exhausted! I’ll make myself an ice cream, then I’ll sit back and watch Doctor Who.