Day 94 of 97, Friday 25th January

Poor Ziva! She’s insists on sleeping on top of the suitcase, but it’s full now, so it’s bulging a bit and she keeps rolling off. It can’t be comfortable, yet she doesn’t stay on the bed, after I’ve lifted her onto that. Poor girl.

I slept well enough and woke up quite early, but only got up at half past seven. Mew-mew was cuddling me so sweetly, I didn’t want to leave!

He still mewls for attention a lot – and the poor little mite has a fat lip again this morning!

Well, it’s Friday. Last chance to make arrangements involving businesses. But all those arrangements are already in place! So, today I can devote to packing the last bits and bobs and cleaning! But first, there are a couple of items I’ll need to do pretty much last-minute, which I might forget, so I’m making a list of those.

List is in progress. I’ve started sorting through the photos since my last photo-blog, so that’s also in progress. I’ve finished all packing required in the bedroom – now I just need to vacuum under the bed.

When I took a break, my phone rang! What a lovely surprise! One of my closest friends called and we had a lovely, long chat! We shared pet anecdotes, laughed, and caught up on where we are, respectively – just a lovely interlude during the hectic hurly-burly!

Then I finished the bedroom. I vacuumed under the bed, got the blanket, which I normally tape over the dining table to protect the surface during moves and now I just need to tie the ropes around the drawers of the furniture in the bedroom. Then, all that’s left is to pack my suitcase, pack the bedding and the blankie off the window and go!

Tied the doors on the one cupboard, where I packed cushions. Got the suitcase out. Next mission: Bathroom!

Rose arrived and brought me some fresh milk, which I had asked for! She tells me that she nearly locked up Lady Jane when she left this morning! Her Ladyship had strolled in and was playing quite happily – with no interest in leaving! She had quite a time getting her outside, so she could go!

I just got the itinerary from Move-A-Pet! Gosh, they only collect them between 9:00 and 9:30! Which means they’ll have to stay shut in the bedroom for 2-3 hours while people carry out all the boxes and furniture from the bedroom! And they can’t take anything from the bedroom until the cats have been collected! Crikey – that might be a problem? Especially since I may have to stay in the bedroom with them, to keep them calm! And hope like hell that no twit opens that door? That’s risky!

No, I can’t take the risk that Ziva shoots outside when some dumbo opens that door! Especially, since I may have to take the car to get the tires. Can’t really send one of the few workers available, while I sit in the bedroom playing kitty entertainer! So, I’ll ask Rose if I can use her big cat carrier and shut them into the carriers while I wait for them to be collected. Dang, that’s also not the best solution, since I’d have to put the litter box in the bedroom – and hope I can tell when one of them wants their litter box!

Shut them in the bathroom and sit with my back to the door? Sigh – I think that’s the only viable solution. Unless I somehow find the time and can arrange to deliver them myself on Sunday evening – I don’t see that happening.

Sigh, I love these last minute surprises!

On with the motley. Bedroom is completely done. Blanket is taped to the table top. Gardening stuff is packed – as much of it as can go into boxes. I’ve planted the Lavender – they had ample time to grow some roots. If they’ve slacked on their duties, I’m not taking responsibility! But, just in case, I took another cutting and planted that as well. Funny how it’s always the plants everybody says ‘grow like weeds’ that I struggle to grow. Like mint. And lavender. Well, new garden, new start. I’m not giving up!

I took the last boxes out of the garage – and found mail from my aunt in the postbox! What a lovely surprise! Ha ha, it’s a Christmas card! Well, it came all the way from Alaska. I had better write back and let her know that I’m moving.

My boss just called and his response to the Chinese offer was ‘No! Just, no! There are too many ‘ifs’ and too many risks … just: No.’ What a relief! Like I said yesterday, my only fear was that he might consider a contract for me as a ‘foot in the door’, but he isn’t interested. I told him about the money coming his way and he did thank me! It may not be much, by his standards, but it’s a lot by mine. Oh, and the guy he’s sending with the truck driver is someone I’ve also known all these years! Bargain! He’s also a quite experienced mechanic, so he can check out the car and make sure it’s in good condition for the drive!

I’ve almost completed the to-do list meant for Tuesday, which actually leaves me on schedule. Not ahead, but not behind schedule, either.

Rose just got back and she had made an absolutely awesome surprise for me! A lovely little succulent garden in a pot! She took cuttings from Ziva’s favourite Spekboom, and some desert roses and, and, and so many little plants and bits – oh, it’s just too darling for words! I think it would be absolutely fabulous in my new bathroom!

I think I’ve done enough for today. I’ve pulled out all the Cosmos in the garden, so that’s done as well. I still need to clean the bathroom and pack the surplus. Ditto kitchen. And on Sunday, defrost the freezer, pack the computer and the printer and just clear the last bits out of the lounge. Oh, and clean the walls & windows in the lounge and passage. Sigh, still a lot to be done …

Bathroom is done. Just the bath itself and the floor still need to be cleaned. Now I really think I’ve done enough for today. And I didn’t even make time for breakfast, I just had my cookie! Okay, so I had a few, but that’s still not breakfast.

Which probably contributes to the headache which has been growing all day long, just getting worse and worse. The weather is somewhat funny today, partly cloudy quite literally! One part of the sky is cloudy the other part is clear! There have been some drops coming down earlier today, just a few – like a teaser.

Shortly after five the mippies are mipping around, Mewthos in full siren-mewl and Lady Jane just looking hopeful … it’s so early! But they’re damp, too, so I suppose I might as well shut them in for the night. They are so engrossed in their munchie that I can give Romeo a treat as well, without either mip shooting outside. Ziva doesn’t let me wait long, either, so now it’s half six and they’re all happy! Well, except for Mewthos, of course. His lip is swollen again and he’s mewling! He is Mister Greedy Chops!

Phew! What a day!  I’d actually like to take a bath tonight. Now I wish I hadn’t been quite so enthusiastic with my packing – I’ve already packed the cushion I use for my neck on the rim of the bath.

Aaahh! That’s much better! Nice hot bath followed by a refreshing cool rinse! I feel like a person again! I’ve had something to eat as well – I’m afraid no proper dinner, just a fried piece of meat. And I’ll finish with an ice cream drowned in custard! It’s probably going to be a race again: Mew, Lady and me each helping ourselves – but I have a spoon! Only Ziva isn’t so cheeky – although her neck grows longer and longer, she won’t take food off my plate! At least not while I’m eating off it!