Exactly two weeks to go and I still don’t have a new
home! I still don’t know where I’m going or what to prepare for! I absolutely
hate being totally dependent on people who have no comprehension of the
situation from my perspective – the boss’ wife is mostly concerned with the
cost of having to put me up in a bed & breakfast! The last one cost me more
than it did them!
At least I no longer worry about my mippies! I’m
already telling them that they are going on a holiday! Being at the cattery
won’t be the extended trauma I feared!
And also, once I am in Pretoria, I can permanently
separate work and home! There will be no more moving every two or three years.
No more damages to my possessions through careless handling. No more loss of my
stuff through wrong delivery and negligence. I can take some time to find a
place to settle and start really turning the place into MY HOME!
And no more ‘life on hold’ while I wait to find out
what’s next! I can actually make plans! Maybe even join or set up a community
thing in real life, rather than online!
Oh, it hasn’t been all bad, or I wouldn’t have chosen
this life-style! I loved getting to explore East London and seeing so much of
Port Elizabeth! And I absolutely loved my job! And the people I met in this
work! I’ve had some absolutely fabulous times – some of the best times of my
life, in fact! Plus, of course, I got my mippies! And I can’t describe just how
much my friendship with Rose means to me – I have learned such an awful lot
from her! She is such a sane friend – no airs, pretense or judgement, just
common sense and heaps of that! In many ways she’s become my anchor to sanity –
I don’t know anyone else who lives such a happy, yet simple life! I can’t count
how many times I simply followed her example and saved myself yet another trip
along a dark, depressing path! She is such an inspiration to me!
Ha Ha Ha, I can just see her blushing as she reads
this!
Once I’m settled in Pretoria, I’ll have to have a look
at WhatsApp again. I’ll need a device, I think I’ll ask the youngsters at work
their opinion and then shop around a bit. It will also depend on internet
availability at my home – but I definitely want a means to stay in touch with
Rose! A means by which I can also send her some photos, which I don’t necessarily
want to publish here!
I tried to call the boss’ wife earlier today, but
she’s following her husband’s example and not answering my call! She just
updated her Status: She’s at a Spa! Maybe she’ll return my call sometime later
…
I got an SOS from my friend, the one who helped me
pack. He’s in quite a jam and wondered if there was any chance that I might be
able to help him. Since the weather was still not pleasant this morning, my
mippies were inside, so I could get away. He suggested I use the Checkers Money
Market.
On the way, I stopped to buy some electricity – this
will be the last for this place! Rose had told me yesterday, that there were
major issues getting electricity, so I was a little apprehensive – but there
was no problem today. When I got back, I let her know, since she was worried.
At Checkers I looked around the fresh food section,
but there was nothing I needed – thanks to Rose! I just got a few loose
Litchi’s (the ones in the box all looked moldy already!) and two plums. Then I
did the money transfer.
On the way out, I saw the salesman who sold me the
armchair & sleeper couch; he’s quite happy with the improved relationship
with his cats – though he’s not as close to them as I am with mine. He has less
time available to play with them, that’s all.
When I got back, Romeo was waiting for his breakfast!
I gave him the de-worming pill – no trouble at all! I put it down in front of
him, he sniffed it but didn’t like it. So I held him by the scruff and put it
in his mouth and stroked his neck till he swallowed – went off without a ping!
I got an SMS from the agent – she wants to come with
the owner on Saturday afternoon to inspect what needs to be done here … I don’t
know how I want to answer that. I do NOT want to meet the owner, nor do I want
the agent sticking her ugly nose in my home again! However, if that is the
official exit inspection, that would be another job done which I can stop
worrying about.
I replied to the agent: “I’m sorry, but I really don’t
have time. I make time for viewings – but those repairs should have started
over 2 years ago, surely it can wait a mere 2 weeks.” Her reply “They just need
to get an indication of what needs to be done. Pls.. Work I also have someone
who want to view Saturday for rental so thaught to make it the same time” Me
again: “You know what needs to be done, you’ve got photos. No viewing on
weekends, please.”
I spent a bit of time in the garden, cleaning up after
the stormy winds last night. One of the large Cosmos had blown over – one of
those, where I no longer had to bend to smell the flowers! I also cleared the
carnations and flowers in the pots – and notices that some of those plants
hadn’t even been properly planted! Their roots were almost on the surface, not
buried into the soil. Ah well.
Got another SMS from the agent, now wanting to
schedule for tomorrow … I waited for a good interval then replied “I’m sorry, I
just got news, I’ll be back Monday.”
The boss’ wife returned my call, she’d sent me a mail
last night with photos of the place she looked at. Urgh! It looks like a
cell-block! No carpet or tiles, just plain cement. The walls just plain bricks.
Tiny windows. Tiny bedrooms. Patch of green out front, gravel out back … barely
room to swing a cat, let alone three! Ai, ai. I know beggars can’t be choosers,
but that’s a bit harsh!
I called her back and expressed my disappointment. As
expected, she’s at her wits end – the cats being the problem. She reckons
she’ll have to ask some agents for help … So, I better get busy checking some
of the places I had found online …
Right, I managed to get hold of 2 owners. First one
has no problem with 3 cats nor smoking – but the property is not too far from a
busy road. The second one has a problem with smoking only because she suffers
from asthma – but immediately suggested a mutually agreeable solution! That
alone bodes well!
I’ve sent mail to my boss’ wife asking her if she
could have a look at the two places & let me know. The first one has no
photo’s up, so I have no idea what it looks like.
The second one … is a dream! An absolute dream! I was
drooling over that bathroom the first time I stumbled across the photos!
I had quite a nice chat with the owner, they do have
three dogs but two are small and one is medium – I think my mippies will adapt.
I can do what I like in the garden, and she’d be happy to give me the benefit
of her experience! The place itself is spacious, although there’s only one
bedroom, it’s a large one. The kitchen looks lovely – although it has a gas
stove, something I have no experience with; but I’ll learn! There’s no garage,
but a roof over a double-parking. The place is larger than this one – about 5m²
extra – and since they didn’t fill the place with useless walls, I have far
more freedom to arrange it any way I like! They also weren’t stingy with
windows – lovely big windows letting in air and light!
The rent is the same as I paid here at first, however:
Water and lights are included! Bargain!
I went downstairs to tell Rose the good news: The
light at the end of the tunnel no longer looks like an oncoming train! She was
just as relieved as I am!
Then I had some catching up to do in the game, ha ha!
Mippies came inside without any trouble (okay, so they think it’s a fun game –
but to me it’s trouble), and settled down without much fuss. They enjoyed their
treats and with their tummies full of yummies they purred up a storm!
It was past ten when I settled back with my ice cream
to watch – still Doctor Who – to relax. Lady Jane stuck her tongue in my plate
again! She didn’t eat much, just testing whether I’ll share! Mewthos followed
her example! Ha Ha! Stuck his big fat head over my ice cream – all the while
Ziva’s neck kept getting longer and longer as she watched these goings on! I
rewarded her intelligent restraint by holding the bowl under her nose so she
could clean it for me! She was very happy to oblige!
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