Day 91 of ???, Tuesday 22nd January

I no longer know how many days I have left – so ???

I slept reasonably well, Ziva spent the entire night on top of the clean laundry, in the little basket! Every now and then she’d mip for attention and either come to me or I’d get up and go to her – but this morning she was still sleeping there!

I let the mips out, now I’m hoping they come in at some time, so I can go to the bank.

I’ve called the owner and I’m very relieved to say she immediately said to cross out the paragraph regarding the non-smoking inside the house! She also answered all my questions and the answers are very encouraging! I have a feeling that this time I’ve finally got lucky and found a home that will not only be maintained, if needed, but where I will have no issues with any ‘agent’ nor the owner!

Phew! That worked out well! Mippies came inside, I distracted them with a treat and managed to go out and get to the bank! No customers so I was in and out within minutes! Stopped at the Pick ‘n Pay next door, got some meat and milk – that’s me stocked till I move out.

Back at home, mippies were glad to get out! I sprayed the entire flat with air freshener, and will refrain from smoking inside until this inspection is over. I’ll already get enough sh-it from twit and twat about having cats. I’ll have the form ready for her to take with when she’s here, so that will be another thing checked on my to-do list!

I’ve just set up an entire smoke-screen re my smoking! I placed one of the garden chairs on the staircase with a garden ashtray. Fun and games – though, frankly, I don’t really find this fun. I got conned, and as a result I have to try and cover my behind.

Sigh, I know the plan for today was boxes and cleaning, but it is just too hot for much physical work! Also: I’d like the home ‘secured’ as soon as possible. Once I’ve signed the contract, got it back signed, paid the deposit – I’m no longer ‘homeless’! Yeah, I know, it’s really not the same thing, but I’ll feel much better.

Lease agreement is signed and sent, now I wait for the owner to sign and send it back. I’ve sent Move-A-Pet the directions to my new address and asked whether they deliver cats on a Saturday.

Lace curtains are in the machine – boah are they filthy! I’m pre-washing them first, then a normal wash cycle!

I just with that horrid inspection was behind me and that my boss would call to let me know what he’s arranged! So that I can make the necessary arrangements as well, and finalise things.

Rose has arrange that we go and visit Lizzy this afternoon! I must remember to take along one of the rat-race sticks! And tomorrow afternoon we’ll visit Earl! At least that’s something nice to look forward to! It’ll be interesting to see how the twins compare after a year apart!

About ten to three cars start arriving and parking on the grass outside my place: The whole regiment arrives: Owner, Mother of owner and agent! I have the courtesy to go towards the gate to let them in, they don’t have the courtesy to acknowledge me. As I began to wonder whether they’re even the people I was expecting, or whether I should go back and wait to be called, they finished their plotting and suddenly I existed. As we got past the garage, they veered off the path and started walking across the lawn … then stood before the pots as if wondering what to do now.

Upstairs I returned to the world of non-existence while they talked in the kitchen. At one point the owner was describing how the tiles were supposed to be flexible, that they would mold to the wood underneath – and I had to remember to shut my mouth! The way he described them, they were some sort of magic tiles, hard on top and rubber underneath!

At one point the owner actually addressed me to make, what he considered to be a joke, saying how he’s not the landlord from hell … I was flabbergasted, and it showed! What would you call a landlord who lets tenants live with a ceiling like my bedroom for two years?

Funny thing though, they said nothing about the clear evidence that cats lived here. No comment about the scratcher, the food bowls, the litter box or the cat carrier in the bedroom – when they left they talked to Rose about her cats … I’m just shaking my head now wondering whether thinking ever occurs in their heads?

They had, however, clearly made up their minds to find evidence of smoking and went on about the lounge ceiling for some time. Madam referred to her trespass when I first arrived and there was an ‘overflowing ashtray’. She just marched unannounced, without permission and just walked into MY HOME without permission, when I first moved in!

Anyway, there’ll be some issue about that coming my way – let them do what they want to do. I will, however, mention that ALL TENANTS here have been smokers – they can ask Rose, since they all used to flick their butts out of the windows into her garden!

As they were leaving, they commented that they’d cancel the mowing service – huh? Ah well, not my circus, not my monkeys! Let the agent wade through knee-high weeds to show prospective tenants the place!

And with that, I hope to close the door on this subject for good!

Rose and I went to visit Lizzy! My, she has grown! She’s a very happy, playful, plump little thing! She clearly showed no fear, and once the dog had finished his inspection of me, she sat not far to watch me. I tried the stick game, but it’s not the same on a shiny floor. I’m not sure whether she remembered me – it didn’t look like it. She played with me readily enough, but didn’t enjoy being cuddled – but then, she never did. I took loads and loads of photos and I’m glad I got to see her in her home! Unlike her brother and sister, she is quite happy to entertain herself all day long! She doesn’t need many toys, she loves the ones she has to bits! Literally! Sigh, I wish I could send Mewthos to train with her!

Back at home I first sat and wrote all about the horrid visit, so that I can close the book in my mind on the subject and let it go. The only nice thing said was that apparently I keep the place nice and clean – good thing I vacuumed the lounge before I allowed them to come in!

I just watered my Mewthos … I mean, my garden, but, well, it’s the same thing! I’m seeing a lot of Nasturtiums coming up in the pots – but I’m a little worried about the white Pelargonium (<- notice the corrected spelling! Rose was kind enough to mention to me, that it’s not ending in ‘a’ but in ‘ium’. She knows I like to get things right, especially when I post on the blog. So I looked it up and found the correct spelling!).

It’s half seven and I’m still waiting for my boss to call … sigh. Mewthos is already on the window sill … oops, now on the Ottoman mewling! I sit down and play with him when Ziva comes strolling in – it’s twenty to seven, so I decide to shut the door. Lady Jane is not here – but when she realizes she’s all alone outside, she should come. I had to throw poor Romeo out, quite unceremoniously – poor, poor Romeo. He doesn’t know why he’s being shunned, or why he’s not getting treats anymore. He also seems to be fading away … he’s as thin as a toast rack and even his colour seems to be fading!

Janey is sitting – bold as brass – on Rose’s lawn. I’ve opened the window and called her – but she just looks at me. I closed the curtains in the lounge, then in the bedroom – she watched my every move, but doesn’t move herself! I’m keeping an eye on the door – she’ll come mipping to come in, hopefully soon!

Yeah, no such luck! I played with Ziva and Mewthos for quite some time. It’s so funny, Mew just flops splat in the center of the paper, so I end up pushing the stick under his body! Still no Lady Jane. So I moved the game to the bedroom – but only Mewthos followed. Pick up Ziva, carry her into her laundry hamper, Mew-Mew follows, shut the bedroom door, off downstairs. There is Lady Jane! Bold as brass on Rose’s car roof! Hmm. No reaction to calls – she just looks at me. Back upstairs, get the spray bottle – predictably, she hides UNDER the car! Over the fence, through the gate, on my knees … now Lady Jane’s feelings are hurt! This is NOT a nice move from mommy! I finally get her to move in the right direction … but as I’m climbing back over the fence she goes off into my garden instead of up the stairs!

At that point I hear my neighbour calling – not Rose, but the one on the other side. He hands me a present! He’s really unhappy that I’m leaving. We have a short chat – Lady Jane is near the bottom of the stairs, I don’t want her to run away again! I ask him regarding labour to hire for loading and he suggests the other gardener who also works in this area – he’ll get his number, and I can let him know when I need help.

I’m really anxious that Lady doesn’t run away again … as I approach, she tries just that! Back through the fence to Rose! I spray her again and she finally comes back, and runs up the stairs! Phew! Quite a merry chase she led me!

I feel a bit better after a cooling shower, but Mewly is being difficult. He’s mewling me to distraction! I don’t know what he wants, he’s just being whiny. I pick him up, he purrs for a while then starts to wriggle out of my arms. Sits and mewls. I sit down with him, he looks at me and purrs for a while then wanders off. I get back on my chair, he sits and mewls. After a couple of rounds he finally stretches out on the carpet and shuts up!

Two minutes later he starts up again! He now wants to be held in my arms! Purrs, wriggles, sits on the Ottoman and puts his paws on my shoulder to get back into my arms! And just when I’m about to loose it, he puts on his happy face and purrs at me! What a charmer! And what a baby!